KC Royals: Ten Most Dominant Starts In Royals Playoff History

Oct 28, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Johnny Cueto throws a pitch against the New York Mets in the 9th inning in game two of the 2015 World Series at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

The KC Royals have now compiled an extensive post-season history in their 46 years in existence, with seven division titles, four American League Pennants, and two World Series victories. What are the best-pitched games from starters in 40 years of Kansas City Royals playoff baseball?

Just where do Bret Saberhagen‘s two gems in the 1985 World Series rank against Johnny Cueto‘s two-hitter last October? What about the lost games from the bitter match-ups in the late 70’s against the New York Yankees?

Given that the expectations for starting pitchers has changed since strong bullpens have transformed pitching staffs over the last 40 years, such a comparison is hard to make. Add in changes in the league scoring environment, strikeout rates, and the varied situations that make a particular performance more or less meaningful, and I decided to use an objective measure of starting pitcher dominance: Bill James’ game score metric.

Bill James created the game score to measure pitcher strength in any one game. It just doesn’t measure results, it measures dominance in terms of limiting hits, walks, and recording strikeouts. For example, the game score metric will rate a three-hit, 10-strikeout, 1-run performance by a pitcher over a 10-hit, 3-strikeout game in which the starter manages to not give up a run.

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The advantage of the game score is that it’s a widely accepted metric and is available on Baseball-reference.com’s library of playoff box scores.

While some may object to my failure to consider context, each playoff game is by definition “big” since teams face elimination if they fail to take care of business. Was Eric Hosmer‘s mad dash for home in Game 5 of the 2015 World Series any less “big” because the KC Royals would have still had two more remaining games to win the title if it had failed?

Yeah. That’s why I think all playoff games are big. Any one of them could turn their respective series.

Next: 2014 World Series Game 6

Oct 28, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher

throws a pitch against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning during game six of the 2014 World Series at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

10. 2014 World Series, Game 6

Yordano Ventura:  7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 5 BB, 4 K

Game Score: 70

Game Result: Royals 10, Giants 0

Our series starts with a game that should be familiar to most current Kansas City Royals fans: Yordano Ventura’s Game 6 gem against the San Francisco Giants in the 2014 World Series.

The stakes could not have been much higher. The KC Royals trailed the Giants three games to two in the 2014 World Series. Yordano Ventura needed a strong start to help his team survive to see a Game 7.

KC Kingdom

He succeeded.

The then 23-year-old Yordano Ventura shut out the Giants over seven innings, as the Kansas City Royals stomped San Francisco 10-0 to tie the 2014 World Series at three games apiece. Ventura wrote “O.T. #18” on his cap to honor fellow Dominican Republic player Oscar Taveras, who died in a car accident on the home island two days before Ventura’s Game 6 start on October 28.

The St. Louis Cardinals outfielder would have been proud. Yordano Ventura announced himself as one of the coming young pitching talents in the game, despite struggling with his command to surrender five walks.

Yordano Ventura had put the Cinderella Royals in position to win their first World Series in 29 years.

Though the Kansas City Royals lost Game 7  in a 3-2 heartbreaker at home, it wasn’t due to any failure by Yordano Ventura. Ventura finished his two 2014 World Series starts with a 1-0 record and 1.46 ERA.

While Ventura did not repeat his 2014 World Series dominance in 2015 playoffs, his Game 6 start showed that he can perform under pressure.

Next: 1978 American League Championship Series, Game 4

May 26, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; Kansas City Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain (6) chases a double hit by New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira (not pictured) during the fifth inning of a baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

9. 1978 American League Championship Series, Game 4

Dennis Leonard: 8.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 9 K

Game Score: 73

Game Result: Yankees 2, Royals 1

The late seventies KC Royals won three straight Western Division titles from 1976-78, only to run into the big market New York Yankees all three times. The Kansas City Royals had lost their first two trips to the American League Championship Series after pushing the Yankees to a deciding Game 5 both times in both 1976 and 1977.

