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 16, 1984 - Take It to the House

Game #817 -  Pittsburgh Pirates, 1 @ Montreal Expos, 5

The Pirates got on the board first in the top of the first inning when David Palmer loaded the bases and then Tony Pena walked, scoring Lee Lacy.

The Expos clawed back in the bottom of the third.  RBI singles by Tim Wallach and Andre Dawson put them up, 2-1.  Montreal plated another run in the fourth when pitcher Larry McWilliams made a fielding gaff allowing Wallace Johnson to score (more on him below...).

Montreal's narrow lead was still in place in the bottom of the eighth.  That's when Mike Stenhouse stepped in for Palmer and cranked a two-run blast off Kent Tekulve to seal the deal for the 'spos!

Winning Pitcher - David Palmer
Losing Pitcher - Larry McWilliams
Player of the Game - Mike Stenhouse, 1-1, HR, 2RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tim Raines, Gary Carter, Andre Dawson

Happy Trails...Wallace Johnson

With the rash of injuries for Montreal this season, Wallace Johnson got a lot of early playing time instead of a September call-up.  Let's see how Statis Pro Wallace compared to the real 1984:

Statis Pro Wallace:  .333AVG  .407OBP  .333SLG  .741OPS  2Rs  3RBI
The Real Wallace:  .208AVG  .345OBP  .208SLG  ..553OPS  3Rs  5RBI

Clearly the Statis Pro season for Johnson was more prosperous, but in both cases, it was with fewer than thirty plate appearances. 


Game #818 - Baltimore Orioles, 4 @ New York Yankees, 3

This game featured a battle of dueling lefty pitchers - Mike Flanagan and Ron Guidry.  Flanagan got tagged first in the bottom of the second.  Eight Yankees came to the plate and New York scored three runs off RBI hits from Ken Griffey, Tim Foli, and Andre Robertson. 

It was still 3-0 in the top of the fifth when Gary Roenicke plated the first run for the O's with a solo blast.  Baltimore tagged on another after an Eddie Murray triple and a Floyd Rayford single. 

Guidry was still on the mound in the top of the seventh when, after striking out two hitters, he surrendered back to back homers to Roenicke and Mike Young!  Sammy Stewart pitched three scoreless innings in relief and the Orioles finished the come from behind win.

Winning Pitcher - Mike Flanagan
Losing Pitcher - Ron Guidry
Save - Sammy Stewart
Player of the Game - Gary Roenicke, 2-4, 2HRs, 2RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray, Dave Winfield

June 15, 1984 - Memorial Day

Game #803 - Detroit Tigers, 5 @ Milwaukee Brewers, 0

This post is dedicated to all who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we have the freedom to play inconsequential games like Statis Pro.

Dave Rozema turned in one of the top pitching performances of the season in this one.  It looked good early as he struck out the side in the bottom of the first.  Cecil Cooper led off with a double in the bottom of the second and that would be the only extra base hit of the game.  By the bottom of the ninth the Brew Crew only had two hits and no walks.  With two outs Bob Clark and Jim Sundberg hit back to back singles and then Robin Yount flew out to the warning track in left to end the game.  Rozema only faced three hitters above the minimum while blanking Milwaukee.

Winning Pitcher - Dave Rozema
Losing Pitcher - Jamie Cocanower
Player of the Game - Rozema, CG SHO, 5K's, 4H's, 0BB's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Alan Trammell, Robin Yount

Game #804 - Pittsburgh Pirates, 10 @ Montreal Expos, 3

The Pirates jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the second thanks to a pair of homers from Tony Pena and Doug Frobel.  Pena scored the fourth run of the game in the fourth off a sacrifice fly from Dale Berra.

The Expos made a game of it in the bottom of the sixth.  Tim Raines led off with a triple and then Bryan Little doubled him home.  Little scored on the play after Lee Lacy booted the ball in left field.  One out later Gary Carter launched a solo bomb to close the Pittsburgh lead to one.

The Pirates cushioned their lead in the seventh, though, on RBI hits from Marvelle Wynne and Jason Thompson.  They piled on four more in the top of the ninth to turn it into a route.

Winning Pitcher - Jose DeLeon
Losing Pitcher - Bryn Smith
Save - Don Robinson
Player of the Game - Tony Pena, 3-4, 2B, HR, BB, 3R's, 2RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tim Raines, Gary Carter, and Andre Dawson

June 14, 1984 - Wait For It

Game #791 - Baltimore Orioles, 2 @ Milwaukee Brewers, 6

This game started as a great pitcher's duel between Mike Boddicker of the O's and Don Sutton of the Brewers.  In fact, there wasn't a single run score through the first five innings.  But in the top of the second, Jim Dwyer stroked a double to plate both Ken Singleton and John Shelby.

