This Date In Royals History--1985 Edition: September 25
The Royals snap a 10-game losing streak against Seattle, but of course it's not easy.
Finally.
After dropping 10 straight games to the fifth-place Mariners, the Royals finally defeated their nemesis. Of course, it wasn’t easy. The Royals built a 5-1 lead, then held on for dear life through a three-run rally in the ninth for a 5-4 win at the Kingdome in Seattle on Wednesday night.
Bret Saberhagen led the Royals, holding Seattle to seven hits and a walk through eight innings. He struck out four hitters as he improved to 19-6 on the season.
Despite that, Seattle still scored first. In the fourth, Alvin Davis worked a one-out walk and Gorman Thomas singled. The Mariners tried a double steal, but catcher Jim Sundberg gunned down Davis at third. That meant Jim Presley’s double only scored one run. Saberhagen got the third out and the Royals were down 1-0.
Seattle starter Matt Young escaped one scoring threat when Willie Wilson was thrown out at home in the third trying to score on a Lonnie Smith single. But the Royals got to Young for two runs in the fifth. Sundberg led off with a single. A bunt and a groundout moved him to third with two outs. Young made the mistake of walking Smith, bringing George Brett to the plate. Brett singled to center to tie the game at 1-1. After Hal McRae walked, a passed ball charged to Seattle catcher Donnie Scott allowed Smith to score, putting the Royals ahead 2-1.
The Royals then padded the lead with three runs in the seventh. Buddy Biancalana started the inning with a single. Wilson doubled, with Biancalana stopping at third. Smith doubled, driving in both runs for a 4-1 lead. One out later, Smith stole third and McRae singled off Mariners reliever Roy Thomas for a 5-1 lead.
Saberhagen held that lead through eight innings. But in the ninth, Dave Henderson doubled with one out. With two outs, Scott walked. Pinch-hitter Ken Phelps belted a three-run home run, pulling Seattle to within 5-4. With normal closer Dan Quisenberry needing a night off, the Royals turned to Steve Farr for the final out. Farr walked Jack Perconte, and then Phil Bradley, who had hit the game-winning home run the previous night, reached on an error by Biancalana at shortstop. But Farr recovered to strike out pinch-hitter Danny Tartabull, and the Royals had at last figured out how to beat Seattle.
“I was a little surprised to be used in that spot, but Quiz is tired and needed a day’s rest. I don’t mind telling you I was a little worried. I was very worried about Bradley.”--Farr, quoted by the Associated Press, September 26, 1985
The Royals improved to 85-66 with the win, allowing them to keep pace with California in the AL West race. In their last home game of the season, the Angels defeated Chicago to stay in first, with the Royals a half-game behind.
“We can’t get too high when we win or too low when we lose. We’ve got seven of our last 11 games at home and the Angels end their season on the road. I’m not sure exactly how important the home advantage is, but whatever it is, we’ll take it.”--Royals manager Dick Howser, quoted by the Associated Press, September 26, 1985
Box score and play-by-play:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SEA/SEA198509250.shtml
Today’s birthdays: Ray Holbert (1970), Nick Loftin (1998)