April 9th, 1987 - Big Blowout in Baltimore and Another Cleveland Beatdown (A.L. Action)

Disappointed with their first two losses at home to the Texas Rangers (2-1), the Baltimore Orioles (1-2) took out their frustrations on the Rangers' pitching by slugging 7 home runs at Memorial Stadium. During this extraordinary outburst, the O's Larry Sheets carved himself out a performance of his own, by producing a trifecta (3 home runs) for the night. Sheets had a 4-for-5 day, while producing 5 ribbies to go along with 3 runs. Sheets currently leads the Majors with 4 HR's. Texas starting pitcher Bobby Witt had a short day, working only 1 2/3 innings, and allowing 6 hits, 5 runs & 2 home runs (although he did have 4 strikeouts in that short time). Eddie Murray batted 3-for-4 with a Grand Slam, while drawing a walk & scoring twice. Not to be outshined by his teammates at the plate, Orioles' pitcher Eric Bell pitched a complete game shutout with 5 strikeouts, allowing only 6 hits & 2 walks. The Orioles also had 20 hits in their, 17-0 victory.

The California Angels (1-2) won their 1st game, defeating the Seattle Mariners (2-1), 3-1. Trailing 1-0, the Angels' young star first baseman Wally Joyner smacked a bases-clearing double during the bottom of the 8th inning. The Angels' reliever DeWayne Buice (1-0, 0.00) earned the two-inning win, while Seattle's starter Mike Morgan (0-1, 3.52) gets the loss.

The Detroit Tigers (2-1) defeat the New York Yankees (1-2) in a back-and-forth affair, in which Detroit finally put the Yankees away, scoring 4 runs during the bottom of the 7th inning. Lou Whitaker hit a two-run homer, while going 3-for-5 & scoring three times. It was Kirk Gibson's three-run double in the 7th that was the team's major highlight. For the Yanks, Dave Winfield batted 2-for-4 with 2 RBI & catcher Joel Skinner batted 1-for-3, which included a two-run homer. Tigers win, 9-5 as Eric King (1-0, 3.00 ERA) gets the win in relief.

The Kansas City Royals (3-0) won despite their lineup only able to gather together two hits. Steve 'Bye Bye' Balboni clobbered a three-run homer in the bottom of the 2nd inning, which would prove to be just enough as the Royals won (yet) another close game over the Chicago White Sox (0-3). The White Sox lost by scores of 3-2, 5-3 & 3-2 during their series at Kaufman Stadium. Chicago's Jose DeLeon (0-1, 2.25 ERA) pitched the entire game: 8 IP, 2 H, 3 R (2 ER) with 6 K's and 1 walk allowed. Danny Jackson was credited with the win for K.C., pitching 8 innings, allowing only 5 hits & 2 earned runs while striking out 5 batters. Dan Quisenberry recorded his 3rd save in as many games. 

The Boston Red Sox (1-2) were not going to have any more of the Milwaukee Brewers' late game shenanigans, as Boston made sure to walk away with their 1st victory, winning 6-3 at Milwaukee County Stadium. Rookie Todd Benzinger, playing first base, batted 2-for-4 with a two-run HR, BB & 2 runs. Milwaukee's Paul Molitor jacked a solo shot, while drawing a walk, and stealing a base in the lost against Boston. Boston's starting pitcher Al Nipper (1-0, 3.38 ERA) earned the win, while Tom Bolton earned the Save. 

The Oakland Athletics (2-1) led 3-0 through 5 1/2 innings, until the Minnesota Twins (1-2) unleashed 7 unanswered runs to win, 7-3. Oakland starting pitcher Steve Ontiveros (0-1, 11.12) was pitching a pretty solid game up to that point, until the wheels all came off. The big inning was capitalized with a three-run triple by 2B Steve Lombardozzi. Kirby Puckett batted 3-for-4 with an RBI & run. Oakland's Mike Gallego batted 2-for-3 with a solo HR & double.

