June 17, 1984 - Evans Pounds Blue Jays into 2nd Place

Game #836 - Boston Red Sox, 8 @ Toronto Blue Jays, 1

With the Detroit Tigers winning earlier in the day for a virtual tie with Toronto, the Blue Jays needed to handle business against the Red Sox to keep a half game lead in the AL East.

Dwight Evans made that immediately difficult.

Luis Leal surrendered a lead-off single to Wade Boggs and Dewey then blasted a pitch out of the park to give Boston a quick 2-0 lead.  Toronto got half of that back in the bottom of the second when George Bell went yard with the bases empty.

Jackie Gutierrez singled home Rich Gedman in the top of the fourth to put Boston out front by two again.  But it was Dwight Evans' second two-run bomb of the game in the seventh that really broke the Blue Jays back.

Oil Can Boyd, meanwhile cruised through eight innings of work with only the Bell homer counting on the scoreboard.  As a 2-6 starter in Statis Pro, he is surprisingly 9-0 on the year. 

The Toronto loss means the Roar of 84 has been restored - the Tigers are back in first!

Winning Pitcher - Dennis Boyd
Losing Pitcher - Luis Leal
Player of the Game - Dwight Evans, 2-3, 2 HR's, Sac Fly, 5 RBI, BB
Hall of Famers in the Game - Wade Boggs, Jim Rice

June 17, 1984 - Hey Porter

Game #835 - New York Mets, 3 @ St. Louis Cardinals, 11

This game got ugly, fast.  Despite recording three strikeouts in the bottom of the first, Sid Fernandez allowed Lonnie Smith to score on a Willie McGee single.  He then proceeded to surrender five runs in the bottom of the third, including a three run bomb to George Hendrick.  Ed Lynch replace El Sid in the same inning...and ended up giving up another three-run bomb, this time to Darrell Porter.

About the only excitement New York drummed up was a pinch-hit, two-run home run to Rusty Staub in the eighth.  Starter Danny Cox had only allowed one unearned run prior to that.

Winning Pitcher - Danny Cox
Losing Pitcher - Sid Fernandez
Player of the Game - Darrell Porter, 3-5, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R's

June 17, 1984 - Texas Sweeps Seattle

Game #834 - Texas Rangers, 2 @ Seattle Mariners, 1

This game started as a pitcher's duel between southpaws Mark Langston and Mike Mason.  Both pitchers marched through the first four innings with relative ease, though it was Langston who was more dominant.

That changed in the top of the fifth.  George Wright led off with a single and then moved to second on a Curtis Wilkerson sacrifice bunt.  That put him into scoring position, and catcher Donnie Scott stroked a double to make it so.  Two batters later, Scott scored on a Billy Sample single.  Langston settled down after that and pitched a complete game...

...but it was all for not, because the Seattle offense couldn't get anything going.  Mason took a shutout into the bottom of the ninth, but surrendered back to back singles to  Jim Presley and Phil Bradley before getting yanked in favor of Texas closer Dave Schmidt.  Alvin Davis managed to plate Presley with a sacrifice fly, but Ken Phelps grounded out with a runner on second to end the game and give Texas the Seattle sweep.

Winning Pitcher - Mike Mason
Losing Pitcher - Mark Langston
Save - Dave Schmidt
Player of the Game - Donnie Scott, 3-3, 2B, RBI, R, BB

June 17, 1984 - Padres take three of four from Giants

Game #833 - San Francisco Giants, 1 @ San Diego Padres, 5

This game was basically over just as it started.  In the bottom of the first Giants starter Mike Krukow allowed two runners on base before Kevin McReynolds mashed a pitch into the bleachers for a quick 3-0 lead.  The Padres picked up another run in the second when Alan Wiggins plated Terry Kennedy after Kennedy led off with a double.

Dave Dravecky, unlike Krukow, was lights-out.  In fact, he was pitching a perfect game into the top of the fifth before a Kennedy error allowed Bob Brenly to reach.  Dravecky induced a double play grounder from Steve Nicosia, though, to keep the no-hitter intact.  But back to back walks to Al Oliver and Manny Trillo brought up Johnny LeMaster, French for "the master," and Johnny broke up the no-no and shutout with an RBI single.  Dravecky settled down after that and lasted eight innings with only three more hits.

Winning Pitcher - Dave Dravecky
Losing Pitcher - Mike Krukow
Player of the Game - Dravecky, 8IP, 4H's, 1ER, 6K's, 2BB's, 1-3
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tony Gwynn, Goose Gossage

Happy Trails...Chris Brown

The litany of injuries to the Giants this season caused Chris Brown to make his September call-up much earlier than expected.  He's already cashed in his 23 games on the year, his first MLB season in the real 1984.  Let's see how the late All-Star Giant did:

The Real 1984:  .286 AVG, .358 OBP, .405 SLG, 1HR, 11 RBI, 2 SB
Statis Pro 1984:  .296 AVG, .345 OBP., 395 SLG, 1HR, 7 RBI, 2 SB

Wow - that's pretty darn close to a mirror image.  Playing rookies in Statis Pro is pretty fun, I'm sad to see Brown go...

