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

June 18, 1984 - Trammell Provides the Fireworks

Game #838 - New York Yankees, 1 @ Detroit Tigers, 4

Yankees lefty Dennis Rasmussen got himself into a jam in the bottom of the third when Barbaro Garbey singled and then Tom Brookens walked.  Garbey moved to third on a fly-out by Lou Whitaker, but it didn't matter as Alan Trammell plated both with a triple!  Chet Lemon was up next, and he grounded to shortstop Bobby Meacham, but Trammell took off for home.  He beat the throw to make it 3-0, Detroit.

In the bottom of the fourth the Tigers added an insurance run off a solo homer from Larry Herndon.  Dan Petry, meanwhile, was locked in.  He made it through the first seven innings without a Yankee crossing home plate.  But in the top of the eighth, with one out, Lou Whitaker mishandled a Meacham bunt-for-a-hit attempt and then Ken Griffey doubled to move him to third.  Dave Winfield singled next to break up the shutout.  Petry got the hook and in came Willie Hernandez, the best reliever in Statis Pro.  He recorded the next five outs to earn the save.

Winning Pitcher - Dan Petry
Losing Pitcher - Dennis Rasmussen
Save - Willie Hernandez
Player of the Game - Alan Trammell, 2-3, 3B, 2 RBI, R, BB
Hall of Famers in the Game - Dave Winfield, Alan Trammell

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 16, 1984 - Slim Margins of Victory

Game #815 - Minnesota Twins, 7 @ Kansas City Royals, 6

The Twins posted two runs in the top of the first inning thanks in part to a U.L. Washington error.  Darrell Brown was able to knock in both of those runs on a bases-loaded single.  Minnesota got a third run of starter Mark Gubicza in the third thanks to a rare hit from DH Pat Putnam.

Kansas City even things in the bottom of the fifth, though, when Hall of Famer George Brett blasted a three-run bomb off John Butcher.  The score stayed tied 3-3 until the bottom of the seventh.  That's when Willie Wilson doubled home Washington and Brett launched his second homer of the day!

With a three run lead the Royals looked like they had won...BUT THAT'S WHY YOU PLAY THE GAME!!!  The Twinkies erupted for a four-run inning off reliever Joe Beckwith, sending eight hitters to the plate who dinked and doinked him for the damage and the win.

Winning Pitcher - Rick Lysander
Losing Pitcher - Joe Beckwith
Save - Len Whitehouse
Player of the Game - Darrell Brown, 2-5, 3RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - George Brett

Game #816 - Detroit Tigers, 1 @ Milwaukee Brewers, 0

Pitcher's duel alert!!!

In the top of the second inning Chet Lemon lead off with a solo homer off Chuck Porter...and that would be the only run of the game.  Porter would pitch into the eighth, where Tom Tellmann took over, while recording 7 punch-outs.

Milt Wilcox was just as good, if not better.  He scattered five hits and two walks across seven innings and the Brew Crew only ever had one runner reach third base.  Willie Hernandez came on for the last two innings to preserve the shutout and victory.

Winning Pitcher - Milt Wilcox
Losing Pitcher - Chuck Porter
Save - Willie Hernandez
Player of the Game - Wilcox, 7IP, 5H's, 5K's, 2BB's, 0R's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Alan Trammell, Robin  Yount

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 13, 1984 - Tigers Clawing Towards First

Game #785 - Detroit Tigers, 14 @ Toronto Blue Jays, 11

You read that right - 14 to 11.  I think the pitchers were throwing underhand like a softball game...

The game was scoreless until the top of the second.  The Blue Jays had Doyle Alexander on the mound and he might be having the best season in Statis Pro.  But lil' Tom Brookens ripped a triple to plate Lance Parrish and Howard Johnson.  Whitaker then knocked in Brookens.

Alexander gave up solo homers to Chet Lemon and Lance Parrish in the third but the Blue Jays scored four in the fourth to cut the lead to one for Detroit.  Dave Collins hit a triple to plate two in that sequence.  Alexander gave up another home run, this time for two runs to Larry Herndon in the top of the fifth and finally got lifted.  His replacement, Jim Acker, gave up a solo job to Brookens and the Tigers were back up 8-4.

