June 17, 1984 - Cubbies Win in Extras!

Game #826 Philadelphia Phillies, 5 @ Chicago Cubs, 6 (10 innings)

On paper this looked unfair, as ace Dennis Eckersley was going up against subpar pitcher Marty Bystrom.  But as I've typed on this blog...THAT'S WHY YOU PLAY THE GAME!

It was actually scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when backup catcher Steve Lake doubled home Keith Moreland.  Keith Moreland went to high school with my aunt.  That has nothing to do with this game, I just like to slip that into conversations from time to time.  Chicago added a second run in the fifth when Bob Dernier and Ryne Sandberg hit back to back doubles.

Eckersley cruised through the first five innings but the wheels fell off in the top of the sixth.  The bases were loaded with Mike Schmidt at the plate, and the FAC indicated a "clutch batting."  Schmidt knocked a bases-clearing double to give the Phillies the 3-2 lead!  Len Matuszek and Joe Lefebvre added RBI doubles to make the score 5-2 and send Eck to the showers.

It remained that way until the bottom of the eighth.  Bill Campbell got into trouble and loaded the bases before giving way to Larry Andersen.  Andersen gave up consecutive singles to Thad Bosley and Richie Hebner to bring Chicago within one!  Andersen got lifted in the top of the ninth for a pinch hitter, so the less reliable Don Carman had to try and close it out.  Dernier led of with a single, but Von Hayes bobbled it in center to allow Dernier to advance to second on the error.  Jody Davis came in as a pinch-hitter on his off day...and plated Dernier to tie the game!  Extra innings!!!

Warren Brusstar worked his second inning of relief and escaped a jam when he allowed two runners to reach base.  In the bottom of the tenth Carman was still on the hill since he was due up first in the top of the eleventh.  Steve Lake singled and the Larry Bowa walked.  Brusstar was due up but nobody was left on the Chicago bench.  George Frazier, the last available reliever in the pen, was a .286 hitter in the real 1984 so he got the call!  And he singled to load the bases!!!  That brought up Dernier, who punched a dribbler into an open spot within the drawn-in infield to plate Lake!  Cubs win!!!

Winning Pitcher - Warren Brusstar
Losing Pitcher - Don Carman
Player of the Game - Bob Dernier, 3-6, 3R's, 2B, GWRBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Mike Schmidt, Ryne Sandberg, Dennis Eckersley

Happy Trails...Don Carman

Carman was a rookie back in 1984, making eleven relief appearances.  I've already used him up in the Statis Pro season.  Let's compare the two Carmans!

The Real 1984:  0-1, 5.40 ERA, 16 K's, 3.67 FIP, 1.50 WHIP
Statis Pro 1984:  1-1, 4.97 ERA, 16 K's, 5.45 FIP, 1.97 WHIP

Don't be fooled by the ERA, Carman surrendered quite a few unearned runs.  Based on FIP and WHIP the real Carman did a bit better.  He threw smoke in both seasons, though, as he pitched 13 innings in the real 1984 and 12.2 in Statis Pro.  With Carman done, Philadelphia called up...Jim Kern!  Did you remember Kern spent part of 1984 with the Phillies?  I sure didn't...

June 16, 1984 - Flying in a "V" Formation

Game #813 - Philadelphia Phillies, 6 @ Chicago Cubs, 5

Yet another game where I couldn't pilot the Cubs to victory...

It was a scoreless game until the top of the second inning.  That's when Ozzie Virgil doubled home Tim Corcoran, and Virgil later scored when Juan Samuel hit an RBI sacrifice fly.

The Cubs took the lead in the bottom of the third when Charles Hudson surrendered an RBI to Cubs pitcher Dickie Noles, whose bloop hit caused Ivan DeJesus and Greg Gross to crash into each other, knocking both out of the game and putting them on the DL.  Ryne Sandberg plated another two three batters later to give Chicago a 3-2 lead.

It stayed that score until the top of the sixth.  Luis Aguayo led off with a solo homer (in the game in place of DeJesus) and later in the inning Joe Lefebvre hit a two-run dong of his own.  That made it 5-3 Phillies.  Philadelphia never relinquished the lead after that, thought they sent their third player to the DL when Tim Corcoran hurt his hand on a line drive catch.

Winning Pitcher - Charles Hudson
Losing Pitcher - Dickie Noles
Save - Al Holland
Player of the Game - Ozzie Virgil, 2-4, 2B, RBI, 3R's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Mike Schmidt, Ryne Sandberg, Lee Smith

Happy Trails...Dickie Noles

Dickie Noles started this game, his only start of the year for Chicago, thus completing his season for the Cubbies.  Don't worry, you haven't seen the last of him.  In the real 1984 he got traded to the Rangers, where I currently have him on their active roster.  Don't ask me how he can be pitching for two teams at the same time...

Let's compare the Dickies!

Statis Pro 1984 - 1-2, 6.05 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 4.40 FIP, 30K's
The Real 1984 - 2-2, 5.15 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 4.25 FIP, 14K's

If you go by WHIP and FIP, those are two very similar seasons.  Statis Pro Noles got tagged for more runs, though.  But he also doubled his strikeouts in fewer innings pitched.  Funny enough, Statis Pro Noles also recorded two hits, which didn't happen in the real 1984.  We'll see you down in Arlington, Dickie!

Game #814 - Los Angeles Dodgers, 10 @ Houston Astros, 1

Dial up the Fernandomania, because Valenzuela had himself a game.  He wasn't super dominant on the mound, but he scratched through eight innings by spreading eight hits and two walks, only allowing one run to cross the plate.  He really shined in the batter's box.  He went 2-4 with a double and home run!