[Note: the ALCS did not expand to seven games until 1985]

In 1978, the KC Royals were trying to change their fortunes, but were trailing two games to one heading into Game 4 in New York. Dennis Leonard was then a 27-year-old pitcher who had seized the staff “ace” role in his fourth full big league season. Leonard had posted his second straight 20-win season in 1978, going 21-17, with a 3.33 ERA, and a 5.6 K/9. Leonard finished seventh in the A.L. Cy Young race that season.

Dennis Leonard pitched a whale of a game that night.

George Brett led off the game with a triple, followed by a single from Hal McRae to give Leonard a quick 1-0 lead. But, alas that was all the runs the KC offense would give Leonard.

Dennis Leonard gave up the lead by allowing third baseman Graig Nettles to hit a leadoff home run in the bottom of the second. The game continued to remain tied as Leonard traded zeros with Yankee ace Ron Guidry, until left fielder Roy White broke the tie by slamming a solo home run with one out in the sixth.

As good as the late-70’s Kansas City Royals teams were, they lacked the comeback magic that made the 2015 World Series champions famous. Though center-fielder Amos Otis led off the ninth inning with a double off Ron Guidry (25-3, 1.74 ERA while winning the 1978 Cy Young), Hall-of-Fame closer Rich Gossage entered to slam the door. Gossage recorded a strikeout and two fly balls to finish off the Yankees’ third straight American League pennant.

Kansas City wept.

Next: 1984 American League Championship Series, Game 3

Oct 11, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; General view of the cap and glove of Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer (35) before game three of the ALDS against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

8. 1984 American League Championship Series, Game 3

Charlie Leibrandt: 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 6 K  

Game Score: 74

Game Result: Tigers 1, Royals 0

The 1984 Kansas City Royals were a team in transition. Only a few aging pieces remained from the core group that won four AL West titles between  1976 and 1980. The team suffered a cocaine use scandal that caused the front office to ship out starter Vida Blue and first baseman Willie Mays Aikens, and chastened 1982 batting crown winner Willie Wilson.

Former rotation stalwarts like Dennis Leonard, Larry Gura, and Paul Splittorff had become little more than afterthoughts behind a new wave of kid pitchers in 20-year-old Bret Saberhagen, 21-year-old Mark Gubicza, and 22-year-old Danny Jackson.

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Despite the turnover, the KC Royals won the weak AL West with an 84-78 record. However, that meant they had to face the 104 win Detroit Tigers, who had set a major-league record with an absurd 35-5 start to the 1984 season.

However, the KC Royals still had franchise player George Brett, and stalwarts like Hal McRae, Frank White, and Willie Wilson. The bullpen was still ruled by “one man bullpen” Dan Quisenberry. And Dick Howser was the manager.

The Tigers blasted the Royals 8-1 in Game 1, beating staff ace (and future Padres and Angels manager) Bud Black. They beat Bret Saberhagen 5-3 in Game 2. Reclamation project Charlie Leibrandt, who the KC Royals acquired in a 1983 trade with the Reds for prospect Bob Tufts, was the only thing standing in the way of a Detroit sweep.

Leibrandt gave it a good run, allowing only three hits, four walks, and one earned run while lasting eight innings. The only blot on the day came when the Tigers scratched out a single run in the second inning on two singles and a ground out.

But, it wasn’t good enough. Detroit’s Milt Wilcox was even better, shutting out the Kansas City Royals offense over nine full innings while allowing only three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts.

While a disappointment, the 1984 playoff failure became a precursor to the best starting pitching staff in KC Royals history: the 1985 World Series champions.