But the Blue Jays wouldn't give up!  After Willie Hernandez pitched three scoreless innings in relief of a short start by Dan Petry, Doug Bair took the mound and got rocked.  Toronto sent ten batters to the plate in the sixth and by the end of it the game was tied at eight apiece.

An RBI single by Lou Whitaker and a bases loaded walk to Darrell Evans in the seventh gave Detroit the lead again, but Ernie Whitt hit a solo homer in the bottom half of the frame and the Tigers were clinging to a one run lead.  But in the bottom of the eighth Roger Mason had a runner on base with two outs when Jorge Bell came to the plate.  HOME.  RUN.  Toronto finally had a one run lead!

The top of the ninth saw Jimmy Key take the mound hoping to preserve the lead.  He hasn't been good this Statis Pro season and his bad luck continued.  He gave up back to back doubles to Barbaro Garbey and Whitaker and the game was tied.  Alan Trammell singled to push Sweet Lou to third and bring up Evans.  Evans sent a ball deep into the right field bleachers and Detroit retook the lead by three runs!  Mason retired the side in the bottom of the ninth to go from the losing pitcher to the winner.

With that win the Tigers are now just a game and a half behind Toronto for first in the AL East!

Winning Pitcher - Roger Mason
Losing Pitcher - Jimmy Key
Player of the Game - Darrell Evans, 2-4, HR, 4RBI, 2 BB's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Alan Trammell

June 12, 1984 - Call an Ambulance!

Game #773 - Detroit Tigers, 10 @ Toronto Blue Jays, 7

You would think with Jack Morris and Dave Stieb on the mound we'd get a pitcher's duel but both starters got hammered.

Stieb lasted just five innings, giving up three homers (including an inside the park job - more on that later).  One of those taters was a grand slam from Alan Trammell.

Morris got two outs in the seventh before finally getting yanked in favor of Willie Hernandez.  It was enough for the win, though he allowed five runs.

The real story of the game was the "Z" injuries - there were three different incidents!

#1 - In the top of the second Rupert Jones lined out to Damaso Garcia, but Garcia injured his hand on the play and will be out for 4 games.

#2 - In the bottom of the third, Kirk Gibson and Jones banged into each other trying to catch a Willie Aikens liner.  Gibson will be out for five games while Jones was lucky to only be gone for 15 (he has an injury rating of 8, which means whatever random number you pull next.)

#3 - In the top of the fourth Chet Lemon hit a deep shot that caused Lloyd Moseby to crash into the wall and allowed Lemon to make it an insider the park home run!  That's just the second one of those in 773 games played, so it was pretty cool.

Winning Pitcher - Jack Morris
Losing Pitcher - Dave Stieb
Player of the Game - Alan Trammell, 2-5, 2B, GS, 6RBI, R
Hall of Famers in the Game - Alan Trammell, Jack Morris

June 11, 1984 - T'n'T

Game #759 - Oakland A's, 2 @ Texas Rangers, 5

Carney Lansford roped a two-out double in the top of the first inning off Charlie Hough, and then Dwayne Murphy singled  him home to give Oakland and early 1-0 lead.  It didn't last!  In the bottom half of the inning Curt Young faced Larry Parrish with runners on second and third.  Parrish dropped a single to plate both Buddy Bell and Gary Ward and take the lead, 2-1.

From there Texas put on a solo home run derby.  George Wright went deep in the fourth, Billy Sample in the fifth, and Parrish in the sixth.  Curt Young lasted through the seventh despite the barrage.  Hough, meanwhile, pitched eight innings while only giving up two runs, despite nine hits allowed and five walks.  He managed to get out of all the danger he got himself into.  That included two outfield assists from Ward and Wright.

Winning Pitcher - Charlie Hough
Losing Pitcher - Curt Young
Save - Tom Henke
Player of the Game - Larry Parrish, 2-4, HR, R, 3RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rickey Henderson, Joe Morgan

Game #760 - Detroit Tigers, 6 @ Toronto Blue Jays 8

This was the start of another pivotal series between the top two teams in the AL East.  Despite their enormous lead in the real 1984 season, the Statis Pro Tigers have been trailing the Blue Jays by about three games for awhile now.

The Tigers scored a run in the first on consecutive errors in center field by the usually stellar Lloyd Moseby. Toronto tied it up in the bottom of the third when George Bell grounded into a bases loaded fielder's choice. 

In the bottom of the sixth Juan Berenguer fell off a cliff as he allowed four straight singles to the Blue Jays.  Auerelio Lopez came in for relief but allowed all three inherited runners to score as the Toronto lineup batted around in the inning and scored five runs.

Detroit started clawing back in the seventh, though.  Ruppert Jones took Luis Leal deep for a solo homer to start the inning and, a few batters later, Sweet Lou Whitaker blasted his own two-run bomb.  Lopez was still pitching in the bottom of the seventh and he allowed two more Toronto runs, including a solo homer from Willie Upshaw.  The Tigers scored twice more in the eighth to get within two runs of a tie game but Jim Acker kept the ninth inning scoreless despite four Tigers reaching base.

Winning Pitcher - Luis Leal
Losing Pitcher - Juan Berenguer
Save - Jim Acker
Player of the Game - Damaso Garcia, 2-3, BB, RBI, 2Rs
Hall of Famers in the Game - Alan Trammell

June 10, 1984 - Tigers, O's Split Twin Bill

Game #737 - Detroit Tigers, 12 @ Baltimore Orioles, 6

I've had this happen more than once this Statis Pro season, but the absolute worst case scenario in a doubleheader is when your starting pitcher bombs and gets yanked early.

That's what happened to Baltimore.

Rookie Ken Dixon was called up to make a spot start at the top of the twin bill.  The Tigers sent up eleven batters to the plate and clobbered Dixon to the tune of eight runs before he could record the third out of the inning.  The finishing blow came from Darrell Evans, who blasted a GRAND SALAMI!

Mark Brown came on in relief for what would be his final appearance of the season.  Mercifully he survived a terrible first inning of work (four more runs) before going the distance in a remarkable 7.1 innings of relief.  That might be the longest relief stint of the year - I wish I had tracked that somehow.

Winning Pitcher - Randy O'Neal
Losing Pitcher - Ken Dixon
Player of the Game - Darrell Evans, 2-5, GS, 4RBI, R
Hall of Famers in the Game - Alan Trammell, Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray

Happy Trails...Mark Brown

Well, I've got myself into a real pickle with the Baltimore bullpen.  I've run a six man pen for the season but, in retrospect, the real 1984 Orioles must have only ever had five guys available for relief because with Mark Brown now done for the year, I only have ONE Baltimore pitcher left in the minors...and that's Ken Dixon, who started the game today and only has one game (another start) left to play!  On top of that, Bill Swaggerty is quickly approaching his final few games from the pen, plus another five starts to mix in.  There's still 103 games to go for the Orioles, and I'm betting the last half of it will be with a four-man pen!!!  I might have to force the starters into some ill-advised complete games...

So how did the real Mark Brown do compared to the Statis Pro Mark Brown?  Let's take a look:

The Real 1984:  1-2, 3.91ERA, 10K's, 4.07FIP, 1.26WHIP
Statis Pro 1984:  1-2, 4.13ERA, 20K's, 4.52FIP, 1.33WHIP

That's a pretty remarkable similarity, minus the K%.  Statis Pro Mark Brown got more K's but was slightly less effective overall - I'm guessing it's not statistically significant though.

Game #738 - Detroit Tigers, 3 @ Baltimore Orioles, 10 (rain delay)

What's worse than having to pitch two games of a doubleheader when the first starter didn't make it past the second inning...?

How about a rain delay!

