Editor’s note: The 1994 playoff games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter will be used for the American League contests as well as when those teams are at home during the World Series. 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.
The Montreal Expos scored five times in the bottom of the ninth inning to rally past the Atlanta Braves in a 9-8 victory in the best-of-five National League Division Series.
Montreal leads the series 2-1 as Ken Hill (1-0) is set to start game four for the Expos, while the Braves counter with Greg Maddux (0-1).
Trailing 8-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth against Braves closer Greg McMichael, the Expos had three straight hits to begin the outburst.
Cliff Floyd doubled and Moises Alou drove him home with triple. Alou scored on a double by Larry Walker and the Expos cut Atlanta’s lead to 8-6.
McMichael retired Darrin Fletcher on a fly ball for the first out of the frame, but Wil Cordero reached on an error and the Expos had runners at first and third.
Mike Lansing‘s RBI single got Motreal to within a run to set the stage for Sean Berry with runners still on first and third.
Berry smashed a double the allowed Cordero to trot home as Lansing raced around the bases to score the game-winner.
Early Lead for Braves
Atlanta opened the affair by scoring four times against Montreal starter Jeff Fassero on a RBI single by Fred McGriff and a three-run homer by David Justice.
Javy Lopez tagged Fassero with a solo shot in the fourth as the Braves built a 5-0 advantage.
The Expos closed the gap to 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth against Braves starter Steve Avery.
Pinch-hitter Rondell White had a RBI double that was followed by a run-scoring single from Floyd. Walker provided the final tally with a sacrifice fly.
The score remained the same until the eighth when both squads added a run.
Terry Pendleton smacked a solo homer for the Braves off Jeff Shaw, while the Expos picked up a run on back-to-back doubles by Cordero and Lansing.
With the Braves leading 6-4 as the ninth inning began, Montreal reliever John Wetteland was called out of the bullpen to keep it close.
It didn’t happen as Ryan Klesko drilled a two-run homer to give Atlanta its four-run advantage.
Despite allowing two runs in his one inning on the mound, Wetteland (1-0) got the win for the Expos as McMichael (0-1) was the losing pitcher.
Both starters worked five innings. Fassero gave up five runs on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Avery surrendered three runs on five hits with a walk and five strikeouts.
1994 Post-Season Tournament
National League Divisional Series
(1) Montreal Expos 5, (WC) Atlanta Braves 4
(WC) Atlanta Braves 5, (1) Montreal Expos 1
(1) Montreal Expos 9, (WC) Atlanta Braves 8
(WC) Atlanta Braves at (1) Montreal Expos
(WC) Atlanta Braves at (1) Montreal Expos, if necessary
(2) Cincinnati Reds 3, (3) Los Angeles Dodgers 1
(2) Cincinnati Reds 8, (3) Los Angeles Dodgers 3
(3) Los Angeles Dodgers at (2) Cincinnati Reds
(3) Los Angeles Dodgers at (2) Cincinnati Reds, if necessary
(3) Los Angeles Dodgers at (2) Cincinnati Reds, if necessary
American League Divisional Series
(1) New York Yankees 5, (WC) Cleveland Indians 4 (10)
(1) New York Yankees 4, (WC) Cleveland Indians 2
(WC) Cleveland Indians at (1) New York Yankees
(WC) Cleveland Indians at (1) New York Yankees, if necessary
(WC) Cleveland Indians at (1) New York Yankees, if necessary
(3) Texas Rangers 4, (2) Chicago White Sox 1
(3) Texas Rangers 7, (2) Chicago White Sox 2
(3) Texas Rangers at (2) Chicago White Sox
(3) Texas Rangers at (2) Chicago White Sox, if necessary
(3) Texas Rangers at (2) Chicago White Sox, if necessary