Next: 1985 World Series, Game 5

Oct 25, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; Detailed view of the 1985 World Series ring of George Brett before game four of the 2014 World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

7. 1985 World Series, Game 5

Danny Jackson: 9.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 5 K 

Game Score: 75

Game Result: Royals 6, Cardinals 1

The Kansas City Royals came into Game 5 of the 1985 World Series with their backs to the wall down three games to one—but they had been there before. The Royals had overcome the same three games to one deficit to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALCS behind the same pitcher that would take the mound in Game 5: Danny Jackson.

However, this time Danny Jackson (14-12, 3.42 ERA) needed to come through on the road. Game 5 was in St. Louis.

Betsided

DJ responded with his third dominant performance in a row, which included his outstanding Game 1 start that the Royals lost 3-1. The first game of that string is also in this slide show.

The 23-year-old lefty allowed the Cardinals to tie the score 1-1 in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI double from St. Louis cleanup hitter Jack Clark. Jackson shut down the Redbirds the rest of the way.

The KC Royals took over the game by scoring three runs in the second off St. Louis starter Bob Forsch (9-6, 3.90 ERA), highlighted by a two-run triple from Willie Wilson. The Kansas City Royals added single runs in the eighth and ninth innings to win 6-1.

Though Danny Jackson only remained with the KC Royals two more seasons due to a 1988 trade to Cincinnati, his performance in the 1985 playoffs won him an honored place in team history.

Next: 1977 American League Championship Series, Game 3

May 17, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of Kauffman Stadium during the third inning of a game between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

6. 1977 American League Championship Series, Game 3

Dennis Leonard: 9.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 4 K

Game Score: 76

Game Result, Royals 6, Yankees 2

The 1977 roared through a 25-1 stretch in September to seize the American League West title with the best record in baseball at 102-60. After being heavy underdogs against the Yankees in 1976, the 1977 KC Royals were now favored to win the AL pennant in their ALCS rematch with New York.

The teams split the first two games, with Game 3 in Kansas City. To try to take a 2-1 lead in the series, the KC Royals sent 26-year-old ace Dennis Leonard (20-12, 3.04 ERA) to the mound against Yankee starter Mike Torrez (17-13, 3.88 ERA).

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Leonard had taken over as staff ace in 1977, winning 20 games and pitching what would today be considered an absurd 292.2 innings (21 complete games!) while making 37 starts. In an era when pitchers expected to finish what they started, Leonard was more likely than not to end the game when he took the mound in 1977.

That’s what he did in Game 3.

The KC Royals scored single runs in the second and third innings to take a 2-0 lead, before the Yankees struck back in the top of the fifth with an RBI double from former Royal Lou Pinella. However, Kansas City answered that tally with another single run in the bottom of the frame on a groundout by Al Cowens.

Kansas City took a commanding 6-1 lead on single runs in the sixth and seventh innings, before first baseman John Mayberry booted a ground ball by Reggie Jackson to allow an unearned run to score in the ninth.

No matter, Leonard got first baseman Chris Chambliss on a grounder to record the final out.

Despite Kansas City holding the home field advantage, the Yankees closed out the final two games with wins (including a three-run ninth inning rally to win deciding Game 5 5-3) in then Royals Stadium.

The 1977 Yankees went on to defeat the Dodgers to win the World Series, including an iconic three-home run game from October legend Reggie Jackson. Despite their failure to advance, many KC Royals fans think the 1977 team is the strongest club in franchise history—even better than the 2015 Champions.

Next: 1985 American League Championship Series, Game 5

August 15, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; The time vehicle from the film Back to the Future is rolled out onto the field before the Los Angeles Dodgers play against the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

5. 1985 American League Championship Series, Game 5

Danny Jackson: 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 6 K

Game Score: 76

Game Result: Royals 2, Blue Jays 0

I mentioned this game earlier, which foreshadowed Danny Jackson’s clutch Game 5 performance in the World Series. Hey, I guess that second game isn’t so surprising. DJ had already shown he had that Game 5 back-to-the-wall thing down.

