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.
It wasn’t easy, but the Chicago White Sox survived.
Despite an early advantage, the White Sox had to hang on for a 7-6 victory over the Seattle Mariners at Comiskey Park in the second round of the 1980 American League Tournament.
With the win, the White Sox now travel to Baltimore for a semifinal contest.
Leading by six runs heading into the eighth inning, the White Sox stopped the late rally by the Mariners.
Chicago starter Steve Trout (1-0) gave up a two-run single to Bruce Bochte in the eighth and later surrendered a RBI single to Bill Stein, which sent the White Sox hurler to the showers.
Ed Farmer was called from the Chicago bullpen and he fanned Marc Hill ending the inning with the White Sox still on top 7-4.
Farmer returned or the ninth and immediately got in trouble as Julio Cruz began the frame with a single.
After Farmer retired Larry Milbourne, Juan Beniquez and Bochte both walked to load the bases. Tom Paciorek struck out, but Farmer got tagged by Leon Roberts for a two-run double to get the Mariners to within one.
With the two runners on base and the game-winner at second, Dan Meyer drilled a liner that White Sox second baseman Jim Morrison was able to snag ending the affair.
The Mariners were able to get on the scoreboard first with a RBI triple by Hill in the second, but the White Sox answered in the third as they ousted Seattle starter Rick Honeycutt (0-1).
Chet Lemon‘s run-scoring triple tied the game before Harold Baines had a RBI single to make it 2-1.
Later in the inning, Wayne Nordhagen smacked a three-run homer that had the White Sox scoreboard exploding.
In the fourth against Shane Rawley, the White Sox added a pair of runs on a RBI double by Bob Molinaro and a single by Lemon that gave the home team a 7-1 lead.
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
(9) St. Louis Cardinals at (1) Houston Astros
(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