May 30, 1984 - Schroeder Destroys Cleveland to Split the Doubleheader

Game #609 - Milwaukee Brewers, 2 @ Cleveland Indians, 10

Milwaukee and Cleveland were playing twice in one day, so the biggest fear a manager has running their bullpen is a short stint by the starting pitcher.

Enter Don Sutton.

Sutton couldn't get out of the first before hitting the showers, getting shelled for six runs in just two-thirds of an inning.  Andre Thornton went deep for a two-run  homer in the inning.

The only two runs for the Brew Crew came courtesy of Charlie Moore, who launched two solo shots off starter Steve Farr.

Winning Pitcher - Steve Farr
Losing Pitcher - Don Sutton
Player of the Game - Andre Thornton, 2-5, 2B, HR, 2RBI, 2R's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Robin Yount, Don Sutton

Game #610 - Milwaukee Brewers, 10 @ Cleveland Indians, 5

Like I said, during a doubleheader the manager doesn't want to see the starter get roasted early.

Enter Moose Haas.

Despite Milwaukee getting a three-run lead in the first thanks to a Bill Schroeder home run, Haas gave up a solo homer to George Vukovich in the second, an RBI double to Julio Franco in the third, and then a Chris Bando two-run dinger in the third as well.  But after Schroeder launched his SECOND three-run home run in the fourth inning Haas got yanked and Jamie Cocanower sacrificed his next start in the rotation by engaging in emergency mop-up duty.  He held Cleveland to just one more run over six innings of relief!

But our good friend Bill Schroeder wasn't done...HE BLASTED ANOTHER THREE-RUN HOMER IN THE EIGHTH!!!  That made it three homers and NINE RBI on the day!!!  I'm pretty sure that's the record high for the season.

Winning Pitcher - Jamie Cocanower
Losing Pitcher - Bert Blyleven
Player of the Game - Bill Schroeder, 4-5, 3HR's, 9RBI, 3R's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Robin Yount, Bert Blyleven

May 30, 1984 - Veteran OF's Win the Day

Game #607 - Pittsburgh Pirates, 8 @ Cincinnati Reds, 4

This one wasn't nearly as close as the final score looks.  The Pirates were up 8-0 after five innings. Both Tony Pena and Jim Morrison had three hits and a RBI, but it was Lee Lacy who had the biggest day.  He recorded two hits, three walks, a run scored, a stolen base, two runs and a RBI.

Winning Pitcher - John Candelaria
Losing Pitcher - Joe Price
Player of the Game - Lee Lacy
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tony Perez

Game #608 - St. Louis Cardinals, 1 @ Houston Astros, 0

Starters Joe Niekro and Jaquin Andujar were both dealing the nasty cheese in this pitcher's duel.  Andujar got lifted with one out in the eighth in favor of all-world reliever Bruce Sutter, but Niekro was still in the game in the top of the ninth.  Willie McGee had a lead-off single and reached third on a pick-off attempt by Joe Niekro, who nabbed Tommy Herr with a similar move in the second inning.  George Hendrick singled him home as the next batter and Sutter shut down the 'stros 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth to record the win.

Winning Pitcher - Bruce Sutter
Losing Pitcher - Joe Niekro
Player of the Game - George Hendrick, GW RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Ozzie Smith, Bruce Sutter

May 30, 1984 - Trust Your Veterans

Game #605 - New York Yankees, 6 @ California Angels, 7

I love awesome, back and forth games!  Let's jump into the recap...

The Angels went up 2-0 in the bottom of the third when light-hitting Bob Boone smacked a double with the bases loaded off Ron Guidry.  The Yankees answered in the top half of the fourth, though, when Don Baylor and Butch Wynegar each ripped an RBI single to tie things back up.

In the bottom of the fifth Doug DeCinces legged out a triple with no outs, and trotted home after an RBI hit from Fred Lynn.  But the Yankees came roaring back, once again, the very next inning.  Don Mattingly chased Tommy John out of the game with an RBI double that scored Ken Griffey.  Luis Sanchez took John's place, but a booted grounder by DeCinces led to two more RBI on a pinch hit double from Steve Kemp, giving New York a two run lead.

They maintained that lead in the bottom of the eighth.  Reliever Clay Christianse induced a ground out from Dick Schofield...but Roy Smalley made an error!  Schofield advanced to second on a sacrifice fly by Rod Carew that very nearly left the ballpark.  Gary Pettis came up next, and smoked a triple to score Schofield.  But he wasn't done!  Ken Griffey bobbled the ball in center and allowed Pettis to score - tie game!  That brought up Reggie Jackson, pinch hitting in the DH slot of the order.  What did Mr. October do?  H O M E  R U N!!!!  Don Aase worked a scoreless ninth and the Angels escaped with the come from behind victory!

Winning Pitcher - Bruce Kison
Losing Pitcher - Clay Christianse
Save - Don Aase
Player of the Game - Reggie Jackson, 1-1, HR, huge ego
Hall of Famers in the Game - Dave Winfield, Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson

Game #606 - Toronto Blue Jays, 2 @ Chicago White Sox, 3

At the start of the game LaMarr Hoyt was pegged as having "bad stuff," meaning his normal 2-6 pitcher rating dropped to 2-4...against the best offense in Statis Pro!  But what did the steely veteran do?  He pitched seven innings of one-run ball, only giving up a solo homer to George Bell!  The White Sox scored three in the third off Jim Clancy and held on the rest of the way to put one in the win column!

Winning Pitcher - LaMarr Hoyt
Losing Pitcher - Jim Clancy
Save - Ron Reed
Player of the Game - Hoyt, 7IP, 7H's, 4K's, R

May 30, 1984 - Remember When They Were in World Series Droughts?

Game #603 - Chicago Cubs, 10 @ Atlanta Braves, 8

The Cubbies went up 4-0 in the first and never looked back, even though the final score made it look closer than it really was.  Leon Durham hit a 2-RBI double with the bases loaded, helping chase away Len Barker after three innings and seven runs of offense.  Durham added another RBI, again with a double, in the sixth.  But it was Rich Hebner, making an ultra-rare start in the outfield, who had the biggest day.  He went four for five with a RBI and three runs scored...plus an outfield assist!

Winning Pitcher - Chuck Rainey
Losing Pitcher - Len Barker
Save - Warren Brusstar
Player of the Game - Rich Hebner
Hall of Famers in the Game - Ryne Sandberg

Game #604 - Minnesota Twins, 0 @ Boston Red Sox, 7

The poor Twins lost this one almost as soon as it started.  In the bottom of the first Wade Boggs singled, Dwight Evans walked, and then Mike Easler homered to give them a 3-0 lead before they even recorded an out!  Bob Ojeda scattered nine hits and two walks in a complete game shutout, the first shutout of the year for any Boston pitcher.

Winning Pitcher - Bob Ojeda
Losing Pitcher - John Butcher
Player of the Game - Mike Easler, 3-4, 2B, HR, 5RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Kirby Puckett, Wade Boggs, Jim Rice