Editor’s note: Tournament games are played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter is also being used for all games.
Jim Spencer might be speaking at the next meeting of the Toast of Chicago after his homer proved to be the game-winner as the White Sox downed the San Francisco Giants 6-4 at Comiskey Park.
The victory moves Chicago into the semifinal round of the 1977 Tournament as the White Sox will face the winner of the (13) Chicago Cubs at (5) Boston Red Sox contest.
Trailing 4-3 heading into the bottom of the fifth against Giants starter John Montefusco, the White Sox rallied to take the lead for good.
Montefusco walked Alan Bannister and Jorge Orta to begin the frame. After Richie Zisk was fanned by the Giants righty, Spencer launched a three-run bomb that sent Montefusco to the showers and the crowd into a frenzy.
White Sox starter Ken Kravec worked until the eighth and didn’t allow a hit by the Giants the rest of his time on the mound. Lerrin LaGrow picked up the save with a perfect ninth.
San Francisco grabbed an early advantage with a pair of runs in the second inning. Gary Thomasson had a RBI single and Rob Andrews drove in the other score on a ground out.
Chet Lemon cut Chicago’s deficit in half with a run-scoring single in the bottom of the second.
In the third, the White Sox went on top as Zisk hit a two-run double to make it 3-2.
The Chicago lead didn’t last very long thanks to Andrews. Jack Clark singled to start the fourth. After Thomasson hit a fly ball to Zisk in right, Andrews drilled a two-run homer that gave the Giants the lead and set the stage for Spencer.
1977 Tournament Results and Schedule
Semifinal Round
(9) Chicago White Sox vs. winner of (13) Chicago Cubs at (5) Boston Red Sox
(6) Baltimore Orioles at (3) New York Yankees winner vs. (15) Montreal Expos at (7) Pittsburgh Pirates winner
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)
(9) Chicago White Sox 6, (16) San Francisco Giants 4, 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
$ (3) New York Yankees 4, (14) Houston Astros 3
$ (6) Baltimore Orioles 5, (22) New York Mets 3
(6) Baltimore Orioles at (3) New York Yankees, final
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
$ (7) Pittsburgh Pirates 6, (10) Cincinnati Reds 3
$ (15) Montreal Expos 5, (2) Philadelphia Phillies 2
(15) Montreal Expos at (7) Pittsburgh Pirates, final
% First Round
$ Second Round (Bracket Semifinals)