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.
Reggie Jackson stirred the drink as the New York Yankees defeated the California Angels 3-2 in the semifinals of the 1980 American League Tournament.
With the victory, the Yankees are set to entertain the winner of the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles for the AL title.
Jackson, who is known for saying that he was the straw that stirred the drink, drilled a two-run homer in the sixth inning of Angels starter Dave LaRoche (0-1) to put the Yankees in the lead for good.
Tom Underwood (1-0), who left with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, picked up the win for the Yankees as he fanned 10 in six innings. He gave up a pair of solo homers to Brian Downing in the third and Jason Thompson in the fourth.
Ron Davis was called from the New York bullpen to replace Underwood in the difficult situation. Davis struck out Thompson. Carney Lansford grounded back to the mound and Davis forced Larry Harlow at the plate for the second out. The California threat ended when Joe Rudi hit a fly ball to left.
Davis was in line for a save, but after a single by Harlow, Rich Gossage was brought in to end the game. He got Bobby Grich to hit into a double play before Thompson lined out to Bob Watson at first to send the Yankees to the next round.
The Yankees scored their other run in the third, which tied it at 1-1. Graig Nettles had a RBI ground out to produce the tally.
1980 AL Tournament
Semifinal Results and Pairings
(1) New York Yankees 3, (13) California Angels 2
(11) Chicago White Sox at (2) Baltimore Orioles
Second Round Results
(1) New York Yankees 6, (8) Oakland Athletics 5
(13) California Angels 8, (5) Boston Red Sox 4
(2) Baltimore Orioles 4, (7) Cleveland Indians 3
(11) Chicago White Sox 7, (14) Seattle Mariners 6
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
Semifinal Pairings
(9) St. Louis Cardinals at (5) Cincinnati Reds
(3) Philadelphia Phillies at (2) Los Angeles Dodgers
Second Round Results
(9) St. Louis Cardinals 8, (1) Houston Astros 5
(5) Cincinnati Reds 4, (4) Montreal Expos 2
(2) Los Angeles Dodgers 5, (7) Atlanta Braves 1
(3) Philadelphia Phillies 4, (6) Pittsburgh Pirates 3
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