Cardinals Win 1985 Series Rematch

L.A. Times Archives

Aug. 30, 1997 12 AM PT

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<i> From Associated Press</i>

Willie McGee was shrugging off the memories of the 1985 all-Missouri World Series after he hit a bases-loaded triple to lead the St. Louis Cardinals over the Kansas City Royals, 9-7, Friday night at Kansas City on a night of interleague play.

“I’ll be glad when this is over,” said the 1985 National League most valuable player, who hit .259 in the Cardinals’ Series loss to Kansas City. “I just want to come here and do my job and get out. It’s that simple.

“Hopefully I’ll be able to come here and just get ready to play the Royals, not have to relive history.”

McGee was the only man in Friday night’s game who also played in the ’85 Series. Bret Saberhagen, the MVP of that Series, is still pitching but with the Boston Red Sox.

The rematch drew 36,006, about 16,000 above the Royals’ season average, and a great many wore Cardinal colors and cheered the visitors in the first meaningful meeting of the state rivals since Kansas City routed St. Louis, 11-0, in Game 7 in 1985.

Baltimore 4, New York Mets 3--Cal Ripken Jr. tied the game with an eighth-inning homer and singled in the winning run in the bottom of the 12th for the Orioles at Baltimore.

The Orioles trailed, 3-0, after six innings before rallying for their seventh win in nine games. Baltimore won its eighth extra-inning game in a row, and ended the Mets’ streak of eight wins in extra innings.

“It seems like when your pitching is strong, you can find a way to win,” Ripken said. “I think you’ll find a pattern with most winning teams--they all seem to have a good record in one- and two-run ballgames.”

Baltimore improved to 23-18 in games decided by one run. The Orioles are 20-6 in two-run games.

“It seems like we’ve had games like this every day for the past month,” Baltimore Manager Davey Johnson said. Then, grabbing his chest and grinning, he added, “My ticker’s having problems.”

The victory gave the Orioles a 7 1/2-game lead in the AL East over the New York Yankees, Baltimore’s biggest lead since July 4.

The game drew 48,022, the second-largest crowd in the six-year history of Camden Yards. It was the first time the Orioles and Mets played a meaningful game since the 1969 World Series, won by New York.

Florida 8, Toronto 0--Al Leiter came off the disabled list and beat the team he played with for seven seasons, pitching the Marlins past the Blue Jays at Toronto.

Charles Johnson homered, doubled and drove in four runs, and Edgar Renteria went four for four with a walk and drove in two runs. The Marlins improved to 7-3 in interleague play.

The game at SkyDome drew 29,223, down from the Blue Jays’ home average of 32,283.

Leiter (9-9), who gave up only two hits in six innings, was put on the disabled list Aug. 13 because of a pulled groin muscle and was activated before the game.

The left-hander pitched for Toronto from 1989-95.

Montreal 4, New York Yankees 3--Doug Strange reached on second baseman Rey Sanchez’s throwing error and scored on Mark Grudzielanek’s two-out double in the ninth inning at New York to lift the Expos over the Yankees.

Sanchez barehanded the ball hit by Strange, but threw it past first.

“I think I should have gloved it instead of barehanding it,” Sanchez said. “It slipped out of my hand. It was do or die and I died, I guess.”

Montreal improved to 8-2 in interleague games, the National League’s best record.

Cleveland 7, Chicago Cubs 6--David Justice hit a tiebreaking, bases-loaded single in the eighth as the Indians beat the Cubs at Cleveland.

It was the first non-exhibition game between the teams since 1899, when the Cleveland club was known as the Spiders and played in the National League.

It was a big night for Cleveland’s group of former National League all-stars. Orel Hershiser pitched seven strong innings and was backed by Matt Williams, who went three for five. Marquis Grissom scored the winning run on Justice’s hit and was one for three with two runs and two stolen bases.

Chicago White Sox 5, Houston 4--Robin Ventura hit an RBI triple in the eighth inning and scored on Mike Cameron’s single as the White Sox rallied to defeat the Astros at Chicago.

Jorge Fabregas added a two-run homer for the White Sox, who remained five games behind Cleveland in the AL Central.

Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio homered for Houston, which stayed 3 1/2 games ahead of Pittsburgh in the NL Central.

Cincinnati 5, Minnesota 3--Willie Greene’s three-run home run led the Reds to a 5-3 victory over the Twins at Minneapolis.

Greene hit his 19th homer in the fourth, two innings after Marty Cordova’s two-run drive gave the Twins a 2-0 lead. The victory improved the Reds to 7-3 in interleague play.

Minnesota fell to 4-6 against the National League in front of only 12,155 at the Metrodome.

Cincinnati outfielder Deion Sanders didn’t make the trip so he could join the Dallas Cowboys, who play at Pittsburgh on Sunday in their NFL opener.

Milwaukee 4, Pittsburgh 1--Scott Karl won his eighth consecutive decision and Jeff Cirillo hit a two-run double at Milwaukee, leading the Brewers past the Pirates.

Milwaukee has won seven of its last 10 games. Pittsburgh has lost three in a row.

Detroit 7, Philadelphia 2--Willie Blair gave up four hits in eight innings and won for the 10th time in 12 decisions in leading the Tigers over the Phillies at Detroit.

Blair (14-6) is 11-4 since he had his jaw broken by a line drive on May 4 against Cleveland.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

Player: Edgar Renteria

Team: Florida

Performance: 4 for 4, double, 2 RBIs, 1 run

Team’s Result: Win

Player: Brian Hunter

Team: Detroit

Performance: 3 for 5, 2 doubles, 1 RBI, 2 runs

Team’s Result: Win