4/5/84: Royals (3-1) hold off Indians, 5-4

The Royals built a 5-1 lead behind 3 homers but held off a late Indians rally to score their 3rd victory in 4 games, 5-4. The score was tied at 1 in the bottom of the 3rd, when the Royals started launching off Indian starter Bert Blyeven, Jorge Orta slugging one into the right field stands to give them the 2-1 lead. 

Going Bye-Bye

The score stood at 2-1 until the bottom of the 6th, when Hal McRae led off with a single, then the front end of back-to-back volleys went Bye-Bye, as in Steve Balboni who sent one on the way to Omaha for a 4-1 lead. Then, Frank White unloaded another one off Blyeven stretching the lead to 5-1. Blyeven then went "Bye-Bye" as in "out of the game" when the bottom of the 7th began.

Coming up short

The Tribe had a couple of caught stealing's early in the game, with Brett Butler and Tony Bernazard just nipped out of a couple of sure steals. Their furious rally began in the top of the 8th, when Butler led off with a single. One out later, Julio Franco walked, putting runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out. Royals starter Mark Gubicza then recorded his only strikeout of the evening, getting Andre Thornton on a swinging strike 3. Pat Tabler walked, loading the bases, (Quisenberry then took over) then Brook Jacoby singled, scoring Butler and reloading the bases. Ron Hassey walked, scoring Bernazard, cutting the lead to 5-3. George Vukovich forced to 2nd, ending the inning. With 1 out in the 9th, Butler tripled, Bernazard struck out, Franco singled, scoring Butler. Thornton then flied out, leaving the KC fans breathing a sigh of relief as they filed out of the "Fountain." 

KCR 5-8-1 CLE 4-7-1 WP-Gubicza LP-Blyeven SV-Quisenberry (2) HR-Orta (1) Balboni (1) White (1) GWRBI-Balboni (1) KCR 3-1 CLE 1-2

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