The Brewers finally got on the scoreboard when Jim "Gumby" Gantner launched his first homer of the year, a solo job.  Boddicker stayed on the mound until there were two outs in the eighth.  Cecil Cooper had just singled to move Dion James to third.  Sammy Stewart came in to slam the door but the unthinkable happened - Cal Ripken Jr. had errors on consecutive hitters and the flood gates opened!  The Brew Crew scored five unearned runs in the frame!  Rick Waits worked an inning and a third to record the win.

Winning Pitcher - Rick Waits
Losing Pitcher - Mike Boddicker
Player of the Game - Waits, 1.1 IP, 2Ks
Hall of Famers in the Game - Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray, Robin Yount, Don Sutton

Game #792 - Pittsburgh Pirates, 0 @ Montreal Expos, 1

The Pirates nearly scored the first (and only) run of the game in the top of the third.  John Candelaria had scored and moved to second when Lee Lacy poked a single with two outs.  The Candy Man charged for home but got gunned down by Andre Dawson.

Candelaria and Montreal starter Charlie Lea both lasted seven innings in the game without yielding a run.  The Pirates put two runners on base in the top of the ninth, but Jason Thompson and Tony Pena both grounded out to push the game into the bottom of the ninth.

Jim Winn took the mound after an inning of relief from Kent Tekulve.  He immediately walked Dawson.  Derrell Thomas lined out but Pete Rose singled and Roy Johnson walked to load the bases for Mike Ramsey.  Ramsey...singled!  WALK-OFF!!!

Winning Pitcher - Dan Schatzeder
Losing Pitcher - Jim Winn (ironic)
Player of the Game - Mike Ramsey, 1-2, walk-off single
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tim Raines, Gary Carter, Andre Dawson

June 13, 1984 - Coming Down to the Last Inning

Game #779 - Baltimore Orioles, 2 @ Milwaukee Brewers, 6

This game started off as a nice pitcher's duel.  Storm Davis of the Orioles and Moose Haas of the Brewers were both in fine form.

The first damage of the game came in the bottom of the second.  Rick Manning hit a solo homer with two outs off Davis.  The Brewers struck again in the bottom of the fourth with a two-out, RBI single by Jim Gantner that plated Robin  Yount.

Davis settled down after that while Haas cruised into the top of the seventh.  With two outs and Gary Roenicke on third, Rich Dauer ripped a double for Baltimore's first run.  Then Al Bumbry singled home Dauer and the game was tied up!

It was still knotted at 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth.  Storm Davis was still pitching when he loaded the bases off an error, single, and a walk.  That brought up Yount with the bases juiced.  HE WENT YARD.  GRAND SLAM WALK-OFF!!!

Winning Pitcher - Ray Searage
Losing Pitcher - Storm Davis
Player of the Game - Robin Yount, 2-5, GS, 4RBI, 2R's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray, Robin Yount

Game #780 - Pittsburgh Pirates, 5 @ New York Mets, 4

I thought this game would be another pitcher's duel with Doc Gooden and John Tudor on the mound, but that wasn't quite the case...

The Mets scored first in the bottom of the first when a Keith Hernandez sacrifice fly scored Mookie Wilson.  The Pirates gained the lead in the second, though, on RBI hits from Tudor (!) and Marvelle Wynne.

New York surged ahead in the bottom of the third.  George Foster and Ron Gardenhire hit back to back RBI singles to give the Mets a 3-2 lead.  Foster added another run with a solo homer in the fifth, his third hit of the day.

But in the top of the sixth Doc Gooden had a runner on first with two outs when Doug Frobel stepped up.  He promptly jacked a two-run homer to tie the game!  Gooden would strike out the last batter in the sixth, his tenth "K" of the game, before getting lifted for a pinch-hitter.

Fast forward to the top of the ninth.  Wes Gardner surrendered four straight hits after recording the first hit, including an RBI single by Lee Lacy.  That one run would be the difference as Cecilio Guante got three outs in the bottom of the ninth.

Winning Pitcher - Don Robinson
Losing Pitcher - Wes Gardner
Save - Cecilio Guante
Player of the Game - Don Robinson, 2.1 IP, 3K's, 0H's & 0R's

June 12, 1984 - Catch(er) of the Day

Game #767 - Pittsburgh Pirates, 5 @ New York Mets, 4

Johnny Ray smoked a one-out double off Sid Fernandez in the top of the first and scored two batters later thanks to a Tony Pena single.  The Mets answered back in the bottom of the first, though, thanks to a two-run homer by Keith Hernandez.

The Pirates tied it up in the second, though, when Dale Berra, a disaster at the plate this year for Pittsburgh, hit a rare solo homer.  It stayed 2-2 until the bottom of the fifth.  Hernandez walked with one out and then George Foster took Rick Rhoden over the left field wall to give the Metropolitans a two-run lead.

