Spiders Find Their Legs
Climbing Up the Water Spout
SAN FRANCISCO (Aug. 1) -- Fergie Jenkins, Thurmon Munson, and Balor Moore led the Spiders to a 10-4 run in late July, as San Francisco halved their three-game deficit with the West-leading Colts.  Jenkins has won four straight starts since July 14, including a pair of shutouts over Chicago and Atlanta, and is 7-1 since mid-June.  He fired a  two-hit gem on July 18 to blank the Colts 6-0 and ensure a series victory against the division leaders.

Munson, 25, hit .378 with 19 RBIs in July, and had 4 RBIs in a 10-2 rout at L.A. July 27.  The third-year catcher moved into the top 10 in batting for the first time of his career.  Finally, Balor Moore.  The 20-year-old southpaw reliever was a fifth round pick in 1970 and only made his UL debut on May 2.  Pitching primarily in the closer role as a backup for Tug McGraw, Moore had just two plate appearances in his first 21 games.  But on July 25 the lanky lefty from Smithville, Mo. had memorable first big league hit.  With the score tied 3-3 vs. St. Louis in the bottom of the 11th, Moore delivered a two-out single with the bases loaded to drive in Lee May with the winning run.  Moore got the win, and is now 3-0 with 3 saves and a 1.56 ERA.

Injuries, Brawls, Suspensions in Motown
DETROIT (July 31) -- You could hardly blame Bobby Bonds for his postgame tirade July 27 after being ejected for arguing a called third strike.  After staying within striking distance of the East-leading Monuments for most of the year, it was as if the whole season came crashing down on the Griffins in the last week

It all started on Monday the 24th.  In the first inning, Dick Allen strained a hip muscles against Manhattan and later learned he would miss the rest of the season.  Allen (.263-16-56) has been one of the key run producers in Motown since 1965.  Then in the fifth, Ken Holtzman was ejected for igniting a bench-clearing brawl.  Holtzman had a two-hit shutout at Washington July 17 but allowed six runs in 10 innings in two of his shortest outings of the year.

Two nights later in the rubber game against the Sox, Pedro Ramos left the game with a sore elbow after three innings.  X-rays later revealed bones spurs that will sideline the Detroit ace for several weeks.  Adding insult to injury, the Sox feasted on Tex Clevenger and Ramon Hernandez, scoring 10 runs in the 7th and 8th innings to break a 5-5 tie.

The next night, in the midst of their third of five straight losses, Bonds went ballistic after being called out on strikes in the 9th inning.  With the score 2-1 Chicago, Billy Williams got a leadoff hit for the Griffs.  Bonds then struck out looking and held up the game for five minutes as he tore into the home plate umpire.  Detroit tied the game on a Reggie Jackson sac fly, but lost the game in the bottom of the ninth on Bill Mazeroski's game-winning single.

On Sunday the 30th, shortstop Denis Menke sprained a finger during a basepath collision -- a two-week injury.  Menke is hitting .260 and was on pace for the highest RBI tally of his career.

The final tally for the week?  Three injuries, two suspensions, and a 2-5 record, as the Griffins fell 10 games behind and dropped to third place.