The first full week of the 1995 season has continued to deliver with dominant pitching performances, clutch hitting, and extra-inning battles. Here’s how the latest games unfolded.
April 2, 1995: Pettitte Fires Back, Dodgers Get Much-Needed Win
Andy Pettitte bounced back in a big way in his second start of the season, throwing a complete-game shutout for the Washington Senators. He allowed just 2 hits and 0 earned runs while striking out 9 and walking 1 in a masterful 1-0 victory over the San Diego Padres. Washington needed every bit of Pettitte’s brilliance, as the team managed only one hit—courtesy of Fred McGriff.
Meanwhile, Greg Maddux turned in a dominant outing of his own, going the distance for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The right-hander allowed just 1 hit and 1 earned run while striking out 8 and walking 2 in a 6-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. The Dodgers, who had struggled to start the season, improved to 2-4.
The St. Louis Cardinals continued to struggle, dropping another game—this time to the New York Yankees. The Cardinals, now sitting at 2-5, certainly didn’t expect such a slow start, but there is still time to turn things around.
Chicago White Sox pulled off a late-inning rally to push their game against the Cincinnati Reds into extras, scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth. They then walked it off in the 11th inning, securing a much-needed victory.
The San Francisco Giants suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles, falling 5-3. Bob Sebra, who had been dominant in his previous start, took his first loss of the year. Despite the defeat, Moisés Alou provided a bright spot for the Giants, going 3-for-4 with 2 home runs, 2 RBIs, 3 runs scored, and a walk.
The Seattle Pilots finally broke their losing streak, securing their first win of the season with a 6-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers. Randy Johnson picked up his first win, providing a much-needed morale boost for the struggling Pilots.
April 3, 1995: Big Games from Jordan and Canseco
Brian Jordan of the Orlando Sun Rays had a monster game, going a perfect 4-for-4 with a home run, 4 RBIs, 2 runs scored, and a walk. His efforts powered the Sun Rays to a crucial win, improving their record to 2-5 after a rough start.
Jose Canseco put on a show for the Oakland Athletics, going 3-for-4 with 2 doubles, a home run, 4 RBIs, and 2 runs. While the Athletics aren’t expected to be contenders this season, individual performances like this provide reason for optimism.
Pedro Astacio delivered an outstanding pitching performance for the Minnesota Twins, tossing 8 innings of 3-hit ball while allowing just 1 earned run, walking 1, and striking out 10. His dominance helped secure a key win for Minnesota.
April 4, 1995: Pitchers Steal the Spotlight
The top three performances of the day all belonged to pitchers:
- Ramon Martinez (Detroit Tigers): 8 innings, 3 hits, 0 earned runs, 9 strikeouts.
- Mike Morgan (New York Mets): 8 innings, 4 hits, 0 earned runs, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts.
- Pete Harnisch (Boston Red Sox): 6.2 innings, 3 hits, 0 earned runs, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts.
Speaking of the Red Sox, they have been one of the early surprises of the season. Boston wasn’t expected to be a serious threat, but they’ve started strong with a 6-2 record. While the season is long, it’s been an encouraging start for a team in the middle of a rebuild.
The Chicago Cubs once again found themselves in an extra-inning thriller, defeating the Cincinnati Reds in 10 innings after scoring 4 runs in the top half of the frame. The Cubs have now played 8 games this season—4 of which have gone into extra innings. They’ve been strong in those late-game battles, boasting a 3-1 record in extras.
Standings After April 4, 1995
Federal League
East Division
Boston Red Sox (6-2)
Pittsburgh Pirates (4-3)
Cincinnati Reds (4-4)
New York Yankees (4-4)
Orlando Sun Rays (3-5)
Cleveland Spiders (2-5)
Central Division
Minnesota Twins (5-3)
Chicago Cubs (5-3)
Kansas City Royals (4-4)
Chicago White Sox (4-5)
St. Louis Cardinals (4-5)
Texas Rangers (3-5)
United League
East Division
Montreal Expos (5-3)
New York Mets (5-3)
Detroit Tigers (4-3)
Baltimore Orioles (4-4)
Toronto Blue Jays (3-4)
Washington Senators (3-5)
West Division
San Francisco Giants (7-1)
San Diego Padres (6-3)
Colorado Rockies (5-3)
Oakland Athletics (3-6)
Los Angeles Dodgers (2-6)
Seattle Pilots (1-7)
With the first full week in the books, some teams are already emerging as contenders, while others are still trying to find their footing. With dominant pitching performances, dramatic late-inning victories, and some teams exceeding early expectations, the 1995 season is shaping up to be an exciting one.