This Date In Royals History--1985 Edition: June 24
Hal McRae hits two homers as the Royals thump the Twins.
Hal McRae belted a pair of home runs and the Royals jumped out to a big early lead, then salted away the game with five runs in the seventh as they beat the Twins 12-5 at the Metrodome in Minneapolis on Monday night.
McRae hit his first home run of the night and third of the season in the first inning. It was the second two-run home run of the inning for the Royals, who rocked Twins starter Pete Filson for four runs in the first. Willie Wilson led off the game with a single before Lonnie Smith hit his first American League home run. The Royals hoped that would settle Smith down; the outfielder, acquired in a May 17 deal with the Cardinals, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in a story published Monday morning that he wished he were still playing for the Cardinals, who had recently risen to the top of the NL East.
Two outs after Smith’s home run, Frank White walked and McRae homered down the left-field line, tucking one just inside the foul pole for a 4-0 lead.
Royals starter Mark Gubicza gave up single runs in the third and fourth innings. In the third, Kirby Puckett led off with an infield single and took second on the play when third baseman George Brett made a bad throw to first. Roy Smalley’s single cut the Royals’ lead to 4-1. In the fourth, Gary Gaetti singled, took second on a groundout, and scored on Greg Gagne’s single, making the score 4-2.
The Royals responded with two runs in the fifth. Wilson led off with a walk. Smith reached on an error, with Wilson taking third. Reliever Rick Lysander threw a wild pitch, bringing Wilson home and sending Smith to second. The Twins intentionally walked Brett, but Darryl Motley’s groundout moved the runners to second and third. For the second time in the inning, Lysander threw a wild pitch that allowed a run to score, and the Royals had a 6-2 lead.
The Twins scored two runs of their own in the fifth, as Kent Hrbek led off with a single and Tom Brunansky homered, cutting the Royals’ lead to 6-4. Minnesota got one more in the sixth, as Tim Teufel drew a leadoff walk. Reliever Joe Beckwith replaced Gubicza and retired the first batter he faced, but a wild pitch and Puckett single brought Teufel around, pulling Minnesota to within 6-5.
But McRae and the offense responded in force. Brett and Motley started the seventh with walks from Twins reliever Frank Eufemia, who had notched the last two outs of the fifth and pitched a scoreless sixth. One out and a wild pitch later and the runners were on second and third. The Twins decided to pitch to McRae, who blasted his second home run of the evening to put the Royals on top 9-5. Steve Balboni followed with a single and Jim Sundberg homered for an 11-5 lead.
Motley homered with two outs in the eighth. The solo shot increased the lead to 12-5 and also helped the Royals tie a team record for home runs in a game with five (since broken). Minnesota added one run on Hrbek’s home run in the ninth, but the game had long been decided by then.
“I think the park has something to do with it. It’s only 375 (feet) down the power alleys. That’s not good enough in Royals Stadium. We have more power on the road just because of the dimensions.”--Royals manager Dick Howser, quoted by the Associated Press, June 25, 1985
The win lifted the Royals to 34-33. They were in fourth place in the AL West, 3.5 games behind California.
Box score and play-by-play:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIN/MIN198506240.shtml
1985 baseball news: Cleveland’s attempt to trade starting pitcher Bert Blyleven was thwarted when the Royals and at least one other team claimed the hurler on waivers. Since the non-waiver trade deadline was June 15, Blyleven needed to clear waivers to be dealt. Reports indicated that the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox also claimed the future Hall of Famer. Faced with losing their trade chip, the Indians withdrew him from the waiver wire. The Royals were among several teams said to be interested in Blyleven, who had a 23-14 career record against Kansas City.
Today’s birthdays: None
Interesting to learn of Lonnie Smith's comments about wanting to stay in St. Louis, given what happens later in the season. (Hope I'm not spoiling it for anyone.)