This Date In Royals History--1985 Edition: July 8
For the first time in almost two years, the Royals pick up a win in Yankee Stadium.
The Royals picked up a win in New York for the first time in almost two years, beating the Yankees 5-2 at Yankee Stadium on Monday night.
Kansas City had not won a game in the Bronx since the Pine Tar Game officially ended on August 18, 1983, a streak of nine straight losses. But the Royals picked up two early runs, then broke a 2-2 tie with three late tallies.
“That streak is history. I don’t have to worry about it anymore. For a long time, I tried to forget it. I knew we didn’t play well here, but that’s all. But people keep reminding you.”--Royals manager Dick Howser, quoted by the Associated Press, July 9, 1985
Lonnie Smith started the scoring in the first, hitting a Phil Niekro knuckleball for a home run. Smith also scored the second Royals run, as he doubled with one out in the third and scored on George Brett’s single.
Royals starter Bret Saberhagen allowed just two singles in the first five innings, but the Yankees tied the score in the sixth. Bob Meacham led off with a triple and scored on a Rickey Henderson single. Henderson took second on a wild pitch and scored when Ken Griffey singled to right. Pat Sheridan mishandled the ball in right field and Henderson was able to race home with the tying run. But Saberhagen quickly ended the inning with Don Mattingly grounding out, and a strikeout/caught stealing double play, with Dave Winfield striking out and Griffey being thrown out at third.
Kansas City then took the lead with two runs in the seventh. Jim Sundberg led off with a single and Willie Wilson singled with one out. Smith grounded into a force out at second but Brett’s single scored two runs. Sundberg scored easily, while Wilson scored when third baseman Mike Pagliarulo missed Winfield’s throw from right field.
Steve Balboni ended the scoring with a long home run in the eighth. It was his first home run in 14 games and it gave the Royals a 5-2 lead. Saberhagen retired the last 11 hitters he faced to finish off the complete-game victory.
The Royals improved to 41-39 with the win. They were tied for third in the AL West with Chicago, with both teams 5.5 games behind California.
Box score and play-by-play:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA198507080.shtml
1985 baseball news: Veteran hurler Tommy John, recently released by California, agreed to join the Oakland A’s, one of the teams chasing the Angels in the AL West. Oakland was in second place in the division, five games back. John could not officially sign with the A’s just yet, as his Angels contract had included a $250,000 loan and he needed to pay that back before he could join another team.
Today’s birthdays: Ken Sanders (1941), Terry Puhl (1956), Ernie Young (1969), Sam Long (1995)