Pittsburgh wouldn't be denied, however.  Tony Pena hit a lead-off single in the sixth and later scored on a Rhoden double.  Rhoden hit seventh in the lineup thanks to a +.300 batting average in the real 1984. 

In the eighth Doug Sisk was working his second inning of relief when he imploded.  With one out he walked Pena and gave up a hit and run single to Bill Madlock, playing his first game since coming off the DL.  With Pena on third Marvelle Wynne hit a single off new pitcher Jesse Orosco.  Orosco gave up another hit, this time to Rhoden for what would be the winning RBI of the game.

Winning Pitcher - Rick Rhoden
Losing Pitcher - Doug Sisk
Save - Rod Scurry
Player of the Game - Tony Pena, 2-4, RBI, BB, 2Rs

Game #768 - Cleveland Indians, 9 @ Oakland A's, 4

This game was over as soon as it started.  Tim Conroy made his first start of the season and got SHELLED.  Chris Bando hit a two-run homer in the first, followed by a three-run homer from Joe Carter in the same inning.  Cleveland poured three more runs on from, you guessed it, another home run.  This time it was Andre Thornton going deep.

The A's did manage a four-run eighth inning to put a light scare in the Cleveland dugout but Tom Waddell finally shut the door on the hopes of Oakland.

Winning Pitcher - Rick Sutcliffe
Losing Pitcher - Tim Conroy
Player of the Game - Chris Bando, 2-3, HR, 2B, HR, 2BBs, 3Rs
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rickey Henderson

June 11, 1984 - Victory for the Visitors

Game #755 - Baltimore Orioles, 4 @ Milwaukee Brewers, 3

Chuck Porter and Mike Flanagan faced off in this one, but it was Porter who relented first.  In the top of the second the Orioles sent eight batters to the box and Jim Dwyer, Wayne Gross, and John Lowenstein all crossed home to give the O's a 3-0 lead.

Flanagan, meanwhile, was electric.  He hadn't allowed a walk or a hit until the ninth place batter, Ted Simmons, hit his first homer of the year in the bottom of the third. 

It stayed 3-1 until the sixth.  Jim Dwyer doubled and, two batters later, Rick Dempsey singled him home.  That run proved valuable, because in the bottom of the eighth Flanagan was still on the mound when Jim "Gumby" Gantner singled and then Charlie Moore homered to bring the Brew Crew within a run of tying the game.  Sammy Stewart relieved Flanny and got the last five outs to save the day for Baltimore.

Winning Pitcher - Mike Flanagan
Losing Pitcher - Chuck Porter
Save - Sammy Stewart
Player of the Game - Stewart, 1.2 IP, 2Ks, BB
Hall of Famers in the Game - Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray, Robin Yount

Game #756 - Pittsburgh Pirates, 6 @ New York Mets, 4 (10 innings)

It was a scoreless game in the bottom of the second when Mookie Wilson singled and then stole second base.  Tony Pena uncorked a wild throw on the attempt, which moved Mookie to third.  Two batters later Mike Fitzgerald singled off Larry McWilliams for the unearned run.

The Pirates struck revenge in the top of the third, though.  Denny Gonzalez singled and later scored on a Marvelle Wynne triple.  Wynne then scored on a Lee Lacy single and the Pirates were on top 2-1.

The Mets knotted the game in the fourth inning.  Hubie Brooks singled and, two batters later, Ron Gardenhire launched a deep double to plate Brooks.  It stayed tied at 2-2 until the top of the sixth.  With Walt Terrell still on the mound, the Pirates had runners on second and third with two outs.  Dale Berra, who has been below the Mendoza line all season, dug in and stroked a key single, scoring both Pirates and giving Pittsburgh a two run lead.

It was ironic, then, that in the bottom of the eighth, still holding a one run lead, that a Berra error at short allowed Fitzgerald to score and tie the game.  Neither team produced a runner in the ninth so that meant one thing:  FREE BASEBALL!

Brent Gaff was in his third inning of relief in the top of the tenth when he walked Lee Lacy to lead off the inning.  Two batters later Jason Thompson gripped it and ripped it, sending the ball over the right field fence to give the Pirates the lead.  Don Robinson, also in his third inning of work, got three outs in the bottom of the tenth and the Jolly Roger waved over Shea Stadium.

Winning Pitcher - Don Robinson
Losing Pitcher - Brent Gaff
Player of the Game - Jason Thompson, 1-4, HR, 2RBI, BB, 2Rs

June 10, 1984 - Colonial Contests

Game #745 - Toronto Blue Jays, 5 @ New York Yankees, 8

Within the first four batters in the bottom of the first, the Yankees scored three runs.  Don Mattingly ripped a homer off Jim Gott with Willie Randolph already on base.  Two batters later Steve Kemp launched a solo home run with just one out.  Butch Wynegar would later score in the same inning off a Bobby Meacham single to give New York a commanding 4-0 lead.

The Blue Jays stayed within striking distance, though.  They picked up a run in the second and another in the third thanks to a George Bell moonshot.  In the top of the fifth Damaso Garcia tripled home Alfredo Griffin but the Yankees manufactured a run in the bottom of the fifth to make it 6-3.  And by the way, Jim Gott was still on the mound.  In fact, to give the Toronto bullpen a breather, he went the distance!

An Ernie Whitt two-run homer in the sixth off Phil Niekro brought Toronto to within a run of a tie game, but Steve Kemp sealed Toronto's fate in the bottom of the eighth with his second homer of the game, this time with a runner on.  The Yankees win.  Thhhhhheeeee Yankees win.

Winning Pitcher - Phil Niekro
Losing Pitcher - Jim Gott
Save - Dave Righetti
Player of the Game - Steve Kemp, 2-4, 2HRs, 3RBI, BB
Hall of Famers in the Game - Phil Niekro

Game #746 - Pittsburgh Pirates, 2 @ Philadelphia Phillies, 3

The Pirates opened the scoring in the top of the second inning on a solo poke from Jason Thompson.  The Phillies answered back in the bottom of the frame.  Ozzie Virgil was standing on third after a Juan Samuel double when a Dale Berra fielding error allowed Virgil to score and tie things up.

Bad defense haunted Pittsburgh later in the game as well.  Glenn Wilson scored from second on an RBI single by Tim Corcoran and a bobble in the outfield by Doug Frobel.  Corcoran later scored on an RBI single by Gross.

Frobel atoned for his error with a solo homer in the sixth but that's all the Pirates could muster on offense. 

Winning Pitcher - Charles Hudson
Losing Pitcher - Jose DeLeon
Save - Larry Andersen
Player of the Game - Greg Gross, 1-3, RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Mike Schmidt

June 9, 1984 - Identical Scores

Game #731 - Pittsburgh Pirates, 4 @ Philadelphia Phillies, 3

John Candelaria and Jerry Koosman faced off in this Keystone battle.  It was scoreless until the third inning when both Lee Lacy and Sixto Lezcano hit solo homer for their respective teams to keep the game tied.

In the top of the fifth Lacy added his second bomb of the day, this time with Amos Otis on base, to give the Pirates a 3-1 lead.  But the Phillies knotted it up again in the sixth when Juan Samuel cranked a two-run homer too.

The game was still tied until the top of the eighth.  Back to back hits from Lee Mazzilli and Lacy put a runner in scoring position for Johnny Ray.  Ray singled and Mazilli scored the decisive run.

Winning Pitcher - John Candelaria
Losing Pitcher - Bill Campbell
Save - Rod Scurry
Player of the Game - Lee Lacy, 3-4, 2HRs, 3RBI, 2Rs
Hall of Famers in the Game - Mike Schmidt

Game #732 - Cincinnati Reds, 4 @ San Diego Padres, 3

The Padres loaded the bases in the bottom of the first but only managed one run on a Terry Kennedy walk.  Steve Garvey had an RBI ground-out in the third to make it a 2-0 lead, and then Mark Thurmond helped his own cause with a sacrifice fly that scored Luis Salazar.

The Reds came charging back in the sixth, though.  They scored two runs, including an RBI knock by Nick Esasky.  They were still trailing by one run in the seventh when Thurmond was lifted with two outs and a runner on second in favor of ace reliever Goose Gossage.  The Reds countered with pinch-hitter Duane Walker.  Walker doubled, scoring Dave Concepcion to tie the game!  Then Dan Driessen singled home Walker to give Cincy the lead!  Ted Power, Bob Owchinko, and John Franco held the Padres scoreless over the final three games to earn the win.

Winning Pitcher - Joe Price
Losing Pitcher - Goose Gossage
Save - John Franco
Player of the Game - Duane Walker, 1-2, 2B, RBI, R
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tony Perez, Tony Gwynn, Goose Gossage

June 8, 1984 - Keystone State Sweep

Game #717 - Pittsburgh Pirates, 2 @ Philadelphia Phillies, 5

The two Pennsylvania ball clubs had a twin bill today, and in game one, the Phillies came out swinging.  In the bottom of the first Greg Gross grounded into a double play but Von Hayes was able to score from third.  In the bottom of the second Juan Samuel took Rick Rhoden deep for a lead-off solo homer.

In the top of the fifth the Pirates finally got on the board when Marvelle Wynne knocked home Rhoden (I had Rhoden batting sixth in the order), but Rhoden gave up three unearned runs in the bottom half of the inning after a Dale Berra throwing error and RBI knocks from Joe Lefebvre and Samuel.  That was enough to secure game one for the Phillies.

