May 12, 1984 - Cheaper by the Dozens

Game #413 - St. Louis Cardinals, 2 @ Cincinnati Reds, 12

Cardinals pitcher John Stuper got straight SMOKED in the fourth inning.  Eleven Reds came to the plate, including Brad Gulden, who crushed a grand slam as Cincy scored eight runs in the inning.

Winning Pitcher - Joe Price
Losing Pitcher - John Stuper
Player of the Game - Brad Gulden, Grand Slam, 2BB's, Sac Fly, 3R's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Ozzie Smith

Game #414 - Chicago Cubs, 3 @ Houston Astros, 4 (12 Innings!)

This game was much more suspenseful than the Cardinals/Reds match-up.  Ryne Sandberg led off the game with a single and a stolen base, then Mel Hall knocked him home for the first run.  In the bottom of the fifth, Denny Walling went deep for his first homer on the season to give Houston the lead, 2-1.  Ron Cey matched his third base counterpart by blasting his own two run bomb the next inning, putting the Cubs back in the lead at 3-2.  But Jerry Mumphrey scored Bill Doran on an RBI single in the bottom half of the inning to tie things up.

In the seventh the Cubs suffered a serious blow when a bloop hit by Mark Bailey caused Leon Durham and Gary Matthews to crash into each other for injuries, which will cause them to miss seven and six games respectively.  But neither team could generate offense until the bottom of the twelfth.  Jose Cruz led off with a single and then moved to third on a double by Enos Cabell.  Cruz got nabbed off third, though, when Jody Davis made a diving catch on a little pop up by Denny Walling.  That left two outs and Cabell on second base with Craig Reynolds at the plate.  Dickie Noles gave up a single and Cabell scampered home to win on the walk-off hit in the bottom of the twelfth!!!

Winning Pitcher - Joe Sambito (retired one batter)
Losing Pitcher - Dickie Noles
Player of the Game - Vern Ruhle, 1 2/3 IP of perfect relief
Hall of Famers in the Game - Ryne Sandberg, Nolan Ryan

May 12, 1984 - Closers Combust!

Game #411 - Seattle Mariners, 11 @ New York Yankees, 10

This game was so exciting I'm going to give you an inning by inning breakdown!

First:
New York jumped all over Seattle starter Ed VandeBerg.  They put up five runs, including a two run blast from Don Mattingly and a solo homer by Roy Smalley.  I thought this would be a blowout.  THAT'S WHY YOU PLAY THE GAME!

Second:
Ron Guidry cruised through the first but gave up back to back singles in the second.  Up stepped Barry Bonnell, who launched one over the left field fence.  All of a sudden it was just a two run lead...

Third:
Did I say Yankees lead?  Because Guidry gavem up four more runs as the Mariners batted around in the third.  Three of those runs?  I bases clearing double by...Bonnell!  He already had six RBI's by the third, how is he not the Player of the Game?  #SUSPENSE

Fourth:
With two outs Tim Foli doubled off VandeBerg.  Then Andre Robertson did too, plating Foli.  That was all for Ed.  Mariners were still out in front, 7-6.

Fifth:
Bob Stoddard was on the mound for Seattle, but he got abused by the potent New York hitters.  The Yankees scored three runs, two on an RBI single by Smalley.  That put New York back in front, 9-7.

Sixth:
Huh.  Nothing really happened in this inning.  Weird.

Seventh:
Alvin Davis, a rookie in 1984, has been tearing it up this season.  He hit a solo home run in the seventh, New York still winning, 9-8.

Eighth:
Jay Howell was pitching for the Yankees, and he hadn't given up a run all season.  But...Al Cowens hit an RBI single to tie the game!  But it doesn't last long!  In the bottom of the inning Tim Foli singles.  He moved to second on a sacrifice by Robertson.  Two batters later, pinch hitter Steve Kemp knocked him in.  New York in the lead again, 10-9.

Ninth:
Jay Howell settled down and got two outs right away.  With only one to go for the win, pinch hitter Ken Phelps singled!  Next up, another pinch hitter:  Dave Henderson.  With the flip of the first FAC card...BD!  Clutch batting!  Next card?  HOME RUN!!!  Seattle out front again!  Ed Nunez retired the Yankees in the bottom of the inning for the win!!!

Winning Pitcher:  Mike Stanton
Losing Pitcher:  Jay Howell
Save:  Ed Nunez
Player of the Game:  Dave Henderson - SECOND GAME IN A ROW!
Hall of Famers in the Game:  Dave Winfield

Game #412 - Pittsburgh Pirates, 6 @ Atlanta Braves, 4

That last game was so long in the recap, I'll skip straight to the good part for this one.  Steve Bedrosian took the mound in the top of the eighth with a 4-2 lead for the Braves.  Like Jay Howell, he had yet to surrender a run.  But he gave up FIVE straight hits and was lifted without recording an out as the Pirates came out of nowhere for the comeback win!

Winning Pitcher:  John Tudor
Losing Pitcher:  Steve Bedrosian
Save:  Kent Tekulve
Player of the Game:  Doug Frobel, started the rally against Bedrosian.