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