The Kansas City Royals dropped the first two games of the 1985 ALDS in Toronto, won Game 3 on a game-for-the-ages by third baseman George Brett, and dropped Game 4 after the Royals allowed three runs in the top of the ninth inning after entering the frame with a 1-0 lead.

The KC Royals needed a three-game miracle, and got the first installment with Danny Jackson’s best game in his Kansas City career (while defeating Toronto ace Dave Stieb.

George Brett (who else) gave the Kansas City Royals an early first inning lead by driving in Lonnie Smith from third base with a groundout to short. Darryl Motley added a sacrifice fly to center in the second to score Frank White to give KC a 2-0 margin.

Danny Jackson took it from there.

Jackson held the Blue Jays scoreless despite allowing seven hits and one walk in the next four half-innings. He worked out of jams in the fourth and fifth innings without allowing a run, despite opening both of those frames by allowing hits to the first two batters. In the fifth, Jackson managed to escape without damage despite the Blue Jays getting runners on second and third with no outs.

Jackson allowed two more hits and a walk in the sixth inning, but got catcher Ernie Whitt to ground out with the bases loaded. That began a string of ten straight outs that allowed Danny Jackson to finish out the game.

Jackson’s Game 5 masterpiece inspired the KC Royals to go on a three-game run to eliminate the Blue Jays from the playoffs and take the second American League pennant in club history.

Next: 2015 American League Division Series, Game 5

Oct 29, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals former pitcher Bret Saberhagen throws out the ceremonial first pitch before game seven of the 2014 World Series against the San Francisco Giants at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

3. 1985 World Series, Game 3

Bret Saberhagen: 9.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 8 K

Game Score: 78

Game Result: Royals 6, Cardinals 1

The 1985 Kansas City Royals were a team built around a salty core with a lot of playoff experience, along with a horde of kid pitchers. Thus, when the 91-71 KC Royals found themselves in trouble in both the ALCS and the World Series, they didn’t panic. Instead, they played their best.

So when the Kansas City Royals dropped the first two games of the World Series at home, they joked that they “had ’em right where we want them.” Such bravado couldn’t be dismissed after the team had overcome a three games to one deficit in Toronto, and with their 21-year-old ace, Bret Saberhagen, on the mound in Game 3.

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Saberhagen showed why he deserved the AL Cy Young Award.

Bret Saberhagen and St. Louis 21-game winner Joaquin Andujar (21-12, 3.40 ERA) traded zeros through the first three innings. The Royals broke through with two runs in the fourth and fifth innings, highlighted by left fielder Lonnie Smith’s two-run double and second baseman Frank White’s two-run home run.

That was all the help that Bret Saberhagen needed.

The Cardinals strung together three consecutive singles against Saberhagen in the sixth inning, to cut the KC Royals lead to 4-1. The Kansas City Royals responded by adding two more runs in top of the seventh. Saberhagen retired the final 11 Cardinals in a row to finish out a 6-1 victory.

The game was pretty much a must win situation. At the time, no team had ever rallied down three games to none to take a seven-game series (a feat achieved by the 2004 Red Sox against the New York Yankees in the ALCS).

Next: 1985 World Series, Game 7

Oct 27, 1985; Kansas City, MO, USA; FILE PHOTO; Kansas City Royals fans celebrate after the game 7 win beating the St. Louis Cardinals 11-0 during the 1985 World Series at Royals Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

2. 1985 World Series, Game 7

Bret Saberhagen: 9.0, 0 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 2 K

Game Score: 79

Game Result: Royals 11, Cardinals 0

Even though it was the deciding game of the 1985 World Series, Game 7 was something of an anti-climax. The night before, Dane Iorg had give the KC Royals a walkoff win by capping a ninth-inning rally with a 1-out single that drove in two runs. Kansas City won 2-1 in one of the most famous games in franchise history.

To this day, many Cardinals fans still blame the loss on Don Denkinger’s famous blown call that put leadoff hitter Jorge Orta on first base.