Other Dodgers shone too.  Mike Scioscia scored three runs out of the lead-off spot and Mike Marshall homered from the cleanup spot.  Terry Whitfield had a nice game too, going 3-4 with a walk and a RBI.

Winning Pitcher - Fernando Valenzuela
Losing Pitcher - Mike Scott
Player of the Game - Fernando Valenzuela

June 15, 1984 - 800 Games Played...Seriously!!!

Game #800 - Philadelphia Phillies, 7 @ Chicago Cubs, 3

I can hardly believe it, but I've mowed down another games played milestone.  This was the 800th game I've played in the Statis Pro season.

800.

It's weird to think about, and even weirder to think I'm 80% of the way to a thousand.  It's been a lot of flips of the ol' Fast Action Cards.

Dick Ruthven of the Cubs and Steve Carlton of the Phillies were trading goose eggs across the first four frames of the game.  In the top of the fifth, though, Juan Samuel put the first run on the board with a solo homer.  The Cubs tied it in the bottom half when Bob Dernier smoked a two-out double to plate Ron Cey.

The Cubs took a two-run lead in the bottom of the sixth on back to back RBIs from Cey and Jody Davis.  Ruthven completed the seventh inning and got pulled for a pinch hitter.  The Cubbies sent their best reliever, Warren Brusstar, to the mound to get the last six outs.

He.  Got.  SHELLED.

When the smoke cleared he allowed six runs off three homers, including a three-run job to Joe Lefebvre to give the Phillies the lead.  Yet another back breaking loss for Chicago...I can't win with them!!

Winning Pitcher - Larry Andersen
Losing Pitcher - Warren Brusstar
Player of the Game - Joe Lefebvre
Hall of Famers in the Game - Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Ryne Sandberg

June 14, 1984 - Hall of Fame Effort

Game #789 - Philadelphia Phillies, 1 @ Chicago Cubs, 7

Tim Corcoran jumped on a Rick Reuschel fastball for a solo homer and an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first.  But the Cubs would triple that score in the bottom half with only one hit!  Jerry Koosman allowed a lead-off single to Bob Dernier and then walked Gary Matthews.  Ryne Sandberg was up next and hit a hard grounder to Juan Samuel who bobbled the play, allowing Dernier to score.  Keith Moreland was up next and hit a grounder in the infield.  Matthews charged for home and was safe on the fielder's choice.  A couple of batters later Henry Cotto hit a sacrifice fly to plate Sandberg. 

Reuschel cruised in and out of trouble through the seventh, and even had an RBI single in the fifth to extend the Cubs lead to 4-1.  Chicago added two more runs on a Sandberg homer in the sixth and the Phillies never threatened after that.

Winning Pitcher - Rick Reuschel
Losing Pitcher - Jerry Koosman
Player of the Game - Ryne Sandberg, 2-4, HR, 2RBI, 2Rs, BB
Hall of Famers in the Game - Mike Schmidt, Ryne Sandberg

Game #790 - Los Angeles Dodgers, 1 @ Houston Astros, 2

Nolan Ryan and Rick Honeycutt both looked good early, but especially Ryan.  The first five outs of the game for the Dodgers were all K's and Ryan had nine through four innings!  I thought we could be approaching Roger Clemens/Kerry Wood territory but Nolan let off the gas a bit after that.

The Dodgers scored first in the top of the fifth thanks to an RBI double by Pedro Guerrero.  But Houston responded by scratching out two runs in their half of the inning on RBI singles from Bill Doran and Jerry Mumphrey...

...and that would be all the offense on the day!  Ryan lasted seven innings while Dave Smith pitched two innings of relief for the win.

Winning Pitcher - Nolan Ryan
Losing Pitcher - Rick Honeycutt
Save - Dave Smith
Player of the Game - Ryan, 7IP, R, 11K's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Nolan Ryan

June 13, 1984 - Sluggers Gonna Slug

Game #781 - Cleveland Indians, 1 @ Oakland A's, 11

Cleveland scored the first run of the game, a sacrifice fly from George Vukovich that plated Brett Butler...and then allowed eleven to Oakland.

Ouch.

Dave Kingman hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first.  Bill Almon hit a solo bomb in the second.  Oakland scored three more in the third before Dwayne Murphy launched a grand slam in the fourth.

It was ugly for Cleveland.

Winning Pitcher - Steve McCatty
Losing Pitcher - Neal Heaton
Player of the Game - Dave Kingman, 2-3, HR, 3RBI, BB, 3R's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rickey Henderson

Game #782 - St. Louis Cardinals, 1 @ Philadelphia Phillies, 2

Bob Forsch was a good major league pitcher over his career but was awful in the real 1984 season.  He should be in Statis Pro, too, but for some reason he's been incredibly lucky so far.

That continued, to a degree, in this one too.

Juan Samuel was standing on third base with one out when John Denny grounded to Ozzie Smith.  Samuel broke to home and beat Smith's throw for the first score of the game.  Forsch got in and out of jams the rest of the way until the bottom of the seventh.  After allowing to straight hits in the seventh he got lifted in favor of Jeff Lahti.  Lahti was in a pickle, inheriting runners on first and third.  But he recorded back to back strikeouts against Gary Maddox and Greg Gross.  That brought up Mike Schmidt, and Schmidt roped a double to score Tim Corcoran and give the Phillies a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the eighth Tito Landrum walked and later scored on an Ivan DeJesus fielding error.  But Al Holland got two innings of relief in to save the game for John Denny.

