Montreal continued to find ways to win as the Expos defeated Pittsburgh 7-6 to claim the National League East bracket title in the 1975 Strat-O-Matic Tournament presented by Press Room Pass.
Jerry White‘s RBI single in the top ninth proved to be the difference for the Expos. Jose Morales led off the frame against Pirates starter John Candelaria. Dave Giusti got the next out before White’s game-winner.
Gary Carter gave the Expos an early advantage with a run-scoring single in the first inning.
In the second inning, Richie Zisk put the Pirates on top with a three-run homer.
The Expos were able to respond in the fourth and take a 4-3 lead as Pete Mackanin also blasted a three-run shot.
Tim Foli added to Montreal’s lead with a run-scoring single in the sixth, but the Pirates were able to answer in the bottom of the frame as Al Oliver homered.
Mackanin drove in a run with a single in the eighth to put the Expos ahead 6-4. However, when the Pirates came to the plate against Expos starter Woodie Fryman in the eighth, he gave up a run on an error followed by RBI single from Zisk to tie it.
Fred Scherman got the win for Montreal as he retired Richie Hebner to end the eighth. Dale Murray worked a perfect ninth to earn a save.
Larry Biittner led the Expos with three hits, while Oliver also had three hits.
National League East Division Championship
(6) Expos 7, (1) Pirates 6
(6) Expos at (2) Dodgers, NL championship
IN REAL LIFE:
Jerry White was in his second season with Montreal in 1975. He played in 39 games and with a pair of homers, seven RBI and .299 batting average.
White played 11 years in the big leagues and most of that time was with the Expos. His actual rookie season was 1976. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs midway through the 1978 season. Prior to 1979, the Cubs traded him back to the Expos.
After two years in Japan where he hit 37 homers, White returned to the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1986 for his final season.