The Toronto Blue Jays (3-0) once again made mince meat out of the Cleveland Indians' pitchers, as the Jays scored in double-digits in all 3 games of their home-opening series at Exhibition Stadium. Steve Carlton (0-1, 13.50), following Phil Niekro the other day, is the latest future Hall of Fame pitcher for the Indians to look anything but. The Jays' outfield trio in Lloyd Moseby, Jesse Barfield & George Bell shined once again. Moseby batted 3-for-5 with a solo HR, double & 3 runs... Bell had a double & RBI on 2-for-3 hitting, while drawing two walks & 2 runs... and Barfield batted 2-for-4, while adding 2 runs & 2 RBI to his MLB-leading 9 RBI through 3 games. Toronto's starter Dave Stieb (1-0, earned the win, allowing only 6 hits & 2 runs (but 3 BB) through 8 innings. The tribe was outscored in the series, 35-8. 

National League Action (Day 3 / April 8th, 1987)

The Cincinnati Reds (0-2) were close to winning their first game of the season, until the Expos' Hubie Brooks hit a game-tying two-run homer during the top of the 9th inning off Reds closer John Franco. Mitch Webster's RBI double during the top of the 12th & a Randy St. Claire save would secure a victory for the Montreal Expos (2-0). The Reds' Kal Daniels batted 2-for-6 with a HR & double, while Dave Conception batted 2-for-5 with a double & RBI. Ted Power pitched a good game before handing off the game to the bullpen. Power allowed only 3 hits, no runs & 3 walks, while striking out 5 batters through 7 innings. The Expos' Jeff Parrett was credited with the win, while Rob Murphy (0-1, 1.80 ERA) got the loss. 3-2, Expos beat Reds in 12.

The Los Angeles Dodgers (1-2) finally broke through with their 1st win against their division rival Houston Astros (2-1). Fernanado Valenzuela showed glimpses from his 'Fernandomania' days, pitching a complete game, allowing 6 hits, 2 earned runs & a walk. Valenzuela struck out 6 Astros hitters. The Dodgers' lineup was led by Dave Anderson (2-5, 2 RBI), Pedro Guerrero (2-5, 2 doubles, 2 R) & Mike Marshall (2-4, RBI double & a run). Danny Darwin (0-1, 9.00) just didn't have his stuff, while the Astros' big highlight was a pinch-hit home run by Phil Garner. Dodgers win 6-2.

The San Diego Padres (2-1) edge the San Francisco Giants (1-2), 5-4. The Padres' Benito Santiago didn't hit a home run this time, but did go 1-for-4 with a three-run triple. Santiago has 7 RBI during this young season. John Kruk added a two-run homer, while drawing two walks & scoring twice. Tony Gwynn (.455 AVG) continues to rake, batting 2-for-4 while scoring twice, and stealing a bag. The Giants' Chris Brown batted 2-for-4 with a HR, 2 RBI & 2 runs, while Chris Speier earning a start after his game-winning hit the other night, batted 2-for-5 with a solo home run. 

1987 BBW Replay - April 8th, 1987 (Day 3 / A.L. Action)

The Baltimore Orioles (0-2) could not lock down their game against the Texas Rangers (2-0), as Baltimore reliever Mark Williamson blown the save, as Scott Fletcher hit a go-ahead, eventual game-winning two-run single during the top of the 9th. The Rangers and the Orioles each had 11 hits. Texas' Larry Parrish was a triple short of the cycle, batting 3-for-3 with a two-run homer & double. Backstop Mike Stanley got his first start of the season, and took advantage of it by collecting 3 hits (including a double). Besides getting the game-winning hit, Fletcher finished the day batting 2-for-5 with 3 RBI (5 RBI for the season). The Ripken brothers tried their best to pull out their first season win... Billy batted 3-for-5 with a RBI double (1 run), while older brother Cal batted 2-for-4 with a RBI single. Cal's RBI single in the 7th inning momentarily gave the O's a 4-3 lead. After recording a win the day before, Charlie Hough came into the 9th, and completed the save. Rangers win, 5-4.

