Editor’s note: The 1980 Tournament games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter will be used for any games involving American League teams. 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.
In a battle for 11 innings, the 1981 New York Yankees outlasted the 1988 Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3 in the first round of the 1980s Diamond Gems Tournament.
The victory means the Yankees have to visit the 1983 Baltimore Orioles for their second round match up.
With the score tied 3-3 in the top of the 11th, Jerry Mumphrey drove in a pair of runs with a double to put the Yankees in the lead.
After Alejandro Pena retired Rick Cerone, the rally began with a walk to Bucky Dent. Pinch-hitter Lou Piniella doubled to put runners at second and third.
Pena got Willie Randolph with a fly ball to Dodgers centerfielder John Shelby that wasn’t deep to score Dent.
Although Mumprhey already had two hits in the game, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda elected to pitch to him rather than face on-deck batter Dave Winfield.
Mumphrey’s third hit of the contest stunned the Dodgers and their cardboard fans.
In the bottom of the 11th, Ron Davis earned the save by fanning Shelby and Franklin Stubbs before Mike Scioscia was retired on a fly ball, ironically, to Mumphrey in center.
New York starter Ron Guidry went eight innings giving up three runs on 10 hits with seven strikeouts.
Rich Gossage picked up the win tossing a pair of prefect frames with two strikeouts.
Los Angeles starter Orel Hershiser threw seven innings allowing three runs on seven hits with two strikeouts.
Brian Holton worked two innings having to get out of a jam in the eighth as he surrendered three hits in his outing.
Shelby gave the Dodgers an early lead with a RBI single in the second inning.
The Yankees responded in the third with a run-scoring single from Winfield before adding another score when Reggie Jackson grounded into a double play that had Mumphrey racing home from third.
Dave Revering blasted a solo homer in the sixth that put the Yankees on top 3-1.
Guidry tied in the eighth as the Dodgers tied it on a RBI double by Mike Marshall and run-single single by Stubbs.
First Round Schedule and Results
(16) 1986 Houston Astros 5, (1) 1986 New York Mets 3
(9) 1985 St. Louis Cardinals 4, (8) 1987 Minnesota Twins 2
(4) 1983 Baltimore Orioles 2, (13) 1985 Toronto Blue Jays 1
(12) 1981 New York Yankees 5, (5) 1988 Los Angeles Dodgers 3 (11)
(15) 1984 Chicago Cubs at (2) 1984 Detroit Tigers
(10) 1986 Boston Red Sox at (7) 1985 Kansas City Royals
(14) 1983 Chicago White Sox at (3) 1989 Oakland A’s
(11) 1982 Milwaukee Brewers at (6) 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers