The Riders start the second half at home, hosting East leader New York.

Game 82: Steve Farr throws three scoreless innings in relief; Ron Reed and Rich Gossage add one apiece, and the Riders hold on to beat the Mammoths 4-3.

Game 83: Harold Baines hits two home runs from the leadoff spot for New York and the Mammoths even the series with a 10-6 win.

Game 84: The Rider bullpen has a disastrous outing as the Mammoths pull away late for a 9-3 win.

Interleague play arrives, dawning with a trip to St. Louis.

Game 85: Mike Smithson pitches six strong innings and Jerry Mumphrey hits a two-run, pinch-hit homer as the Riders top the Cards 5-1.

Game 86: Mark Gubicza contributes a quality start, the Rider bullpen throws three scoreless innings, and Tim Raines sparks the offense with three hits and three runs as Milwaukee wins 8-2.

We return home to face Oakland.

Game 87: Our former division rival, the Zoo, is not kind, smacking Frank Viola around and limiting the Riders to five hits in an 8-1 victory.

Game 88: Rick Sutcliffe pitches six scoreless innings and Rich Gossage picks up his 20th save despite allowing a ninth-inning run as the Riders win 2-1. It's only the second run Gossage has allowed this season.

We head to Houston next.

Game 89: The Riders tie the scoreat three in the 10th on Jeffrey Leonard's two-out hit, but the Hooligans win it in the bottom half on Kirby Puckett's pinch hit single.

Game 90: Houston scores a sweep over Milwaukee as Jim Beattie pitches shutout ball until the ninth inning to beat the Riders 4-2, winning his 10th game of the season.

We host the Chicago Cougars next.

Game 91: Rich Gossage suffers his second blown save of the season, allowing RBI singles to Cal Ripken Jr. and Dale Murphy in the ninth, but an error by Julio Cruz in the bottom of that frame opens the door for Rich Gedman, who wins it with a two-out grand slam. Riders win, 9-5.

Game 92: The Cougars shut out the Riders 3-0 behind Steve Carlton, who lowers his ERA to 2.72 with a complete game 6-hit shutout.

Milwaukee heads to Pittsburgh next.

Game 93: Mike Smithson pitches eight 2-hit innings and Jeffrey Leonard drives in four runs on three hits as the Riders bounce back with a shutout of their own, 7-0 over the Flying Dutchmen.

Game 94: Rich Gossage's slump continues as the Dutchmen outlast the Riders 3-2, winning on Tony Fernandez' RBI triple off Gossage in the 16th inning. A marvelous pitching performance by the Rider bullpen is wasted.

The Riders head back home to take on the New York Brakers.

Game 95: Bill Madlock's two-run single caps a five-run 6th, and the Riders hang on for a 6-5 win over New York. Rich Gossage pitches a scoreless inning and earns his 21st save.

Game 96: Rick Sutcliffe walks six batters in 5.2 innings, the defense is shaky, and the Brakers are awesome as the Riders are routed 11-2.

Off to Detroit to face the Wolverines.

Game 97: Mike Smithson throws seven shutout innings, but Detroit's Steve Garvey hits a solo home run off Gary Lavelle in the eighth that sends the game to extras; Damaso Garcia singles home a run in the 11th, steals second, and then scores on Bill Madlock's single. Rich Gossage shows that he may be back on track, pitching a scoreless bottom half to pick up his second save in three days; Milwaukee wins 3-1.

Game 98: Len Barker throws seven scoreless innings for Detroit and the Wolverines get an RBI double from Steve Garvey in the bottom of the ninth to edge Milwaukee 2-1.

Milwaukee will host St. Louis next.

Game 99: Rich Gossage suffers another blown save, but Hal McRae's pinch hit double in the bottom of the ninth lifts the Riders to a 4-3 victory over St. Louis.

Game 100: Bob Dernier hits a bases-loaded double as part of a five-run first inning against Rick Sutcliffe, and the Riders never catch up. A two-run homer by Tom Foley in the bottom of the ninth makes the final score look close, but it wasn't. Cardinals win 6-4.

The Riders now travel to Oakland to face the Zoo.

Game 101: Brian Harpers homers in the first and doubles home a run in the second; that's all the Riders need as they shut out the Zoo 2-0. Mike Smithson pitches six blank frames for the win; Rich Gossage gets his 23rd save.

Game 102: The Riders are held scoreless for eight innings before erupting for three in the ninth to take a 3-2 lead, but Rich Gossage allows a leadoff homer to Dan Driessen in the bottom half that sends the game to extras. No matter, because the Rider bats are on fire. Milwaukee scores three more in the 10th and wins 6-3.

We'll host Houston next.

Game 103: Rich Gossage has another massive meltdown as the Riders lose a slugfest to Houston, 16-13. The Hooligans score seven times in the ninth inning, five of them charged to Gossage, to rally for the win.

Game 104: Houston puts seven runs on the board in the second inning, all of them unearned (thanks, Roy Smalley!) and the Hooligans coast to a 10-4 win over the Riders.

The Riders head to Chicago to face the Cougars.

Game 105: The Riders win a marathon opener at Comiskey, scoring two runs in the 16th to walk away with a 7-5 win. Rich Gossage pitches the final two innings gets the win. Jeffrey Leonard and Andy Van Slyke drive in the decisive runs. The Rider bullpen allows only one run in 12 innings of work.

Game 106: The Cougars earn a split behind a dominant performance from Tom Seaver. Chicago scores three runs in the seventh off Sammy Stewart to negate six shutout frames from Frank Viola and win it 3-1.

Pittsburgh visits Milwaukee next.

Game 107: Milwaukee matches Pittsburgh in the hit column with 12 but is doubled up in the important column, 8-4.