The St. Louis Cardinals were still in shock after being three outs away from the title only to see victory slip from their grasp in a series of fielding blunders. St. Louis manager Whitey Herzog even admitted years later that he knew his club was beat after he saw the way they reacted to losing Game 6.

However, KC Royals fans didn’t know any of that at the time. The Royals still had to win Game 7 to finally win the franchise’s first title. Kansas City manager Dick Howser send his 21-year-old ace to the mound against Cardinals stopper John Tudor, who was pitching on three days rest.

Most everyone expected yet another tight game in a series filled with narrow victories. Instead, they got a laugher.

Bret Saberhagen came out throwing darts, and kept throwing ’em through nine sublime innings.

The KC Royals offense jumped on Tudor in the second inning to take the lead on Darryl Motely’s two-run home run. Kansas City chased Tudor in the third inning by adding another three runs on three walks and two singles. For all intents and purposes, it was all over after the Royals staked Saberhagen to a 5-0 lead.

The KC Royals turned the game into a complete joke with a six-run rally in the fifth inning, that saw Joaquin Andujar enter as a reliever. Andujar melted down over calls by home plate umpire Don Denkinger, who had blown the call on Jorge Orta the night before. The ensuing argument saw both Andujar and Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog get tossed after losing all composure.

Unperturbed by the angst from the other dugout, 21-year-old Bret Saberhagen continued to mow down St. Louis hitters all the way through the ninth inning for his second complete game of the series.

In his two World Series starts, Saberhagen racked up a 2-0 record, and an absurd 0.50 ERA while winning the 1985 World Series MVP Award.

He earned it.

While the KC Royals traded away Bret Saberhagen after the 1991 season, he still remains one of the best starting pitchers in franchise history. Saberhagen won two Cy Young awards during his eight seasons in Kansas City, and fired one no-hitter while winning 110 games.

Next: 2015 World Series, Game 2

Oct 28, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Johnny Cueto (47) celebrates with shortstop Alcides Escobar (2) after retiring the New York Mets in the 8th inning in game two of the 2015 World Series at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

1. 2015 World Series, Game 2

Johnny Cueto: 9.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 4 K

Game Score: 80

Game Result: Royals 7, Mets 1

Yes, KC Royals fans. Johnny Cueto’s Game 2 win over the New York Mets is the most dominant playoff start in franchise history.

Given that Cueto pitched the Kansas City Royals to victory in two pivotal games on the way to the 2015 World Series title, I guess that means he was worth the three prospects general manager Dayton Moore gave up to get him at the trade deadline.

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In Kansas City’s only “easy” win in the World Series, Johnny Cueto again held a playoff opponent to two hits. However, like in his Game 5 win over the Astros, Johnny Cueto gave up the game’s first run.

After trading scoreless innings with Jacob deGrom for three innings, Johnny Cueto issued a leadoff walk to right fielder Curtis Granderson to open the fourth inning. After getting Mets third baseman David Wright on a popup, Cueto walked second baseman David Murphy. Cueto looked like he’d escape without damage after he retired left fielder Yoenis Cespedes on the grounder to third, but Lucas Duda stroked a single to left to score Murphy.

At that point, the run looked like a big deal. The KC Royals had stolen an extra inning victory in Game 1 after trailing in the eighth inning, and the Mets were looking to draw even.

The Kansas City Royals got to deGrom in the bottom of the fifth, using a walk and five singles to plate four runs. Kansas City put the game away with three runs in the eighth, highlighted by an Alex Gordon double and an RBI triple from Alcides Escobar.

Meanwhile, Johnny Cueto retired 15 straight batters after Duda’s hit. The Mets didn’t get a base-runner until Cueto walked Daniel Murphy with two out in the ninth. But, Cueto finished off Cespedes with a fly to right.

Kansas City’s second win in a row put the Royals in firm control of the series two games to none. KC Royals fans know the rest: Kansas City pulled off two more late inning miracles in New York to finish off the Mets in five games.

