June 19, 1984 - Zahn Chucked Two Outs Short of a Shutout

 

Game #843 - Texas Rangers, 0 @ California Angels, 6

Your eyes don't deceive you...this is a new Statis Pro post!  I've had an amazing personal update that should clear the way for some slightly more normal posting of replays.

I graduated with my doctorate in education!  

Finishing and defending my dissertation was tough sledding, but perseverance and a TON of edits got me through.  Woot woot!

I hope this will clear my weekends for more hobbies and fun.  It's the first time in 3+ years I haven't had homework and papers hanging over my head!

This was a fun game to come back to for Statis Pro.  Geoff Zahn was scattering hits all over the place, but the Rangers couldn't convert them into runs.  The Angels, though, were doing the exact opposite to Texas starter Danny Darwin.  Bob Boone poked an RBI single against him in the bottom of the second, scoring Reggie Jackson.  Fred Lynn parked a solo bomb in the third to make it 2-0 Halos.  Rod Carew plated Gary Pettis in the fourth.  

By the bottom of the ninth the Angels were up 4-0 and facing rookie reliever Tom Henke.  Henke gave up four straight hits, and a walk two batters later, to surrender the last two runs of the game.  Zahn was holding onto a shutout with one out in the top of the ninth when he vehemently disagreed with a called ball from the home plate umpire.  Zahn got tossed!  California got the final two outs, though, and the win.

Winning Pitcher - Geoff Zahn

Losing Pitcher - Danny Darwin

Player of the Game - Zahn, 8.1 IP, 3K's, BB

Hall of Famers in the Game - Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson 

June 18, 1984 - Out Witt

Game #837 - Texas Rangers, 0 @ California Angels, 6

There was no rest for the weary on this day - while most of the league had this Monday off, four AL teams were duty-bound to play ball.

Both Dave Stewart and Mike Witt impressed early.  There was no scoring until the bottom of the fourth.  Doug DeCinces led of with a triple and later scored on a Juan Beniquez double.  Califonia tacked on two more when Rob Picciolo reached on a fielding error and then scored on a yet another Brian Downing homer.  Downing has been torrid of late.

The wheels came completely off for Stewart in the sixth after walking Picciolo with the bases loaded.  Dickie Noles replaced him but gave up a 2-RBI double to Rod Carew.  That's all Mike Witt needed, as he went the distance for a complete game shutout with eight K's.

Winning Pitcher - Mike Witt
Losing Pitcher - Dave Stewart
Player of the Game - Mike Witt, CG SHO, 8 K's, 8 H's, 2 BB's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson

June 17, 1984 - Downing Goes Deep Three Times!

Game #825 - Cleveland Indians, 5 @ California Angels, 6

Pitching legends Rick Sutcliffe and Tommy John opposed each other in this one, and both were on rocky footing early.  A Bob Boone error eventually allowed Brett Butler to score in the top of the first.  The Angels took the lead in the bottom half of the inning, though, when Brian Downing jacked a two-run bomb to give the Halos the lead, 2-1.

It was 3-2 in favor of California in the bottom of the third when Downing led off the inning.  He blasted his second homer of the game to make it 4-2.  That was still the score in the bottom of the seventh when Sutcliffe, running on fumes, surrendered ANOTHER home run to Downing!!!  Cleveland plated three runs in the top of the ninth to make things exciting, but reliever John Curtis finally retired Pat Tabler to preserve the win.

Winning Pitcher - Tommy John
Losing Pitcher - Rick Sutcliffe
Player of the Game - Brian Downing, 3-3, 3HR's, 5RBI, BB
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson

June 16, 1984 - Back, Back, Back and Forth

Game #811 - Cincinnati Reds, 11 @ Atlanta Braves, 8 (13 innings!!!)

This was a topsy-turvy slug fest!!!

The fireworks started in the bottom of the first when Dale Murphy smacked a two-run homer to give the Braves the early lead.  But the Reds tied it up in the second thanks to an Eric Davis double (he scored the second run on a throwing error on a pick-off attempt by Pascual Perez).  Dave Parker added another two RBI in the top of the third off a double, making it Reds 4, Braves 2.

A Dan Driessen RBI single in the fifth extended the lead, but Atlanta came roaring back in the bottom of the seventh thanks to a clutch three-run bomb from Claudell Washington off John Franco.  Dave Concepcion pulled the Reds ahead again in the eighth, doubling home Parker.  But in the bottom of the eighth pinch-hitter Paul Runge tied it again by singling home Brad Komminsk!

It was still tied 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth with Carl Willis pitching for Cincy.  He allowed a one-out single to Chris Chambliss and then walked Komminsk.  Bruce Benedict lined out, which brought Runge back up as he had taken over at shortstop.  Runge singled and Chambliss rounded home!  Dave Parker scooped up the ball and launched a cannon to home....OUT!  Chambliss was out!  Parker saved the game and it was off to extra innings.

