4/16/84: Walk Greg Brock? Russell, Scioscia foil that strategy in Dodger win over Astros

Walk Greg Brock? Bill Russell and Mike Scioscia had their own candid response to that question in the 6th inning of the Dodgers-Astros series opener at the Astrodome.

Score tied 1-all, top of the 6th, 1 out when Kenny Landreaux singled off Mike Scott. Pedro Guerrero then singled Landreaux to 2nd, bringing up Mike Marshall when the fun really started. Marshall slow rolled one to Phil Garner at 2nd, moving the runners up and bringing Greg Brock to the plate. 

Astro skipper Bob Lillis decided upon the sensible strategy of walking Brock to face the anti-clutch Bill Russell. Russell's response? An "unintentional" walk putting the Dodgers ahead 2-1. And for good measure, Mike Scioscia conveniently dropped a fly in front of Jerry Mumphrey, rolling all the way to the wall, clearing the bases for a double and a 5-1 Dodger lead which became a 5-1 victory, Jerry Reuss going the distance.

The victory, which snapped a 3-game Dodger losing streak, pleased Tommy Lasorda and his happy "Blue" boys. The Astros, not so much as Bob Lillis in his best Lasorda impersonation defended the walk strategy in as many 4-letter words as possible. Phil Garner and Ray Knight suppled the only offense for Houston, Garner with a solo homer, Knight with 3 singles. 

LAD 5-8-1 HOU 1-7-0 WP-Reuss LP-Scott HR-Garner GWRBI-Russell LAD 6-5 HOU 5-6

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