On paper this didn't look like it would be much of a contest. Joe Niekro of the Astros has been one of the best pitchers in the NL this season while Rick Reuschel was uncharacteristically bad in the real 1984, but it was the Cubs who would score the first three runs in the game. In the bottom of the third Ryne Sandberg knocked in Larry Bowa with a single. In the fifth Gary Mattews, newly off the disabled list, plated Bob Dernier. And in the sixth, Keith Moreland added a homer to make it 3-0.
Meanwhile, Rick Reuschel was bobbing and weaving through the Houston lineup. He had induced the double plays to help his cause, but the wheels finally came off in the seventh. Four straight singles and an RBI ground out made it a tie ball game. It would stay that way after nine innings, which meant free baseball!
In the top of the ninth there were two outs when Alan Ashby singled off Tim Stoddard. Up to the plate came Kevin Bass...and he parked it for two! The Cubs wouldn't counter in the bottom half of the inning and Houston wins AGAIN.
Winning Pitcher - Bill Dawley
Losing Pitcher - Tim Stoddard
Save - Julio Solano
Player of the Game - Kevin Bass, 2-5, HR, 2RBI, 2R's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Ryne Sandberg
Game #504 - Montreal Expos, 2 @ Los Angeles Dodgers, 0
Starters Bill Gullickson and Alejandro Pena both lasted seven scoreless innings before being pulled for pinch-hitters. Jeff Reardon and Pat Zachry each tossed a scoreless eighth inning. In the top of the ninth the infamous Tom Niedenfuer took the mound. With one out Tim Raines singled. Terry Francona took a hit and run signal and poked a single, moving Raines to third. That's when Raines took the game into his own hands. For only the second time in 500+ Statis Pro games this season...I attempted to steal home with a player! And sure enough...RAINES DID IT! Two batters later Tim Wallach TRIPLED to make it 2-0!!! That's all Gary Lucas would need to record the save.
Winning Pitcher - Jeff Reardon
Losing Pitcher - Tom Niedenfuer
Save - Gary Lucas
Player of the Game - Raines, 1-4, R, HE STOLE FREAKIN' HOME PLATE!
Hall of Famers in the Game - Gary Carter
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