The storm clouds were hovering over the start of game two.  Baltimore got out front early in the bottom of the second when Todd Cruz of all people blasted a two-run homer.  Detroit cut that lead in half thanks to an Alan Trammell double in the top of the fifth inning.  But in the bottom half of the same frame Eddie Murray dialed up an Earl Weaver special - a three-run homer - to put Baltimore up by four!  The Orioles got four more runs in the sixth inning, thanks in large part to Cal Ripken Jr., who also plated three on a home run! 

Dennins Martinez, meanwhile, was cruising into the top of the seventh when the rain finally came down.  It was nearly an hour delay so El Presidente hit the showers and Bill Swaggerty finished the affair.  Baltimore ended up winning three of four against the Tigers in the series.

Winning Pitcher - Dennis Martinez
Losing Pitcher - Milt Wilcox
Player of the Game - Eddie Murray, 2-3, 2B, HR, 3RBI, 2R, 2BB 
Hall of Famers in the Game - Alan Trammell, Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray

June 9, 1984 - Let 'er Rip

Game #722 - Detroit Tigers, 0 @ Baltimore Orioles, 6

The Orioles jumped all over Dave Rozema in the bottom of the first.  He was making just his second pitching start on the season, but Al Bumbry led off with a single and then scored on a Cal Ripken triple.  Ripken then crossed home plate two batters later on a Wayne Gross single.

...and that would be all the scoring until the bottom of the seventh!  Rozema got lifted for Willie Hernandez when he loaded the bases in the sixth but Hernandez escaped that jam.  However, he loaded the bases again for Baltimore and Eddie Murray came through with an RBI single after Mike Young had done the same and the O's moved to a 4-0 lead.

It was more of the same for Baltimore in the eighth.  Again, they had the bases loaded, but this time Young and Ripken both walked for an RBI each off Doug Bair.  Tippy Martinez pitched the last 1.2 innings of relief for Mike Boddicker to secure the win for Baltimore.

Winning Pitcher - Mike Boddicker
Losing Pitcher - Dave Rozema
Player of the Game - Cal Ripken Jr., 2-4, 3B, 2RBI, R, BB
Hall of Famers in the Game - Alan Trammell, Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray

June 8, 1984 - Two, Four, 6-8, Who Do We Appreciate?

Game #709 - Detroit Tigers, 3 @ Baltimore Orioles, 7

Storm Davis ran into his own storm in the top of the second inning.  Chet Lemon led off with a solo homer and then he gave up four straight singles.  Two more runs plated in part from an Al Bumbry error, giving the Tigers an early 3-0 lead.

Dan Petry, meanwhile, was on cruise control until the bottom of the seventh.  He gave up five total runs on a bizarre combination of singles, walks, and a passed ball.  Cal Ripken even chipped in with a sacrifice fly to score Bumbry.  The O's would add two more in the eighth to put one in the win column.

Winning Pitcher - Storm Davis
Losing Pitcher - Dan Petry
Player of the Game - Davis, 7.2IP, 5Hs, 5Ks, ER
Hall of Famers in the Game - Alan Trammell, Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray

Game #710 - Milwaukee Brewers, 8 @ Boston Red Sox, 6

This game was monumental for me because it was Mark Brouhard's first game back after being injured in the very first game of the season.  That was over six years ago!  He didn't do much in his return, though, going 0 for 3 with two whiffs.

The Red Sox launched four solo homers off starter Moose Haas.  Not all at once, though Tony Armas and Rich Gedman went back to back in the second inning.  In the top of the seventh Boston had a 6-4 lead when pinch-hitter Rick Manning plated Jim Sundberg and Robin Yount to tie the game.  Sundberg slapped a double in the eighth to give them the go-ahead run off Bob Stanley.  Meanwhile, Rick Waits, Tom Tellmann and Rollie Fingers blanked Boston over the final three innings to give the Brew Crew a victory.

Winning Pitcher - Tom Tellmann
Losing Pitcher - Bob Stanley
Save - Rollie Fingers
Player of the Game - Ed Romero, 5-5, 2B, 3B, R, 2RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Robin Yount, Rollie Fingers, Wade Boggs, Jim Rice

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 - Human Rain Delay, Bell, Come Up Big

Game #689 - Oakland A's, 4 @ Cleveland Indians, 5

The Cleveland squad jumped all over Larry Sorensen, tagging him for four runs in the first.  Sorensen was lifted without escaping the inning, but his replacement, Tim Conroy, was dominant.  He lasted five and 2/3 innings without giving up a run.

The A's battled back.  A Brooks Jacoby error in the fifth allowed Jim Essian to score.  Then Oakland tagged Neal Heaton for three more runs in the sixth.  Bill Almon and Donnie Hill both had big RBI singles to tie things up.

In the bottom of the eighth ace reliever Bill Caudill was on the mound for Oakland.  But with one out he gave up a single to Pat Tabler.  Tabler moved to third on a hit and run single from Mike Hargrove.  Jacoby grounded out, but Tabler scored on the play and that wound up being the winning run.

Winning Pitcher - Tom Waddell
Losing Pitcher - Bill Caudill
Player of the Game - Mike Hargrove, 2-4, RBI, R
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rickey Henderson, Joe Morgan

Game #690 - Toronto Blue Jays, 8 @ Detroit Tigers, 3

The two best teams in Statis Pro squared off for the third straight game.  Each team had a win and were looking to gain a game in the standings.  Lou Whitaker started the party off right for Detroit when he launched a lead-off homer in the first. 

It was still 1-0 in the top of the fifth when the wheels fell off for Juan Berenguer.  He gave up four runs, including a two-run jack to Jorge Bell.  That was nice revenge for Bell after he got plunked by Berenguer the inning before. 

The Tigers got within a run of the lead by the top of the ninth, but Willie Hernandez was unusually easy to hit.  He gave up four runs, including another homer to Bell.  Toronto won game three of the series.

Winning Pitcher - Luis Leal
Losing Pitcher - Juan Berenguer
Save - Roy Lee Jackson
Player of the Game - Jorge Bell, 2-4, 2HRs, 5RBI, HBP
Hall of Famers in the Game - Alan Trammell 

June 5, 1984 - The Hateful Eight

Game #677 - Toronto Blue Jays, 1 @ Detroit Tigers, 8

Milt Wilcox has sucked eggs this Statis Pro season but, in his biggest start of the year, he rose to the task as the Tigers faced off against the first place Toronto Blue Jays.

Wilcox only allowed two hits through the first seven innings of the game.  In the top of the eighth Alfredo Griffin of all people doubled with one out.  Two batters later Lloyd Moseby singled him home.  Wilcox then plunked Jorge Bell and was lifted for Willie Hernandez as the imaginary Toronto bench got cranky.

On the offensive side it was all Detroit.  Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker both scored in the first, and then the Tigers plated four in the second inning.  Barnabo Garbey and Tom Brookens each homered during that outbreak.  Whitaker added a solo shot in the eighth as well.

Winning Picther - Milt Wilcox
Losing Pitcher - Bryan Clark
Player of the Game - Wilcox, 7 2/3IP, 4Hs, 5Ks, R
Hall of Famers in the Game - Alan Trammell

Game #678 - Seattle Mariners, 7 @ Kansas City Royals, 8 (10 innings)

The red-hot Royals fell behind early.  In the top of the second Dave Henderson hit his 14th homer of the season, this one for 2RBI, to give the Mariners the lead.  Hendu hit 14 total in all of the real 1984 so he's getting super lucky on the homers in Statis Pro.

The Royals tied things up in the bottom of the second when Don Slaught brought the thunder with his own home run.  Mark Gubicza settled down for KC until the top of the fifth.  Seattle scored four runs, three from a Ken Phelps blast that hit the water fountains in center field.  But one inning later the Royals again tied the game!  They sent eight batters to the plate and chased Matt Young into the showers. 

Mike Jones was on the mound for the Royals in the top of seventh when Alvin Davis homered to once again put the M's back in front, 7-6.  The lead didn't last, though.  Jorge Orta went big-fly to knot things up at seven apiece.  Neither team scored in the ninth so it was time for FREE BASEBALL!