Winning Pitcher - John Denny
Losing Pitcher - Bob Forsch
Save - Al Holland
Player of the Game - Mike Schmidt, 1-3, 2B, RBI, BB
Hall of Famers in the Game - Ozzie Smith, Mike Schmidt

Happy Trails...Mark Salas

1984 marked the brief rookie debut of Mark Salas, mostly known for his days as a backup catcher over eight years in the big leagues.  Salas was on the active roster for the Statis Pro Cardinals due to Darrell Porter's injury.  Let's see how he did:

The Real 1984:  .100AVG, .100OBP, .150SLG, .250OPS, 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R
Statis Pro 1984:  .273AVG, .280 OBP., .364 SLG, .644OPS, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 0 R

Salas only played in 14 games in the real 1984 and didn't make much of an impact, while his Statis Pro self got quite a bit luckier with the bat.  His wRAA in Statis Pro was still negative (-0.8), so he wasn't that much better.  It would have been fun to see Salas in a 1985 season replay, as he hit .300 and was the primary starter for the Minnesota Twins.

June 12, 1984 - Dramatic Homers for the Win

Game #769 - St. Louis Cardinals, 5 @ Philadelphia Phillies, 6 

The Phillies drew first blood in the bottom of the second when Ivan DeJesus tripled and later scored on a Marty Bystrom double.  Bystrom scampered across home on a rare Tom Herr fielding error and the Phils were up 2-0.

The Cardinals took the lead in the top of the third, though.  They plated three runs, including a two-run homer from Tom Nieto, who must be on 'roids the way he's hitting with Darrell Porter on the DL.  Joe Lefebvre, though, tied it up with a solo homer in the bottom half of the third.

Mike Schmidt made a terrible error in the fourth that allowed both Herr and Ozzie Smith to score, which gave the Cardinals a two-run advantage. 

The score stayed 5-3 into the bottom of the ninth.  Bruce Sutter was in his third inning of relief when John Wockenfuss poked a single.  Two batters later Schmidt drew a walk and Sutter was in trouble.  Up stepped Garry Maddox...WHO TOOK SUTTER DEEEEEP!  HOME RUN!!!!  A WALK-OFF HOMER!!!

Winning Pitcher - Larry Andersen
Losing Pitcher - Bruce Sutter
Player of the Game - Garry Maddox, 2-2, HR, 3RBI, Gatorade Bath
Hall of Famers in the Game - Ozzie Smith, Bruce Sutter, Mike Schmidt

Game #770 - Atlanta Braves, 4 @ San Diego Padres, 3 (10 innings)

Graig Nettles bombed Craig McMurtry in the bottom of the first to give the Padres a quick 3-0 lead after one inning of play.  But Dave Dravecky gave up two runs in the third on a Claudell Washington single and a sacrifice fly by Randy Johnson.  Johnson singled home Glenn  Hubbard in the fifth to tie the game up.

It stayed knotted through nine innings and that meant free baseball.  The Padres bullpen was depleted after going extra innings the night before so they were forced to bring in Luis DeLeon.  The first batter he faced, Claudell Washington, put a ball into the right field bleachers.  Terry Forster worked two innings of relief for the win and the Padres have now lost five in a row.

Winning Pitcher - Terry Forster
Losing Pitcher - Luis DeLeon
Player of the Game - Claudell Washington, 2-4, HR, 2RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tony Gwynn

June 11, 1984 - Backbreaking Losses

Game #757 - St. Louis Cardinals, 8 @ Philadelphia Phillies, 6

The Cardinals have the best record in Statis Pro and it's not even really close.  The first inning was a typical example of what this team does.  They reeled off four straight singles before starter Steve Carlton walked Lonnie Smith with the bases loaded.  Tom Nieto nearly drove in two more runs two batter later, but Sixto Lezcano threw out Tommy Herr at the plate.  St. Louis were up 3-0 before the Phillies got back to the dugout.

Ozzie Smith added a 2-RBI double in the top of the third to extend their lead to five runs.  Mike Schmidt put the first Philadelphia run on the board with a solo homer in the fourth, and went deep again in the sixth for two more runs. 

By the bottom of the eighth St. Louis was up 8-4 but reliever Ricky Horton allowed two runs and all of a sudden it was a ball game again.  Bruce Sutter slammed the door shut in the ninth, though, and the Cards went home winners.

Winning Pitcher - Dave LaPoint
Losing Pitcher - Steve Carlton
Save - Bruce Sutter
Player of the Game - Ozzie Smith, 2-5, 2 2Bs, 2Rs, 2RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Ozzie Smith, Bruce Sutter, Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton

Game #758 - Atlanta Braves, 4 @ San Diego Padres, 2 (13 innings!)

The Padres jumped out early on the Braves when Kevin McReynolds took Rick Camp deep for a two-run bomb in the first.  The Braves tied the game in the top of the seventh, though, when Dale Murphy singled home Glen Hubbard.  The Padres loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth but couldn't push a run across so the game stayed knotted at 2-2.

Goose Gossage worked his second scoreless inning in the top of the ninth while Steve Bedrosian did the same for Atlanta in the bottom half of the frame and that meant one thing:  FREE BASEBALL!

Greg Booker took over for San Diego in the tenth and, despite looking a little shaky, he went three innings without surrendering a run.  Donnie Moore pitched outstanding, also going three innings deep while striking out four and not allowing a base runner.

