Editor’s note: The 1980 Tournament games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter will be used for any games involving American League teams. Injuries will only be used during the game when they occur. For this tournament, the rules include a three-man pitching rotation using the best lineups available.
A pair of RBI doubles by California’s Rod Carew made the difference as the Angels defeated thw Boston Red Sox 8-4 in the second round of the 1980 American League Tournament.
With the win, the Angels travel to New York to meet the Yankees in the semifinals.
Both teams scored in the first inning.
California’s Larry Harlow led off with a single against Boston starter Dennis Eckersley and then scored from first on a double by Bobby Grich. For the Red Sox, Fred Lynn triple off Don Aase and then came home on a single by Carlton Fisk.
Carew broke the tie in the top of the fifth with a double, which was later followed by a two-run double by Carney Lansford and the Angels led 4-1.
A RBI single by Jim Rice in the sixth cut Boston’s deficit to two runs.
Jason Thompson got the run back for the Angels in the top of the seventh with a RBI double.
Glenn Hoffman‘s solo homer in the bottom of the seventh kept Boston close at 5-3.
With one out in the eighth, Carl Yastrzemski touched up Aase for a homer that made 5-4. After Aase walked Dwight Evans, Dave LaRoche was summoned from the bullpen and he got Hoffman to hit into a double play to end the frame.
Eckersley gave up a single to Rick Miller in the ninth and Tom Burgmeier took over on the mound for the Red Sox. Burgmeier fanned Harlow and retired Grich on a fly ball to left, but things soon went in the wrong direction for Boston.
Carew’s double added a run and then Jason Thompson drilled a two-run blast that deflated the Fenway Park faithful.
Despite giving up a pair of hits in the bottom of the ninth, LaRoche was able to earn the save. Aase (1-0) gave up 12 hits and struck out seven as he picked up the win.
Eckersley (0-1) took the loss as he surrendered six runs on nine hits with six strikeouts.
1980 AL Tournament
Second Round Pairings and Results
(1) New York Yankees 6, (8) Oakland Athletics 5
(13) California Angels 8, (5) Boston Red Sox 4
(7) Cleveland Indians at (2) Baltimore Orioles
(14) Seattle Mariners at (11) Chicago White Sox
First Round Results
(1) New York Yankees (103-59), bye
(8) Oakland Athletics 8, (9) Minnesota Twins 2
(13) California Angels 11, (4) Milwaukee Brewers 4
(5) Boston Red Sox 9, (12) Toronto Blue Jays 3
(2) Baltimore Orioles (100-62), bye
(7) Cleveland Indians 10, (10) Texas Rangers 8
(14) Seattle Mariners 6, (3) Kansas City Royals 1
(11) Chicago White Sox 5, (6) Detroit Tigers 1
1980 NL Tournament
Second Round Pairings
(9) St. Louis Cardinals at (1) Houston Astros
(5) Cincinnati Reds at (4) Montreal Expos
(7) Atlanta Braves at (2) Los Angeles Dodgers
(6) Pittsburgh Pirates at (3) Philadelphia Phillies
First Round Results
(1) Houston Astros (93-70), bye
(9) St. Louis Cardinals 9, (8) San Francisco Giants 1
(4) Montreal Expos (90-72), bye
(5) Cincinnati Reds 3, (12) Chicago Cubs 1
(2) Los Angeles Dodgers (92-71), bye
(7) Atlanta Braves 5, (10) San Diego Padres 4
(3) Philadelphia Phillies (91-71), bye
(6) Pittsburgh Pirates 3, (11) New York Mets 1