May 9, 1984 - Late Game Heroics

Merry Christmas everyone!  I apologize I haven't had more posts over the holidays.  This is a time of year I usually get a lot of Statis Pro in, but we've been hosting family from out of town.  I hope your holidays have treated you kindly, and that you get to enjoy the break as much as I have!

Game #379 - Los Angeles Dodgers, 3 @ Chicago Cubs, 2

Larry Bowa has been uncharacteristically good with the stick in this Statis Pro season, and he continued his hot hitting in the bottom of the third.  He doubled off of Alejandro Pena and later scored on a Bob Dernier single.  The Dodgers answered back in the top of the fourth.  With one out, Dave Anderson ruined Rich Bordi's no-hitter with a surprise solo homer.

The score stay tied 1-1 until the bottom of the sixth.  Ryne Sandberg singled and then swiped second base off of Steve Yeager.  Gary Matthews was up next and singled him home to give Chicago the lead.  Once again, the Dodgers responded in the next inning.  Yeager hit a sacrifice fly that plated Greg Brock to keep the score tied.

Tim Stoddard was pitching in the top of the ninth when German Rivera doubled with one out.  Ken Landreaux singled to move Rivera to third.  Stoddard walked Bob Bailor to load the bases, and then walked RJ Reynolds to plate the winning run!

Winning Pitcher - Ken Howell
Losing Pitcher - Tim Stoddard
Save - Tom Niedenfuer
Player of the Game - Howell, 2IP, 0H's, 3K's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Ryne Sandberg

Game #380 - Philadelphia Phillies, 6 @ Houston Astros, 9

I thought this would be a fun pitching match-up between all-star lefties, as Steve Carlton toed the rubber for the Phillies and Bob Knepper was on the mound for the Astros.  Neither made it past the third inning!  Knepper gave up five runs in 2 and 2/3 innings, including homers to John Wockenfuss and Mike Schmidt.  Carlton saw eight hitters come to the plate in the first, which included a Jose Cruz home run.

The score was tied 5-5 in the top of the seventh when Ozzie Virgil crushed a solo shot to give the Phillies the lead, but Enos Cabell answered back with a homer of his own in the bottom of the inning.  The score was still 6-6 in the bottom of the eighth when
Al Holland had two runners on and was facing Bill Doran. Doran hit an unexpected three run blast to give Houston the lead and eventual victory!

Winning Pitcher - Dave Smith
Losing Pitcher - Al Holland
Save - Bill Dawley
Player of the Game - Bill Doran, game winning home run
Hall of Famers in the Game - Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton