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.
One swing by Ryan Klesko set off a celebration as the Atlanta Braves evened the National League Championship Series a two games apiece.
Klesko’s three-run walk-off homer gave the Braves a 9-8 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, while setting up a critical fifth game in Atlanta.
In a change by both managers the Braves will have Kent Mercker (1-0) on the mound in the fifth contest, while the Reds counter with Tom Browning (0-0) as the left handers make their initial starts of the post-season.
Atlanta trailed 8-6 as Cincinnati reliever Hector Carrasco was entering his second inning of work.
Roberto Kelly singled to lead off the ninth before Jeff Blauser reached on an error by Carrasco to set up Klesko.
With closer Jeff Brantley still warming in the bullpen, Reds manager Davey Johnson decided to leave Carrasco in to pitch to Klesko, who was hitless in four trips to the plate.
Klesko answered the challenge with his homer that had the Atlanta fans jumping for joy.
Greg McMichael (1-1) picked up the win for the Braves after tossing perfect top of the ninth. Carrasco (1-1) was tagged with the loss.
Both teams scored in the first inning as the Reds grabbed a 2-1 advantage.
Kevin Mitchell had a two-run homer off Braves starter Steve Avery before David Justice‘s RBI single came off Erik Hanson.
Fred McGriff smashed a two-run blast that put the Braves in front 3-2 in the third frame.
Joe Oliver‘s run-scoring single tied the contest at 3-3 in the fourth, while the Braves answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Mark Lemke had a RBI triple and then scored on a Cincinnati error and it was 5-3.
In the sixth, the Reds tied the affair when Tony Fernandez tripled home a run and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Reggie Sanders.
Cincinnati took the lead as Mitchell ended Avery’s day by drilling a three-run homer that gave the Reds an 8-5 lead.
McGriff hit his second homer of the game with a solo shot off Chuck McElroy in the bottom of the seventh that cut Atlanta’s deficit to two runs to set the stage for Klesko.
1994 Post-Season Tournament
National League Championship Series
(WC) Atlanta Braves 7, (2) Cincinnati Reds 5 (15)
(2) Cincinnati Reds 1, (WC) Atlanta Braves 0
(2) Cincinnati Reds 9, (WC) Atlanta Braves 4
(WC) Atlanta Braves 9, (2) Cincinnati Reds 8
(2) Cincinnati Reds at (WC) Atlanta Braves
(WC) Atlanta Braves at (2) Cincinnati Reds
(WC) Atlanta Braves at (2) Cincinnati Reds, if necessary
American League Championship Series
(2) Chicago White Sox 5, (WC) Cleveland Indians 1
(2) Chicago White Sox 3, (WC) Cleveland Indians 0
(2) Chicago White Sox 4, (WC) Cleveland Indians 3
(2) Chicago White Sox at (WC) Cleveland Indians
(2) Chicago White Sox at (WC) Cleveland Indians, if necessary
(WC) Cleveland Indians at (2) Chicago White Sox, if necessary
(WC) Cleveland Indians at (2) Chicago White Sox, if necessary
National League Divisional Series
** Braves win series 3-2
(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 4, (1) Montreal Expos 3
** Reds win the series 3-2
(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
(2) Cincinnati Reds 10, (3) Los Angeles Dodgers 8
American League Divisional Series
** Indians win series 3-2
(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 3, (1) New York Yankees 0
** White Sox win series 3-2
(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
(2) Chicago White Sox 7, (3) Texas Rangers 6 (12)
(2) Chicago White Sox 14, (3) Texas Rangers 5