Both bullpen logged goose eggs until the top of the thirteenth inning.  Dave Parker led off with a walk, and the next three batters reached base.  There were two doubles after that and when it was all said and done the Reds put five runs on the board!  Cincy handed the ball to Bill Scherrer to close it out, but he made it pretty dramatic by allowing two runs before getting Chambliss to ground out to end the game.  Whew!

Winning Pitcher - Carl Willis
Losing Pitcher - Donnie Moore
Player of the Game - Dave Parker, 2-5, 2B, 2RBI, 3R's, 2BB's, ASST

Game #812 - Cleveland Indians, 7 @ California Angels, 8

Ron Romanick got roughed up early and often in this one.  In the top of the third a two-out error by Rob Wilfong led to three unearned runs for Cleveland.  Joe Carter jacked a GRAND SLAM in the top of the fourth and the Tribe were way out front, 7-0.

And that's when the comeback started.  In the bottom of the sixth Bert Blyleven allowed five runs, including a three-run job off the bat of Juan Beniquez.  Lefty specialist Mike Jeffcoat was on the hill in the seventh when he allowed back to back solo homers to Brian Downing and Fred Lynn - tie game!!!  And in the bottom of the eighth Wilfong made up for his error by hitting a go-ahead homer!!!  The Angels overcame a seven run deficit to win the game.

Winning Pitcher - Luis Sanchez
Losing Pitcher - Ernie Camacho
Save - Don Aase
Player of the Game - Fred Lynn, 3-4, 2B, HR, RBI, 2R's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Bert Blyleven, Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson

June 15, 1984 - Halo Bender

Game #799 - Cleveland Indians, 2 @ California Angels, 5

Steve Farr had a nightmare start to the game, immediately digging a hole for Cleveland that would be hard to climb out.  A Rod Carew walk and Brian Downing double put Carew on third.  Fred Lynn brought him home with a sacrifice fly.  Then Downing scored on a Doug DeCinces double.  And then DeCinces scored when Reggie Jackson launched a home run to give the Angels a 4-0 lead after just one inning.

By the top of the seventh Farr was long gone and California was up 5-0 while starter Jim Slaton was working on a shutout.  But with two outs Jerry Willard planed a ball into the right field stands for Cleveland's first runs of the game.  Doug Corbett came on for the last two innings to put the nails in the proverbial coffin.

Winning Pitcher - Jim Slaton
Losing Pitcher - Steve Farr
Save - Doug Corbett
Player of the Game - Reggie Jackson, 3-3, HR, 2b, R, 2RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson

June 14, 1984 - Backups to the Rescue

Game #787 - New York Yankees, 6 @ Boston Red Sox, 3

New York scored twice in the top of the second inning off starter Bruce Hurst.  Roy Smalley hit a sacrifice fly to plate Brian Dayett and Tim Foli (playing for the injured Willie Randolph) doubled home Ken Griffey.

The Yankees picked up another run in the third when Bobby Meacham hit a solo homer, but the Red Sox picked up two runs in the bottom of the third.  Jim Rice singled to bring home Dwight Evans, and then Rice scored on a Tony Armas triple.  That made it 3-2 in favor of the Yankees.

It stayed that way until the top of the eighth.  Smalley and Foli had back to back hits that led to three runs to pad the New York lead.  Armas would homer in the eighth but that's as close as the Red Sox got.

Winning Pitcher - Roy Fontenot
Losing Pitcher - Bruce Hurst
Player of the Game - Tim Foli, 3-3, 2 2B's, BB, RBI, R
Hall of Famers in the Game - Wade Boggs, Jim Rice

Game #788 - Chicago White Sox, 3 @ California Angels, 7

This game was over almost as soon as it started.  In the bottom of the first LaMarr Hoyt gave up four runs; two on a homer by Fred Lynn and the other two on a double to Rob Wilfong.

Doug DeCinces added a two-RBI triple in the second to extend the California lead to 6-0.  Wilfong (getting increased playing time with Bobby Grich on the DL) added a solo homer in the fifth.

Chicago finally got three runs off Geoff Zahn later in the game but it was too little, too late. 

Winning Pitcher - Geoff Zahn
Losing Pitcher - LaMarr Hoyt
Player of the Game - Rob Wilfong, 4-4, 2B, HR, 3RBI, R
Hall of Famers in the Game - Carlton Fisk, Harold Baines, Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson

June 13, 1984 - New Hall of Famers

I know there was a lot of controversy over the recent selection of Harold Baines and Lee Smith to the Hall of Fame, but as the operator of a Statis Pro blog of the 1984 season, I love it.  I love seeing new players from this era of baseball go in.  I felt the same way when Morris and Trammell were selected.  Part of my excitement about it is how unexpected it is.  When I started this experience I thought, with the exception of Tim Raines, I wouldn't really see any new folks going in.  It's a lot more fun to know I have a Hall of Famer batting second for the White Sox, or that I'm calling a Hall of Famer into the game from the Wrigley bullpen. 

And so it was a lovely coincidence that the White Sox and Cubs were my next two games!

Game #775 - Chicago White Sox, 10 @ California Angels, 9 (17 innings!!!)

Here we have it...the longest game of the year.