Dan Quisenberry worked his third inning of scoreless relief in the top of the tenth, so Seattle sent out lefty Dan Geisel to face the top of the Royals lineup.  Willie Wilson grounded out to Jack Perconte for the first out.  Then George Brett dug in.  It was his sixth plate appearance and he'd yet to record a hit.

Until he homered.

WALK-OFF WIN FOR KANSAS CITY!!!

Winning Pitcher - Dan Quisenberry
Losing Pitcher - Dan Geisel
Player of the Game - George Brett
Hall of Famers in the Game - George Brett

June 4, 1984 - The Mark of the Devil

Happy holidays!  I hope you get this week off of work like I do.  I haven't got a lot of games in of late due to family in town and more still to come.  I also don't like playing game #666 the day after Christmas, but it is what it is...to the recaps!

Game #665 - Toronto Blue Jays, 14 @ Detroit Tigers, 5

I haven't been this pumped for a game in a long while, and this first game of the series between the top two teams in the AL East started off quite compelling but descended into madness soon after.

In the top of the first eight Blue Jays came to the plate against a laboring Dan Petry.  RBI hits by Willie Upshaw, Jesse Barfield, and Rance Mulliniks had Toronto up 3-0.  But in the bottom half of the inning Lou Whitaker and newly announced Hall of Famer Alan Trammell rapped a single apiece to put two on for Kirk Gibson...who went big-fly to tie the game up for Detroit!

And then the Blue Jays scored ELEVEN runs across the second and third innings.  So much for a back and forth nail-biter between the two best teams in the American League...

Winning Pitcher - Jim Clancy
Losing Pitcher - Dan Petry
Player of the Game - Rance Mulliniks, 4-6, 3B, 3RBI, 2R's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Alan Trammell!!!

Game #666 - Seattle Mariners, 16 @ Kansas City Royals, 8

The Mariners played the role of the devil against poor Kansas City.  Charlie Leibrandt faced ELEVEN batters in the top of the first, getting shelled for five runs.  Three of those scored thanks to back-to-back doubles from Alvin Davis and Al Cowens.

The Royals put up a two-spot in the bottom half of the first in an honest attempt to stay in the game.  But Leibrandt didn't make it out of the third and the KC bullpen was taxed throughout the rest of the game.  Joe Beckwith was solid through three-plus innings until Alvin Davis crushed a two-run bomb in the sixth.  Paul Splittorff, making his final appearance of the season (and career) came on in the seventh and got destroyed.  Jim Presley, Ken Phelps, and then Alvin Davis again all homered off him and Splittorff had to split without recording his third out of the game.

The Royals staged a minor rally in the bottom of the ninth, scoring five runs off struggling Mariners reliever Roy Thomas, but it wasn't nearly enough to overcome the deficit.

Winning Pitcher - Mike Moore
Losing Pitcher - Charlie Liebrandt
Player of the Game - Alvin Davis, 3-4, 2B, 2HR's, 2BB's, 4RBI, 3R's
Hall of Famers in the Game - George Brett

Happy Trails...Paul Splittorff

As I mentioned above, this marked the last appearance of Kansas City legend Paul Splittorff.  The late, great Splittorff struggled mightily in the real 1984, his last season in the big leagues.  He pitched all 15 of his seasons for the Royals, and it was a rough way for the talented lefty to leave the game.  Before giving up six runs in this contest he was actually doing better than his real 1984 stats, but that got ruined by the Mariners bats.  Let's compare the stats:

Real 1984:  1-3, 7.71ERA, 28IP, 4K's, 10BB's, 2.04WHIP
Statis Pro:  1-2, 8.23 ERA, 35IP, 19K's, 15BB's, 2.17WHIP

The innings pitched differential was thanks to a successful long relief appearance a few games back.  Otherwise, these stats are pretty similar minus the surplus of strikeouts in this Statis Pro season.

With Splittorff gone rookie Danny Jackson has been added to the bullpen... 

June 3, 1984 - Holy Calamity Scream Insanity

Game #651 - Baltimore Orioles, 10 @ Detroit Tigers, 9 (14 innings!)

Baltimore entered the game without a win in their road trip to Detroit and were desperate to get a "W".  What happened next was pure insanity.

