KOD 13 - Tier C Playoffs - Rd 1 - Royals defeat Tribe in 5 game thriller

10/12/1981 - GAME 1 - Royals Stadium
Denny vs Splittorff
Indians 6, Royals 3

Welcome to the KC/CLE tack meet.  Both teams combined for 8 stolen bases.  The game was tied heading into the 7th when Indian catcher Bo Diaz led off the inning with a homer.  For good measure the Tribe added 2 more runs in the 9th to double up the Royals.  John Denny got the win, going 7 2/3 innings giving up 3 runs on 11 hits.  KC squandered a 3 hit, 2 SB day by centerfielder Amos Otis.

Indians lead series 1-0

10/13 - GAME 2
Barker vs Gura
Royals 5, Indians 1
Larry Gura kept the Tribe in check for 8 innings allowing just 1 run on 6 hits.  Len "Mr. Perfect" Barker was far from perfect yielding 13 hits and 5 runs in 8 innings.  Frank White (3-4) knocked in 3 runs, two of them on a 1st inning double and one on an 8th inning single.
Series tied 1-1

10/15 - GAME 3 - Municipal Stadium
Leonard vs Brennan
Royals 4, Indians 3

Dennis Leonard scattered 10 hits over 8 innings and gave up just 2 runs.  The Tribe had their chances, but couldn't capitalize until the 8th and 9th, where they scored solo runs to make it a 1 run game.  KC's closer, Dan Quisenberry faltered in the 9th and had to be saved by journeyman Ken Brett, who got the final 2 outs with the typing run on 2nd.  Leadoff man Willie Wilson went 3 for 5, scored a run and knocked in a run for the Royals.  He also stole a base.  George Brett went 3 for 5 and veteran catcher Jerry Grote, in his final season went 2 for 2 with 2 runs scored.
Royals lead series 2-1

10/16 - GAME 4
Gale vs Blyleven
Indians 6, Royals 4
KC scored 2 in the top of the 6th to tie the game a 3-3.  The Tribe, with their backs to against the wall, scored 3 in the 5th and 3 more in the 6th to force a decisive game 5.  The "Human Rain Delay", Mike Hargrove was 3 for 4 with 2 RBI and 1 run scored to pace the Indians offense.  Jorge Orta and Andre Thornton had 2 hits.  Bert Blyleven wasn't masterful, but he was good enough as he went the distance for the win.
Series tied 2-2

10/17 - GAME 5 - Royals Stadium
Denny vs Gura
Royals 4, Indians 3 (16 inn)
Seldom do decisive series games live up to their pre-game hype.  This one not only lived up to the hype, but it actually exceeded it.  After 6 innings of play the Royals were up 3-0, and ace Larry Gura (starting on short rest) was cruising.  Then just like the weather in Dallas things changed on a dime.  Gura ran out of gas in the 7th and the Tribe made it a 1 run ball game on the heels of RBI singles by Alan Bannister and Miguel Dilone.  With Ken Brett on the mound for the Royals in the 8th the Tribe tied the game up on Thornton's sac fly that scored pinch hitter Ron Hassey, who led the inning off by getting hit by a pitch.  Neither team could score in the 9th, so the decisive game 5 now headed to extra innings.  Tension mounted as each team had their chances to score, but nobody seemed to be able to.  Cleveland reliever Dan Spillner was brilliant with 5 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.  Once it was apparent that Spillner was out of gas, Cleveland brought Ed Glynn in to start the bottom of the 16th.  John Wathan led off the inning with a single, but the next two batters made easy outs.  Wathan stole second while Aikens looked at a called strike 3.  Brett was given an intentional pass to create a force situation on the base paths.  More than likely he was walked, because of his clutch bat.  Hal McRae came up and slammed a 2-2 pitch into the left field power alley to easily score Wathan and clinch the series.  Royals manager Justin Ryan said, "Game 5 was a 16 inning pants shitter!  One of the greatest games, with so many clutch performances on both sides I've ever seen!"
Royals win series 3-2

Round 2 - Tier B - Expos sweep Phightin's to win NL B-Pennant

10/16/1981 - GAME 1 - Stade Olympique
Carlton vs Rogers
Expos 5, Phillies 1

Jerry White's solo shot in the bottom of the 5th broke a scoreless tie and put the Expos up 1-0.  With both aces on top of their game this one run loomed large.  Then in the bottom of the 7th Montreal put it all together.  Andre Dawson (3 for 4) singled and stole second, then moved to third on Gary Carter's ground out to second.  Larry Parrish was given an intentional pass and Jerry White struck out for the second out.  Chris Speier was given an intentional pass forcing the Expos into making a decisions.  Should they stick with Steve Rogers, who already threw 104 pitches and had a shutout going ?  Or go with a pinch hitter in an attempt to some much needed insurance runs.  Montreal chose the latter and late season call up Dave Hostetler delivered the goods with a 2 out / 2 run single to make it 3-0.  Tim Raines followed with a slow roller to third that Schmidt airmailed into rightfield, because he was forced by Raines' speed to rush his throw.  This made it 4-0.  Dawson hit a solo shot in the 8th to make it 5-1 and Jeff Reardon pitched the final 2 innings in relief to get the save as Montreal drew first blood.
Expos lead series 1-0