The Padres were down to their last reliever in the top of the thirteenth.  Andy Hawkins, recently demoted to the back of the pen, came in and, after allowing a lead off single, Claudell Washington ripped an RBI triple two batters later.  Washington then scored on a Murphy RBI and Atlanta had a two run lead heading into the bottom of the 13th.  Terry Forster allowed a single to Tony Gwynn but McReynolds grounded into a double play to end the game.

Winning Pitcher - Donnie Moore
Losing Pitcher - Andy Hawkins
Save - Terry Forster
Player of the Game - Claudell Washington, 3-5, 2B, 3B, RBI, 2Rs, 2BBs
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tony Gwynn, Goose Gossage

June 10, 1984 - Colonial Contests

Game #745 - Toronto Blue Jays, 5 @ New York Yankees, 8

Within the first four batters in the bottom of the first, the Yankees scored three runs.  Don Mattingly ripped a homer off Jim Gott with Willie Randolph already on base.  Two batters later Steve Kemp launched a solo home run with just one out.  Butch Wynegar would later score in the same inning off a Bobby Meacham single to give New York a commanding 4-0 lead.

The Blue Jays stayed within striking distance, though.  They picked up a run in the second and another in the third thanks to a George Bell moonshot.  In the top of the fifth Damaso Garcia tripled home Alfredo Griffin but the Yankees manufactured a run in the bottom of the fifth to make it 6-3.  And by the way, Jim Gott was still on the mound.  In fact, to give the Toronto bullpen a breather, he went the distance!

An Ernie Whitt two-run homer in the sixth off Phil Niekro brought Toronto to within a run of a tie game, but Steve Kemp sealed Toronto's fate in the bottom of the eighth with his second homer of the game, this time with a runner on.  The Yankees win.  Thhhhhheeeee Yankees win.

Winning Pitcher - Phil Niekro
Losing Pitcher - Jim Gott
Save - Dave Righetti
Player of the Game - Steve Kemp, 2-4, 2HRs, 3RBI, BB
Hall of Famers in the Game - Phil Niekro

Game #746 - Pittsburgh Pirates, 2 @ Philadelphia Phillies, 3

The Pirates opened the scoring in the top of the second inning on a solo poke from Jason Thompson.  The Phillies answered back in the bottom of the frame.  Ozzie Virgil was standing on third after a Juan Samuel double when a Dale Berra fielding error allowed Virgil to score and tie things up.

Bad defense haunted Pittsburgh later in the game as well.  Glenn Wilson scored from second on an RBI single by Tim Corcoran and a bobble in the outfield by Doug Frobel.  Corcoran later scored on an RBI single by Gross.

Frobel atoned for his error with a solo homer in the sixth but that's all the Pirates could muster on offense. 

Winning Pitcher - Charles Hudson
Losing Pitcher - Jose DeLeon
Save - Larry Andersen
Player of the Game - Greg Gross, 1-3, RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Mike Schmidt

June 9, 1984 - Identical Scores

Game #731 - Pittsburgh Pirates, 4 @ Philadelphia Phillies, 3

John Candelaria and Jerry Koosman faced off in this Keystone battle.  It was scoreless until the third inning when both Lee Lacy and Sixto Lezcano hit solo homer for their respective teams to keep the game tied.

In the top of the fifth Lacy added his second bomb of the day, this time with Amos Otis on base, to give the Pirates a 3-1 lead.  But the Phillies knotted it up again in the sixth when Juan Samuel cranked a two-run homer too.

The game was still tied until the top of the eighth.  Back to back hits from Lee Mazzilli and Lacy put a runner in scoring position for Johnny Ray.  Ray singled and Mazilli scored the decisive run.

Winning Pitcher - John Candelaria
Losing Pitcher - Bill Campbell
Save - Rod Scurry
Player of the Game - Lee Lacy, 3-4, 2HRs, 3RBI, 2Rs
Hall of Famers in the Game - Mike Schmidt

Game #732 - Cincinnati Reds, 4 @ San Diego Padres, 3

The Padres loaded the bases in the bottom of the first but only managed one run on a Terry Kennedy walk.  Steve Garvey had an RBI ground-out in the third to make it a 2-0 lead, and then Mark Thurmond helped his own cause with a sacrifice fly that scored Luis Salazar.

The Reds came charging back in the sixth, though.  They scored two runs, including an RBI knock by Nick Esasky.  They were still trailing by one run in the seventh when Thurmond was lifted with two outs and a runner on second in favor of ace reliever Goose Gossage.  The Reds countered with pinch-hitter Duane Walker.  Walker doubled, scoring Dave Concepcion to tie the game!  Then Dan Driessen singled home Walker to give Cincy the lead!  Ted Power, Bob Owchinko, and John Franco held the Padres scoreless over the final three games to earn the win.

Winning Pitcher - Joe Price
Losing Pitcher - Goose Gossage
Save - John Franco
Player of the Game - Duane Walker, 1-2, 2B, RBI, R
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tony Perez, Tony Gwynn, Goose Gossage

June 8, 1984 - Keystone State Sweep

Game #717 - Pittsburgh Pirates, 2 @ Philadelphia Phillies, 5

The two Pennsylvania ball clubs had a twin bill today, and in game one, the Phillies came out swinging.  In the bottom of the first Greg Gross grounded into a double play but Von Hayes was able to score from third.  In the bottom of the second Juan Samuel took Rick Rhoden deep for a lead-off solo homer.

