‘83 Orioles 5, ‘84 Tigers 2

October 22, 2020 -- Irish Lefty Mike Flanagan shut down the powerful (but heavily left-handed) Tigers, allowing just two hits over six innings on Thursday afternoon to give Insley’s Orioles a victory. Jim Dwyer had the big hit for the O's in the fifth when he doubled into the rightfield corner off ace reliever Wily Hernandez with the bases loaded. He had been forced to pinch hit after clean up hitter Ken Singleton went down with a pulled hamstring in his previous at-bat. Eddie Murray and John Lowenstein both scored twice, the latter going 2-4 with a walk.

W: Mike Flanagan

L: Jack Morris

Player of the Game: Jim Dwyer

‘88 Royals 2, ‘88 Blue Jays 5

November 6, 2020 — Designated hitter Rance Mulliniks went 3-3 with 4 RBI and 2 HR, including the go-ahead RBI single in the 5th inning, as the Blue Jays cruised past the Royals on Thursday night. The teams traded solo homers early as Mulliniks, hitting leadoff due to the brilliant strategy of Manager Carlson, led off the game with a deep shot to right off Mark Gubizca and Frank White jolted one out to center off Jays righty Dave Steib. But after the Royals gained a one-run lead in the fourth on a little White dribbler in front of the plate that scored Danny Tartabull, it was all Toronto. Steib stymied the KC crew, refusing to allow another hit the rest of the way as he worked around four walks and three hits for the complete game. Mulliniks added a two-run oppo-rope over the left field wall in the eighth to cap off the win. The only downer for the Jays was a first-inning injury to all-star Fred McGriff,who sprained and ankle leaving the box in the first inning. He is expected to be out four games.

W: Dave Steib

L: Mark Gubizca

Player of the Game: Rance Mulliniks

‘91 Twins 2 @ ‘90 Athletics 9

Nov 11, 2020 — Carney Lansford delivered a three-run triple in the fourth inning and Rickey Henderson reached base in all five of his plate appearances as the A’s throttled the Twins 9-2 on Thursday afternoon. Minnesota starter Scott Erickson escaped trouble in the first three innings by inducing double plays in each frame, but Oakland finally struck pay dirt in the fourth. With two outs and the bases loaded, Lansford hit a booming shot off the centerfield wall that plated Harold Baines, Dave Henderson, and Walt Weiss. In the fifth Rickey Henderson doubled, advanced to third on a fielder’s choice and then stole home, the first recorded steal of home in the Silverhawk Guild’s history. Henderson was a marvel throughout, logging two doubles and three walks, adding three stolen bases and scoring three times. The A’s kept pouring it on after Erickson was relieved by Rick Aguilera, tallying in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. Mark McGuire also went 3-5 with two runs scored. A’s starter Dave Stewart settled in nicely after allowing a first-inning run, scattering eight hits over eight innings to pick up the win.

W: Dave Stewart

L: Scott Erickson

Player of the Game: Carney Lansford (3-4, 4 RBI, 1 R)

‘95 Seattle 2, ‘95 Cleveland 4

December 12, 2020—Orel Hershiser pitched a complete game, Cleveland hit three solo home runs, and Paul Sorrento doubled with two outs in the fourth to drive in the winning run as the Indians topped the Mariners in this 1995 AL Championship Series rematch.

The big play happened on Sorrento’s double. As the ball rocketed toward the center-field gap, third base coach Mike Sarbaugh zeroed in on Omar Vizquel running from first. He knew he had a decision to make, but it wasn’t difficult.

“I know Omar,” Sarbaugh said. “He’s a first-class ballplayer, so I knew he’d read it right. All I had to do was flap my arm.”

Sarbaugh sent Vizquel flying around third. When Ken Griffey, Jr.’s throw was off-line from center, Vizquel scored easily making the score 3-2. That ended up being the game winner.

“I respect Junior,” Vizquel said after the game. “But right there I have to score. I was going no matter what.”

While Vizquel’s dash ended up being the game winner, the winning pitcher did more than his part. Indians starter Orel Hershiser went the distance Saturday, allowing just five hits in a 2-run complete game. But it wasn’t without drama.

Vince Coleman hit a two-run homerun in the fourth to give Seattle a short-lived lead. And three long fly balls that looked destined for extra bases were gobbled up by outfielders. Two were off the bat of Edgar Martinez—one in the fifth and one in the seventh—and one by way of Luis Sojo on the final pitch of the game, a deep fly that was tracked to the leftfield corner by Albert Belle.

“I owe the corners (RF Manny Ramirez and LF Albert Belle),” Bulldog said. “They made some amazing plays tonight.”

W: Orel Hershiser

L: Chris Bosio

HR: J. Thome, A. Belle, E. Murray, V. Coleman

Player of the Game: Orel Hershiser (9 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 7 K, CG)