Editor’s note: Tournament games are played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter is also being used for all games.
Newly acquired Bobby Murcer helped the Chicago Cubs pull off a 6-5 upset of the favored Los Angeles Dodgers in the second round of the 1977 Tournament.
With the win, Chicago advances to the finale of the Tom Lasorda Bracket to meet the Boston Red Sox in Fenway Park.
Los Angeles starter Tommy John had survived a rough beginning to reach the eighth inning.
After retiring Ivan De Jesus, John gave up a double to Larry Biittner. The veteran lefty then got Bill Buckner ground out before he faced Murcer.
Murcer’s two run blast put the Cubs on top for good and ended the day for John. Elias Sosa finished out the game for the Dodgers.
Bruce Sutter closed out the victory for the Cubs as he tossed two scoreless frames in the eighth and ninth.
Cubs Lead Early
Chicago has a fast start to the contest as De Jesus led off the game with a single and then he stole second. One batter later Buckner doubled and it was 1-0.
In the second, George Mitterwald had a RBI single and Biittner knocked in two more with a single as the Cubs built a 4-0 advantage.
The Dodgers bounced back to cut the deficit in half in the fourth when Steve Yeager‘s two-run single made it 4-2.
Dusty Baker‘s three-run shot in the fifth gave the Dodgers a 6-5 lead as the blast sent Cubs starter Bill Bonham to the showers.
Dave Roberts worked three innings in relief of Bonham to earn the victory for the Cubs.
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
$ (16) San Francisco Giants 6, (1) Kansas City Royals 3
$ (9) Chicago White Sox 2, (25) Atlanta Braves 1 (10 innings)
(16) San Francisco Giants at (9) Chicago White Sox, final
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
$ (5) Boston Red Sox 13, (21) Milwaukee Brewers 4
$ (13) Chicago Cubs 6, (4) Los Angeles Dodgers 5
(13) Chicago Cubs at (5) Boston Red Sox, final
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
$ (14) Houston Astros at (3) New York Yankees
$ (22) New York Mets at (6) Baltimore Orioles
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
$ (10) Cincinnati Reds at (7) Pittsburgh Pirates
$ (15) Montreal Expos at (2) Philadelphia Phillies
% First Round
$ Second Round (Bracket Semifinals)