4/6/84: "Rags" to riches: Yanks hang on to defeat Rangers, 2-1

John Montefusco pitched 4.2 innings of hitless ball, setting the stage for Dave "Rags" Righetti's initial relief outing in the 1984 replay in a game which was won by the Yankees over the Texas Rangers by a 2-1 final score at Arlington Stadium. Both teams managed just 4 hits in this thriller, which was also peppered by shaky control by Texas starter Frank Tanana and sloppy fielding, especially by both starting second basemen.

Pitching lines (starters)

Montefusco, 7.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 4 K. Tanana 8.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 4 K, 8 BB 

Yanks struck first

Omar Moreno led off the game with a walk, stole 2nd, then scored on Lou Pinella's RBI single. The score stood until the top of the 4th when Dave Winfield led off with a homer to left. Montefusco rolled right along through the Texas order, retiring the first 11 Rangers before George Wright reached on an error by Willie Randolph. Montefusco would later give up a 2-out single to Mickey Rivers in the 5th, ending the no-hit bid. In the bottom of the 6th, Buddy Bell slugged a solo homer with 2 outs, cutting the Yankee lead. George Wright then doubled, but Larry Parrish struck out to end the inning.

Rags to the rescue

The score stood at 2-1 in the bottom of the 8th when after a lead-off strikeout of Ned Yost, Curtis Wilkerson reached on the 2nd error of the game by Willie Randolph. The Rangers took a chance by sending Wilkerson on a steal but was caught. Wayne Tolleson then singled, stole 2nd, then took 3rd when Buddy Bell reached on an error by Ken Griffey at 1st. Yogi Berra wasted no time in bringing in converted reliever Dave Righetti, who caught George Wright looking at strike 3. The Yanks looked to add insurance in the 9th, when Griffey led off with his 2nd double of the game. Rick Cerone bounced to 3rd, then Tim Foli flied to right. Omar Moreno then reached on an error by Tolleson at 2nd, sending Griffey to 3rd. Willie Randolph then walked for the 3rd time (Tanana's 8th) loading the bases. Dave Schmidt took over for Tanana and got PH Don Mattingly to force out to Tolleson at 2nd.

Rags to riches

Righetti retired Larry Parrish and PH Gary Ward on groundouts to short, then walked PH Dave Hostetler to bring up another PH, Billy Sample. Sample flied to Omar Moreno, ending the nail-biting thriller for Righetti's first save of the replay.

NYY 2-4-3 TEX 1-4-1 WP-Montefusco LP-Tanana SV-Righetti HR-Winfield (1) Bell (1) GWRBI-Pinella (1) SB-Moreno, Tolleson 2B-Griffey (2) Wright NYY 2-2 TEX 1-2

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