In the top of the fifth the Pirates finally got on the board when Marvelle Wynne knocked home Rhoden (I had Rhoden batting sixth in the order), but Rhoden gave up three unearned runs in the bottom half of the inning after a Dale Berra throwing error and RBI knocks from Joe Lefebvre and Samuel.  That was enough to secure game one for the Phillies.

Winning Pitcher - Marty Bystrom
Losing Pitcher - Rick Rhoden
Save - Tug McGraw
Player of the Game - Juan Samuel, 3-4, 2B, HR, 2RBI, R
Hall of Famers in the Game - Mike Schmidt

Game #718 - Pittsburgh Pirates, 2 @ Philadelphia Phillies, 4

Game number two was scoreless until the top of the second.  That's when Denny Gonzalez of the Pirates hit a single that plated Tony Pena.  Gonzalez has already exceeded his games played at third base from the real 1984, but with both Bill Madlock and Jim Morrison on the disabled list I'm forced to break one of the cardinal rules of Statis Pro. 

The Pirates were up 2-0 after a Dale Berra sacrifice fly in the fourth, but the Phillies tied it up in the bottom half of the inning when Ozzie Virgil blasted a homer that also scored Mike Schmidt.  Von Hayes broke the tie in the following inning with his own home run off John Tudor.  An RBI double from Schmidt in the seventh preserved the win for Philadelphia and helped them sweep two from their in-state rivals.

Winning Pitcher - John Denny
Losing Pitcher - John Tudor
Save - Larry Andersen
Player of the Game - Denny, 6IP, 4K's, 4H's, BB, 2ER
Hall of Famers in the Game - Mike Schmidt

June 6, 1984 - Sutter Like Butter

Game #699 - Philadelphia Phillies, 2 @ St. Louis Cardinals, 4

After playing this 1984 season of Statis Pro for a few years now, you develop attachments and animosity for certain teams.  The Cardinals are a team I've grown to dislike.  In real life, the Cardinals are probably my second favorite team next to my Baltimore Orioles.  Both of my parents are from St. Louis and their hometown pride has rubbed off on me over the years.

But in Statis Pro, I've grown to loathe them.

I think this is because they're winning too much.  They are way out in front of the NL East at this point and I can't quite figure out why.  There is no doubt they have one of the best bullpens in the league, but a lot of their other players are hitting or pitching way above their intended outcomes.  This might normalize over time, but we're a third of the way done and they've shown no sign of coming back to earth.

Today's game was another example of their good luck in Statis Pro.  Danny Cox was reduced to a 2-5 rating when he drew an "81" for the "stuff" category, meaning he was at a distinct disadvantage against his opponent, Hall of Famer Steve Carlton.

It didn't matter.

It was a scoreless game when Willie McGee took Carlton deep in the fourth for just his second homer of the year.  The Phillies took the lead in the top of the seventh, finally doing damage to Cox with back to back RBI singles by Von Hayes and Tim Corcoran.  But in the bottom of the seventh David Green and Tom Herr each recorded a single with one out.  Carlton then got tossed for arguing strikes with the umpire, which led to Kevin Gross coming into the game.  He walked two straight batters, which plated Green to tie the game.  That brought up Bruce Sutter, who had come in for relief in the top half of the inning to get Mike Schmidt out with two runners on.  I didn't want to waste Sutter for just one out in the game, so I let him hit.  Gross whiffed him, but threw the pitch wild, allowing Herr to score and Sutter to take first on the error.  After yet another run plated on a Lonnie Smith walk, Gross got yanked without recording an out in favor of Al Holland, who got Terry Pendleton to line out into a double play. 

Jeff Lahti came on in the top of the ninth and loaded the bases with no outs.  Just as it looked like the Phillies would grab a come from behind win, Lahti got three straight pop outs from Corcoran, John Wockenfuss, and Mike Schmidt.  Sutter notched his sixth win on the season for his inning and a third of work.

Winning Pitcher - Bruce Sutter
Losing Pitcher - Steve Carlton
Save - Jeff Lahti
Player of the Game - Sutter, 1 1/3, W, K
Hall of Famers in the Game - Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Bruce Sutter

June 5, 1984 - Murph and McGraw Lead the Way

Game #685 - Atlanta Braves, 11 @ San Francisco Giants, 7

Giants pitcher Mark Grant was brutalized in the top of the first.  He only managed one out before finally getting yanked after Atlanta put up six runs, three of those courtesy of a Dale Murphy homer.  But in the bottom of the first the Giants scored five!  Al Oliver, making his first start off the disabled list (meaning it's been YEARS since I've played with him last) hit a double that plated Jeff Leonard.  Johnnie LeMaster busted a single that was good for two RBIs.

By the top of the eighth Atlanta was still up, 9-6.  That's when Murphy recorded his fifth and sixth RBI with a double off of Gary LaVelle, the last bullpen arm left for the Giants.  Pete Falcone pitched the final three innings, only giving up one run and earning the save.

Winning Pitcher - Gene Garber
Losing Pitcher - Mark Grant
Save - Pete Falcone
Player of the Game - Dale Murphy, 3-4, 2B, HR, 6RBI, BB

Game #686 - Philadelphia Phillies, 12 @ St. Louis Cardinals, 5

The Cardinals were riding a four game win streak headed into this match.  But it would be the Phillies who struck first in the top of the first.  Mike Schmidt walked with the bases loaded thanks to Dave LaPoint, and then Ozzie Virgil hit a sacrifice fly that scored John Wockenfuss.

