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.
Boston’s offense may have been quiet early against Toronto’s Dave Stieb, but the Red Sox starting making noise by the sixth inning on the way to a 9-3 victory over the Blue Jays in the 1980 American League Tournament.
With the win, the Red Sox move on to the second round to entertain the California Angels, who upset the Milwaukee Brewers 11-4 to advance.
Toronto led 2-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth before Boston scored four times to take the lead for good.
Dave Stapleton tied the game with a RBI double to set the stage for Dwight Evans.
After Stapleton’s hit, Carl Yastrzemski singled to put runners at first and third. Evans blasted a three-run bomb over the Green Monster to put Boston on top 5-2.
The seventh frame wasn’t much better for the Blue Jays as the Red Sox tagged Jerry Garvin, who went to the mound to replace Stieb.
Carlton Fisk and Yastrzemski both his two-run homers as the Red Sox pulled away with a 9-2 advantage.
The Blue Jays picked up their last tally of the affair in the eighth on a RBI single by Roy Howell.
Toronto’s other runs game on solo shots by John Mayberry in the first and fourth innings.
Bob Stanley went the distance for the Red Sox allowing just six hits with six strikeouts.
1980 AL Tournament
First Round Pairings and 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
(10) Texas Rangers (76-85) at (7) Cleveland Indians (79-81)
(14) Seattle Mariners (59-103) at (3) Kansas City Royals (97-65)
(11) Chicago White Sox (70-90) at (6) Detroit Tigers (84-78)
1980 NL Tournament
First Round Pairings
(1) Houston Astros (93-70), bye
(9) St. Louis Cardinals (74-88) at (8) San Francisco Giants (75-86)
(4) Montreal Expos (90-72), bye
(12) Chicago Cubs (64-98) at (5) Cincinnati Reds (89-73)
(2) Los Angeles Dodgers (92-71), bye
(10) San Diego Padres (73-89) at (7) Atlanta Braves (81-80)
(3) Philadelphia Phillies (91-71), bye
(11) New York Mets (67-95) at (6) Pittsburgh Pirates (83-79)