Editor’s note: Tournament games are played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter is also being used for all games.
An off-season trade for Montreal became very productive as the Expos defeated the California Angels 4-2 at Olympic Stadium in the 1977 Tournament.
The victory sends the Expos into a second round contest in Philadelphia against the Phillies at Veterans Stadium.
Tony Perez and Will McEnaney were picked up in a deal from the Cincinnati Reds that had Woodie Fryman and Dale Murray going to the Big Red Machine.
Perez knocked in three runs, while McEnaney earned a save to help the Expos advance.
After Gary Carter‘s RBI single in the fourth off Angels starter Frank Tanana put the Expos on top, Perez drilled a two-run homer in the sixth and it was 3-0.
The Angels were able to respond to close the gap to 3-2 with a pair of sacrifice flies. Andy Etchebarren hit his in the seventh and Joe Rudi added the final run in the eighth.
Perez added a RBI single in the eighth to drive in his third run of the contest.
Steve Rogers picked up the win for the Expos, but he needed help from McEnaney to get the final out of the eighth. The lefty then worked a perfect ninth to close out the contest.
1977 Tournament Results and Schedule
George Brett Bracket
(1) Kansas City Royals (102-60), bye
(16) San Francisco Giants 4, (17) Detroit Tigers 3
(9) Chicago White Sox 8, (24) Oakland Athletics 6
(25) Atlanta Braves 4, (8) Texas Rangers 2
Tom Lasorda Bracket
(5) Boston Red Sox (97-64), bye
(21) Milwaukee Brewers 8, (12) St. Louis Cardinals 4
(13) Chicago Cubs 2, (20) San Diego Padres 1
(4) Los Angeles Dodgers (98-64), bye
Reggie Jackson Bracket
(3) New York Yankees (100-62), bye
(14) Houston Astros 7, (19) Cleveland Indians 5
(22) New York Mets 3, (11) Minnesota Twins 0
(6) Baltimore Orioles (97-64), bye
Mike Schmidt Bracket
(7) Pittsburgh Pirates 4, (26) Toronto Blue Jays 1
(10) Cincinnati Reds 6, (23) Seattle Mariners 3
(15) Montreal Expos 4, (18) California Angels 2
(2) Philadelphia Phillies (101-61), bye