It started off as a blowout.  The Angels scored four runs in the bottom of the first when Brian Downing and Rob Wilfong both hit two-run homers.  They added three more runs on a bomb from Reggie Jackson in the second. 

Mike Witt was cruising against the Sox until the top of the fifth.  He loaded the bases for Julio Cruz, and the slap hitter defied all expectations by blasting a grand slam!  Chicago scored two more runs in the top of the sixth, and suddenly, they were only down by a run.

Cruz was on base for the third time of the game in the eighth when HALL OF FAMER Harold Baines ripped a double to plate him for the tying run.  From there...the bullpens did battle.  Don Aase pitched 2.2 innings through the tenth.  Ron Reed and Juan Agosto of the Sox matched him. 

In the top of the 11th Bruce Kison took over for the Angels, and he was the last arm available.  Bert Roberge did the same for Chicago, though they still had other arms ready.  Kison looked like he blew the game in the top of the 12th.  Tom Paciorek singled and, two batters later, Jerry Hairston came in to pinch-hit.  He promptly jacked a two-run homer to give the Sox the lead!  BUT...in the bottom of the 12th, the Angels responded!  Mike Brown, playing his first game of the season with Gary Pettis on the DL, went big-fly to tie the game!!!  More free baseball!!!

Kison kept plowing away through the 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th...  Roberge made it through the 14th before giving way to Jerry Don Gleaton.  In the top of the 17th, with two outs and in his seventh inning of work, Kison finally yielded again.  Carlton Fisk launched a solo homer to give the White Sox the lead again!  (The game going this long was kind of ironic because in the real 1984 Fisk set the MLB record for most innings caught in a game - 24!  That was seven more than this one!!!)

Still, the Angels wouldn't go down without a fight.  Doug DeCinces singled with one out, and moved to second when Gleaton walked Wilfong.  But Fred Lynn, pinch-hitting in the bottom of the 17th (I was trying to give him the day off), grounded out to end the game.  After 17 freakin' innings.

Winning Pitcher - Jerry Don Gleaton
Losing Pitcher - Bruce Kison
Player of the Game - Carlton Fisk, GW HR
Hall of Famers in the Game - Carlton Fisk, Harold Baines, Reggie Jackson, Rod Carew

Game #776 - Montreal Expos, 1 @ Chicago Cubs, 10

This game was scoreless until the bottom of the second.  The bases were juiced when Gary Matthews launched an RBI double, and later scored on a Thad Bosely single.  That ultimately gave the Cubs a five-run lead.  Matthews added a three-run homer in the eighth to pad their lead, while HALL OF FAMER Lee Smith pitched a scoreless ninth to end the game.

Winning Pitcher - Steve Trout
Losing Pitcher - Bill Gullickson
Player of the Game - Gary Matthews, 2-5, 2B, HR, 4RBI, 2Rs, SB
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tim Raines, Gary Carter, Andre Dawson, Ryne Sandberg

June 12, 1984 - Gobble Gobble

Game #761 - New York Yankees, 6 @ Boston Red Sox, 3

Oil Can Boyd, who has been one of the best starters in the Statis Pro League, got tagged early in this one.  Butch Wynegar came up with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the first and roped a single to score Don Mattingly and Don Baylor.

Joe Cowley was the Yankees starter and cobbled together a shaky start until the bottom of the third.  Tony Armas doubled to plate Wade Boggs but Dwight Evans also scored when Steve Kemp bobbled the ball in right field.

The score was still tied at 2-2 until the bottom of the sixth.  Cowley loaded the bases and then got lifted for Bob Shirley.  Jackie Gutierrez grounded out but Rich Gedman scored on the play.  That lead only lasted until the top of the seventh.  Kemp doubled home Tim Foli, who is starting at second for the injured Willie Randolph.

The score was still tied in the top of the ninth when Mark Clear relieved John Henry Johnson.  He promptly walked Kemp, gave up a double to Victor Mata, and then a THREE-RUN HOMER TO DONNIE BASEBALL!!!  Dave Righetti got three outs in the bottom of the ninths and the Yankees won.  Thhhhhhheeeeeeee Yankees won!

Winning Pitcher - Bob Shirley
Losing Pitcher - Mark Clear
Save - Dave Righetti
Player of the Game - Don Mattingly, 3-5, HR, 3RBI, 2Rs
Hall of Famers in the Game - Wade Boggs, Jim Rice

Game #762 - Chicago White Sox, 8 @ California Angels, 1

Everything went right for the Pale Hose while everything went wrong for California.

The Angels actually scored the first run of the game when Doug DeCinces doubled home Rod Carew.  But after that Tom Seaver locked things down!  He lasted eight innings, only giving up four hits while striking out six.  Carlton Fisk had a big day, collecting four RBI that included a three-run homer in the fifth inning.

The Angels got bit by the injury bug.  Gary Pettis laid out trying to catch a Harold Baines liner and will now miss the next six games.  Dick Schofield crashed into the wall behind third base on a Scooter Fletcher foul ball and he'll be down for ten games.  Tommy John couldn't finish the fifth, allowing four unearned runs thanks to a DeCinces error.  It was ugly all around for California.

