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 very quiet Veteran’s Stadium crowd came alive as the Philadelphia Phillies bounced back to post a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second round of the 1980 National League Tournament.
Down a 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth Mike Schmidt delivered a two-run walk-off single that sent the Phillies to the semifinals. Philadelphia advances to play Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium.
Larry Bowa‘s single off Pittsburgh starter Bert Blyleven began the rally. Pete Rose followed with a double and Blyleven was sent to the showers.
Pirates bullpen ace Kent Tekulve was called to the mound by manager Chuck Tanner to save the day.
Tekulve retired Bake McBride on a sharp grounder to Willie Stargell at first base for the initial out of the inning.
Tanner was then faced with the decision to let Tekulve pitch to Schmidt or let Greg Luzinski have a shot with the bases loaded.
The Pirates manager choose to challenge Schmidt, who made him regret rolling the dice.
Tug McGraw (1-0), who entered the game in the ninth for Philadelphia starter Steve Carlton, picked up the win as he got all three outs of the frame to stop the Pirates.
Blyleven (0-1) was tagged with the loss despite allowing just three hits through eight innings. Carlton gave up 11 hits, but was dominant when he had to be striking out 11.
Both teams scored in the first inning. Stargell’s sacrifice fly gave the Pirates an early advantage before McBride’s solo homer tied it at 1-1.
Bowa’s homer with one out in the third gave Philadelphia a 2-1 lead, but Lee Lacy‘s RBI single in the fifth set the stage for the ninth inning.
Three straight hits by Pittsburgh ousted Carlton as the Pirates took the lead.
Omar Moreno led off with a double. It was the third hit of the contest for the Pirates centerfielder, who also had a pair of stolen bases and scored on Lacy’s hit.
Lacy picked up his third hit off the affair with an infield single that moved Moreno to third. Dave Parker was the last hitter Carlton would face as the he drilled a single that scored Moreno.
McGraw came on to induced Mike Easler to hit into a double play before Stargell’s fly ball to center ended what the Pirates hoped would be the game-winning rally. It just didn’t turn out that way as Schmidt got the job done.
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
Semifinal Pairings
(9) St. Louis Cardinals at (5) Cincinnati Reds
(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