June 9, 1984 - First Place for a Reason

Game #733 - Houston Astros, 4 @ San Francisco Giants, 3

You wouldn't think the last place Giants would be much of a struggle for the first place Astros, but San Fran has given Houston all they can handle on their West Coast road trip.

The Astros jumped all over starter Bill Laskey in the top of the first, plating three runs on a 2-RBI single from Craig Reynolds and then another RBI knock off the bat of Ray Knight.  The Giants fought back in the bottom of the third.  Vern Ruhle, making a rare start, gave up a lead-off solo homer to Jeff Leonard and, two batters later, an RBI double to Al Oliver.

In the bottom of the seventh Ruhle was still in the game but had two runners on base.  That's when Joel Youngblood roped a double that scored Oliver, but as Bob Brenly made his way towards towards home too, he got thrown out at the plate to keep the game tied.

By the top of the ninth the score was still tied and the Giants had their best reliever, Gary LaVelle, on the mound.  But a walk, single, and sacrifice fly from Kevin Bass gave them the lead!  Bill Dawley tossed a perfect bottom of the ninth to save the game for Houston, 4-3.

Winning Pitcher - Mike Scott
Losing Pitcher - Gary LaVelle
Save - Bill Dawley
Player of the Game - Dawley, IP, SV

Happy Trails...Alejandro Sanchez

This marked the last game of the season for Alejandro Sanchez.  He appeared in 11 games in the real 1984.  He's the classic September call-up type of player, but the vast number of injuries to the San Francisco roster caused him to log all of his time in the first third of the season.  How did he do?

The Real 1984:  .195/.195/.244/.439  .049ISO, .195wOBA, -3.8wRAA, 2SB, 3Rs, 2RBI

Statis Pro 1984:  .303/.324/.303/.627  .000ISO, .288wOBA, -0.8wRAA, 2SB, 1R, 1RBI

Sanchez went 2-4 in this game, which gave him a nice little bump in his final numbers.  Overall, though, he still recorded a negative wRAA.  But compared to the quality of his teammates who aren't currently injured, he more than held his own.

Game #734 - Chicago Cubs, 1 @ St. Louis Cardinals, 2

The Cubs tagged Joaquin Andujar and the Cardinals with an unlikely run in the top of the first.  Gary Matthews walked with one out and then Ryne Sandberg hit into what looked like a sure double-play but managed to beat the throw at first.  He then stole second base and scampered home on a Leon Durham single.

Meanwhile, Jody Davis was doing his best to assist starter Chuck Rainey, who was bending on the mound but not breaking.  Twice Davis threw out a would be base-stealer; Lonnie Smith in the bottom of the first (only his second caught stealing of the season) and Willie McGee in the sixth.

Chicago still had a precarious 1-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh.  Tom Herr led off with a single but Ozzie Smith and Mark Salas both struck out to bring up Andujar.  Andujar had only given up three hits in the game so lifting him seemed risky.  The manager allowed him to hit and a "clutch batting" came up on the FAC.  That's normally a blank stat line on a pitcher's hitting card, but Joaquin had two homers on the season in the real 1984.  Sure enough...the next FAC resulted in a two-run bomb!!!  Andujar closed out the final two innings for a complete-game win in which he accounted for all of the St. Louis offense!

Winning Pitcher - Joaquin Andujar
Losing Pitcher - Chuck Rainey
Player of the Game - Andujar, CG stud with a long-ball to boot
Hall of Famers in the Game - Ryne Sandberg, Ozzie Smith

 

June 9, 1984 - Identical Scores

Game #731 - Pittsburgh Pirates, 4 @ Philadelphia Phillies, 3

John Candelaria and Jerry Koosman faced off in this Keystone battle.  It was scoreless until the third inning when both Lee Lacy and Sixto Lezcano hit solo homer for their respective teams to keep the game tied.

In the top of the fifth Lacy added his second bomb of the day, this time with Amos Otis on base, to give the Pirates a 3-1 lead.  But the Phillies knotted it up again in the sixth when Juan Samuel cranked a two-run homer too.

The game was still tied until the top of the eighth.  Back to back hits from Lee Mazzilli and Lacy put a runner in scoring position for Johnny Ray.  Ray singled and Mazilli scored the decisive run.

Winning Pitcher - John Candelaria
Losing Pitcher - Bill Campbell
Save - Rod Scurry
Player of the Game - Lee Lacy, 3-4, 2HRs, 3RBI, 2Rs
Hall of Famers in the Game - Mike Schmidt

Game #732 - Cincinnati Reds, 4 @ San Diego Padres, 3

The Padres loaded the bases in the bottom of the first but only managed one run on a Terry Kennedy walk.  Steve Garvey had an RBI ground-out in the third to make it a 2-0 lead, and then Mark Thurmond helped his own cause with a sacrifice fly that scored Luis Salazar.

The Reds came charging back in the sixth, though.  They scored two runs, including an RBI knock by Nick Esasky.  They were still trailing by one run in the seventh when Thurmond was lifted with two outs and a runner on second in favor of ace reliever Goose Gossage.  The Reds countered with pinch-hitter Duane Walker.  Walker doubled, scoring Dave Concepcion to tie the game!  Then Dan Driessen singled home Walker to give Cincy the lead!  Ted Power, Bob Owchinko, and John Franco held the Padres scoreless over the final three games to earn the win.

Winning Pitcher - Joe Price
Losing Pitcher - Goose Gossage
Save - John Franco
Player of the Game - Duane Walker, 1-2, 2B, RBI, R
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tony Perez, Tony Gwynn, Goose Gossage

June 9, 1984 - Mets Double EXPOSure

Game #729 - New York Mets, 2 @ Montreal Expos, 4

Twin bill!