Winning Pitcher - Tom Seaver
Losing Pitcher - Tommy John
Player of the Game - Tom Terrific
Hall of Famers in the Game - Carlton Fisk, Tom Seaver, Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson

June 10, 1984 - Thornton Thumping, Downing Walking

Game #741 - Seattle Mariners, 1 @ Cleveland Indians, 4

I deviated from my normal organizational routine in this game - I didn't realize Seattle and Cleveland had a doubleheader!  I usually play both of those games back to back for the purposes of these replays and managing their bullpens, so it was quite a shock when I realized they needed to play two.  Nonetheless...

The Mariners struck first in the top of the fourth.  Phil Bradley singled off Bert Blyleven and then stole second base.  That enabled him to score when Alvin Davis raked his gazillionth double of the season.  But Cleveland tied the game in the bottom half of the inning when Andre Thornton blasted a solo shot off Jim Beattie.

It was still knotted at one apiece in the bottom of the sixth.  George Vukovich singled with one out, once again bringing up Thornton.  And once again, Thornton deposited a ball over the outfield fence!  Blyleven managed to go the distance on his way to seven strikeouts as Cleveland swept the Mariners to bring their overall record above .500.

Winning Pitcher - Bert Blyeleven
Losing Pitcher - Jim Beattie
Player of the Game - Andre Thornton, 2-4, 2HRs, 3RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Bert Blyleven

Game #742 - California Angels, 8 @ Kansas City Royals, 2

Mark Gubicza got into a heap of trouble right out of the gate.  Rod Carew singled to start the game and then Brian Downing walked.  They both advanced a base on Fred Lynn ground out and Carew scored thanks to a wild pitch from Gubicza.  Reggie Jackson recorded and RBI single to plate Downing and later scored on a combination of a Juan Beniquez single and a Darryl Motley fielding error in left field.  Just like that the Royals were down 3-0.

Kansas City tried to claw back.  Steve Balboni doubled home Motley in the second, and later scored on a Greg Pryor single to bring the Royals within one run of a tie score.  But Brian Downing walked for the third time of the game to lead off the fifth and the Angels would score two more runs.  They picked up two more runs in the sixth when, with two outs, Downing walked AGAIN and Fred Lynn followed with a  homer.  Downing had one more plate appearance, in the top of the eighth.  Instead of walking for the fifth time on the day he walked around the entire diamond after a solo home run.  What a day...

Winning Pitcher - Ron Romanick
Losing Pitcher - Mark Gubicza
Player of the Game - Brian Downing, 1-1, HR, 4BBs, 4Rs
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson, George Brett

Happy Trails...Frank Wills

Similar to my predicament with the Baltimore Orioles bullpen, I now have to go the rest of the Statis Pro Season with only five relievers for the Royals!  This won't be easy because there aren't a lot of bullpen games to pick from outside of Dan Quisenberry.  I'm already stressed about it.  So how did Frank Wills do?  He started five games and worked five games from the 'pen in the real 1984.  Let's compare his performances:

Statis Pro 1984:  1-3, 34.2IP  26Ks, 7.53ERA, 1.67WHIP, 5.57FIP
The Real 1984:  2-3, 37IP, 21Ks, 5.11ERA, 1.41WHIP, 3.74FIP

Wills was a lot less lucky with the Fast Action Cards in Statis Pro compared to his actual 1984 performance.  He went on to pitch seven more seasons in the big leagues.  Sadly, he passed away unexpectedly in his sleep in 20102.

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

June 7, 1984 - Out of Leftfield

Game #701 - California Angels, 4 @ Chicago White Sox, 2 (10 innings)

Mike Witt and Floyd Bannister were the dueling starters in this match-up and both looked good.  The first run of the game didn't cross home plate until the top of the fourth.  Brian Downing reached  on a fielding error by Vance Law.  Downing moved to third on a two-out double by Juan Beniquez, and then scored on a Rob Wilfong single.  Beniquez also tried to score but got gunned down at home by Ron Kittle.

And that was the only run of the game until the bottom of the ninth!  Witt was still on the mound, trying to complete the shutout.  But he walked Greg Luzinski with one out.  Mike Squires came on to pinch-run and then Rudy Law hit an RBI double to tie the game!  Witt left the game after that and Luis Sanchez got the final two outs to send the game into extra innings. 

The White Sox bullpen was a bit depleted, so Salome Barojas was charged to keep the game tied.  He immediately walked Bob Boone but induced a double play from pinch-hitter Rod Carew.  But then Ron Jackson walked, Gary Pettis singled and Brian Downing...HOMERED!  Three-run blast!  Greg Walker launched his own solo shot in the bottom of the tenth but it wasn't enough to overcome the Angels' left fielder.

Winning Pitcher - Luis Sanchez
Losing Pitcher - Salome Barojas
Player of the Game - Brian Downing, 2-5, HR, 2Rs, 3RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Reggie Jackson, Rod Carew, Carlton Fisk

Game #702 - Toronto Blue Jays, 3 @ Detroit Tigers, 4

This was the last of a four game series against the two best teams in Statis Pro.  The Blue Jays had a 2-1 series lead, so Detroit was desperate to dismiss Toronto with a loss.