The Seattle Mariners pitching showed up again, as the M's defeated the California Angels, 5-1. Although he wasn't perfect by any account (7 hits & 4 walks), Mike Moore pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowing only 1 run. Mike Kingery getting his first start as a Mariner (after being involved in the Danny Tartabull trade), hit a three-run homer in his very first at-bat, to give Seattle an early 3-0 lead. John Moses would help Seattle by adding a solo home run. The Angels' Don Sutton (0-1, 6.00) showed his age, while allowing 7 hits & 4 runs with only 1 strikeout. California's Johnny Ray batted 2-for-4 with a RBI & BB; Ray currently is batting .625 (5-for-8) through the first 2 games of the season.

The Detroit Tigers' Frank Tanana kept the New York Yankees (1-1) at bay, as the Tigers (1-1) would pull out their first win in front of a happy home crowd. Mike Heath (who came in for catcher Matt Nokes later in the game) hit the go-ahead winning two-run single in the bottom of the 8th. Lou Whitaker batted 2-for-4 with a double & RBI. Tanana may not have earned the decision, but pitched a solid game by allowing only 4 hits, 1 run & walk through 7 innings, while collecting 5 strikeouts along the way. Rickey Henderson hit a solo home run during the loss. Tigers win, 4-2. 

A rain delay, delayed the game in K.C. between the visiting Chicago White Sox and the Kansas City Royals. Pitchers came out rusty, especially the Sox' Richard Dotson, who surrendered 4 runs in the 1st inning, due to a RBI double by rookie Kevin Seitzer and a three-run homer by Danny Tartabull in his first at-bat as a Royal. Seitzer batted 1-for-2 (which included the RBI double), while drawing two walks, and scoring once. Speedster Willie Wilson stole two bases, while scoring 2 hits & 2 runs. The White Sox would come back with 2 runs, but the Royals' Dan Quisenberry would earn his 2nd Save, as the Royals win 5-3. Mark Gubicza (1-0, 1,80 ERA) earned the win, while Dotson (0-1, 12.27 ERA) only lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing 6 hits, 5 runs & 3 walks. The Sox' Ivan Calderon batted 2-for-3 with a solo HR & BB.

Can lightning strike twice? In this case, yes. Last game, the Brewers won with a walk-off single in the 10th inning by pinch-hitter Bill Schroeder... This time, the Milwaukee Brewers (2-0) won with a walk-off home run by Bill Schroeder, once again in the 10th inning. The Boston Red Sox (0-2) lost again in extras and to the same player, not a great start for the defending American League Champions. The Brew Crew first got on the board thanks to Dale Sveum's solo HR during the bottom of the 5th. The Red Sox would tie the game back up, 1-1, on Sam Horn's bases loaded sacrifice fly. Boston's Bruce Hurst would pitch the entire game -- 9 2/3 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 4 BB & 6 K's. The Brewers' starter Bill Wegman had a no-decision, while allowing 4 H, 1 ER & 3 BB through 8 1/3 innings (3 K's). 

The Oakland Athletics score 7 runs during the top of the 9th inning to defeat the Minnesota Twins. Tony Phillips hit a three-run homer early on for the A's, while it was catcher Terry Steinbach's three-run homer in the 9th, which was the highlight of their big inning. The Twins' Bert Blyleven only allowed 2 earned runs through the first 7 innings, until getting tattooed with 4 earned runs through his final 1 1/3 innings -- resulted in a crooked line in the box score. Blyleven had 9 strikeouts. Tom Brunasky (1-4, two-run HR) and Greg Gagne (2-5, 3B, 2B & RBI) were Minnesota's big offensive stars. Dennis Eckersley may have blown the save (due to Brunasky's homer), but earned his first win.

