1980 Tournament: Cardinals at Astros

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.

Garry Templeton scored four runs as he helped the St. Louis Cardinals to a 8-5 victory over the Houston Astros in the second round of the 1980 National League Tournament.

With the win, the Cardinals will now travel to face the winner of the Montreal Expos and Cincinnati Reds.

Templeton got things underway in the top of the first as he walked, swiped second and then scored as Ken Oberkfell doubled.

Houston starter J.R. Richard was on his way to limiting the damage, but he surrendered a RBI single to Ken Reitz and the Cardinals led 2-1.

In the second, Templeton coaxed another walk from Richard (0-1). The Cardinals shortstop stole second again and this time scored on a single by George Hendrick.

St. Louis starter Bob Forsch kept the Astros off the scoreboard until the fourth. Jose Cruz drilled a two-run homer before Alan Ashby tied the contest with a RBI single.

The Cardinals took the lead for good in the seventh as Templeton led off with a single. Templeton picked up his third stolen base of the affair and then he scored on a single by Keith Hernandez at it was 4-3.

Richard’s day ended in the eighth as Templeton’s RBI double added to the St. Louis advantage. Oberkfell greated Houston reliever Joe Sambito with a single that brought home Templeton and the Cardinals led 6-3.

The Cardinals put the game away in the ninth as Tom Herr tripled to drive in a run and he would later score on a double by Bobby Bonds.

Forsch (1-0) was going for a complete game, but couldn’t get out of the ninth as the Astros scored an unearned run and Gary Woods knocked in the last tally with a single.

1980 AL Tournament

Semifinal Pairings

(13) California Angels at (1) New York Yankees
(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

Second Round Pairings and Results

(9) St. Louis Cardinals 8, (1) Houston Astros 5
(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