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.
The 1986 Houston Astros pulled off another upset of a higher seeded team with a 7-4 win over the No. 9 1985 St. Louis Cardinals to open the second round of the 1980s Diamond Gems Tournament.
With the victory, the No. 16 seeded Astros travel to the winner of the 1981 New York Yankees at 1983 Baltimore Orioles affair for a semifinal contest.
After stranding three runners in the first two frames, Houston picked up three runs in the third inning against St. Louis starter Joaquin Andujar.
Glenn Davis had a RBI double before Kevin Bass smashed a two-run homer to put the Astros on top.
In the fifth, the Cardinals scored on Astros starter Bob Knepper thanks to an error by Houston catcher Alan Ashby.
Terry Pendleton and Darrell Porter were at second and third with two outs when Vince Coleman tapped a ball in front of the plate. Ashby couldn’t make an accurate throw to first to retire Coleman, which resulted in Pendleton scoring.
Bass added a sacrifice fly in the sixth to put the Astros in front by three runs.
St. Louis added a run in the bottom of the sixth on a single by Pendleton.
Denny Walling deflated the Cardinals with a three-run bomb in the seventh that ended the day for Andujar as the Astros led 7-2.
The Cardinals got a run in the bottom of the seventh on a RBI double from Coleman.
Knepper was looking for a complete game entering the ninth, but it wasn’t to be as the Astros scored for the final time.
Coleman’s run-scoring single brought Dave Smith out of the bullpen to face Willie McGee. Smith retired McGee to send the Astros to the semifinal round.
Second Round Schedule and Results
(16) 1986 Houston Astros 7, (9) 1985 St. Louis Cardinals 4
(12) 1981 New York Yankees at (4) 1983 Baltimore Orioles
(15) 1984 Chicago Cubs at (10) 1986 Boston Red Sox
(14) 1983 Chicago White Sox at (6) 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers
First Round 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 5, (7) 1985 Kansas City Royals 1
(14) 1983 Chicago White Sox 4, (3) 1989 Oakland A’s 2
(6) 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers 12, (11) 1982 Milwaukee Brewers 6