This Date In Royals History--1984 Edition: June 13
The Royals recover nicely from the previous night's loss.
Undaunted by the previous night’s walkoff loss, the Royals scored four runs in the first inning and held on for a 6-4 win over the Mariners on Wednesday night at the Kingdome in Seattle.
Seattle starter Matt Young retired Willie Wilson on a grounder to start the game, but that was the last out he would record. Butch Davis singled, George Brett walked, and Hal McRae singled to produce the Royals’ first two runs, with Brett scoring when left fielder Barry Bonnell mishandled the ball. McRae wound up at second and Darryl Motley picked up an RBI with a single. Frank White also singled, giving the Royals runners at first and third. Steve Balboni’s single made the score 4-0 and ended Young’s brief appearance. Reliever Ed Nunez limited the damage by getting Don Slaught to hit into an inning-ending double play.
Seattle got two of the runs back in the bottom of the first with a two-out rally. Alvin Davis singled off Royals starter Larry Gura, followed by an Al Cowens single. Ken Phelps doubled to score both runners.
Kansas City answered with a run in the top of the second. Wilson singled with one out and stole second, then scored on Brett’s two-out double. The Royals tacked on a run in the fourth as Slaught led off with a walk and Onix Concepcion singled. With one out, Davis hit a grounder to first. Seattle’s Davis fired to second for a forceout, but shortstop Spike Owen’s return throw was wild and Slaught scored on the error.
Gura was on cruise control after the first inning, but suddenly ran into trouble in the sixth. Davis led off with a single before Gura issued consecutive walks to Cowens and Phelps. Reliever Joe Beckwith took over and struck out Bonnell. But Larry Milbourne singled to drive in one run, and after another strikeout from Beckwith, Owen drew a walk to force in a run and cut the Royals’ lead to 6-4. However, Beckwith had one more strikeout in him, ringing up Jack Perconte to end the inning.
“I don’t know what happened to Larry’s control. He was throwing the ball good. He couldn’t throw strikes. Beckwith was overpowering. That was the best fastball he’s had all year.”--Royals manager Dick Howser, quoted by the Associated Press, June 14, 1984
Dan Quisenberry pitched the last three innings, allowing just one single that was promptly erased by a double play, to pick up his 16th save.
With the win, the Royals improved to 27-30. They were in third place in the AL West, 3.5 games behind California.
Box score and play-by-play: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SEA/SEA198406130.shtml
1984 baseball news: With the trading deadline a day away, the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians made a seven-player trade. The Cubs, surprisingly leading the NL East, acquired starting pitcher Rick Sutcliffe, relief pitcher George Frazier, and catcher Ron Hassey in exchange for outfielders Joe Carter, Mel Hall, and two minor-league pitchers. Sutcliffe had led the AL in ERA in 1982 and was an All-Star in 1983, but had struggled so far in 1984, with a 4-5 record and 5.15 ERA.
Today’s birthday: Darrell May (1972)