Looking Back: The Padres 1984 World Series Game Two

In an attempt to keep our “Looking Back” series going to coincide with the 2014 World Series, we are keeping things relatively close in terms of game break and days off, to ensure that our Padres’ fans, can relive the happy memories that go along with celebrating the 30th anniversary of the San Diego Padres’ first National League pennant.

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During Game One of the 1984 World Series, the Padres were in a position to put Tigers’ starter Jack Morris down early, and couldn’t get the job done. Add in the fact that the Friars lost outfielder Kevin McReynolds during the NLCS, and San Diego was missing a big bat from their evened out lineup. The absence of McReynolds put more pressure on Steve Garvey, Tony Gwynn, Terry Kennedy and Graig Nettles. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough in Game One, and Detroit stole home field advantage one game in.

The Padres sent big Ed Whitson to the mound in an attempt to even up the series with the mighty Tigers. Detroit countered with Dan Petry. It appeared as if Dick Williams made the wrong decision from the get-go, as the Tigers battered Whitson so badly, he didn’t make it out of the first inning. This is what went down: Lou Whitaker led off with a single, followed by an Alan Trammell single that moved Whitaker to third base, and nobody out. Kirk Gibson then singled in Whitaker, and moved Trammell to third. Gibson then stole second, putting both runners in scoring position and still nobody out. Catcher Lance Parrish hit a sac fly to drive in Trammell, that also moved Gibson to third. Darrell Evans drove in Gibson with a single. A popup to shortstop by Ruppert Jones, and a single by Johnny Grubb and that was all she wrote for Ed Whitson. His final line: 2/3 of an inning, 3 earned runs, 5 hits allowed.

Who did Dick Williams turn to with his Padres down 3-0 without even getting out of the first inning and not having had an at-bat yet in Game Two? You guessed it, Andy Hawkins! He immediately got his team off the field by forcing Chet Lemon to ground out to end the nightmarish 1st inning at the Murph.

Alan Wiggins didn’t waste any time getting the Padres started. A bunt single and he reached base. That was followed by a Tony Gwynn walk, and a sac bunt by Garvey to move the runners up 90 feet to second and third, one out. Nettles followed with a long sac fly to left that scored Wiggins, and at the end of the first, the Padres got one back, and it was 3-1, Tigers.

The score remained the same until the 4th inning came. Kurt Bevaqua singled to open the bottom of the inning for San Diego. Carmelo Martinez struck out, and Gary Templeton followed with a single to right, moving Bevaqua to third, and only one out. Bobby Brown forced Templeton at second, but was safe at first, and that scored Bevaqua, making it 3-2, Tigers.

Andy Hawkins just kept dealing, not allowing the Tigers to gain any traction on the scoreboard. The Padres struck again in their half of the 5th inning. Garvey led off by flying out to center. Nettles drew a walk. Terry Kennedy then singled, putting the Friars in position to tie the ball game with Bevaqua coming to the plate. Instead of just continuing to play station-to-station baseball, Bevaqua put the finishing touches on Petry, mashing a three-run bomb, and giving San Diego a 5-3 lead.

Hawkins pitching through the 6th inning and didn’t allow a run. His final line: 5 1/3 innings pitched, 1 hit, no walks, no runs, and 3 punchouts. It was the greatest game of Hawkins career with San Diego. He held the mighty Tigers down while the Padres nibbled their way back into the game, eventually taking the lead. Craig Lefferts relieved Hawkins in the 7th, and didn’t miss a beat. He tossed the final three innings, allowing only one more hit, and picking up the save. It was the Padres first World Series win in their franchise’s history. The series was now all tied up, and the Friars now believed that the Tigers could be defeated.

Alan Wiggins and Kurt Bevaqua paced the Padres, each recording 3 hits on the night, with the big blow being the Bevaqua 5th inning home run. Wiggins was a menace on the base paths, and the Friars scored just enough to put the Tigers on their heels, while the star of the night was Andy Hawkins. If the Padres were going to continue building on the momentum of their Game Two win, solid pitching and timely hitting were going to be the order of the day. Join us again tomorrow as we review Game Three of the 1984 World Series between the San Diego Padres and the Detroit Tigers!