Next: The Curious Case Of Charlie Leibrandt

Feb 23, 2015; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves assistant coach Charlie Leibrandt watches stretching exercises during spring training workouts at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

The Curious Case Of Charlie Leibrandt

Researching this article took me through three distinct phases of KC Royals playoff baseball. The first “era” was the 1976-80 Kansas City squads that won four division title in five seasons.

As good as those teams were, their fatal flaw was their inability to close games. Twice they had the New York Yankees on the ropes, and twice they lost the ALCS on a ninth inning Yankee rally.

The second “era” of playoff baseball came in the mid-eighties transition that revitalized the old core with young starting pitchers Bret Saberhagen, Mark Gubizca, and Danny Jackson. Add in Charlie Leibrandt, who had failed as a starter in Cincinnati before coming to KC for Bob Tufts, and the KC Royals had grafted a new starting staff onto an older group of position players.

Call to the Pen

This second era of playoff excellence suffered from the same problem as the 70’s era Royals: despite having one of the best closers of the 80’s in Dan Quisenberry, the team still struggled to finish games.

The third “era” of playoff success is, of course, the 2014-15 KC Royals, that featured one of the great bullpens in major-league history.

No player shows the difference between eras than the case of Charlie Leibrandt, who would likely become a playoff legend if he had Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis, and Greg Holland closing games for him in 1985.

Leibrandt’s playoff stats were a quite respectable 1-3 record with a 3.12 ERA in four starts. However, tough-luck Charlie might have finished the post-season with a 3-1 record if he’d enjoyed better support from the pen.

Charlie Leibrandt lost Game 1 of the ALCS against Toronto, allowing five earned runs in two innings. It was his only bad start in his Kansas City playoff career.

He followed up that debacle with an eight-inning gem in which he held the Blue Jays scoreless to protect a precarious one-run lead going into the ninth. Rather than pull his starter for closer Dan Quisenberry, , manager Dick Howser sent Leibrandt to the mound to open the ninth. Charlie then gave up a walk and double to Lloyd Moseby to tie the game.

Only then did Howser bring in Quisenberry, who allowed a single and double to turn a one-run lead into a three run deficit. Rather than a hero, Leibrandt turned into a goat. Leibrandt redeemed himself in Game 7 of the ALDS after coming on in relief of an injured Bret Saberhagen, pitching five innings and allowing two runs to earn the win.

In the World Series, Charlie Leibrandt again suffered from back luck. He failed to earn a win despite two strong starts. In Game 2 in Kansas City, Leibrandt held the Cardinals scoreless through eight innings, taking a 2-0 lead into the ninth. Again Howser sent him to the mound in the final inning, and again he imploded to allow a game-winning rally.

This time the Cardinals hung four runs on the KC Royals in the ninth inning. After surrendering a leadoff double, Leibrandt recorded two quick outs. On the verge of escaping, Howser let Leibrandt give up a double, single, and double to turn a 2-0 into a 4-2 loss. Only after the Cardinals had plated four runs did he bring in Dan Quisenberry.

In the one game in which Leibrandt got a late inning rally from his offense, Charlie wasn’t around to collect the victory. Despite pitching 7.2 innings while allowing only one run, Howser pulled Leibrandt in the eighth inning of Game 6 while trailing 1-0.

As most readers know, the KC Royals rallied for two runs in the ninth inning to stave off elimination in one of the most famous games in franchise history. Most people remember it as the “Denkinger Game” due to the umpire’s blown call that put Jorge Orta at first base to open the inning.

Next: Zooming Price For Ben Zobrist Makes Alex Gordon A Better Bet

Rather than a 3-1 record plus pitching a one-run game in iconic Game 6, Leibrandt finished the 1985 playoffs with a 1-3 record and a rap as an eight-inning wonder. Today that would mean he’s a star. In 1985, that meant Charlie Leibrandt was a playoff also-ran.