Despite lead-off home runs by Baltimore’s Ken Gerhart and Fred Lynn, off Jim Clancy, Toronto wins, 5 – 2. This is the second time in his career Clancy has started a game this way.
1986 – Glenn Davis slugs a two-run shot off Ted Power in the bottom of the ninth to shock the Reds, 7-6. Davis had earlier singled home a run. Larry Andersen is the winning pitcher without officially facing a batter. He tags out Buddy Bell at the plate after tossing a wild pitch that ends a ninth-inning Cincinnati threat.
Mike LaCoss pitches a three-hitter and belts his first major league home run, off position player Dane Iorg, as the Giants pound the Padres, 18 – 1. Tying a record, 14 Giants get hits and 13 come around to score in the game. In his next at-bat, on June 29th, LaCoss will belt the second and last homer of what will be a 14-year career. That homer will be served up by Tom Browning of the Reds. Iorg gives up four runs in his inning, but does strike out CF Randy Kutcher.
The Phillies set a club record with 11 doubles, and Juan Samuel hits a pair of three-run home runs in a 19 – 1 drubbing of the Cubs at Veterans Stadium.
The Braves tie the National League record for a 9-inning game by leaving 18 runners on base in a 6 – 5 win over the Dodgers.
1984 – At Wrigley Field, in game that will be known as “the Sandberg game”, the Cubs’ Ryne Sandberg goes 5 for 6 with game-tying home runs off Cardinals relief ace Bruce Sutter in both the 9th and 10th innings. He drives in seven runs to lead Chicago to a 12 – 11 win in 11 innings. It is the first time Sutter has given up two home runs to the same batter in the same game. Dave Owen’s bases-loaded single wins it. Willie McGee hits for the cycle and drives in six runs in a losing cause.
In a game that will be best remembered for Ryne Sandberg’s two late-inning game-tying home runs, Willie McGee hits for the cycle in St. Louis’ 12-11 loss in 11 innings to the Cubs. With his triple in the second inning, a fourth-frame single, a sixth inning home run, and an RBI double in the tenth, the Cardinals center fielder drives in six runs in the Wrigley Field contest.
The Roger Maris Museum opens in the West Acres Shopping Center located in Fargo, North Dakota. Nearly 2,000 visitors are attracted to the 72-foot showcase which features memorabilia from the slugger’s 12-year big league career, including a ticket stub from the 162nd game of the 1961 season.
1981 – Dave Koza drives in Marty Barrett with a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 33rd inning, giving Pawtucket a 3 – 2 win over Rochester and ending the longest game in professional baseball history. The game had been suspended April 19th after 32 innings and eight hours, seven minutes of play, but the continuation takes only 18 minutes to complete. Bob Ojeda pitches one inning to earn the win. Future major league stars Wade Boggs and Cal Ripken Jr. go a combined 6 for 25.
On June 23, 1981, the Pawtucket Red Sox and Rochester Red Wings complete the longest game in professional baseball history. Dave Koza’s bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 33rd inning gives Pawtucket a 3-2 win. The game features several future major league stars, including Cal Ripken Jr.
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