Rest in Peace - Catching up from the past year...

If you're new to the blog, I like to make it a point to recognize the passing of those players (and managers) who passed away from the 1984 season.  I haven't done one of these since the summer of 2021.  The players are listed from most recently deceased through last year.  As always, Statis Pro 1984 thanks these gentlemen for their contributions to such a terrific year of baseball.  They are mourned and missed.

John Wockenfuss - Phillies

Julio Cruz - White Sox

David Green - Cardinals

LaMarr Hoyt - White Sox

Ricky Nelson - Mariners

Jerry Remy - Red Sox

Dick Tidrow - Mets

Tim Tolman - Astros

June 19, 1984 - Astros Obliterate Padres with 21 Hits

Game #846 - San Diego Padres, 4 @  Houston Astros, 13

Eddie Whitson is usually a reliable starting pitcher for the Padres, but he had more than he could handle with the Houston Astros on this day.  In the bottom of the second Mark Bailey rocked a double that plated Craig Reynolds from first base and the first run of the game.  Bailey moved to third when pitcher Joe Niekro hit an oops-single.  Second baseman Bill Doran that notched a sacrifice fly to score Bailey.

It was still 2-0 in favor of Houston in the bottom of the fourth when the wheels fell all the way off for Whitson.  Houston sent nine batters to the plated and scored four runs, including an RBI double from Doran.  

The Padres cut the 6-0 lead in half in the top of the fifth, however.  With the bases loaded against Joe Niekro, Bailey allowed a passed ball that scored fellow catcher Terry Kennedy.  A couple of batters later Carmelo Martinez plated two with a single to make it 6-3.

But in the bottom of the fifth Houston once again scored four runs, this time off reliever Luis DeLeon.  Alan Wiggins didn't help matters any when he booted a grounder from Kevin Bass that opened the flood gates.  The Astros scored three more runs in the eighth, two courtesy of a Terry Puhl ball he launched into orbit.  The Astros rapped 21 hits, with five players hitting three apiece (Bill Doran, Terry Puhl, Jose Cruz, Enos Cabell, and Craig Reynolds).

Winning Pitcher - Joe Niekro

Losing Pitcher - Eddie Whitson

Player of the Game - Bill Doran, 3-5, 2 2B's, 3RBI, Sac Fly, 3R's

Hall of Famers in the Game - Tony Gwynn

June 19, 1984 - Brookens Walks It Off for Detroit

 Game #845 - New York Yankees, 4 @ Detroit Tigers, 6

The red-hot Tigers hosted their second game against New York in this battle of A.L. East ballclubs.  Detroit was on a six game win streak and looked to Carl Willis to start on the mound.  The Yankees countered with Ray Fontenot.

The first run of the game came courtesy of a solo homer by Lance Parrish in the bottom of the second.  The Tigers tagged on two more runs in the third inning on back to back RBI hits from Alan Trammell and Chet Lemon.  The Yankees tied the game in the top of the fifth thanks in large part to two uncharacteristic errors by both Trammell and Lemon.  

It stayed knotted at 3-3 until the seventh.  Dave Winfield walked to lead off the top of the inning, and was eventually sent home on a Butch Wynegar single.  But in the bottom of the seventh Barnabo Garbey plated Rusty Kuntz (NSFW!) on a single.  The bases were later loaded in that same inning for Detroit, but Trammell grounded into a double-play to end the threat.

Dave Righetti was on for New York in the bottom of the ninth, with the game still tied.  Kuntz led off with a walk, but Righetti quickly struck out Larry Herndon and Garbey.  With two outs, the scrappy Tom Brookens stepped to the plate.  Righetti tried to groove a fastball by him, but he was ready and sent it into the left field stands for a walk-off homer!!!

Winning Pitcher - Aurelio Lopez

Losing Pitcher - Dave Righetti

Player of the Game - Tom Brookens, 1-3, HR, 2RBI, BB

Hall of Famers in the Game - Dave Winfield, Alan Trammell