Winning Pitcher - Marty Bystrom
Losing Pitcher - Rick Rhoden
Save - Tug McGraw
Player of the Game - Juan Samuel, 3-4, 2B, HR, 2RBI, R
Hall of Famers in the Game - Mike Schmidt

Game #718 - Pittsburgh Pirates, 2 @ Philadelphia Phillies, 4

Game number two was scoreless until the top of the second.  That's when Denny Gonzalez of the Pirates hit a single that plated Tony Pena.  Gonzalez has already exceeded his games played at third base from the real 1984, but with both Bill Madlock and Jim Morrison on the disabled list I'm forced to break one of the cardinal rules of Statis Pro. 

The Pirates were up 2-0 after a Dale Berra sacrifice fly in the fourth, but the Phillies tied it up in the bottom half of the inning when Ozzie Virgil blasted a homer that also scored Mike Schmidt.  Von Hayes broke the tie in the following inning with his own home run off John Tudor.  An RBI double from Schmidt in the seventh preserved the win for Philadelphia and helped them sweep two from their in-state rivals.

Winning Pitcher - John Denny
Losing Pitcher - John Tudor
Save - Larry Andersen
Player of the Game - Denny, 6IP, 4K's, 4H's, BB, 2ER
Hall of Famers in the Game - Mike Schmidt

June 6, 1984 - In A New York Minute

Game #695 - Boston Red Sox, 3 @ New  York Yankees, 15

Don Baylor started the scoring in the bottom of the first with a solo bomb off Roger Clemens, who was making just his second start of the season.  Boston responded in the top of the second, though, by plating three runs off Joe Cowley to give them a two-run lead.

It didn't last long.

In the bottom of the fifth Clemens completely fell apart.  Oscar Gamble launched a three-run homer and two outs later Baylor tagged him for his second moonshot of the game.  New York scored three more runs after Clemens' exit to put up an eight-spot in the inning.  The Yankees exploded for six more in the eighth as the BoSox were absolutely demolished.

Winning Pitcher - Joe Cowley
Losing Pitcher - Roger Clemens
Player of the Game - Don Baylor, 3-4, 2HRs, 3RBI, 3Rs, BB
Hall of Famers in the Game - Dwight Evans, Wade Boggs, Jim Rice

Game #696 - New York Mets, 5 @ Pittsburgh Pirates, 4

New York scored all five of their runs in the top of the fourth.  Pirates starter Larry McWilliams got himself into a jam when he loaded the bases for Ron Gardenhire.  Gardy walked to score Darryl Strawberry and leave the bases juiced.  Up stepped catcher Mike Fitzgerald, who crushed a ball over the left field fence for a grand salami! 

The Pirates chipped back, even scoring a run in the ninth off closer Jesse Orosco, but time ran out and the Mets claimed the victory.

Winning Pitcher - Walt Terrell
Losing Pitcher - Larry McWilliams
Save - Jesse Orosco
Player of the Game - Mike Fitzgerald, 2-4, GS, 4RBI

June 5, 1984 - Walk On

Game #683 - New York Mets, 5 @ Pittsburgh Pirates, 7

In the bottom of the first the Pirates had Lee Lacy at third and Johnny Ray at second with two outs and Tony Pena at the dish.  He roped a single off Ron Darling to give the Pirates an early 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth the lead was down to one run but the Pirates offense pushed three across the plate.  Lacy doubled home Marvell Wynne, Jason Thompson singled home Lacy, and then Pena doubled for his third RBI of the game.

The Mets mounted their retaliation in the seventh.  Pirates starter Jose DeLeon walked eight (!) batters in the first six innings but had only allowed two runs.  But Rod Scurry gave up a solo blast to Darryl Strawberry to bring New York to within three.  In the top of the eighth the Mets scored again, this time on a Denny Gonzalez error that scored Danny Heep.  But Pittsburgh picked up two more runs in the bottom of the eighth which was enough to keep them ahead of New York's two runs in the top of the ninth.  The Pirates walked 14 total batters but the Mets left most of them stranded.

Winning Pitcher - Jose DeLeon
Losing Pitcher - Ron Darling
Save - Kent Tekulve
Player of the Game - Tony Pena, 2-4, 2B, 3RBI

Game #684 - Houston Astros, 5 @ San Diego Padres, 2

Tony Gwynn and Steve Garvey had to sit this one out due to a minor injury each sustained when they collided into each other the game before.  Garvey has now missed more games due to injuries in Statis Pro than he did the real 1984.  The big story of the game, though, was Nolan Ryan.  He pitched a complete game while striking out ten Padres.

Winning Pitcher -  Nolan Ryan
Losing Pitcher - Eric Show
Player of the Game - Nolan Ryan, CG, 10K's, 6H's, 3BB's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Nolan Ryan

June 4, 1984 - Rivalry Games

Game #669 - Boston Red Sox, 4 @ New York Yankees, 2

I'm an Orioles fan so I basically hate both of these teams, but man, there I can't deny there's an extra level of excitement when these two teams square off.

