The Royals beat the Indians, 7 – 1, in a match with significant implications for the AL wild card race. James Shields strikes out a season-high 10 batters as the Royals move within 2 1/2 games of a postseason slot, with Cleveland two games ahead of them as a number of other teams are also still in contention. Read More September 16, 2013
1980 – Joe Niekro comes on in relief to start the 16th inning of a scoreless tie with the Cubs at the Dome. He wins it himself an inning later when he drives home Enos Cabell for a 1-0 triumph in 17 frames. Houston pitchers allow just seven hits to increase their lead in the NL West to three games over Los Angeles. Read More August 23, 1980
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Glen Hobbie concludes his pitching duel with Vinegar Bend Mizell in dramatic fashion by launching Mizell’s first pitch into the left field bleachers – barely: “A great roar went up from the 11,701 fans when Hobbie connected,” reports Les Biederman of the Pittsburgh Press, “and they were hoping the ball would carry to the bleachers. It went down the line and as Gino Cimoli watched, the ball barely got over the left-field railing into home-run territory.” Hobbie has had the Bucs off-balance all afternoon, striking out nine, six of them looking. Pittsburgh’s only run comes on Roberto Clemente’s 1st-inning RBI single, but Ernie Banks ties it with one swing leading off the bottom of the second. Clemente’s most memorable cut of the game comes later, in the 8th: even though he doesn’t make contact, the handle of his bat breaks off. Read More August 25, 1960