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.
A RBI double by Mike Gallego in the top of the 10th inning gave the New York Yankees a 5-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians in the opener of the American League Division Series.
Cleveland’s Jose Mesa had struggled to get through a scoreless ninth, which may have created problems in the 10th.
Don Mattingly singled to lead off the frame and then Mike Stanley smacked a ball into center that Kenny Lofton misplayed for a two-base error.
With the infield pulled in, Bernie Williams drilled a grounder to Carlos Baerga and the Cleveland second baseman fired home to cut down Mattingly.
Mesa (0-1) fanned Pat Kelly before Gallego hit what turned out to be the game-winner. Mesa allowed three hits and the unearned run with two walks and two strikeouts in two innings. Derek Lilliquist got the final out for the Indians in the 10th.
Steve Howe closed out the game for the Yankees with a perfect bottom of the 10th that ended with the lefty striking out Lofton.
Jimmy Key (1-0) worked nine innings for the Yankees to get the win as he gave up four runs on six hits with two walks and a pair of strikeouts.
Indians starter Dennis Martinez went 7⅔ innings surrendering four runs on eight hits with a walk and four strikeouts.
The Yankees grabbed an early lead as Wade Boggs had a solo homer in the first and Danny Tartabull added a two-run double in the third.
Cleveland scored all of its runs in the fourth inning to take a 4-3 lead.
Paul Sorrento knocked in two with a double and Manny Ramirez followed with a two-run single.
New York tied the game in the eighth as Stanley’s RBI single with two outs sent Martinez to the showers and Mesa to the mound.
In the second contest of the best-of-five series in Cleveland, the Yankees send Jim Abbott (0-0) to the mound as the Indians counter with Charles Nagy (0-0).
1994 Post-Season Tournament
National League Divisional Series
(1) Montreal Expos 5, (WC) Atlanta Braves 4
(1) Montreal Expos at (WC) Atlanta Braves
(WC) Atlanta Braves at (1) Montreal Expos
(WC) Atlanta Braves at (1) Montreal Expos, if necessary
(WC) Atlanta Braves at (1) Montreal Expos, if necessary
(2) Cincinnati Reds 3, (3) Los Angeles Dodgers 1
(2) Cincinnati Reds at (3) Los Angeles Dodgers
(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 at (WC) Cleveland Indians
(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
(2) Chicago White Sox at (3) Texas Rangers
(2) Chicago White Sox at (3) Texas Rangers
(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