Phil Niekro was on the mound for New York and Mike Easler tagged him in the top of the first with a solo homer.  Niekro settled down after that until the top of the fifth.  Marty Barrett singled and then moved to secon on a Roy Smalley throwing error that also allowed Bill Buckner to make it to first.  Both advanced a base on a Jackie Gutierrez sacrifice bunt.  Two batters later Dwight Evans singled home Barrett and then Mike Easler doubled home the remaining two runners to make it 4-0 in favor of Boston.

In the bottom half of the inning Ken Griffey led of with a double and then scored on a Roy Smalley triple.  Smalley later trotted home on a Tim Foli single, but that's all the runs New York could muster.  This marks their seventh straight loss as they tumble down the AL East standings...

Winning Pitcher - Bruce Hurst
Losing Pitcher - Phil Niekro
Save - John Henry Johnson
Player of the Game - Mike Easler, 3-4, 2B, HR, 2RBI, R
Hall of Famers in the Game - Wade Boggs, Jim Rice, Phil Niekro

Game #670 - New York Mets, 3 @ Pittsburgh Pirates, 1

Sometimes you pitch a good game and still lose.

The very first batter of the game, Kelvin Chapman, took John Candelaria deep to give the Mets a quick 1-0 lead.  But the Candy Man only allowed one more hit over the next four innings.  In the top of the sixth, though, Sid Fernandez squeaked one over the infield.  That brought Chapman back up...and he homered again!  He only had three homers in the real 1984 and none so far in this Statis Pro season but he managed to collect two in the same game.  Candelaria struck out ten but the two homers were enough to give El Sid the win.

Winning Pitcher - Sid Fernandez
Losing Pitcher - John Candelaria
Save - Jesse Orosco
Player of the Game - Kelvin Chapman, 2-3, 2HRs, 3RBI

June 3, 1984 - Five-Run Leads

Game #657 - Montreal Expos, 7 @ Pittsburgh Pirates, 2

On paper this looked like a tight pitcher's duel, but it didn't quite play out that way.  Charlie Lea was strong but John Tudor stumbled...

In the top of the third inning Mike Ramsey led off with a single and eventually scored on a Tim Raines single.  The bases were juiced for Ramsey in the third and he came through with a 2-RBI base knock to plate Gary Carter and Pete Rose.  Then in the sixth he doubled home Derrell Thomas.  Ramsey only had 3 RBI for the Expos in the real 1984 and equalled that many in just this game.

Winning Pitcher - Charlie Lea
Losing Pitcher - John Tudor
Player of the Game - Mike Ramsey, 3-4, 2B, 3RBI, R
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tim Raines, Andre Dawson, Gary Carter

Game #658 - Seattle Mariners, 1 @ Texas Rangers, 6

Dave Stewart escaped a couple of jams in the first two innings but got tagged in the top of the third.  Jack Perconte led off the inning with a double and two batters later scored when Alvin Davis did the same.  But after the third inning Stewart was lights-out.  Only two more Mariners reached base the rest of the way!

Meanwhile, the Rangers bats were uncharacteristically hot.  Six different hitters recorded an RBI.  Billy Sample led the way with three hits, including a triple while Marv Foley homered.

Winning Pitcher - Dave Stewart
Losing Pitcher - Mark Langston
Player of the Game - Stewart, CG, 9K's, R, 5H's

June 2, 1984 - 2 Skinnee J's

Game #643 - Chicago Cubs, 10 @ Philadelphia Phillies, 8

After high scoring games like this one I never know how many details to go into because a simple recap can turn into a book chapter.  The top of the third is the best place to start.  Phillies starter Marty Bystrom ended up surrendering eight runs, and three of those were because I was too stubborn to lift him knowing he was due up first in the bottom half of the inning.  Errors by Bystrom and Ivan DeJesus didn't help matters.

It was 8-2 until the bottom of the seventh.  Steve Trout worked in and out of jams for the first six innings before George Frazier was brought on to register the last nine outs.  But Sixto Lezcano went deep on a two-run bomb and then, after Frazier was lifted, Tim Stoddard gave up a hit to Greg Gross that plated the two remaing inherited runners from Frazier and all of a sudden it was just a two run lead for the Cubbies.

Chicago got much needed insurance in the top of the ninth.  After Ron Cey walked Jody Davis went deeeeeeep to give the Cubs a four run lead.  With three outs to go Lee Smith toed the rubber but, with one out, gave up  two singles, a walk, and then a Luis Aguyao double and all of a sudden the Phillies looked like they could tie this game with one swing.  But Smith got  yanked and Rich Bordi got two quick outs to earn the save.

