1984 – Bruce Sutter breaks the National League record for saves in a season with his 38th in the Cardinals’ 7 – 3 win over the Mets.
In the Cubs’ 5-4 victory over Philadelphia at Veterans Stadium, Rick Sutcliffe strikes out 15 batters, tying a franchise record shared by Dick Drott (1957) and Burt Hooton (1971). The trio’s individual accomplishment will remain the club standard for a nine-inning game until Kerry Wood fans 20 Astros in 1998.
1984 – Two weeks after being given a vote of confidence by club owner George Argyros‚ Mariners manager Del Crandall is fired and replaced by 3B coach Chuck Cottier.
Trailing by five runs in the bottom of the ninth, the Rangers score six times to beat the Brewers, 7-6. With two runs in and two out, Milwaukee shortstop Robin Yount’s error on Gary Ward’s ground ball loads the bases, setting the stage for Buddy Bell’s ‘sayonara slam’ over the left field wall off Pete Ladd.
Jim Rice grounds into his 33rd double play of the season, establishing a new major league mark. The Red Sox outfielder breaks a 1954 record set by another Boston flycatcher, Jackie Jensen.
When Montreal brings back Jim Fanning to be the skipper of the Expos, the hiring marks the second time Bill Virdon will be fired during the season to be replaced by the manager he succeeded. During the 1973 campaign, the Pirates ask Danny Murtaugh to return to the dugout to also replace the bespectacled skipper, his replacement two years earlier.
1984 – In Seattle, Mark Langston stops the Tigers on two hits and strikes out 12 to win, 5 – 1. Ken Phelps’ three-run homer in the 5th is the big blow.
1984 – Ray Knight is traded to the Mets for Gerald Young and two other prospects. Houston stages a three-run rally in the eighth to nip the Pirates, 3-2. Terry Puhl’s suicide squeeze scores Jose Cruz after Jerry Mumphrey tied it with a two-run single. The Astros move into second place, nine games behind San Diego.
1984 – Dave Kingman hits a double and homer to help Oakland score six runs in the 7th inning, but that’s all the A’s score in losing to the Yankees, 7 – 6. Bobby Meacham has two homers, including the game-winner in the 8th, to back Dave Righetti’s relief win. Bill Caudill loses.
1984 – In Anaheim, the Tigers use the long ball to beat the Angels, 12 – 6. Kirk Gibson has two homers and four runs scored, Marty Castillo hits a homer and scores three times, and Chet Lemon belts the first grand slam of his career. Tommy John goes just 2 2/3 inning in losing to Milt Wilcox (15-7). Detroit leads the AL East by 12 games.