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.
Some early offense by the Cleveland Indians helped tie the best-of-five American League Division Series at two games apiece.
Leading by as much as five runs, the Indians were able to hang on for a 7-5 victory over the New York Yankees.
The starters for the fifth game in Yankee Stadium will be Charles Nagy (0-1) for Cleveland and Jim Abbott (1-0) for New York.
Cleveland picked up a pair of runs in the first inning against New York starter Jimmy Key as Omar Vizquel drilled a two-run homer.
Bernie Williams answered for New York in the bottom of the second with a RBI single off Dennis Martinez.
In the third, Carlos Baerga knocked in two runs with a single as Eddie Murray followed with a fielder’s choice that produced another tally that gave the Indians a 5-1 advantage.
Both teams scored in the fourth. A solo homer by Manny Ramirez added to Cleveland’s lead before Don Mattingly‘s RBI single made it 6-2.
With two outs in the eighth, the day came to an end for Key as Albert Belle doubled and moved to third on a single by Murray.
Sterling Hitchcock was called from the New York bullpen to face lefty Paul Sorrento, who responded with a RBI double and it was 7-2 Cleveland.
The Yankees ousted Martinez in the bottom of the eighth with three runs.
Wade Boggs had a run-scoring single, while Paul O’Neill doubled off Derek Lilliquist for the second score. Danny Tartabull added a sacrifice fly for what proved to be the final run of the affair.
Martinez (1-0) got the win for Cleveland as he allowed 10 hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Lilliquist finished the eighth and Jose Mesa earned a save with a perfect ninth.
Key (1-1) was tagged with the loss as he gave up 10 hits with a walk and a strikeout. Hitchcock, Bob Wickman and Steve Howe held the Indians scoreless the rest of the way.
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 5, (1) Montreal Expos 2
(WC) Atlanta Braves at (1) Montreal Expos
(2) Cincinnati Reds 3, (3) Los Angeles Dodgers 1
(2) Cincinnati Reds 8, (3) Los Angeles Dodgers 3
(3) Los Angeles Dodgers 5, (2) Cincinnati Reds 3
(3) Los Angeles Dodgers 11, (2) Cincinnati Reds 4
(3) Los Angeles Dodgers at (2) Cincinnati Reds
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 7, (1) New York Yankees 0
(WC) Cleveland Indians 7, (1) New York Yankees 5
(WC) Cleveland Indians at (1) New York Yankees
(3) Texas Rangers 4, (2) Chicago White Sox 1
(3) Texas Rangers 7, (2) Chicago White Sox 2
(2) Chicago White Sox 6, (3) Texas Rangers 3
(3) Texas Rangers at (2) Chicago White Sox
(3) Texas Rangers at (2) Chicago White Sox, if necessary