The O's took the lead in the top of the third when Mike Young doubled home John Shelby.  But in the bottom of the third Tom Brookens went yard, continuing his hot hitting since coming off the DL.  Then in the top of the fifth Baltimore tagged Jack Morris for another three runs, including another RBI from Young.

It would stay 4-2 in favor of the Orioles until the bottom of the sixth.  Scott McGregor, who was pitching without his best stuff, gave up a solo homer to Chet Lemon.  But he lasted through seven and handed the ball over to Sammy Stewart, who has not been good this season despite supposed to being their closer.  Sure enough, in the bottom of the ninth with a one run lead, he gave up a sacrifice fly RBI to Darrell Evans that scored pinch-hitter Dave Bergman.  Extra innings!  And by extra, I mean EXTRA...

Tippy Martinez took the mound for the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth inning and was in total control, striking out seven Tigers.  In the top of the 13th the Orioles rewarded his grit by plastering Sid Monge for FOUR runs, including an Earl Weaver-approved three run dong from, you guessed it, Mike Young.  Tippy went back out to the mound in the bottom of the inning to nail down the win.  Until he didn't.  He walked Kirk Gibson, struck out Bergman, but then gave up a two-run homer to Rupert Jones!  That got Martinez removed for Tom Underwood...who gave up a 2-out, 2-run homer to Alan Trammell!  Tie game again!!!

Carl Willis was now on the mound for Detroit because he was the last arm left.  His real life 1984 season was awful and so was his appearance in this game.  He loaded the bases with no outs and then gave up a 2-RBI double to Al Bumbry.  He managed to strand three runners after that but now Detroit had a two run deficit to overcome.  And they almost did!  A Rupert Jones ground out plated Gibson but Howard Johnson lined out to Underwood to end this completely ridiculous game.

Winning Pitcher - Tom Underwood
Losing Pitcher - Carl Willis
Player of the Game - Mike Young, 5-8, 2B, HR, 5RBI, 2R's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray

Game #652 - Houston Astros, 0 @ Los Angeles Dodgers, 3

Phil Garner, who normally has a decent glove, was a total calamity in this game.  He registered THREE ERRORS in the first four innings of the game.  I actually yanked him on principle and trotted Denny Walling out there.

It ultimately didn't matter, because the Astros wasted a decent start by Vern Ruhle.  The reason?  Alejandro Pena.  He clocked  his third shutout of the season, only giving up seven hits while striking out six.  Mike Scioscia had a solo homer while also throwing out Jerry Mumphrey on a failed hit and run in the top of the ninth.  Enos Cabell also got injured for 14 games chasing a foul ball into the stands.

Winning Pitcher - Alejandro Pena
Losing Pitcher - Vern Ruhle
Player of the Game - Pena, CG SHO

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 - Saved the Day

Game #625 - Baltimore Orioles, 3 @ Detroit Tigers, 6

This game kicked off a crucial home series for the Tigers as they faced off against a fellow AL East team, the Baltimore Orioles, who are also chasing the Blue Jays for the division lead.

The game was scoreless through four innings until John Shelby doubled home John "Tonight, let it be..." Lowenstein in the top of the fifth.  The O's picked up two more runs in the sixth on a Wayne Gross home run.  Gross leads the team in that category.

The Tigers came roaring back in the bottom half of the inning.  Baltimore starter Mike Flanagan had been nearly unhittable until that point but gave game up a 2-RBI single to Barnabo Garbey and a two-run homer to Marty Castillo.  Kirk Gibson added an insurance dinger in the seventh and Willie Hernandez pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth to save the game.

Winning Pitcher - Milt Wilcox
Losing Pitcher - Mike Flanagan
Save - Willie Hernandez
Player of the Game - Kirk Gibson, 2-4, 2B, HR, 2R's, 2RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray

Game #626 - Houston Astros, 7 @ Los Angeles Dodgers, 4

Fernandomania was not in effect for the Dodgers in this game.  Valenzuela gave up three runs in the top of the first while facing eight different hitters.  The Dodgers picked up a run in the third when Steve Yeager parked a solo shot off Bob Knepper to make it 3-1.