Winning Pitcher - Steve Trout
Losing Pitcher - Marty Bystrom
Save - Rich Bordi
Player of the Game - Jody Davis, 2-5, HR, 3RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Ryne Sandberg, Mike Schmidt

Game #644 - Montreal Expos, 2 @ Pittsburgh Pirates, 3 (12 innings)

Rich Rhoden was uncharacteristically hittable in the first, giving up three singles, and including an RBI shot by Tim Wallach that plated Andre Dawson.  In the top of the third Tim Raines walked, stole second, move to third on an infield single, and scored on a ground out from Gary Carter to give Montreal a 2-0 lead.

Pittsburgh tied things up in the bottom of the fifth.  Bill Gullickson gave up and RBI double to Lee Lacy that scored Rhoden and then Johnny Ray drove home Marvelle Wynne on a single to knot the game.

And then it was a lot of goose eggs.  Dan Schatzeder went three innings of scoreless relief for the Expos and Cecilio Guante did the same for the Pirates.  Fast forward to the bottom of the 12th.  After two scoreless innings from Jeff Reardon Montreal handed the ball to Greg Harris.  Harris walked Lee Mazzilli, but Mazzilli was out at second on a fielder's choice that left Lacy on first.  Lacy stole second on a busted hit and run and then moved to third on a Johnny Ray ground out.  With two down Jason Thompson stepped up and poked a blooper into right field to score Lacy on the walk-off!

Winning Pitcher - Kent Tekulve
Losing Pitcher - Greg Harris
Player of the Game - Jason Thompson, GWRBI in the bottom of the 12th
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tim Raines, Andrew Dawson, Gary Carter

June 1, 1984 - More NL Action

Game #631 - Montreal Expos, 3 @ Pittsburgh Pirates, 4

Talk about a fun game - both starters went eight strong innings and neither got the decision!

In the top of the second inning Gary Carter ripped a ball over the fence to give Montreal a 1-0 lead.  That was good all the way until the bottom of the sixth, when Expos starter David Palmer gave up a triple to Lee Lacy and then a double to Johnny Ray. 

It was still a tie game in the top of the eighth when, with two runners on, Pirates starter Larry McWilliams collided with third sacker Jim Morrison.  Morrison got the worst of it and is now on the 30 game DL.  McWilliams worked out of the jam to hand the ball to Don Robinson.  Robinson, one of the unluckiest pitchers in Statis Pro, once again imploded.  He gave up two runs in to the top of the ninth and it could have been worse but Lacy gunned down Tim Raines at the plate.

In the bottom of the ninth Jeff Reardon came in to save the game.  With two outs Denny Gonzalez, in the game for the injured Jim Morrison, zipped a double down the line and then scored when Miguel Dilone bobbled Tony Pena's single.  Pena was on first with two down and still trailing Montreal by one run.  Marvelle Wynne was up next and he legged out an infield single to put two Pirates on!  Lee Mazzilli came in to pinch hit for Dale Berra but hit weakly to shortstop Derrick Thomas.  But Thomas air-mailed the ball to first and both runners scored on the error!  A walk-off E6 for the Pirates!!!

Winning Pitcher - Don Robinson
Losing Pitcher - Jeff Reardon
Player of the Game - Larry McWilliams, 8IP, 1R, 6K's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tim Raines, Andre Dawson, Gary Carter

Game #632 - San Diego Padres, 5 @ San Francisco Giants, 1

Giants starter Mark Davis was well on his way to the best start of his frustrating season, pitching five scoreless innings heading into the top of the sixth with a slim 1-0 lead.  But with one down Tony Gwynn doubled, though he was thrown out at home on a subsequent single by Carmelo Martinez.  But McReynolds came up next and blasted a homer to make it 2-1 in favor of the Padres.  McReynolds struck again in the eighth, this time with a 2-RBI triple.  McReynolds was only a double short of the cycle.  We still haven't seen a cycle on the season and it's driving me crazy.

Winning Pitcher - Eddie Whitson
Losing Pitcher - Mark Davis
Player of the Game - Kevin McReynolds, 3-4, 3B, HR, 4RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tony Gwynn, Goose Gossage

May 31, 1984 - Goodbye, May

Game #619 - Chicago Cubs, 9 @ Philadelphia Phillies, 2

The Phillies raced out to a quick 2-0 lead when Joe Lefebvre launched a two-run dong in the bottom of the first off starter Dick Ruthven.  Keith Moreland responded in the top of the second with a solo tater to cut the lead in half.

It would remain 2-1 until the top of the seventh.  Charles Hudson was on cruise control but seemingly hit a pot hole because the wheels came off.  Pinch hitter Henry Cotto hit a two-run single and then scored on a Ryne Sandberg triple.  The Cubs would score five total runs in the inning and would add three more over the next two innings to give Chicago their fifth win in a row.

