May 29, 1984 - Hit by Pitches

Game #601 - Baltimore Orioles, 2 @ Seattle Mariners, 3 (12 innings)

The Orioles were up 2-0 after five and a half innings, getting an unusually good outing from Dennis Martinez.  This despite the fact he plunked two Mariners in the bottom of the fifth.  But in the bottom of the sixth Seattle got its revenge when Ken Phelps launched a two-run blast to tie things up.

Mark Langston hit Gary Roenicke with a pitch in the top of the seventh and in my mind the imaginary umpire issued a warning to both sides.  Langston lasted nine innings, striking out eight but the game was still tied, so on to extras it went.

Neither team could advance a runner to second base until the bottom of the twelfth.  With two outs Tom Underwood walked Alvin Davis and then Steve Henderson.  That brought up Al Cowens...who lined a single to center!  Davis took off for home, and the throw from Al Bumbry was late - Mariners win on the walk-off single by Cowens!

Winning Pitcher - Edwin Nunez
Losing Pitcher - Tom Underwood
Player of the Game - Al Cowens, GWRBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray

Game #602 - Kansas City Royals, 3 @ Texas Rangers, 10

Frank Wills of the Royals got lit up like a Christmas tree, surrendering six runs in less than two innings.  Paul Splittorff didn't fair much better, giving up another four runs in short reliever stint.  But Mark Huismann saved the bullpen by pitching the last 5+ innings, allowing zero runs, but plunking two Rangers.  Five different Texas players had at least two hits in the route.

Winning Pitcher - Danny Darwin
Losing Pitcher - Frank Wills
Player of the Game - Buddy Bell, 3-4, 2B, 3B, RBI, 3R's, BB

May 29, 1984 - 600 games!!!

Milestones are fun markers through this looong 1984 playback.  And we've hit another one!  That's right - 600 games played.  I can't believe I simulated 600 games...and that I'm not even a third of the way through the season!  As always, thanks for stopping by and reading the recaps.  On to the games...

Game #599 - Milwaukee Brewers, 4 @ Cleveland Indians, 2

Dion James continued his torrid play in this tangle with Cleveland.  He scored the second run of the game when Robin Yount doubled him home in the third.  In the fourth inning he hit a single with two on and two outs to pick up three RBI, and then added a double in the ninth.

Bob McClure darted in and out of trouble, allowing six hits but four walks in six innings.  Rollie Fingers pitched one and a third innings to pick up the save.

Winning Pitcher - Bob McClure
Losing Pitcher - Rick Sutcliffe
Save - Rollie Fingers
Player of the Game - Dion James
Hall of Famers in the Game - Robin Yount, Rollie Fingers

Game #600 - Detroit Tigers, 13 @ Oakland A's, 2

It seemed only fitting that the 600th game in Statis Pro was played by the real life world champs in 1984, the Detroit Tigers.  They didn't wilt in the spotlight, putting up an eight-spot in the fourth inning that included homers from Darrell Evans, Larry Herndon, and Chet Lemon.  Jack Morris pitched into he eighth while whiffing six A's.

Winning Pitcher - Jack Morris
Losing Pitcher - Steve McCatty
Player of the Game - Chet Lemon, 3-5, 2 2Bs, HR, 4RBI, 3R's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rickey Henderson, Joe Morgan

May 29, 1984 - First Place Bullpens

Game #597 - New York Yankees, 5 @ California Angels, 6

Ray Fontenot and Ron Romanick were posting goose eggs through the first three and a half innings when the Angels finally got on the board.  Rob Wilfong doubled to score Fred Lynn and then Doug DeCinces scored too when Omar Moreno overran the ball.

The Yankees came roaring back in the top of the sixth with big RBI hits from Willie Randolph and Ken Griffey, making it 5-2 in favor of New York.  But the Angels kept chipping away.  Lynn and Bob Boone drove in two in the bottom of the sixth, and Lynn hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh to plate Juan Beniquez and tie the game.

In the bottom of the eighth Boone reached on a Tim Foli error.  He moved to third on a single by Ron Jackson, which brought up Dick Schofield.  Schofield was non-existent on offense in the real 1984, and is doing even worse in the Statis Pro season, hovering around a .160 batting average.  So what was the call?  SUICIDE SQUEEZE  And it worked!  Schofield layed down a perfect bunt and Boone crossed home plate for the winning run.  Doug Corbett worked two innings of relief against the heart of the Yankees order to tally the win.

Winning Pitcher - Doug Corbett
Losing Pitcher - Bob Shirley
Player of the Game - Corbett, 2IP, six up six down, W
Hall of Famers in the Game - Dave Winfield, Reggie Jackson

Game #598 - Toronto Blue Jays, 6 @ Chicago White Sox, 3

Richard Dotson surrendered three runs in the first, and then another in the second to put the Pale Hose in the early deficit.  Dotson actually really settled down after that, pitching into the ninth.  But Bryan Clark, making a spot start, dodged danger through 5 and 2/3 innings.  Jim Gott came in after that to record the long save.

Winning Pitcher - Bryan Clark
Losing Pitcher - Ron Romanick
Save - Jim Gott
Player of the Game - Gott, 3 1/3IP, H, K, R