Both teams had studs on the mound; Dave Stieb and Jack Morris.  Morris was the stronger pitcher through the first three innings as Stieb had to work out of several jams.  The wheels finally fell off in the bottom of the fourth.  Dave Bergman singled and scored on a Howard Johnson double.  HoJo crossed home plate on a Marty Castillo triple, his fourth of the season.  Whitaker then knocked Castillo in on an RBI single.  Stieb would load the bases before getting Chet Lemon to ground into a double play but that's as far as Stieb would pitch on the day.

Detroit held a 3-1 lead in the top of the seventh before Ernie Whitt launched a ball into the rightfield bleachers to tie the game at 3-3.  It stayed tied heading into the bottom of the ninth.  Alan Trammell was first up, and ended up on second after a disastrous error by Garth Iorg.  That brought up Kirk Gibson, facing fellow lefty Bryan Clark.  Gibby ripped a walk-off double, though, to win the game!!!  The Tiger leftfielder was the hero!!!

Winning Pitcher - Willie Hernandez
Losing Pitcher - Bryan Clark
Player of the Game - Kirk Gibson, 3-4, BB, 2B, GWRBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Alan Trammell, Jack Morris

June 6, 1984 - Big Time Drama

Game #687 - Milwaukee Brewers, 4 @ Baltimore Orioles, 5

Another day has passed in the Statis Pro season, making this the first game for June 6th.  Unfortunately, I forgot to update the stats after June 5th, so you'll have to wait a few weeks before I get around to that.  D'oh!

Mike Flanagan got off to a rough start when Jim Sundberg hit a solo homer to lead off the first.  You might be wondering what in the heck Sundberg was doing leading off.  Dion James was getting the game off and, outside of Robin Yount, the 1984 Brewers weren't real OBP kind of guys, so cue Sundberg.

Funny enough, Al Bumbry did the exact same thing leading off for the O's in the bottom of the first!  Rick Dempsey added another solo homer off Chuck Porter and by the end of two innings the Orioles were up 3-1.  It was the same score in the top of the eighth.  Flanagan was still in the game but running on fumes.  Two quick hits by Yount and Cecil Cooper got Flanny yanked for closer Sammy Stewart.  But Sammy got slaughtered, allowing three runs to score in the inning, which gave the Brewers a 4-3 lead. 

Tom Tellman was working his second inning of relief in the bottom of the ninth and got two quick outs before Bumbry poked a single to keep the game alive.  Up stepped Mike Young, who loyal readers of the blog know, has been the hottest hitting Oriole on the team.  He dug into the batter's box, squared up a pitch, and...BOOM.

WALK-OFF HOMER FOR THE WIN!!!

Winning Pitcher - Sammy Stewart
Losing Pitcher - Tom Tellman
Player of the Game - Mike  Young, 2-5, 2B, walk-off homer
Hall of Famers in the Game - Robin Yount, Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray

Game #688 - California Angels, 9 @ Chicago White Sox, 8

Tom Seaver toed the rubber for the White Sox, but he got whooped in the top of the first.  The Angels sent all nine hitters in their lineup to the plate and scored four runs, including a 2RBI double by Rob Wilfong.

In the bottom of the second, though, it was Chicago's turn to retaliate.  The White Sox plated six runs off starter Geoff Zahn.  That included two separate RBI triples by Tom Paciorek and Harold Baines.  In the bottom of the fifth Vance Law added a two-run homer to give the Pale Hose a 8-4 lead.  It wouldn't last!

California scored three in the sixth to come clawing back to within one run of the lead.  Two of those runs came courtesy of a two-out single by Brian Downing.  The Angels tied in the eighth on an RBI double by Rod Carew.

The game was still tied in the bottom of the ninth when ace reliever Don Aase got into trouble.  He gave up back to back singles and then intentionally walked Harold Baines to fill a vacancy at first with one out.  The strategy worked, though, because Greg Luzinski grounded into a double play to send the game to extra frames.  FREE BASEBALL!

In the top of the 12th reliever Bert Roberge was working his third inning of relief.  But Gary Pettis singled, stole second, and moved to third on a Rob Wilfong sacrifice fly.  That's when Juan Beniquez singled him home to brake the tie!  Despite Chicago getting runners on the corners in the bottom half of the inning, Bruce Kison struck out Ron Kittle to end the game!

Winning Pitcher - Don Aase
Losing Pitcher - Bert Roberge
Save - Bruce Kison
Player of the Game - Doug Corbett, I didn't mention it in the recap, but he retired all nine batters he faced across three innings of tough relief
Hall of Famers in the Fame - Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson, Carlton Fisk

June 5, 1984 - Best Offensive Game of the Season

Game #675 - California Angels, 5 @ Chicago White Sox, 7

Harold Baines had a monster year in the real 1984, and though he's certainly been productive in this Statis Pro season, his batting totals have been behind his '84 pace.

That all changed in this game.

