April 10, 2012

April 14, 1984 - A Pair of Firsts

Game #109 - Seattle Mariners, 3 @ Minnesota Twins, 8
The Twins win for the first time this season!  In the bottom of the third inning the Twins were trailing 1-0 after a Dave Henderson solo homer, but erupted for four runs, including a two run homer from Kent Krbek.  They batted around the whole lineup in the sixth inning to score four more runs.  Dave Henderson added a second home run, but Mike Smithson of Minnesota spread four hits and five walks across seven-plus innings to give the Twinkies their first taste of victory.

Winning Pitcher - Mike Smithson
Losing Pitcher - Matt Young
Player of the Game - Hrbek, 3-5, HR, 2B, 3RBI's, 2R's

Game #110 - California Angels, 4 @ Oakland A's, 10
I had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to try this, and finally went for it - a player stole home in this game!  Rickey Henderson led off the bottom of the first with a walk and then stole second base.  He moved to third on a ground out by Carney Lansford.  I had envisioned trying this with a team who was in the lead and had a cocky runner on third.  I figured Rickey qualified as the cocky runner, and with it being so early in the game I decided what the heck, let's try it.  Sure enough Rickey got the best of Bruce Kison.  Kison must have been rattled, because Dwayne Murphy hit a home run right after that.  Kison was making his first start of the season, in the rotation in place of the departed Ken Forsch.  He recorded six strikeouts in four innings, but walked seven (!) hitters as well.  Curt Young of the A's worked around seven hits and four walks to get the win.  Fred Lynn and Brian Downing both homered and they share the league lead in that category.  Murphy added a second homer as well.

Winning Pitcher - Curt Young
Losing Pitcher - Bruce Kison
Player of the Game - Murphy, 2-5, 2 HR's, 3RBI's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rickey Henderson, Joe Morgan

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