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.
Tug McGraw got the job done as he preserved the the 1980 Tournament Championship Series title for the Philadelphia Phillies.
McGraw saved the clinching victory for starter Steve Carlton in the 7-6 win over the Baltimore Orioles in the seventh and final contest of the affair in Memorial Stadium.
After giving up singles to Al Bumbry and John Lowenstein, Carlton’s last pitch in the eighth went over the left field fence as Ken Singleton drilled a three-run homer to get the Orioles to within a one.
McGraw came in to retire the nest three hitters to end the inning.
The Phillies had an opportunity to break the game open in the top of the ninth as they loaded the bases against Tippy Martinez, but the lefty struck out Pete Rose and Bake McBride to keep the Orioles alive.
In the bottom of the ninth, McGraw got Rich Dauer on a fly ball and then the Orioles made things interesting.
Rick Dempsey singled. Pat Kelly was inserted as a pinch-runner, while Terry Crowley stepped into the batter’s box for Mark Belanger.
Kelly swiped second before Crowley was retired on a grounder back to McGraw.
The Phillies began their celebration when Bumbry hit a grounder to Mike Schmidt who fired to Rose, who started the festivities.
Carlton (2-1) allowed nine hits and all six runs, but he was just good enough to help hold off the Orioles.
Baltimore Leads Early
The Orioles went on top 2-0 in the bottom of the second. Dauer had a RBI triple and he scored when Phillies center fielder Garry Maddox misplayed a fly ball by Dempsey.
Eddie Murray‘s run-scoring single in the third added to Baltimore’s advantage.
The Comeback Road
Greg Luzinski‘s solo homer off Baltimore starter Steve Stone (1-2), who left with no one out in the eighth after giving up six runs.
Pete Rose drove in the second run for the Phillies in the fourth with a single.
The Phillies took the lead in the sixth as Manny Trillo had a RBI triple before coming home on a sacrifice fly by Larry Bowa.
Philadelphia took what was assumed to be a commanding lead in the top of the eight with three runs to build a 7-3 advantage.
Trillo knocked in the first run with a single that ended the day for Stone.
Rose capped the rally with a two-run double off Tim Stoddard to set the stage for Singleton’s homer and McGraw’s performance that saved the title for the Phillies.
Championship Series Results
Game 1 – Philadelphia 8, Baltimore 1
Game 2 – Philadelphia 9, Baltimore 2
Game 3 – Baltimore 3, Philadelphia 0
Game 4 – Baltimore 12, Philadelphia 3
Game 5 – Philadelphia 8, Baltimore 0
Game 6 – Baltimore 2, Philadelphia 1
Game 7 – Philadelphia 7, Baltimore 6