Last, but not least, the Cleveland Indians at the Toronto Blue Jays.

Cleveland led 2-1 with 10 hits, while entering the bottom of the 5th inning; The Blue Jays had only 5 hits. Cleveland took a 2-1 lead on a solo HR by Julio Franco during the top of the 5th, but everything would fall apart for Phil Niekro (0-1, 9.64 ERA) and the Cleveland Indians (0-2). The Jays would score 12 runs between the 5th and 8th innings, on their way to a lopsided 13-3 win. Toronto has outscored Cleveland 25-6 during the first two games of this series. 

For Toronto, Jesse Barfield batted 3-for-4 with a double, 3 RBI & two runs. Ernie Whitt batted 3-for-4 with 3 RBI, a walk & a run. Cecil Fielder in his first start of the season, playing DH, smacked a solo HR, while drawing 2 walks & scoring 3 times. Lloyd Moseby added 3 hits, an RBI, stolen base & 2 runs.

Cleveland's Carmen Castillo batted 2-4 with an RBI double & run in their loss.

Toronto improves to 2-0, and will play the series finale tomorrow.

* * * Next, National League highlights from April 8th * * *

A Couple of N.L. West Games to End Day 2 (1987 BBW)

The San Diego Padres (1-1) rebound with a 2-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants (1-1) at Candlestick Park. 

The Padres were powered by an excellent showing from starting pitcher Eric Show. Show (1-0, 0.00 ERA) pitched a complete game, allowing only 4 hits,1 run (none earned) to go along with 6 strikeouts and 2 walks. Both teams had a hard time against pitching, as the Padres themselves could only manage 3 hits (verses Giants' 4 hits). The Giants' Kelly Downs (0-1, 1.50 ERA) allowed only 2 hits, 1 earned run & a walk through a strong, 6 inning effort.

In his 1st game with the Padres, Kevin Mitchell drove in the game's first run during the 1st inning by executing a perfect hit-and-run, RBI single. Rookie Benito Santiago's 2nd home run of the season was a solo HR during the top of the 7th that helped Show & the Padres get just enough cushion to hold off the Giants. Jeffrey Leonard hit an RBI double during the bottom of the 7th. 

Through the first two days of the season, Santiago is the only hitter with at least 2 home runs, momentarily leading Major League Baseball in homers. 

The other game, was the 2nd game of the Los Angeles Dodgers - Houston Astros series. The Astros' Mike Scott (1-0, 1.13 ERA) picks up where he left off in 1986, by shutting down the Dodgers with 8 solid innings. Scott allowed 6 hits, and only 1 earned run & 1 walk, while striking out 5 Dodgers. The Dodgers' Bob Welch (0-1, 2.57 ERA) did pretty good himself on the losing end, allowing 2 earned runs, while striking out 8 Houston batters through 7 innings. The Astros brought in closer Dave Smith to slam the door on Los Angeles, for his 1st Save of the season. 

The Astros' Denny Walling batted 2-4 with a double, 2 RBI & a run, while teammate Bill Doran batted 2-for-4 with an RBI. The Dodgers' Pedro Guerrero batted 2-for-4 which included an RBI double. 

Deadball-14's Opening Day: 1904 Highlanders at 1917 White Sox

 

At Chicago / Commiskey Park I

Jack Chesbro takes the mound for the 1904 New York Highlanders as he squares off against the 1917 Chicago White Sox' Eddie Cicotte. 

Bottom of the 1st

The White Sox' Eddie Collins draws a walk from Chesbro. Shortstop Buck Weaver follows with a control single, a textbook hit-and-run. 'Shoeless Joe' Jackson with no outs, grounds one to the right side, as Highlanders 2B Jimmy Williams is up with it, to first, for out number one, but Collins would score, while Weaver advances to second. Happy Felsch smacks a deep fly to center that goes over center fielder 'Honest' John Anderson's head. Felsch gets greedy and goes for third, and is thrown out by Anderson (score that as an RBI double, 8-5). Chick Gandil hits the ball back to the mound, as Chesbro relays it to first base for the final out. 

