May 11, 1984 - Teeny Boppers

Game #403 - Philadelphia Phillies, 15 @ San Diego Padres, 3

400 games into this Statis Pro season, and I'm still conflicted on when to yank a starting pitcher who is getting shelled in the first inning.  I pulled Eric Show after two outs and seven hitters because he had already yielded four runs.  A fifth crossed the plate when Floyd Chiffer inherited a runner on third.  The Phillies added a bookend to the massive scoring in the ninth inning, when they scored six more runs.  Four of those came courtesy of a Len Matuszek grand slam.

Winning Pitcher - Shane Rawley
Losing Pitcher - Eric Show
Player of the Game - Len Matuszek, 3-4, 2B, Grand Slam, HBP, 3R's, 4RBI's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Mike Schmidt, Tony Gwynn

Game #404 - Montreal Expos, 13 @ San Francisco Giants, 4

...and continuing the theme with early inning struggles...Giants starter Jeff Robinson was already losing 1-0 when five runners scored in the third.  The Giants bullpen was already taxed from their last loss, so I let him go back out there for the fifth.  He allowed two more runs and then loaded the bases before I finally sent him to the showers.  The Expos had a field day, none more so than Gary Carter.  He was perfect at the plate and scored three runs while driving in five.

Winning Pitcher - Charlie Lea
Losing Pitcher - Jeff Robinson
Player of the Game - Carter, 4-4, 2B, HR, 3R's, 5RBI's, BB
Hall of Famers in the Game - Gary Carter, Andre Dawson

May 11, 1984 - The East Is Least

Game #401 - Chicago Cubs, 3 @ Houston Astros, 5

Mike Scott got off to a rough start when he surrendered a lead off homer run to Ryne Sandberg in the top of the first.  But Houston chipped back and took the lead by the fifth inning.  Ron Cey brought the Cubbies back within one when he launched a two run blast of his own, but Dave Smith pitched a great two innings of relief, striking out four Chicago hitters in that span.

Winning Pitcher - Mike Scott
Losing Pitcher - Steve Trout
Save - Bill Dawley
Player of the Game - Dave Smith
Hall of Famers in the Game - Ryne Sandberg

Game #402 - New York Mets, 1 @ Los Angeles Dodgers, 2

In the bottom of the first Steve Sax singled off Ron Darling.  He then stole second base.  Two hitters and outs later, Mike Marshall doubled him home to give L.A. the quick 1-0 lead.

Darling helped his own cause in the bottom of the third by reaching first on a hit.  He moved to third on a line drive by Mookie Wilson, and then scored on a Kelvin Chapman ground out to tie the game.  The game stayed tied until the bottom of the sixth.  Ken Landreaux singled and move to third on two separate ground outs.  That's when Sax recorded his second hit to plate Landreaux for the lead.

Meanwhile, Fernando Valenzuela was dealing.  His only real trouble occurred in...the top of the ninth!  I had channeled my inner-Tommy Lasorda and was committed to Fernandomania finishing the game.  Hubie Brooks led off with a hit, but George Foster grounded into a double play.  Ron Gardenhire was up next, and he doubled!  Mike Fitzgerald stepped up and walked, putting two on with two outs in a one run game.  Wally Backman pinch hit in the nine hole, but Valenzuela got him to strike out for the complete game victory!

Winning Pitcher - Fernando Valenzuela
Losing Pitcher - Ron Darling
Player of the Game - Valenzuela, CG, ER, 9K's