In the bottom of the first Scott Fletcher singled and then trotted home ahead of Baines on a two-run homer with no outs.  Tommy John didn't fare any better in the second.  Rudy Law was standing on second with two outs when Baines stepped up again.  BOOM.  His second two-RBI homer in two innings!

Fast forward to the fifth.  John had settled down until Fletcher led off.  He singled, which brought Baines back up.  He didn't homer this time.  He only tripled.  The White Sox were up 5-0 and all the runs were driven in by Baines.  He scored from third when Ron Kittle doubled two batters later.

The Angels put up four runs in the top of the seventh to bring them back within a run of the Pale Hose.  But in the bottom half of the inning Baines was up first...and homered!  His third of the game!  That gave Chicago a two-run buffer they'd hold onto to finish the game.  Baines went 4-4 with three homers and a triple.  That's the best batting line on the season.

Winning Pitcher - Richard Dotson
Losing Pitcher - Tommy John
Save - Juan Agosto
Player of the Game - Harold Baines, 4-4, 3HRs, 6RBI, 4R's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson

Game #676 - Oakland A's, 5 @ Cleveland Indians, 10

Andre Thornton caught wind of Harold Baines' day and decided to try and one-up him.

In the bottom of the first he jacked a three-run bomb off Curt Young to plate three of the four runs Cleveland scored in the inning.  He then doubled in the third and fifth inning.  In the bottom of the eighth he had four hits on the day but decided to put one more ball over the fence to guarantee Player of the Game status.

Winning Pitcher - Bert Blyleven
Losing Pitcher - Curt Young
Player of the Game - Thornton, 5-5, 2HRs, 2 2Bs, 4RBI, 3Rs
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rickey Henderson, Joe Morgan, Bert Blyleven

Rest in Peace - Rob Picciolo

Sad news to start the new year - Rob Picciolo passed away on Wednesday from an apparent heart attack.  He played the 1984 season as the utility infielder for the California Angels.  Rest in peace, Mr. Picciolo.

June 4, 1984 - Lefty Sluggers Deliver

Game #663 - California Angels, 7 @ Chicago White Sox, 5

The Angels got an unexpected power boost in the top of the second inning.  With Reggie Jackson on first with two outs, Rob Wilfong gripped it and ripped it for a two-run homer.  The White Sox answered back with a run in the bottom of the second.  Greg Walker tripled and later came home on a Vance Law single.

Each team got three runs in the third.  Brian Downing doubled home Dick Schofield and later scored on a two-run single from Jackson.  Carlton Fisk doubled home Julio Cruz and Scott Fletcher and scored on a Ron Kittle ground out.  After the dust of the first three innings settled the Angels were up 5-4.

California starter Ron Romanick settled down after that, but White Sox hurler LaMarr Hoyt didn't follow suit.  Fred Lynn tagged him for a two-run bomb in the top of the fifth.  The White Sox scored a run in the bottom of the ninth but still fell short, losing 7-5.

Winning Pitcher - Ron Romanick
Losing Pitcher - Lamarr hoyt
Save - Doug Corbett
Player of the Game - Fred Lynn, 2-5, 2B, HR, 2RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson, Carlton Fisk

Game #664 - Oakland A's, 11 @ Cleveland Indians, 9

This game was nuts.

In the top of the first Rickey Henderson walked and proceeded to steal second and third base.  Two batters later Dwayne Murphy negated Henderson's effort by depositing the ball over the right field fence, giving Oakland a 2-0 lead.  But in the bottom of the first Cleveland tied things up with an RBI double from Andre Thornton, who then scored on a Mike Hargrove single.

Steve Farr was still pitching in the top of the second but pulled a feat I'm pretty sure hasn't happened this season - he walked five straight A's!  That gave Oakland a 4-2 lead going into the bottom of the second...where Cleveland sent up ten hitters who tagged Mike Warren for six runs, four of which were unearned due to a Joe Morgan fielding error.

Oakland wouldn't quit, though.  In the top of the fourth Murphy connected for his second homer of the day, this also a 2-RBI job, and then they scored four runs off Jamie Easterly in the fifth.  It wasn't all Easterly's fault, though.  Brook Jacoby had TWO fielding errors during the inning.   Murphy capped off the insanity with a THIRD homer, this time solo, in the top of the eighth as the Athletics won a wild one...

Winning Pitcher - Chuck Rainey
Losing Pitcher - Jamie Easterly
Save - Tom Burgmeier
Player of the Game - Dwayne Murphy, 3-6, 3HR's, 5RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rickey Henderson, Joe Morgan

June 3, 1984 - Almost Perfect

Game #649 - Atlanta Braves, 7 @ Cincinnati Reds, 2

The quest for the season's first no-no is still afoot, and it way Jay Tibbs of the Reds who didn't just flirt with a no-hitter but a perfect game too!

