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 wild pitch would prove to make difference as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in the semifinals of the 1980 National League Tournament.
With the victory at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati advances to the championship contest as the Reds are now set to travel to the winner of the Philadelphia Phillies at Los Angeles Dodgers affair.
The Reds led 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh when Dave Concepcion led off the frame with a single against Philadelphia starter Jim Kaat.
After Kaat fanned Ray Knight, Junior Kennedy singled allowing Concepcion to reach third.
As Kaat faced Joe Nolan, a pitch got by Phillies catcher Bob Boone and Concepcion raced home to give the Reds what turned out to be the game-winning run.
Concepcion capped his day with a RBI single in the eighth off St. Louis reliever John Littlefield for Cincinnati’s final tally.
The Phillies made things interesting in the top of the ninth against Reds starter Frank Pastore.
Pastore walked Bobby Bonds before he retired Tony Scott. A single by Garry Templeton moved Bonds to third as Pastore’s day came to an end.
Tom Hume was called from the Red bullpen, but he surrendered a RBI single to Ken Oberkfell an the Cardinals were down by two runs.
Hume walked Keith Hernandez to load the bases and he was finished as he didn’t retire a batter.
After a limited amount of time to warm-up, Paul Moskau came to the mound and fanned George Hendrick to earn a save.
Pastore (1-0) got the win giving up nine hits with four strikeouts, while Kaat (0-1) was tagged with the loss as he allowed five hits in seven frames with two strikeouts.
The Reds grabbed an early 2-0 lead as Johnny Bench blasted a two-run homer in the first inning.
Templeton’s solo shot in the third cut the St. Louis deficit in half, but the Cardinals couldn’t mount a serious offensive atteck until the ninth.
1980 AL Tournament
Semifinal Results
(1) New York Yankees 3, (13) California Angels 2
(2) Baltimore Orioles 3, (11) Chicago White Sox 1
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 Results and Pairings
(5) Cincinnati Reds 4, (9) St. Louis Cardinals 2
(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