Editor’s note: Tournament games are played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter is also being used for all games.
A late rally by Houston excited the Astrodome crowd as the Astros went on to a 7-5 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
The Astros will now make a trip to New York to face the Yankees in the second round.
Cleveland led 5-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning with starter Dennis Eckersley on the mound.
After one out, Eckersley gave up a solo homer to Terry Puhl that brought the Astros to within a run.
Eckersley retired Enos Cabell on a fly ball to left before allowing a double to Cesar Cedeno.
Indians manager Frank Robinson decided to call on Jim Kern from the bullpen.
Bob Watson greeted Kern with a single that tied the game as Cedeno raced home. Jose Cruz followed with a triple and he would score on a single by Cliff Johnson.
Don Hood got the final out for the Indians, but the damage had been done.
J.R. Richard finished off his complete game victory with a scoreless ninth. He fanned 10 as he allowed eight hits.
Indians Lead Early
Buddy Bell tagged Richard for a three-run homer in the second inning to give the Indians a 3-0 advantage.
After Watson hit a solo homer in the second, the Indians answered in the fifth to widen their margin to 5-1 as Fred Kendall knocked in two runs with a single.
A two-run bomb by Cabell in the sixth helped the Astros get closer and set the stage for the winning rally in the eighth.
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 (64-98) at (11) Minnesota Twins (84-77)
(6) Baltimore Orioles (97-64), bye
Mike Schmidt Bracket
(26) Toronto Blue Jays (54-107) at (7) Pittsburgh Pirates (96-66)
(23) Seattle Mariners (64-98) at (10) Cincinnati Reds (88-74)
(18) California Angels (74-88) at (15) Montreal Expos (75-87)
(2) Philadelphia Phillies (101-61), bye