Tibbs was perfect through his first six innings on the mound.  18 Braves up, 18 Braves down.  But Rick Maheler was nearly as good for Atlanta.  He'd only allowed three base runners through the first five innings.  In the bottom of the sixth things changed.  The Reds staged an epic two-out rally.  Eddie Milner singled and then stole second.  Gary Redus doubled him home for the first run of the game.  After that Dan Driessen walked.  Dave Parker was up next and he singled home Redus, 2-0 in favor of the Reds!  Mahler got lifted for Gene Garber, who retired Wayne Krenchicki to end the inning but now Tibbs had a lead to go with his perfect game.

In the top of the seventh Gerald Perry lined out to Krenchicki.  That brought up Glenn Hubbard...who HOMERED!  Perfect game - ruined.  No-hitter - ruined.  Shutout - ruined!  All in one blast!  Claudell Washington singled after that which brought up Dale Murphy.  Murph connected on a LONG BALL, two-run homer!  In just three batters Jay Tibbs went from a perfect game through six and a third to losing the ball game!

The Braves added four more runs in the top of the ninth and Steve Bedrosian pitched the final two innings for the save.

Winning Pitcher - Gene Garber
Losing Pitcher - Jay Tibbs
Save - Steve Bedrosian
Player of the Game - Dale Murphy, 2-4, HR, 2RBI, 2R's

Game #650 - California Angels, 4 @ Cleveland Indians, 3

This was one of those "anything you can do I can do better" games.  In the top of the first the Angels scored a run on a Brian Downing single...and Cleveland matched with a run of their own in the bottom half.  The same thing happened in the second, Rod Carew singled home Doug DeCinces but the Indians tied it up again in their half.

It stayed 2-2 until the top of the eighth.  Mike Jeffcoat was on in relief of Steve Comer but gave up a single to Fred Lynn and then a monster bomb to Downing, giving the Angels a two run lead.  In the bottom of the eighth ace reliever Don Aase was on the mound but he was giving up cheap singles all over the place, including an RBI hit by Tony Bernazard.  He allowed two more runners in the ninth but Cleveland couldn't tie it up.

Winning Pitcher - Jim Slaton
Losing Pitcher - Mike Jeffcoat
Save - Don Aase
Player of the Game - Brian Downing, 3-5, HR, 3RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson

June 2, 1984 - Cornerstones

Game #637 - California Angels, 2 @ Cleveland Indians, 1

Rod Carew, leading off for the visiting Angels, surprised everybody in the stadium when he went yard in his first at-bat of the game.  But Rick Sutcliffe settled down after that, tossing one of his best games of the season for Cleveland (I'm chomping at the bit to get him pitching in Chicago...).  He allowed only four more hits until the top of the eighth.  After back to back singles by Dick Schofield and Carew he was replaced by Ernie Camacho.  Camacho got Brian Downing to line out to Julio Franco, who quickly stepped on second to double off Schofield.  But Fred Lynn plated Carew on a scorching double to center field. 

With a 2-0 lead Mike Witt pitched into the ninth but was replaced by Doug Corbett after Chris Bando zapped a pinch-hit homer over the fence.  Corbett retired the last two outs to record the save.

Winning Pitcher - Mike Witt
Losing Pitcher - Rick Sutcliffe
Save - Doug Corbett
Player of the Game - Rod Carew, 3-4, HR, 2Rs
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson

Game #638 - Baltimore Orioles, 2 @ Detroit Tigers, 4

Mike Young, the most improbable star of this Statis Pro season, continued his torrid production by blasting a solo homer in the first.  Tom Brookens answered back in the bottom of the third with one of his own to knot the game at one apiece.

The teams traded runs again in the seventh.  Al Bumbry doubled home Gary Roenicke in the top half but Brookens singled home Larry Herndon to tie things  up once again.

Storm Davis, who pitched the whole game for Baltimore, got into a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the eighth.  With one out up stepped...you guessed it.  TOM BROOKENS.  He punched a single that plated two, giving him all four RBI on the day for a Detroit win.

Winning Pitcher - Aurelio Lopez
Losing Pitcher - Storm Davis
Player of the Game - Tom Brookens, 3-3, HR, BB, 4RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray

June 1, 1984 - Hello June!

Game #621 - Oakland A's, 0 @ Chicago White Sox, 1

Tom Seaver was well past his prime in 1984, but in this game he pulled out some old Seaver magic to pitch one of the best games of this Statis Pro season.  It was certainly a dominant performance.  Only three runners reached base!  Tony Phillips doubled in the third, Bruce Bochte singled in the fifth, and Rickey Henderson drew a walk in the sixth.  That was all Oakland could muster while Seaver struck out six.

Meanwhile, the A's wasted an unusually masterful performance by Larry Sorensen.  The only run he allowed was a Vance Law solo blast in the bottom of the fourth.  It was one of only four hits for Chicago, though they did reach on five bases on balls.

Carlton Fisk comes off the DL in their next game, which has been a long time coming.