June 17, 1984 - Fisk Redeems in Extras

Game #832 - Chicago White Sox, 8 @ Oakland A's, 7 (12 innings!)

This game looked like it would be all-Chicago at the start.  In the top of the second the White Sox hit back to back homers thanks to Vance and Rudy Law (no relation).  Both came off Oakland starter Larry Sorensen.  Sorensen was still in the game in the top of the third when he allowed another five runs, giving up two more home runs this time (Ron Kittle and Vance Law again).

With a 7-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third, Tom Seaver was cruising for the White Sox.  He retired the first eight hitters before Bill Almon successfully singled.  That brought up Rickey Henderson, who singled and moved Almon to third.  Rickey decided second base looked better than first, so he was off and running on Seaver's next pitch.  I guess Carlton Fisk was worried about a quick throw to keep Almon at first, because he air-mailed it into center field, allowing both runners to score.  Bruce Bochte tagged Seaver for a three-run bomb in the fourth to bring the A's back within in two, 7-5.

The Oakland bullpen (Chuck Rainey, Keith Atherton, Bill Caudill) kept the Chicago bats quiet through the ninth.  In the bottom half of the inning the White Sox had Ron Reed on the mound to close it out.  But a Dave Kingman double and an infield hit by Bochte put two runners on with just one out.  Tony Phillips dug in and...ripped a triple to tie the game!!!  Reed got the next two outs but this one headed to extra innings.  Free baseball!!!

Neither team did much over the next two innings, and Ray Burris was working his second inning in the top of the twelfth when Fisk stepped in.  He took Burris deeeeep to give Chicago the lead!  But in the bottom of the twelfth Oakland loaded the bases on Jerry Don Gleaton with just one out and slugger Dwayne Murphy at the plate.  It looked bad for the South Side, but Murphy tapped the ball to Gleaton for a 1-2-3 double play to end the game!

Winning Pitcher - Jerry Don Gleaton
Losing Pitcher - Ray Burris
Player of the Game - Fisk, go-ahead homer in the top of the 12th
Hall of Famers in the Game - Harold Baines, Carlton Fisk, Tom Seaver, Rickey Henderson, Joe Morgan

Happy Trails...Jerry Don Gleaton

As a kid I always thought his last name was "Don Gleaton" and his first name was Jerry.  Looking back now I can see that was fairly silly, but I never knew a "Jerry Don" before.  Let's see how the two J.D.'s compare!

The Real 1984:  3.44 ERA, 1-2, 2 SV, 4 K's, 4.90 FIP, 1.42 WHIP
Statis Pro 1984:  4.32 ERA, 3-0, 0 SV, 9 K's, 5.49 FIP, 1.32 WHIP

Gleaton pitched in eleven games (one start) and 18 innings in the real 1984, but my Statis Pro version logged 25 innings.  I must have used him more as a long reliever than a LOOGY.  He was a bit luckier in the real 1984 than in Statis Pro.  Still, he recorded three wins this season, including pulling one out of his hat in the bottom of the 12th in this game.  Thanks Jerry Don!  Al Jones will fill his spot in the bullpen.

June 17, 1984 - Ripken Yanks a Homer

Game #831 - Baltimore Orioles, 8 @ New York Yankees, 3

This game featured another lefty on lefty battle as Scott McGregor of the O's took on Bob Shirley of the Yankees.  It was a scoreless game until the top of the second.  That's when Floyd Rayford doubled and then Rick Dempsey homered to give Baltimore a 2-0 lead.

New York got on the scoreboard when Don Mattingly doubled with one out in the fourth and then Don Baylor singled him home. 

Fast forward to the top of the seventh and the score was still 2-1.  Joe Cowley relieved Shirley but gave up a single to Mike Young who, for some inexplicable reason is getting all the luck in the world this season on the fast action cards.  Cal Ripken was up next and ripped a ball into the left field stands to push the Orioles further ahead, 4-1. 

Don Mattingly managed a two-run homer in the eighth, but the Orioles tacked on four more runs in the last two innings of the game, including three off of Dave Righetti, to seal the deal.

Winning Pitcher - Scott McGregor
Losing Pitcher - Bob Shirley
Player of the Game - Cal Ripken, 3-4, HR, 2Rs, 2RBI, BB
Hall of Famers in the Game - Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray, Dave Winfield

June 17, 1984 - Rhoden Tosses 2-Hit Gem

Game #830 - Pittsburgh Pirates, 8 @ Montreal Expos, 1

If you are a loyal and long time reader of this blog, you'll know the closest I've come to a no-hitter was an Orioles vs. White Sox game where Mike Flanagan lost it sometime in the seventh (I think) but completed the game for a one-hit shutout.

