This Date In Royals History--1984 Edition: October 3
The Royals have plenty of chances but can't take advantage as Detroit builds a commanding lead in the ALCS.
The Royals had their chances. But instead of knotting up the ALCS at one game apiece, Kansas City found themselves down 2-0 after Detroit scored two runs in the 11th for a 5-3 win on Wednesday night at Royals Stadium.
Just like the first game, the Tigers jumped out to an early lead. Facing Royals starter Bret Saberhagen, Lou Whitaker began the game by reaching on shortstop Onix Concepcion’s error, then alertly tagged up and advanced to second on a long fly ball by Alan Trammell. Back-to-back doubles by Kirk Gibson and Lance Parrish gave Detroit a 2-0 lead.
Gibson struck again with a solo home run with one out in the third. Saberhagen did settle in a bit after that, retiring the next seven batters.
The Royals finally got on the board in the fourth. Tigers starter Dan Petry retired the first 10 batters he faced before walking Pat Sheridan. George Brett followed with a single, moving Sheridan to third. Jorge Orta grounded into a forceout, but Sheridan scored to cut the Detroit lead to 3-1. Darryl Motley kept the inning alive with a single, but Steve Balboni struck out to end the inning.
The score stayed 3-1 into the seventh. Balboni singled with one out, but was forced out at second on Frank White’s grounder. Don Slaught beat out a grounder to deep shortstop to keep the inning alive. Pinch-hitter Dane Iorg singled to score White and bring the Royals to within a run at 3-2. But Willie Wilson flied out to end that inning.
Tigers closer Willie Hernandez replaced Petry for the eighth inning, but Lynn Jones began the frame with a pinch-hit single. Brett struck out, but Hal McRae delivered a pinch-hit double to tie the game at 3-3. After an intentional walk to Motley, Balboni flied out and White popped up, leaving the go-ahead run at second.
Detroit manager Sparky Anderson later revealed that Hernandez was battling a case of strep throat, so he switched to reliever Aurelio Lopez for the ninth. Wilson worked a two-out walk but was caught stealing, and the game headed to extra innings.
Lopez returned to the mound for the bottom of the 10th. Brett singled with one out and moved up to second when Motley singled with two outs. Greg Pryor ran for Brett, but Balboni flied out to deep left-center, ending the scoring chance.
The Tigers took advantage of another Royals error to take the lead in the 11th,. Royals closer Dan Quisenberry was on the mound for his third inning of work in relief of Saberhagen. Parrish led off with a single. Darrell Evans laid down a bunt, but Slaught couldn’t pick up the ball cleanly. Parrish stopped at second and Evans was safe at first on the error. Ruppert Jones bunted the runners up a base. Johnny Grubb doubled over Wilson’s head, scoring both runners for a 5-3 lead.
“I’ve always felt pretty comfortable (against Quisenberry) because he’s a low-ball pitcher. But the pitch I hit was up. It was a fastball that I think he got a little higher than he wanted.”--Grubb, quoted by Chris Cottrell, Lawrence Journal-World, October 4, 1984
Quisenberry retired the next two batters, and the Royals mounted another rally in the bottom of the 11th with Lopez still in the game. Slaught singled with one out, and Wilson singled with two outs. But Jones flied out to deep right field and the game was over.
Detroit took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series, which was headed to the Motor City for the final three games. The Royals were facing a daunting task, but they weren’t giving up, especially since they had won five of six games in Detroit during the regular season.
“We had some chances late in the game. Now we have to win three in a row. That is a tough assignment, but I think we’re up to it.”--Royals manager Dick Howser, quoted by Chris Cottrell, Lawrence Journal-World, October 4, 1984
“I think we can come back, because we’ve played well up there. But instead of climbing a hill, now we have to climb a mountain.”--Saberhagen, quoted by Chuck Woodlingl, Lawrence Journal-World, October 4, 1984
Box score and play-by-play: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA198410030.shtml
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1984 baseball news: In the NLCS, the Chicago Cubs found themselves on the verge of their first NL pennant in 39 years after a 4-2 win over the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field. Bob Dernier scored two runs and Ryne Sandberg and Keith Moreland each had two hits for the Cubs. Steve Trout picked up the win with 8 ⅓ innings of outstanding work, holding the Padres to five hits before Lee Smith closed out the game. The series was headed to San Diego for the final three games, without a travel day, so the Cubs had a chance to clinch their World Series berth on Thursday.
Today’s birthdays: Steve Foucault (1949), Kerry Robinson (1973)