By the bottom of the second the score was 3-0 in favor of the Phillies when starter Charles Hudson fell off a cliff.  With the bases loaded and no outs, backup catcher Tom Nieto jacked a GRAND SALAMI!  Lonnie Smith later tripled and scored on a Ken Oberkfell double.  In fact, the Cardinals hit for the cycle in the inning.  That was enough for Hudson to get pulled in favor of a long relief effort by Tug McGraw.  He was up to the task!

With runners on first and third in the top of the fourth, McGraw was due up.  Because Philadelphia needed him to pitch deeper, he was forced to bat.  No worries though...he lined an RBI single!  Mike Schmidt followed with another RBI and all of a sudden it was a tie game!

Fast forward to the top of the eighth, game still tied.  The Phillies put up four big runs, including a three-run dong from Ozzie Virgil, who is now tied with Schmidt for the team home run lead with eleven.  Philadelphia scored three more in the ninth, thanks in large part to a Von Hayes triple that scored Ivan DeJesus and Gary Maddox.  The Cards had nothing left in their offensive tank and lost the game.

Winning Pitcher - Bill Campbell
Losing Pitcher - Jeff Lahti
Player of the Game - Tug McGraw, 3 1/3IP, 0R's, 2K's, RBI single
Hall of Famers in the Game - Mike Schmidt, Ozzie Smith

June 4, 1984 - A Gentleman Sutter

Game #673 - Philadelphia Phillies, 5 @ St. Louis Cardinals, 6

Jerry Koosman and Jaquin Andujar cruised through the first three innings of the game with relative ease.  But in the bottom of the fourth the St. Louis bats dinked and dunked Koosman right out of the game.  They sent ten batters to the plate and scored five runs, including an RBI triple by David Green.  Koosman managed six strikeouts but gave up six hits in the fifth, all singles minus Green's three-bagger.

Andujar got into a jam in the top of the fifth.  He gave up RBI singles to Ivan DeJesus and Von Hayes and got lifted for a pinch-hitter in the bottom half of the inning.  The Cardinals bullpen would need to log four innings to preserve the win for Andujar.  Neil Allen was handed the ball first, but he got torched for three runs on just two outs.  Two of those runs came courtesy of a Gary Maddox  homer.  Dave Rucker got the final out in the sixth and three more in the seventh.  In the top of the eighth, with just a one run lead, Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter came to the mound.  He recorded six straight outs to guarantee victory for the Cardinals.

Winning Pitcher - Bruce Sutter
Losing Pitcher - Jerry Koosman
Save - Bruce Sutter
Player of the Game - Bruce Sutter, 2IP, 0H's, 0BB's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Mike Schmidt, Ozzie Smith, Bruce Sutter

June 3, 1984 - Hot Corner Heroics

Game #655 - St Louis Cardinals, 9 @ New York Mets, 4

Ken Oberkfell was a fine player in the 80's, a good third sacker who put up consistent stats.  But in this Statis Pro season he's been absolutely bonkers.  He continued his torrid hitting in this game.

In the top of the second Obi-Wan led off the inning with a double and then scored on a George Foster error.  In the top of the fifth he recorded his third hit of the game and scored on an Ozzie Smith single.  He plated Andy VanSlyke in the top of the sixth with his fourth hit of the game.

Like I said, bonkers.

He only has a few games left with the Cardinals, though, before he goes to the Braves.  In the real 1984 he was Bob Horner's replacement in Atlanta.

Winning Pitcher - Kurt Kepshire
Losing Pitcher - Bruce Berenyi
Player of the Game - Oberkfell
Hall of Famers in the Game - Ozzie Smith

Game #656 - Chicago Cubs, 4 @ Philadelphia Phillies, 1

This game featured two fine pitching performances from opposing starters Dennis Eckersley and John Denny.

The first run of the game came in the top of the fourth with two outs.  Denny had only allowed one hit up to that point when Gary Matthews took him deep for a solo homer.  Denny would pitch through the seventh but that was his only charged run.

Eckersley, meanwhile, was doing well too.  He pitched seven innings of shutout ball but got lifted for a pinch-hitter in the top of the eighth.  The Phillies jumped all over reliever Warren Brusstar.  In the bottom of the eighth he walked Mike Schmidt and Ozzie Virgil but got Juan Samuel to ground into a double play.  Schmidt moved to third on that play and then scored on an Ivan DeJesus single, which tied the game.

In the top of the ninth Phillies reliever Al Holland got into a big pickle.  With one out Gary Matthews and Keith Moreland drew back to back walks.  That brought Ron Cey to the plate.  And the Penguin wasn't playing any games.  I mean, he was, he was playing the game of baseball, but you know what I mean.  Al Holland certainly did - because Cey went yard for a three-run bomb!

Winning Pitcher - Warren Brusstar
Losing Pitcher - Al Holland
Save - Lee Smith
Player of the Game - Ron Cey
Hall of Famers in the Game - Ryne Sandberg, Dennis Eckersley, Mike Schmidt

June 2, 1984 - 2 Skinnee J's

Game #643 - Chicago Cubs, 10 @ Philadelphia Phillies, 8

After high scoring games like this one I never know how many details to go into because a simple recap can turn into a book chapter.  The top of the third is the best place to start.  Phillies starter Marty Bystrom ended up surrendering eight runs, and three of those were because I was too stubborn to lift him knowing he was due up first in the bottom half of the inning.  Errors by Bystrom and Ivan DeJesus didn't help matters.

It was 8-2 until the bottom of the seventh.  Steve Trout worked in and out of jams for the first six innings before George Frazier was brought on to register the last nine outs.  But Sixto Lezcano went deep on a two-run bomb and then, after Frazier was lifted, Tim Stoddard gave up a hit to Greg Gross that plated the two remaing inherited runners from Frazier and all of a sudden it was just a two run lead for the Cubbies.

