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 fast start by Oakland helped the A’s come away with an 8-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins in the opening contest of the 1980 American League Tournament.
With the win, the A’s advance to the second round to face the New York Yankees in the Big Apple.
The A’s scored four times in the first inning against Twins pitcher Jerry Koosman.
Rickey Henderson tripled to begin the rally. After Wayne Gross walked, Dwayne Murphy singled to drive in Henderson.
Koosman retired Tony Armas and Mitchell Page before surrendering a three-run homer to Dave Revering to give the A’s what turned out to be an insurmountable advantage.
The Twins got on the scoreboard in the third against A’s starter Mike Norris as Jose Morales singled to bring home Ron Jackson, who had singled.
Oakland responded in the bottom of the third when Armas hit a solo homer and it was 5-1.
Page put the game away in the fifth with a three-run homer off Koosman, who allowed all eight runs on 12 hits with nine strikeouts.
The Twins added their final run in the seventh on a RBI double by Hosken Powell.
Norris went the distance for the A’s giving up 10 hits with four strikeouts.
1980 AL Tournament
First Round Pairings and Results
(1) New York Yankees (103-59), bye
(8) Oakland Athletics 8, (9) Minnesota Twins 2
(13) California Angels (65-95) at (4) Milwaukee Brewers (86-76)
(12) Toronto Blue Jays (67-95) at (5) Boston Red Sox (83-77)
(2) Baltimore Orioles (100-62), bye
(10) Texas Rangers (76-85) at (7) Cleveland Indians (79-81)
(14) Seattle Mariners (59-103) at (3) Kansas City Royals (97-65)
(11) Chicago White Sox (70-90) at (6) Detroit Tigers (84-78)
1980 NL Tournament
First Round Pairings
(1) Houston Astros (93-70), bye
(9) St. Louis Cardinals (74-88) at (8) San Francisco Giants (75-86)
(4) Montreal Expos (90-72), bye
(12) Chicago Cubs (64-98) at (5) Cincinnati Reds (89-73)
(2) Los Angeles Dodgers (92-71), bye
(10) San Diego Padres (73-89) at (7) Atlanta Braves (81-80)
(3) Philadelphia Phillies (91-71), bye
(11) New York Mets (67-95) at (6) Pittsburgh Pirates (83-79)