Winning Pitcher - Tom Seaver
Losing Pitcher - Larry Sorensen
Player of the Game - Tom Seaver, CG SHO, 2H's, BB, 6K's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rickey Henderson, Joe Morgan, Tom Seaver

Game #622 - California Angels, 1 @ Cleveland Indians, 3

This was a battle of the lefties as Neal Heaton and Geoff Zahn faced off in this series opener.  Both pitchers were cruising until the bottom of the fourth.  Andre Thornton was on third with two outs when Brook Jacoby singled him home.  The game got tied by California in the top of the fifth when Heaton plunked Juan Beniquez with the bases loaded!  He got Brian Downing to ground out to Chris Bando to end the threat.

RBI doubles by Bando and Carmelo Castillo in the bottom of the fifth gave Cleveland all the runs they needed.  Tom Waddell and Ernie Camacho pitched a scoreless two innings of relief to give Cleveland the victory.

Winning Pitcher - Neal Heaton
Losing Pitcher - Geoff Zahn
Save - Ernie Camacho
Player of the Game - Heaton, 7IP, ER, 6K's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson

May 30, 1984 - Trust Your Veterans

Game #605 - New York Yankees, 6 @ California Angels, 7

I love awesome, back and forth games!  Let's jump into the recap...

The Angels went up 2-0 in the bottom of the third when light-hitting Bob Boone smacked a double with the bases loaded off Ron Guidry.  The Yankees answered in the top half of the fourth, though, when Don Baylor and Butch Wynegar each ripped an RBI single to tie things back up.

In the bottom of the fifth Doug DeCinces legged out a triple with no outs, and trotted home after an RBI hit from Fred Lynn.  But the Yankees came roaring back, once again, the very next inning.  Don Mattingly chased Tommy John out of the game with an RBI double that scored Ken Griffey.  Luis Sanchez took John's place, but a booted grounder by DeCinces led to two more RBI on a pinch hit double from Steve Kemp, giving New York a two run lead.

They maintained that lead in the bottom of the eighth.  Reliever Clay Christianse induced a ground out from Dick Schofield...but Roy Smalley made an error!  Schofield advanced to second on a sacrifice fly by Rod Carew that very nearly left the ballpark.  Gary Pettis came up next, and smoked a triple to score Schofield.  But he wasn't done!  Ken Griffey bobbled the ball in center and allowed Pettis to score - tie game!  That brought up Reggie Jackson, pinch hitting in the DH slot of the order.  What did Mr. October do?  H O M E  R U N!!!!  Don Aase worked a scoreless ninth and the Angels escaped with the come from behind victory!

Winning Pitcher - Bruce Kison
Losing Pitcher - Clay Christianse
Save - Don Aase
Player of the Game - Reggie Jackson, 1-1, HR, huge ego
Hall of Famers in the Game - Dave Winfield, Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson

Game #606 - Toronto Blue Jays, 2 @ Chicago White Sox, 3

At the start of the game LaMarr Hoyt was pegged as having "bad stuff," meaning his normal 2-6 pitcher rating dropped to 2-4...against the best offense in Statis Pro!  But what did the steely veteran do?  He pitched seven innings of one-run ball, only giving up a solo homer to George Bell!  The White Sox scored three in the third off Jim Clancy and held on the rest of the way to put one in the win column!

Winning Pitcher - LaMarr Hoyt
Losing Pitcher - Jim Clancy
Save - Ron Reed
Player of the Game - Hoyt, 7IP, 7H's, 4K's, R

May 29, 1984 - First Place Bullpens

Game #597 - New York Yankees, 5 @ California Angels, 6

Ray Fontenot and Ron Romanick were posting goose eggs through the first three and a half innings when the Angels finally got on the board.  Rob Wilfong doubled to score Fred Lynn and then Doug DeCinces scored too when Omar Moreno overran the ball.

The Yankees came roaring back in the top of the sixth with big RBI hits from Willie Randolph and Ken Griffey, making it 5-2 in favor of New York.  But the Angels kept chipping away.  Lynn and Bob Boone drove in two in the bottom of the sixth, and Lynn hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh to plate Juan Beniquez and tie the game.

In the bottom of the eighth Boone reached on a Tim Foli error.  He moved to third on a single by Ron Jackson, which brought up Dick Schofield.  Schofield was non-existent on offense in the real 1984, and is doing even worse in the Statis Pro season, hovering around a .160 batting average.  So what was the call?  SUICIDE SQUEEZE  And it worked!  Schofield layed down a perfect bunt and Boone crossed home plate for the winning run.  Doug Corbett worked two innings of relief against the heart of the Yankees order to tally the win.

Winning Pitcher - Doug Corbett
Losing Pitcher - Bob Shirley
Player of the Game - Corbett, 2IP, six up six down, W
Hall of Famers in the Game - Dave Winfield, Reggie Jackson

Game #598 - Toronto Blue Jays, 6 @ Chicago White Sox, 3

Richard Dotson surrendered three runs in the first, and then another in the second to put the Pale Hose in the early deficit.  Dotson actually really settled down after that, pitching into the ninth.  But Bryan Clark, making a spot start, dodged danger through 5 and 2/3 innings.  Jim Gott came in after that to record the long save.

Winning Pitcher - Bryan Clark
Losing Pitcher - Ron Romanick
Save - Jim Gott
Player of the Game - Gott, 3 1/3IP, H, K, R