Game 108: The Dutchmen show little mercy in this one, and two Bill Madlock errors lead to seven unearned runs in a 16-4 blowout loss for the Riders.

We head to Shea to face the Brakers next.

Game 109: The Riders get contributions from throughout the lineup and hold off a late New York rally to take the opener, 10-8. Rich Gossage gets the final two outs for his 24th save.

Game 110: Frank Viola pitches seven 4-hit innings and Damaso Garcia has three hits as the Riders edge New York 4-2.

The Riders head home to face Detroit.

Game 111: Don Mattlingly has five hits for the Wolverines and Jesse Orosco comes in to retire Rich Gedman for the final out with two men on base as Detroit edges the Riders 8-7.

Game 112: Mark Gubicza throws seven shutout innings and Damaso Garcia has three extra-base hits as the Riders bounce back to beat Detroit 6-2.

The Riders now head out on a four game road trip to Kansas City and St. Louis.

Game 113: The Riders turn 11 hits and six walks into a paltry four runs and lose 6-4 to the Blues.

Game 114: Kansas City rallies for three in the eighth (off Frank Viola) and then scores the winning run in the ninth off Ron Reed as they edge Milwaukee 8-7.

Game 115: Tim Raines' 8th-inning steal of home proves decisive as the Riders beat the Cards 2-1 behind Rick Sutcliffe, who evens his record at 10-10 with a complete-game 2-hitter.

Game 116: Brian Harper hits a three-run homer and the Rider bullpen throws three shutout innings to help Mark Gubicza to his seventh win, a 6-3 decision over St. Louis.

Milwaukee will finish interleague play by hosting Kansas City and St. Louis for two games each.

Game 117: Mike Smithson throws seven scoreless innings to even his record at 12-12 as the Riders beat the Blues 10-4. Brian Harper homers for the second straight game.

Game 118: In a see-saw battle, the Riders send the game to extras with a run-scoring groundout from Tom Foley in the ninth. Neither team scores in the 10th, but the Blues get an RBI double from Wade Boggs in the 11th. Bill Madlock singles off Joe Hesketh to lead off the bottom half of the inning, prompting KC to bring in Salome Barojas to face Mike Marshall. BOOOOM. Riders win, 9-8.

Game 119: The Riders score three times off Willie Hernandez in the eighth, and Rich Gossage throws a scoreless ninth to preserve a 5-2 win over the Cards.

Game 120: The Cardinals roll in the interleague finale, scoring six times off reliever Gary Lavelle en route to a 12-2 victory.

Interleague play was not kind to the Riders, who fell into fourth place. They return to AL competition by hosting the Lame Ducks.

Game 121: Jeff Stone makes his debut with three hits and a stolen base, Tim Raines hits a three-run homer, and Jim Gott pitches three 1-hit innings to earn his first save of the season as the Riders top Minnesota 7-1.

Game 122: "Jeff Stone doubles home a run in the ninth, but Bill Caudill retires Rich Gedman on a liner to second and the Lame Ducks hold on for a 5-4 win over the Riders.

Game 123: The Ducks unload on Rick Sutcliffe and, well, pretty much everyone else the Riders throw out there. Minnesota gets 21 hits on the way to a 15-7 victory and Milwaukee wastes a two-homer game by Wayne Krenchicki.

We head to Chicago to face the Goats.

Game 124: Gary Lavelle suffers another meltdown as the Goats score four times in the eighth to rally for a 5-4 win over Milwaukee.

Game 125: Milwaukee gets 11 hits but converts them into only one run, losing to Chicago 4-1.

Game 126: The Riders commit three errors, leading to three unearned runs, and are swept by the Goats, losing the finale 7-3.

The Riders take their act to San Diego next to face the Mariners.

Game 127: Jeffrey Leonard has four hits to pace the Rider attack and starts the game-winning ninth-inning rally with a single as Milwaukee turns a 7-6 deficit into a 10-7 win. Rich Gossage pitches a scoreless ninth for his 28th save.

Game 128: Mike Smithson evens his record at 13-13 with eight strong innings as the Riders beat San Diego 6-2.

Game 129: Mark Gubicza, Gary Lavelle and Ron Reed combine to 3-hit the Mariners as the Riders sweep with a 6-1 win.

We return home for a three-game set against Cleveland.

Game 130: The Riders blow a 6-3 lead, then an 8-6 lead, but win it 9-8 in the 10th on Damaso Garcia's bases-loaded single.

Game 131: The Riders strike out only once, but are outhit 14-6 as Cleveland evens the series with an 8-5 decision.

Game 132: Milwaukee bounces back to take the series, scoring six times off Roger Clemens and holding on for a 6-4 win.

Back on the road to Atlanta.

Game 133: The Riders get 14 hits from the lineup and 3.2 scoreless innings from the bullpen to beat Atlanta 7-4. Rich Gossage records his 30th save.

Game 134: Milwaukee puts up a 10-run fourth inning on the way to a 14-4 blowout of Georgia Force. Frank Viola evens his record at 11-11.

Game 135: The Riders record their second sweep in three series and move to within three games of .500 with a 3-1 win over Atlanta. Rick Sutcliffe matches Viola, evening his record at 11-11.

The road trip takes us to Washington next.

Game 136: The Commandos score two runs in each of the first three innings as injury replacement Ernie Whitt hits a home run and scores twice, and the bullpen holds off a late rally by the Riders for a 6-5 win. Brian Harper strikes out with men on first and third in the ninth to end it.

Game 137: The Riders' usual problems with the knuckleball persist; Joe Niekro and Steve Rogers combine to 2-hit Milwaukee in a 10-0 win for the Commandos.

Game 138: Milwaukee's offense struggles again; two Roy Smalley errors lead to three unearned Washington runs, and the Commandos win 4-1.

Milwaukee heads home to face the Mammoths.