I thought this would be my second one-hit game of the year.

It snuck up on me because Rick Rhoden surrendered his first hit of the game in the bottom of the second inning.  Andre Dawson parked it to tie the game at one run apiece.  After that, Rhoden kept missing bats.  In fact, it was still a one-hitter with one out in the bottom of the ninth.  That's when Tim Wallach poked a single to crush my dreams.  Rhoden, though, got the next two batters out and that sealed the deal on an awesome game of pitching.

Winning Pitcher - Rick Rhoden
Losing Pitcher - Steve Rogers
Player of the Game - Rick Rhoden, CG, 2H's, 2K's, 3BB's, HB, 1-5, R
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tim Raines, Gary Carter, Andre Dawson

June 17, 1984 - Tiger Hall of Famers Do Damage

Game #829 - Detroit Tigers, 11 @ Milwaukee Brewers, 2

With just a half game to go to get a share of first place in the AL East, the Tigers wanted to finish their three-game sweep of the Brewers.  They had Jack Morris on the mound to face Mike Caldwell...or more like CaldNOTwell!

In the top of the first Rusty Kuntz made his Statis Pro season debut at the top of the lineup and immediately doubled.  Alan Trammell dug in after that an promptly launched one into the stands for a 2-0 lead.  In the top of the second Kuntz singled home Howard Johnson with two outs, and Trammell went deep AGAIN!

Meanwhile, Jack Morris mowed down the Milwaukee lineup.  Through eight innings he was all goose-eggs on the scoreboard with only four Brewers reaching base.  But in the bottom of the ninth he lost his shutout on a two-RBI single from Jim Gantner.  He struck out Roy Howell, though, for the complete game victory.

Winning Pitcher - Jack Morris
Losing Pitcher - Mike Caldwell
Player of the Game - Alan Trammell, 3-6, 2HRs, 4RBI, 3Rs
Hall of Famers in the Game - Alan Trammell, Jack Morris, Robin Yount, Ted Simmons (congrats to Simmons - pretty sure this is my first Brewers game since he was announced!)

June 17, 1984 - Leon: The Professional

Game #828 - Minnesota Twins, 5 @ Kansas City Royals, 6 (10 innings)

The Royals struck first in the bottom of the first when Frank White doubled home George Brett for a quick 1-0 lead.  But Dan Meier of the Twins tripled home Dave Engle in the top of the second to tie things up.

Minnesota tagged Bud Black for two runs in both the third and fourth inning.  Black didn't have his best stuff but he did hang in through seven innings. 

The score was 5-3 going into the bottom of the ninth after eight sturdy innings from Twins starter Mike Smithson.  But Ron Davis got into a heap of trouble after a Houston Jimenez error, a walk to U.L. Washington.  Willie Wilson grounded to Tim Teufel, but a throwing error allowed Washington to score with runners on second and third and no outs.  Brett came to the plate next, but grounded out weakly to Davis.  With one out and both runners still in scoring position, Daryl Motley singled to right field!  Washington scored to tie the game and Wilson got waved to home...where Tom Brunansky threw out his second runner of the game!!!  Jorge Orta struck out next and we were on to extra innings.

Mike Jones got out of a pickle in the top of the tenth to keep the game tied at five apiece.  In the bottom half of the inning Davis was still on the mound and struck out Frank White.  But Pat Sheridan tripled to establish the winning run 90 feet from home plate.  Pinch-hitter Leon Roberts replaced John Wathan, and Roberts...blasted the ball into the gap in center field!  Walk-off win for Kansas City!!!

Winning Pitcher - Mike Jones
Losing Pitcher - Ron Davis
Player of the Game - Leon Roberts, game-winning pinch-hit
Hall of Famers in the Game - George Brett

June 17, 1984 - Reynolds Raps

Game #827 - Los Angeles Dodgers, 11 @ Houston Astros, 5

Houston starter Mike LaCoss did himself no favors when he loaded the bases in the top of the first and then walked Mike Scioscia for the first run of the game.  R.J. Reynolds slapped a single to score the second.  Terry Puhl homered in the bottom of the first to cut it to 2-1.

The Dodgers struck again in the top of the third.  With two runners on Reynolds struck again, this time lacing a triple to plate two more runs.  Ken Landreaux then singled home Reynolds and it was 5-1.

Though the Astros managed a pair of runs in both the fourth and fifth inning, they didn't really matter as L.A. kept their foot on the gas and scored six more.  That included a two-run homer by Pedro Guerrero, who appears to be awakening from a season-long slump.  Reynolds ended the game a home run shy of the cycle.

The Houston bullpen got taxed after three different relievers had to toss multiple innings following LaCoss.  They'll be short-staffed in their next game. 

Winning Pitcher - Bob Welch
Losing Pitcher - Mike LaCoss
Player of the Game - R.J. Reynolds, 3-4, BB, 2B, 3B, 3R's, 3RBI