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.
Tom Seaver struck out 10 as he led the Cincinnati Reds to a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Expos in the second round of the 1980 National League Tournament.
The Reds advance to the semifinals and they will entertain the St. Louis Cardinals.
Montreal touched up Seaver in the first inning as Warren Cromartie singled and then scored on homer by Andre Dawson.
However from that point, Seaver blanked the Expos on four hits on his way to a complete game.
Cincinnati didn’t waste a lot of time responding to the Expos offensive effort with three runs in the top of the second to silence the Olympic Stadium crowd.
Ray Knight began the rally with a double off Montreal starter Steve Rogers (0-1) and Junior Kennedy doubled to cut the Reds deficit in half.
Dave Collins tied the contest with a RBI single. The Reds took the lead as Dan Driessen scored as Ken Griffey gounded to second and the Expos failed to turn a double play that would have ended the inning.
Joe Nolan smacked a solo homer in the fourth for what turned out to be the final tally of the contest.
In the fifth, the Reds loaded the bases to oust Rogers. John D’Acquisto got Knight to pop out and then Kennedy hit into a double play.
D’Aquisto walked three and didn’t allow a hit the rest of the way, but the Expos couldn’t score against Seaver although they came close in the eighth.
With one out, Ron LeFlore walked and stole second. Cromartie followed with a single to left, but George Foster‘s throw home nailed LeFlore trying to score. Dawson grounded out to end the opportunity.
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 4, (4) Montreal Expos 2
(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