In game one the Expos got out to an early lead in the first inning when Gary Carter ripped a two-run double to plate Bryan Little and Tim Raines.  In the bottom of the third the Expos struck again, this time on a two-run bomb from Andre Dawson.

Meanwhile, Expos starter Charlie Lea was mowing Mets down until the seventh.  That's when Hubie Brooks singled and then Darryl Strawberry went yard to cut the lead in half.  But Dan Schatzeder pitched a perfect two innings of relief to earn the save.

Winning Pitcher - Charlie Lea
Losing Pitcher - Bruce Bereny
Save - Dan Schatzeder
Player of the Game - Gary Carter, 1-3, 2B, 2RBI, BB, Asst
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tim Raines, Andre Dawson, Gary Carter

Game #730 - New York Mets, 9 @ Montreal Expos, 4

Part Deaux!

Both teams called up spot starters to the active roster for the second game.  The Expos penciled in Joe Hesketh and the Mets added Mike Torrez.  Both pitchers were strong through the first four innings as both teams were scoreless.  But in the top of the fifth Montreal ran into a wood chipper.  Tim Wallach and Mike Ramsey each committed fielding errors while George Foster and Jerry Martin both landed two-run homers for a mammoth seven run inning.  The Expos were never close again after that.

Winning Pitcher - Mike Torrez
Losing Pitcher - Joe Hesketh
Player of the Game - George Foster, 3-5, 2B, HR, 3RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tim Raines, Gary Carter

June 9, 1984 - Fireworks

Game #727 - Atlanta Braves, 6 @ Los Angeles Dodgers, 3

Back to back RBI singles by Claudell Washington and Brad Komminsk in the top of the first gave Atlanta a quick 2-0 lead against the Dodgers.  But in the bottom of the second the L.A. offense would respond in the exact same way.  Steve Sax and starting pitcher Rick Honeycutt were the culprits this time, tying the game at two apiece.

And that was all the offense there was until the eighth inning!  Still tied at two, reliever Gene Garber was in his second inning of work when Ken Landreaux zapped a solo homer to give the Dodgers a lead heading into the top of the ninth!  Pat Zachry was trying to record the final three outs but lead-off hitter Komminsk jacked his own homer to tie the game!  The Braves would record another three runs, including a 2-RBI double by Gerald Perry.  It was a stunning loss for the Dodgers.

Winning Pitcher - Gene Garber
Losing Pitcher - Pat Zachry
Save - Donnie Moore
Player of the Game - Brad Komminsk, 3-4, HR, 2RBI.

Game #728 - Toronto Blue Jays, 5 @ New York Yankees, 9

It looked like the first place Blue Jays were going to run away with the game when they plated four in the top of the second inning.  They batted around with RBI singles from Garth Iorg, Dave Collins, Jorge Bell, and Jesse Barfield.

But the Yankees came charging back in the bottom of the third.  Donnie Baseball blasted a three-run job to bring the Bronx within a run of the lead.  Barfield responded in the fourth with his second RBI of the game, extending the Toronto lead to 5-3.  But the Yankees tagged starter Jim Clancy with five straight singles in the bottom of the fifth, and then Ken Griffey ripped a double off reliever Jimmy Key to help the Yankees post five runs in the inning.  Mattingly added a solo homer in the eighth for a bit of insurance.

Winning Pitcher - Ray Fontenot
Losing Pitcher - Jim Clancy
Save - Bob Shirley
Player of the Game - Don Mattingly, 3-5, 2HRs, 4RBI, 3Rs

June 9, 1984 - Wildness in the AL West

Game #725 - Seattle Mariners, 3 @ Cleveland Indians, 7

The third place Mariners were trying desperately to stay within eyesight of the Angels and Royals while on the road in Cleveland.  They had Mike Moore on the mound for the battle, but it did not go well.  Tony Bernazard batted home Pat Tabler in the second inning to score the first run of the game.  Bernazard then doubled home Brook Jacoby  and Jerry Willard on a double, with Willard crossing home plate due to a Barry Bonnell fielding error.

The Mariners started scratching back in the eighth, when starter Steve Comer went an inning too long by loading the bases before Ernie Camacho toed the rubber.  Camacho allowed consecutive RBIs to Dave Henderson, Alvin Davis, and Al Cowens before escaping the inning.  A two-run homer by Andre Thornton in the bottom half of the inning put Seattle away for good. 

There was an outfield collision in this game - Brett Butler will miss one game but little used Otis Nixon, who was in as a defensive replacement, got tagged with 87 games on the DL!  That's the largest injury total to date and only one off the allowed maximum.

Winning Pitcher - Steve Comer
Losing Pitcher - Mike Moore
Player of the Game - Tony Bernazard, 2-3, 2B, R, 2RBI, BB

Game #726 - California Angels, 3 @ Kansas City Royals, 5

Pat Sheridan was back after a stint on the DL and he made his return count.  In the bottom of the first he singled, stole second, and then advanced to third on a throwing error Jerry Narron.  That gave Jorge Orta the easy RBI on his single to center field.  Sheridan struck again in the third, this time singling home Greg Pryor, who has been manning second base due to Frank White's injury.

In the bottom of the sixth Darryl Motley and Steve Balboni hit back to back solo homers, which was helpful because Dan Quisenberry had his worst appearance of the year in the eighth inning.  He gave up three hits, including a homer to Reggie Jackson, but Mike Jones shut down California in the ninth for his first save on the season.  The win got the red-hot Royals one game closer to the first place Angels.

Winning Pitcher - Bret Saberhagen
Losing Pitcher - Jim Slaton
Save - Mike Jones
Player of the Game - Pat Sheridan, 3-4, R, RBI, SB
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson, George Brett