This Date In Royals History--1985 Edition: September 16
The Royals' ninth-inning comeback attempt falls short in a loss to Seattle.
Seattle starting pitcher Mike Moore dominated the Royals for eight innings, then survived a potential rally in the ninth to lead the Mariners to a 5-1 win on Monday night at Royals Stadium.
Moore held the Royals to four hits and one walk in the first eight innings while striking out five. But Lonnie Smith led off the ninth with a single, the Royals’ first hit since he singled in the sixth. Moore walked George Brett and Hal McRae to load the bases with no outs, bringing the tying run to the plate. But Frank White fouled out to third and Darryl Motley hit a popup to second.
However, Moore wasn’t out of the woods yet. Up next was the man in second place in the American League in home runs, Steve Balboni. Moore pitched Balboni carefully, throwing three straight balls. Moore then worked the count full, and when Balboni swung at a 3-2 pitch, he hit a harmless fly ball to center field, ending the game.
‘It looked like it started to get away from him in the ninth. But he bounced right back and started throwing strikes like he did in the early and middle innings. You thought you maybe had a chance, but that’s a sign of maturity. A year ago, the game might have gotten away from him.”--Royals manager Dick Howser, quoted by the Associated Press, September 17, 1985
The Mariners built their lead in the early innings, scoring all five runs off Royals starter Danny Jackson. Seattle grabbed the lead three batters into the game. Jack Perconte started the game with a triple, and after Phil Bradley walked, a wild pitch scored Perconte. A passed ball advanced Bradley to third, and after Alvin Davis walked, Bradley scored when Gorman Thomas bounced into a double play.
The Royals answered in the bottom of the first with their lone run. With two outs, Brett doubled. McRae’s single brought him home to make the score 2-1.
But Seattle scored two more runs in the second. Dave Henderson led off with a single before Danny Tartabull homered, giving Seattle a 4-1 lead. The Mariners added one more in the third, as Davis walked again to start the inning and Henderson’s two-out double brought him home.
That finished Jackson’s outing, although relievers Joe Beckwith and Mark Huismann did good work in pitching 6 1/3 scoreless innings, keeping the Royals in the game. However, Moore was too good, retiring 13 of 14 at one point.
The Royals dropped to 82-61 with the loss. California was idle, so they gained a half-game in the AL West standings. Kansas City held a two-game advantage over California with 19 games left in the season.
There was a bit of good news for the Royals. Center fielder Willie Wilson, out since August 31 after suffering an adverse reaction to a penicillin shot, said he was at least available for pinch-hitting duties, although he wasn’t sure he could play outfield just yet. Wilson actually had to have surgery to reduce swelling and pressure in his left buttock after the reaction.
Box score and play-by-play:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA198509160.shtml
Today’s birthdays: Desi Relaford (1973), Chris George (1979), Brandon Moss (1983), Robbie Grossman (1989), Jakob Junis (1992), Dylan Coleman (1996)