Chicago got much needed insurance in the top of the ninth.  After Ron Cey walked Jody Davis went deeeeeeep to give the Cubs a four run lead.  With three outs to go Lee Smith toed the rubber but, with one out, gave up  two singles, a walk, and then a Luis Aguyao double and all of a sudden the Phillies looked like they could tie this game with one swing.  But Smith got  yanked and Rich Bordi got two quick outs to earn the save.

Winning Pitcher - Steve Trout
Losing Pitcher - Marty Bystrom
Save - Rich Bordi
Player of the Game - Jody Davis, 2-5, HR, 3RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Ryne Sandberg, Mike Schmidt

Game #644 - Montreal Expos, 2 @ Pittsburgh Pirates, 3 (12 innings)

Rich Rhoden was uncharacteristically hittable in the first, giving up three singles, and including an RBI shot by Tim Wallach that plated Andre Dawson.  In the top of the third Tim Raines walked, stole second, move to third on an infield single, and scored on a ground out from Gary Carter to give Montreal a 2-0 lead.

Pittsburgh tied things up in the bottom of the fifth.  Bill Gullickson gave up and RBI double to Lee Lacy that scored Rhoden and then Johnny Ray drove home Marvelle Wynne on a single to knot the game.

And then it was a lot of goose eggs.  Dan Schatzeder went three innings of scoreless relief for the Expos and Cecilio Guante did the same for the Pirates.  Fast forward to the bottom of the 12th.  After two scoreless innings from Jeff Reardon Montreal handed the ball to Greg Harris.  Harris walked Lee Mazzilli, but Mazzilli was out at second on a fielder's choice that left Lacy on first.  Lacy stole second on a busted hit and run and then moved to third on a Johnny Ray ground out.  With two down Jason Thompson stepped up and poked a blooper into right field to score Lacy on the walk-off!

Winning Pitcher - Kent Tekulve
Losing Pitcher - Greg Harris
Player of the Game - Jason Thompson, GWRBI in the bottom of the 12th
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tim Raines, Andrew Dawson, Gary Carter

June 1, 1984 - A Reckoning Is Coming

I can't help but think, many years from now, when we're in the home stretch of the regular season, the Cardinals will be fading, struggling to hold onto first place, while the surging Cubs will be beating down the door right at the wire.  I look forward to it...

Game #629 - St. Louis Cardinals, 9 @ New York Mets, 3

Walt Terrell had a decent enough season in the real 1984, but so far in Statis Pro he's been fairly awful.  That was the case again in this game.  Already trailing 1-0 in the top of the third, Terrell got destroyed by the Cardinals offense.  Tom Herr ripped his first home run of the season for 3 RBI and the Red Birds plated four more in the inning.

Danny Cox toed the rubber for St. Louis and had a solid six innings of work, only allowing one run to score.  Reliever Ricky Horton gave up a two-run homer to Keith Hernandez but still got a save since he went three innings after Cox.

Winning Pitcher - Danny Cox
Losing Pitcher - Walt Terrell
Save - Ricky Horton
Player of the Game - Tom Herr, 3-5, 2B, HR, 3RBI, R
Hall of Famers in the Game - Ozzie Smith

Game #630 - Chicago Cubs, 6 @ Philadelphia Phillies, 5

It sure looked like Chicago's five game win streak was coming to an end early in the contest.  Von Hayes led off the bottom of the first with a single, stolen base, and then a run on the RBI knock by Tim Corcoran.  Corcoran plated another run in the fourth to give the Phillies a 5-0 lead.

And that's when the Cubs turned into Bears.

In the top of the fifth Ryne Sandberg homered to cut the lead to four.  Steve Carlton was still cruising until the top of the seventh.  Four straight Cubs recorded hits, including an RBI single by Gary Mattews.  Carlton got lifted and in came the late Tug McGraw.  With two runners on, Steve Lake came in as a pinch hitter for reliever Dickie Noles.  What did Lake do?  HOME RUN!!!  The Cubs came out of nowhere and  then somehow had a one run lead, their first of the game.  Tim Stoddard ad Warren Brusstar pitched a scoreless final three innings to give Chicago the improbable win!

Winning Pitcher - Dickie Noles
Losing Pitcher - Tug McGraw
Save - Warren Brusstar
Player of the Game - Steve Lake, GW 3-Run Homer
Hall of Famers in the Game - Ryne Sandberg, Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton

May 31, 1984 - Goodbye, May

Game #619 - Chicago Cubs, 9 @ Philadelphia Phillies, 2

The Phillies raced out to a quick 2-0 lead when Joe Lefebvre launched a two-run dong in the bottom of the first off starter Dick Ruthven.  Keith Moreland responded in the top of the second with a solo tater to cut the lead in half.

It would remain 2-1 until the top of the seventh.  Charles Hudson was on cruise control but seemingly hit a pot hole because the wheels came off.  Pinch hitter Henry Cotto hit a two-run single and then scored on a Ryne Sandberg triple.  The Cubs would score five total runs in the inning and would add three more over the next two innings to give Chicago their fifth win in a row.