Winning Pitcher - Dick Ruthven
Losing Pitcher - Charles Hudson
Player of the Game - Henry Cotto, 1-1, Sac Fly, 3RBI, R
Hall of Famers in the Game - Ryne Sandberg, Mike Schmidt

Game #620 - Montreal Expos, 3 @ Pittsburgh Pirates, 9

This game was tic for tack through the first four innings, with the Expos holding a slim 3-2 lead.  But the Pirates pushed the Expos overboard in the fifth.  That's when they plated six runs, including a bases-clearing double by Marvelle Wynn.  Jose DeLeon scattered four hits and five walks over eight innings pitched and logged the victory.

Winning Pitcher - Jose DeLeon
Losing Pitcher - Steve Rogers
Player of the Game - Lee Lacy, 3-5, RBI, 2R's, SB
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tim Raines, Andre Dawson, Gary Carter

May 30, 1984 - Veteran OF's Win the Day

Game #607 - Pittsburgh Pirates, 8 @ Cincinnati Reds, 4

This one wasn't nearly as close as the final score looks.  The Pirates were up 8-0 after five innings. Both Tony Pena and Jim Morrison had three hits and a RBI, but it was Lee Lacy who had the biggest day.  He recorded two hits, three walks, a run scored, a stolen base, two runs and a RBI.

Winning Pitcher - John Candelaria
Losing Pitcher - Joe Price
Player of the Game - Lee Lacy
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tony Perez

Game #608 - St. Louis Cardinals, 1 @ Houston Astros, 0

Starters Joe Niekro and Jaquin Andujar were both dealing the nasty cheese in this pitcher's duel.  Andujar got lifted with one out in the eighth in favor of all-world reliever Bruce Sutter, but Niekro was still in the game in the top of the ninth.  Willie McGee had a lead-off single and reached third on a pick-off attempt by Joe Niekro, who nabbed Tommy Herr with a similar move in the second inning.  George Hendrick singled him home as the next batter and Sutter shut down the 'stros 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth to record the win.

Winning Pitcher - Bruce Sutter
Losing Pitcher - Joe Niekro
Player of the Game - George Hendrick, GW RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Ozzie Smith, Bruce Sutter

May 29, 1984 - Gulden Nugget

Pittsburgh Pirates, 0 @ Cincinnati Reds, 1 (11 innings)

This game featured a potential all-star catcher...and I'm not talking about Tony Pena!

In both the first and second innings the Pirates managed to get a runner to third base, but Reds starter Jay Tibbs was able to pitch out of the jams to keep the game scoreless.  In fact, with two outs in the third, Tibbs retired the next ten batters in a row.

John Tudor countered for the Pirates with an even more dominating performance.  Over a span of eight innings he only allowed two hits and two walks while striking out six.  He got lifted for a pinch-hitter in the top of the ninth.  With the score still zero all, Jim Morrison reached on an error and then Lee Mazzilli singled.  Tibbs struck out Doug Frobel but Dale Berra reached on a Nick Esasky blunder to load the bases with one out.  But Ron Wotus lined out and then Milt May, hitting for Tudor, hit a harmless fly ball to Gary Redus to end the inning.

Fast forward to the bottom of the eleventh!  Don Robinson was working in his third inning of relief, having retired the first seven Reds he faced.  That's when Brad Gulden came in to replace Dann Bilardello.  What did Gulden do?  WALK-OFF HOMER!!!!!!!!  It was only the third hit of the game for Cincy, but all they needed to notch the win!!!

Winning Pitcher - Ted Power
Losing Pitcher - Don Robinson
Player of the Game - Brad Gulden, 1-1, PH Home Run
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tony Perez

Tony Pena has been a disappointment in this Statis Pro, hitting a listless .256 with no power, while Gulden has been hitting way above his weight class and has a good chance, if he keeps this up, to be an All-Star reserve come July...

May 28, 1984 - Pitcher's Who Rake

Game #587 - Los Angeles Dodgers, 3 @ Montreal Expos, 6

The Dodgers were never really in this game.  Andre Dawson roped a double in the bottom of the first to plate Miguel Dilone, but it was the bottom of the second when the most damage occurred.  Bobby Ramos had and RBI single, Charie Lea laid down a squeeze bunt to score Derrell Thomas, and Dilone singled home Ramos.  Lea had two hits after his sacrifice bunt, too!

Winning Pitcher - Charlie Lea
Losing Pitcher - Rick Honeycutt
Player of the Game - Lea, 8IP, 2ER, 4K's, 2-2, RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tim Raines, Andre Dawson, Gary Carter

Game #588 - Pittsburgh Pirates, 4  Houston Astros, 1

This was the final game in a four-game match for Houston, but the Pirates managed to split the series at two games apiece.  Rick Rhoden was filthy, and is in the early conversation for Cy Young.  He went eight innings and only allowed four hits.  He also ripped a double, scored a run, and walked.  Lee Mazzilli had a good day too, going two for two with a double and a solo homer.

Winning Pitcher - Rick Rhoden
Losing Pitcher - Vern Ruhle
Save - Kent Tekulve
Player of the Game - Rhoden