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.
Rick Sutcliffe had a dominating performance on the mound as the 1984 Chicago Cubs defeated the 1984 Detroit Tigers 7-2 in the 1980s Diamond Gems Tournament.
In his complete game performance, Sutcliffe allowed two unearned runs on three hits with a dozen strikeouts.
With the win, the Cubs advance to the second round as they will travel to the winner of the 1986 Boston Red Sox at 1985 Kansas City Royals affair.
The Tigers scored in the second inning to grab an early lead when Lance Parrish reached on an error and eventually game home on a double by Chet Lemon.
A RBI double by Chicago shortstop Larry Bowa off Detroit starter Jack Morris tied the contest at 1-1 in the third.
The Cubs would oust Morris in the fourth as they would score five times.
Chicago loaded the bases and Thad Bosley broke the tie with a sacrifice fly. After an infield single by Jody Davis jammed the bases again, Morris walked Bowa and Bob Dernier.
Ryan Sandberg sent Morris to the showers with a two-run single and the Cubs were on top 6-1.
Detroit picked up is final tally in the fifth when Lemon led off with a double. The Detroit centerfielder moved to third on a ground out by Dave Bergman before racing home when Sutcliffe committed an error on a ball hit back to him by Howard Johnson.
After his miscue, Sutcliffe walked Lou Whitaker and Kirk Gibson to fill the bases, but the Cubs pitcher got Parrish to ground out and end the threat.
From that point, Sutcliffe found a grove as he fanned seven and gave up a triple to ninth-inning triple to Lemon, who had all three of Detroit’s hits.
Bosley’s RBI single in the eighth produced the last run of the contest in the eighth inning.
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 7, (2) 1984 Detroit Tigers 2
(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