This Date In Royals History--1984 Edition: August 22
Happy to see a pitcher who's not Roger Clemens, the Royals score early and often in a win over Boston.
Perhaps relieved to see anyone other than Roger Clemens on the mound, the Royals scored five runs over the first two innings on their way to a 6-2 win over the Red Sox on Wednesday night at Fenway Park in Boston.
The previous evening, the Royals scored one run in the first off Clemens before the fireballing rookie proceeded to rack up 15 strikeouts. Kansas City did much better in this one against Boston starter Bruce Hurst. Willie Wilson and Lynn Jones began the game with a pair of doubles. With two outs, Darryl Motley launched his 12th home run of the year, and the Royals had a 3-0 lead.
Boston quickly got back in the game in the bottom of the first. With one out, Dwight Evans and Jim Rice both singled against Royals starter Frank Wills. Tony Armas hit a sacrifice fly for one run. Mike Easler walked, and a wild pitch on ball four allowed Rice to reach third. Bill Buckner singled to cut the Royals’ lead to 3-2.
The Royals responded in the top of the second. With one out, Bucky Dent singled. Another Wilson double, with two outs, put runners at second and third. Jones singled to drive them both in, putting Kansas City in front, 5-2.
Kansas City then tacked on a run in the fifth. Wilson and Jones again set the table, this time with a pair of singles. John Henry Johnson replaced Hurst, but Frank White’s single loaded the bases. Hal McRae grounded out, scoring Wilson for a 6-2 lead. Johnson intentionally walked Motley, then struck out Steve Balboni and Don Slaught to keep Boston’s deficit at four runs.
Joe Beckwith replaced Wills after four innings, and pitched three scoreless innings. He was credited with the win after allowing just one hit and racking up five strikeouts. Dan Quisenberry pitched the final two innings, working around a one-out single in the ninth.
Perhaps the only Royal with worries after the game was Balboni, who struck out four times one night after Clemens got him five times.
The Royals improved to 62-64 with the win. They remained tied for second in the AL West with California, as both teams won their games. Minnesota swept a doubleheader against Milwaukee, so the Twins opened up a 5.5 game lead in the standings.
Box score and play-by-play: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS198408220.shtml
1984 news: At the Republican National Convention in Dallas, the party made it official by nominating President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George H.W. Bush for re-election. The duo were strongly favored to win second terms over Democratic nominees Walter Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro as the U.S. economy continued to rebound from several years of inflation and increasing unemployment.
1984 sports news: The USFL owners voted to move to a fall schedule, beginning with the 1986 season. The league had enjoyed two mostly successful seasons playing in the spring and early summer, but were contemplating a fall move to go head-to-head with the NFL. Two owners in particular were behind the planned move: Eddie Einhorn, who was part owner of the Chicago White Sox and was going to own the new USFL franchise in Chicago, and Donald Trump, owner of the New Jersey Generals. The two men felt that the USFL could eventually force a merger with the NFL.
Today’s birthdays: Hipolito Pichardo (1969), Dusty Wathan (1973), Chris Stratton (1990), Hunter Dozier (1991)