May 14, 1984 - One-run squeekers

Game #433 - Seattle Mariners, 4 @ Detroit Tigers, 3

When you play thousands of games from a season three decades prior, some will be fun, and some will be stinkers.  This was the former!

Detroit jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first off Seattle starter Mike Moore when Chet Lemon roped a double but then scored on an error by centerfielder Barry Bonnell.  The Mariners tied it up in the fourth, though, when cult hero Ken Phelps launched a homer.

In the top of the fifth Jack Perconte scored Spike Owen on an RBI single.  He then stole second and crossed home plate himself on an RBI double by Alvin Davis.  Chet Lemon brought the Tigers back within one in the bottom half of the inning with a solo shot into the leftfield stands.

Each team scored another run in the sixth, but Edwin Nunez and Mike Stanton combined for three innings of shutout relief to preserve the win for Seattle.  It's their fifth in a row!

Winning Pitcher - Mike Moore
Losing Pitcher - Jack Morris
Save - Mike Stanton
Player of the Game - Nunez, 2IP, 0R's, 1H

Game #434 - Oakland A's, 5 @ New York Yankees, 6

What would you say if I told you the A's scored the first five runs of this ball game...and lost?

(Sorry, that's a very "30 for 30" way to start a recap.  Rest in peace, Grantland)

That being said, the A's did score the first five runs and lost!  Four of those came in the first inning, which included a three-run jack by Dave Kingman. But New York clawed back.  They plated two runs in the fourth when Roy Smalley homered.  They picked up another in the fifth and two more in the sixth off a Toby Harrah triple. The game-winning RBI came in the seventh.  Don Baylor doubled with one out, and then Butch Wynegar doubled him home for the eventual win.  Weak sauce, Oakland bullpen.  Weak sauce.

Winning Pitcher - Jay Howell
Losing Pitcher - Bill Caudill
Save - Dave Righetti
Player of the Game - Roy Smalley, 2-4, HR, 2RBI's, 2R's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rickey Henderson, Joe Morgan, Dave Winfield

Rest in Peace

Sad news to report - Garry Hancock, who played parts of the 1984 season on the Oakland A's, passed away this month.

May 14, 1984 - You Complete Me

Game #431 - Kansas City Royals, 7 @ Chicago White Sox, 0

The Royals have stunk quite a bit lately, so I decided at the start of the game I would try and "manufacture" some runs.  In the top of the second Daryl Motley led off with a single.  I had Frank White bunt him over to second.  With one out, Greg Pryor, playing for the injured George Brett, doubled him home!  My strategy worked!

The score stayed 1-0 until the top of the seventh, when KC put up three more runs, including a two run homer by Pat Sheridan.  They put up three more in the eighth and the Royals cruised to a 7-0 victory.  Mark Gubicza went the distance, only allowing three hits and two walks while pitching the shutout.

Winning Pitcher - Mark Gubicza
Losing Pitcher - LaMarr Hoyt
Player of the Game - Gubicza, he had six strikeouts too.

Game #432 - Boston Red Sox, 6 @ Cleveland Indians, 3

This game was ugly.  Why?  Here are a few reasons:

• The Red Sox committed four errors and somehow still won.  The Indians had two as well, both by Julio Franco.
• Rich Gedman hit into three double plays...and the Red Sox still won.
• Oil Can Boyd gave up nine hits, but over nine innings.
• Jerry Willard whiffed in all four at-bats.

Winning Pitcher - Oil Can Boyd

Losing Pitcher - Bert Blyleven

Player of the Game - Boyd, CG, 9K's

Hall of Famers in the Game - Wade Boggs, Jim Rice, Bert Blyleven