The 1984 season is upon us. The Riders have done little to improve their usual lack of power, but the rotation should be pretty solid and they have a ton of speed. Probably won't be enough to top the division but it should be an entertaining team to watch.
The season begins at home against Minnesota.
Game 1: Opening Day starter Frank Viola surrenders a three-run homer to Mike Schmidt in the first inning but shuts out the Lame Ducks over the next six frames. After seven, the Riders have outhit Minnesota 8-2 but trail 3-2 on the scoreboard. Reliever Gary Lavelle allows a one-out double in the eighth but does not allow a run, and Mike Marshall leads off the bottom half with a game-tying home run. Bill Madlock hits a two-out single in that frame, but does not advance from there. Minnesota puts runners on the corners in the ninth, but Lavelle coaxes an inning-ending grounder from Bob Horner. With one out in the bottom half, Tim Raines beats out an infield single, then steals second. Then steals third. Jerry Mumphrey punches a single to right center and the home crowd goes home happy with a 4-3 Milwaukee win.
Game 2: Jerry Mumphrey hits a two-run homer in the sixth and drives home the lead run in the eighth; Rich Gossage works a perfect ninth and the Riders have their second straight 4-3 win to start the season.
Game 3: Mike Marshall hits a two-run homer in the first; Tim Raines has four hits, and Rich Gossage earns his second save (working around a hit batsman and a walk to do it) as the Riders finish their home opening series with a 5-2 win.
Our first road trip takes us to Chicago, where the Goats have started 3-0.
10/24/2010 11:31 PM (edited)