May 21, 1984 - First Place Fisticuffs

Game #511 - Minnesota Twins, 7 @ Toronto Blue Jays, 4

With such a short schedule of games on May 21, the Blue Jays had a chance to add some distance to their lead in the AL East.  Unfortunately for Toronto, the Minnesota sluggers were having none of that.  They plated five runs off Luis Leal in the top of the first, including back to back doubles from Tom Brunansky and Mickey Hatcher and a bases clearing triple from Gary Gaetti.  The Blue Jays had pulled back within a run of the Minnesota lead in the seventh, but Brunansky added some insurance by stroking his third double of the game in the top of the ninth as Ron Davis recorded the save.

Winning Pitcher - Frank Viola
Losing Pitcher - Luis Leal
Save - Ron Davis
Player of the Game - Tom Brunansky, 3-5, 3 2b's, 2RBI, 2R's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Kirby Puckett

Game #512 - Houston Astros, 14 @ St. Louis Cardinals

I haven't been this excited for a match-up in a long time, as the Astros and Cardinals are both in first place in the National League.  But Houston gashed St. Louis for fourteen runs and all that anticipation went straight out the window.  At one point Ricky Horton, David Green, and Darrell Porter all got ejected for arguing a "safe" call at first and the Cards had to burn through four bullpen arms in relief of Dave LaPoint.

Winning Pitcher - Mike Scott
Losing Pitcher - Dave LaPoint
Player of the Game - Bill Doran, 4-6, 2 3b's, 3R's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Ozzie Smith, Bruce Sutter

Happy Trails - Alan Bannister

With the lefty LaPoint starting for St. Louis, I rested Craig Reynolds and started backup Alan Bannister.  Alas, it would mark Bannister's last game...but not for the season!  That's right, Bannister made his way to the Rangers in the real 1984, so we'll see him again and still in the state of Texas at that.

How did Alan fair in this season of Statis Pro?

Let's take a look:

Real 1984:  9G  20AB  2R  4H  2 2b  0RBI  2BB  2K  .200/.273/.300/.573
Statis 1984: 9G  21AB  1R  4H  1 2b  1RBI  2BB  2K  .190/.261/.238/.499

Those are eerily similar stat lines, so it looks like Bannister did what Bannister was supposed to do.  Bert Pena will take his place now on the Houston bench.