On August 23, 1989, the Los Angeles Dodgers faced the Montreal Expos at Olympic Stadium in what still stands as one of the more peculiar baseball games ever played. The pitching matchup was between two of the National League’s best from that season, reigning Cy Young Award winner Orel Hershisher and Pascual Perez.
Both pitchers did not disappoint, as Perez tossed eight shutout innings and Hershiser did not allow a run in seven innings before being lifted by then-Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda in favor of a pinch-hitter in the top of the eighth.
Neither the Dodgers or Expos scored in the first nine innings, and the game went to extras where both teams had prime opportunities to bring home the winning run.
In the bottom of the 16th the Expos had the bases loaded with one out when it looked like Mike Fitzgerald hit a game-winning sacrifice fly on a drive to right field.
But Lasorda appealed the play, and the runner at third, Larry Walker, was called out for leaving too early. Thus, ending the inning and forcing play to continue.
The Dodgers had a rally going in the 18th when Hall of Famer Eddie Murray hit a ball deep to right field. Walker made a leaping catch at the wall to end the rally. That was despite replay showing that Walker actually trapped the ball against the wall.
Replay review was of course not available at the time, so the out stood and the game played on. Things then got really strange as Lasorda began yelling at the umpires for an unknown reason.
It wound up being because of the Expos mascot, Youppi!, dancing on top of the visitor’s dugout and taunting Lasorda and the players for the better part of two innings. Lasorda was furious about what was going on, and the result was Youppi! being the first mascot ever ejected from a Major League game.
The game went on all the way until the 22nd inning when Dodgers veteran catcher Rick Dempsey hit just his second home run all season, securing a 1-0 win for the Dodgers in what is known to be one of the most memorable games in franchise history.
Dodgers celebrate Lasorda
When Lasorda passed away in January 2021, the Dodgers and other sports teams in the city took action to honor him in multiple facets. One such way by the Dodgers was their wearing of a No. 2 jersey patch during the 2021 season, and also holding a special ceremony.
Gil Hodges grand slam
Also on this day in Dodgers history, Gil Hodges hit his 14th career grand slam to set a new National League record.
Hodges’ blast helped the team cruise to a 10-1 over the Milwaukee Braves at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 23, 1958.
Vin Scully remaining in Dodgers broadcast booth
On August 23, 2013, Vin Scully announced he would continue calling games the following year, his 65th consecutive season. Scully remained in the Dodgers broadcast booth until retiring after the 2016 season.
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