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 Chicago White Sox are just one win away from punching a ticket to the World Series.
Chicago survived a late rally to hang on for a 4-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians in the American League Championship Series.
Heading into the fourth game, Wilson Alvarez (2-0) gets the ball as the White Sox look to sweep the best-of-seven series. Cleveland manager Mike Hargrove has yet to make his choice in the must-win affair for the Indians between Mark Clark (1-1) and Jack Morris (0-0).
A RBI single in the top of the first by Julio Franco got the White Sox going against Cleveland starter Charles Nagy. Mike LaValliere‘s solo homer in the second made it 2-0.
Cleveland’s Albert Belle smashed a homer off White Sox starter Alex Fernandez in the fourth, but Chicago had a quick answer in the fifth.
Lance Johnson and LaValliere had back-to-back RBI singles to give the White Sox a 4-1 advantage.
Omar Vizquel had a infield single that produced a run to cut Cleveland’s deficit to 4-2.
Chicago was about to break the game open in the eighth with the bases loaded and no one out.
LaValliere singled for his fourth hit of the day and Ozzie Guillen singled as Nagy’s day came to an end.
Jose Mesa took over on the mound for the Indians and he surrendered an infoeld single to Tim Raines to fill the bases.
It was Joey Cora‘s chance to forget his day at that point. Cora fanned twice and grounded into a pair of double plays.
Unfortunately for Cora, his luck didn’t change as his smash was snagged by Carlos Baerga. The Cleveland second baseman stepped on second to double off Guillen before firing to third baseman Jim Thome to get LaValliere to complete the triple play.
Riding the momentum, Kenny Lofton coaxed a walk from Fernandez and then stole second. Lofton would score on Johnson’s two-base error off a drive hit by Visquel to centerfield as Cleveland closed the gap to 4-3.
Fernandez retired the next three hitters to preserve Chicago’s lead.
Mesa pitched a scoreless top of the ninth as Cleveland would have to face White Sox closer Roberto Hernandez in the bottom of the frame.
Hernandez didn’t take very long to put the game away as he fanned Paul Sorrento, Manny Ramirez and Thome.
Fernandez (2-1) got the win as he allowed five hits with a pair of walks and five strikeouts.
Nagy (1-2) suffered the loss as he worked out of several jams, while surrendering 15 hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.
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
(2) Cincinnati Reds at (WC) Atlanta Braves
(2) Cincinnati Reds at (WC) Atlanta Braves
(WC) Atlanta Braves at (2) Cincinnati Reds, if necessary
(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