Jerry Mumphrey knocked home Phil Garner in the fourth and seldom used backup shortstop Bert Pena cranked a two-run homer in the fifth to give Houston a 6-1 lead. 

Knepper gave up two more runs in the seventh and was lifted for Bill Dawley in the eighth.  The Astros picked up another run in the top of the ninth so Frank DiPino came in to mop up the victory.  He gave up a solo shot to German Rivera in the bottom of the ninth and then proceeded to load the bases before Dave Smith came in to record one out to save the game.

Winning Pitcher - Bob Knepper
Losing Pitcher - Fernando Valenzuela
Save - Dave Smith
Player of the Game - Dave Smith

May 30, 1984 - Home Invasion

Game #611 - Los Angeles Dodgers, 1 @ Montreal Expos, 0

Orel Hershiser of the Dodgers and Bryn Smith of the Expos locked horns in a masterful pitcher's duel.  Each hurler managed six innings of shutout work until the top of the seventh.  With one out Mike Marshall singled and then advanced to third on a hit by Ken Landreaux.  With runners on the corners R.J. Reynolds singled home Marshall.  Smith got out of the jam by inducing  a double play ground out from Steve Sax.

The Expos never advanced a runner past second base because Hershiser was lethal.  In one of the best pitched games of the season he only allowed three hits and three walks, all while striking out nine in the effort.

Winning Pitcher - Orel Hershiser
Losing Pitcher - Bryn Smith
Player of the Game - Hershiser, CG SHO
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tim Raines, Andre Dawson, Gary Carter

Game #612 - Detroit Tigers, 6 @ Oakland A's, 3

Mike Warren of the A's tried, God bless him, but it was ultimately a wasted effort.  Lou Whitaker, the very first batter of the game, launched a solo jack that gave the Tigers a quick lead they never relinquished.  Warren got through five innings of work but surrendered a staggering fourteen hits doing it.  The Tigers hit into four double plays on the day, which helped minimize the damage.

Mother Nature took pity on the A's in the top of the eighth.  With a runner on third the skies opened up and pelted the field with rain.  The "Z" card said no more baseball would be played, and Detroit exited with the win.

Winning Pitcher - Dan Petry
Losing Pitcher - Mike Warren
Player of the Game - Lou Whitaker, 3-4, HR, 2RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rickey Henderson, Joe Morgan

May 29, 1984 - 600 games!!!

Milestones are fun markers through this looong 1984 playback.  And we've hit another one!  That's right - 600 games played.  I can't believe I simulated 600 games...and that I'm not even a third of the way through the season!  As always, thanks for stopping by and reading the recaps.  On to the games...

Game #599 - Milwaukee Brewers, 4 @ Cleveland Indians, 2

Dion James continued his torrid play in this tangle with Cleveland.  He scored the second run of the game when Robin Yount doubled him home in the third.  In the fourth inning he hit a single with two on and two outs to pick up three RBI, and then added a double in the ninth.

Bob McClure darted in and out of trouble, allowing six hits but four walks in six innings.  Rollie Fingers pitched one and a third innings to pick up the save.

Winning Pitcher - Bob McClure
Losing Pitcher - Rick Sutcliffe
Save - Rollie Fingers
Player of the Game - Dion James
Hall of Famers in the Game - Robin Yount, Rollie Fingers

Game #600 - Detroit Tigers, 13 @ Oakland A's, 2

It seemed only fitting that the 600th game in Statis Pro was played by the real life world champs in 1984, the Detroit Tigers.  They didn't wilt in the spotlight, putting up an eight-spot in the fourth inning that included homers from Darrell Evans, Larry Herndon, and Chet Lemon.  Jack Morris pitched into he eighth while whiffing six A's.

Winning Pitcher - Jack Morris
Losing Pitcher - Steve McCatty
Player of the Game - Chet Lemon, 3-5, 2 2Bs, HR, 4RBI, 3R's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rickey Henderson, Joe Morgan