June 16, 1984 - Slim Margins of Victory

Game #815 - Minnesota Twins, 7 @ Kansas City Royals, 6

The Twins posted two runs in the top of the first inning thanks in part to a U.L. Washington error.  Darrell Brown was able to knock in both of those runs on a bases-loaded single.  Minnesota got a third run of starter Mark Gubicza in the third thanks to a rare hit from DH Pat Putnam.

Kansas City even things in the bottom of the fifth, though, when Hall of Famer George Brett blasted a three-run bomb off John Butcher.  The score stayed tied 3-3 until the bottom of the seventh.  That's when Willie Wilson doubled home Washington and Brett launched his second homer of the day!

With a three run lead the Royals looked like they had won...BUT THAT'S WHY YOU PLAY THE GAME!!!  The Twinkies erupted for a four-run inning off reliever Joe Beckwith, sending eight hitters to the plate who dinked and doinked him for the damage and the win.

Winning Pitcher - Rick Lysander
Losing Pitcher - Joe Beckwith
Save - Len Whitehouse
Player of the Game - Darrell Brown, 2-5, 3RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - George Brett

Game #816 - Detroit Tigers, 1 @ Milwaukee Brewers, 0

Pitcher's duel alert!!!

In the top of the second inning Chet Lemon lead off with a solo homer off Chuck Porter...and that would be the only run of the game.  Porter would pitch into the eighth, where Tom Tellmann took over, while recording 7 punch-outs.

Milt Wilcox was just as good, if not better.  He scattered five hits and two walks across seven innings and the Brew Crew only ever had one runner reach third base.  Willie Hernandez came on for the last two innings to preserve the shutout and victory.

Winning Pitcher - Milt Wilcox
Losing Pitcher - Chuck Porter
Save - Willie Hernandez
Player of the Game - Wilcox, 7IP, 5H's, 5K's, 2BB's, 0R's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Alan Trammell, Robin  Yount

June 16, 1984 - Flying in a "V" Formation

Game #813 - Philadelphia Phillies, 6 @ Chicago Cubs, 5

Yet another game where I couldn't pilot the Cubs to victory...

It was a scoreless game until the top of the second inning.  That's when Ozzie Virgil doubled home Tim Corcoran, and Virgil later scored when Juan Samuel hit an RBI sacrifice fly.

The Cubs took the lead in the bottom of the third when Charles Hudson surrendered an RBI to Cubs pitcher Dickie Noles, whose bloop hit caused Ivan DeJesus and Greg Gross to crash into each other, knocking both out of the game and putting them on the DL.  Ryne Sandberg plated another two three batters later to give Chicago a 3-2 lead.

It stayed that score until the top of the sixth.  Luis Aguayo led off with a solo homer (in the game in place of DeJesus) and later in the inning Joe Lefebvre hit a two-run dong of his own.  That made it 5-3 Phillies.  Philadelphia never relinquished the lead after that, thought they sent their third player to the DL when Tim Corcoran hurt his hand on a line drive catch.

Winning Pitcher - Charles Hudson
Losing Pitcher - Dickie Noles
Save - Al Holland
Player of the Game - Ozzie Virgil, 2-4, 2B, RBI, 3R's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Mike Schmidt, Ryne Sandberg, Lee Smith

Happy Trails...Dickie Noles

Dickie Noles started this game, his only start of the year for Chicago, thus completing his season for the Cubbies.  Don't worry, you haven't seen the last of him.  In the real 1984 he got traded to the Rangers, where I currently have him on their active roster.  Don't ask me how he can be pitching for two teams at the same time...

Let's compare the Dickies!

Statis Pro 1984 - 1-2, 6.05 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 4.40 FIP, 30K's
The Real 1984 - 2-2, 5.15 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 4.25 FIP, 14K's

If you go by WHIP and FIP, those are two very similar seasons.  Statis Pro Noles got tagged for more runs, though.  But he also doubled his strikeouts in fewer innings pitched.  Funny enough, Statis Pro Noles also recorded two hits, which didn't happen in the real 1984.  We'll see you down in Arlington, Dickie!

Game #814 - Los Angeles Dodgers, 10 @ Houston Astros, 1

Dial up the Fernandomania, because Valenzuela had himself a game.  He wasn't super dominant on the mound, but he scratched through eight innings by spreading eight hits and two walks, only allowing one run to cross the plate.  He really shined in the batter's box.  He went 2-4 with a double and home run!

Other Dodgers shone too.  Mike Scioscia scored three runs out of the lead-off spot and Mike Marshall homered from the cleanup spot.  Terry Whitfield had a nice game too, going 3-4 with a walk and a RBI.

Winning Pitcher - Fernando Valenzuela
Losing Pitcher - Mike Scott
Player of the Game - Fernando Valenzuela