Winning Pitcher - Dick Ruthven
Losing Pitcher - Charles Hudson
Player of the Game - Henry Cotto, 1-1, Sac Fly, 3RBI, R
Hall of Famers in the Game - Ryne Sandberg, Mike Schmidt

Game #620 - Montreal Expos, 3 @ Pittsburgh Pirates, 9

This game was tic for tack through the first four innings, with the Expos holding a slim 3-2 lead.  But the Pirates pushed the Expos overboard in the fifth.  That's when they plated six runs, including a bases-clearing double by Marvelle Wynn.  Jose DeLeon scattered four hits and five walks over eight innings pitched and logged the victory.

Winning Pitcher - Jose DeLeon
Losing Pitcher - Steve Rogers
Player of the Game - Lee Lacy, 3-5, RBI, 2R's, SB
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tim Raines, Andre Dawson, Gary Carter

May 30, 1984 - Identical Scores

Game #613 - San Francisco Giants, 3 @ Philadelphia Phillies, 5 (11 innings)

The Phillies jumped out to an early three run lead thanks in part to a RBI single from Tim Corcoran and a bases loaded walk to Mike Schmidt.  But the Giants came pecking back against Jerry Koosman.  In the fourth Brad Wellman doubled home Jeff Leonard and then Leonard launched a solo homer in the sixth.

In the top of the ninth Larry Andersen came on but gave up three straight singles to load the bases.  Pinch-hitter Randy Gomez whiffed but Chili Davis poked a single to tie the game!  Chris Brown struck out and the Phillies couldn't produce in the bottom of the ninth so that meant FREE BASEBALL!

Fast forward to the bottom of the eleventh and Greg Minton took the mound, the fourth Giants reliever of the game.  Pinch hitter Bo Diaz promptly walked, but Minton got back to back K's on Von Hayes and Luis Aguayo.  But Sixto Lezcano came up next and BLASTED A WALK-OFF, TWO-RUN BOMB!!!

Winning Pitcher - Don Carman
Losing Pitcher - Greg Minton
Player of the Game - Lezcano
Hall of Famers in the Game - Mike Schmidt

Game #614 - Baltimore Orioles, 3 @ Seattle Mariners, 5

This was the battle of the Mikes as Boddicker and Moore squared off against each other.  The Orioles had a comfy 2-0 lead when Phil Bradley doubled and Alvin Davis homered to tie things up.  In the fifth Larry Milbourne tripled and Spike Owen squeezed him home to give Seattle their first lead.  They padded that advantage with back to back solo homers by Ken Phelps and Barry Bonnell.  Despite issuing six walks, Mike Moore lasted eight innings while striking out eight Orioles hitters.

Winning Pitcher - Mike Moore
Losing Pitcher - Mike Boddicker
Save - Mike Stanton
Player of the Game - Moore, 8IP, 2R's, 8K's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray

May 27, 1984 - Power from the #3 Hitters

Game #581 - San Diego Padres, 7 @ Philadelphia Phillies, 5

San Diego, with a gutty outing from Mark Thurmond, were in cruise control for most of the game, especially after #3 hitter Carmelo Martinez took Steve Carlton deep for a two-run homer in the seventh.  But the Phillies wouldn't go down quietly.  Goose Gossage surrendered a two-run homer to pinch-hitter Joe Lefbvre in the bottom of the seventh, and Craig Lefferts got touched for two after a Juan Samuel double in the eighth.  Lefferts settled down after that to secure the victory.

Winning Pitcher - Mark Thurmond
Losing Pitcher - Steve Carlton
Player of the Game - Carmelo Martinez, 3-5, HR, 3RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tony Gwynn, Goose Gossage, Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton

Game #582 - Detroit Tigers, 4 @ Seattle Mariners, 5

The game was tied 1-1 in the bottom of the second when Seattle broke out their boom sticks.  Backup catcher Bill Nahorodny took Milt Wilcox deep, and two batters later Alvin Davis did the same.  Detroit chipped back throughout the game, including an RBI double from Lou Whitaker in the ninth, but Edwin Nunez retired the next three Tigers to save the game.

Winning Pitcher - Mike Young
Losing Pitcher - Milt Wilcox
Save - Edwin Nunez
Player of the Game - Steve Henderson, 2-4, 2B, 3B, 2RBI (#3 hitter)

May 26, 1984 - Lansford and Lezcano Lauded

Game #567 - New York Yankees, 6 @ Oakland A's, 14

Headed into the bottom of the fifth the Yankees actually held a slim 3-2 lead.  But Joe Cowley allowed four runs in the inning, including a two-run bomb from Carney Lansford.  But Lansford wasn't done.  He added a solo homer in the seventh for his second of the game, followed directly by a moonshot from Dwayne Murphy.  Mike Heath had three hits in the game, and all three were RBI doubles.  Every Oakland starter had a hit except Joe Morgan.

Curt Young gutted out seven innings, giving up 12 hits and 4 walks, but only three runs.

Winning Pitcher - Curt Young
Losing Pitcher - Joe Cowley
Player of the Game - Carney Lansford, 4-5, 2B, 2HR's, 4RBI, 3R's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Dave Winfield, Rickey Henderson, Joe Morgan

Game #568 - San Diego Padres, 2 @ Philadelphia Phillies, 6

The Phillies scored all six of their runs in the bottom of the first.  Andy Hawkins allowed the first five batters to reach base, including two-run homers by Sixto Lezcano and Joe Lefebvre.  Hawkins hung in until the sixth inning to give the Padres bullpen a breather and didn't allow another run, but the Padres anemic offense couldn't dig out of the first inning hole.

Winning Pitcher - Shane Rawley
Losing Pitcher - Andy Hawkins
Player of the Game - Sixto Lezcano, 3-4, 2B, HR, 2RBI, BB
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tony Gwynn, Mike Schmidt