Top of the 3rd

Chicago's Cicotte exits without any damage after the Highlanders threatened with a potential run due to Wid Conroy's two-out triple. New York's backstop Jim McGuire failed to score in Conroy, as he hit a grounder up the middle to the White Sox' Collins for an easy 4-3 out. 

Bottom of the 3rd

Eddie Collins beats out a hit to first, as the Highlanders' 1B John Ganzel bobbles the grounder momentarily. A few batters later with two outs, and Collins on third, 'Shoeless Joe' would drive in Collins, narrowly beating out the throw from New York shortstop Kid Elberfeld. Felsch grounds out to short to end the inning, White Sox up, 3-0.

Top of the 5th

One out with the runners on the corners for the Yanks' Kid Elberfeld, infield in. Elberfeld hits a chopper back to the mound, Eddie Cicotte scoops it up, turns and fires to second for one, over to first... double play! Chicago pulls off a tough 1-6-3 double play to spoil New York's latest threat.

Bottom of the 6th

'Shoeless' Joe Jackson leads off the inning with a deep fly that results in a double. A few batters later, Ray Schalk with two outs, draws a walk. Runners on 1st & 2nd, LF Nemo Leibold score in Jackson on a RBI single, to give Chicago a commanding 4-0 lead. Weak-hitting Swede Risberg rips a single to center, driving in Schalk, while Leibold advances from first to third. Cicotte grounds out to end the bleeding. 

Bottom of the 7th

Jack Chesbro still in the game for the Highlanders, as he will have to face the top of the order in Eddie Collins, Buck Weaver & Joe Jackson. Collins leads off with a hot smash single to center, that's Collins' 3rd hit of the game. The Highlanders' Manager/Pitcher Clark Griffith is asking Chesbro for the ball, and calls on Walter Clarkson from the pen. Walter is the brother of John & Arthur 'Dad' Clarkson. Weaver steps up to the plate to face Clarkson, swing and miss, as Collins steals second safely. Weaver still at the plate, tops the ball as it bounces through the left side, Collins races around third as he scores. Weaver holds on first with a single. 'Shoeless Joe' pulls one deep to right, but lands just foul. Jackson would move Weaver up to second on a ground out, while the Highlanders intentionally walk Happy Felsch in an attempt to come up with a double play to get out of the inning. The Highlanders would rather face Chick Gandil. Gandil goes down on strikes for out number two. Up 6-0, the White Sox want more, and get more as Ray Schalk hits a single to left, driving in Weaver, Felsch advances to second, but gets greedy, as he is out by only inches (7-5). Inning over, but the White Sox now lead 7-0.

Bottom of the 8th

The White Sox are back at it. Nemo Leibold leads off with a single to right. Swede Risberg drives a ball to deep center to drive in Leibold, who was off-and-running. Chicago pitcher Cicotte lines out to left, one out. Eddie Collins grounds out to first, for the 2nd out. Buck Weaver, with Risberg on second, hits into a 5-3 groundout to finish the inning. Chicago tacks on another, 8-0.

Top of the 9th

Chicago ace Eddie Cicotte gets the Highlanders to go down 1-2-3, as Cicotte finishes with a strong shutout performance in which he only surrendered 5 hits. Cicotte had 4 K's and 1 BB.

These White Sox can score in bunches, and they demonstrated that today as they whooped the Highlanders, 8-0. The Sox' Eddie Collins finished the day batting 3-for-4 with a double, 2 steals, while scoring twice.  It's no surprise that Joe Jackson had a solid day, batting 2-for-4 with 2 RBI & a run. The surprise came from Swede Risberg who batted 2-for-4 with 2 RBI & a double.