10/17 - GAME 2
Ruthven vs Sanderson
Expos 5, Phillies 2

After giving up runs in both the first and second innings, Dick Ruthven finally looked like he was going to settle down.  Then out of nowhere he pulled a rib cage muscle on a play where he was called for a balk.  After Tim Raines (3 for 3 with a walk) singled and began threatening to steal, Ruthven threw over to first numerous times.  Raines distracted him enough to balk and hurt himself.  1977 AL Cy Young winner Sparky Lyle was forced to step in and replace the injured Ruthven.  Lyle would get out of the jam that he was handed without any damage, but he was victimized by 2 unearned runs in the bottom of the 5th.  Pete Rose's sac fly in the 6th made it a 5-2 game.  Andre Dawson answered back with a sac fly of his own an inning later to make it 5-2, which is how it ended.  Expo starter Scott Sanderson went 8 innings allowing just 2 runs on 7 hits.  Elias Sosa pitched a scoreless 9th to get the save
Expos lead series 2-0

10/19 - GAME 3 - Veterans Stadium
Gullickson vs Christenson
Expos 8, Phillies 4

Montreal opened the scoring in the top of the 1st with a Tim Raines manufactured run.  "The Rock" led off with a single to right and proceeded to steal both 2nd and 3rd before scoring on a Rodney Scott bloop single.  The Phightin's, with their backs to the wall, scored 2 in each of the first 2 innings to take a 4-1 lead.  Four consecutive singles in the bottom of the first (Bowa, Rose, Schmidt & Matthews) were responsible for the first 2 runs.  An RBI ground out by Larry Bowa and an RBI double by Rose plated the next two runs.  Gullickson was on the ropes.  A visit to the mound by his manager and the appearance of Sosa in the pen served as a warning to the righthander that he better get it solved and quick.  Montreal got Gullickson back in the game with 3 huge runs in the top of the 3rd off the bat of MVP candidate Andre "Hawk" Dawson, who hit a 3 run blast.  Hawk's would go 1 for 2 on the day along with 3 walks.  Philly pitchers wanted no part of the Expos 5 tool star.  WIth the game tied and his warning heeded well, Gullickson settled down and did not yield a run the rest of the way.  However, Christenson and his replacement Larson allowed 4 runs combined to put the Expos up 8-4.  Lefties Woodie Fryman and Tom Gorman combined to get the final outs as the Phillies went out like a lamb.  The top of the Expos order (Raines/Scott) combined for a 6 for 9 day, with Raines scoring 3 runs and Rodney Scott knocking in 4.  This series sweep punches Montreal's ticket to the Tier B World Series where they will face the winner of the Orioles / Rangers ALCS.
Expos win series 3-0

KOD 13 - Tier A Playoffs - LA rallys from 0-2 deficity to beat Reds

10/8/1981 - GAME 1 - Riverfront
Valenzuela vs Soto
Reds 4, Dodgers 3

Valenzuela's magic carried him through 7 innings, but when he came out to start the 8th the Reds were ready to solve his bag of tricks.  Ray Knight and pinch hitter Sam Mejias led off the inning with singles.  Pinch hitter Paul Householder sliced an RBI double just inside the left field line chalk to tie the game at 2-2.  Rick Sutcliffe was brought on to put out the fire.  After getting shortstop Dave Concepcion to foul out to catcher Mike Scioscia he served up a game changing 2 run single to Ken Griffey.  The Reds carried a 4-2 lead into the top of the 9th with Mario Soto, who went 8 strong innings, set to be the winner.  Scott "not the senator" Brown started the inning in relief of Soto and on his second pitch gave Ron Cey a ball he could hit off the top of the left center field wall for a stand up double.  Brown immediately made and exit in favor of Charlie Leibrandt, who got Pete Guerrero to ground out to short for the first out of the inning.  Representing the old guard quite well, Steve Garvey legged out an infield hit to put runners on the corners.  Rick Monday came to the plate to bat for rookie backstop Scioscia, and lined an RBI single to right to make it 4-3.  No more fooling around for Cincy.  It was time to go to closer Tom Hume who took care of business by getting Landreaux to pop out to short and Bill Russell to pop out to third to end it.
Reds lead series 1-0

10/9 - GAME 2
Hooton vs Seaver
Reds 4, Dodgers 3 (11 inn)

Both Seaver and Hooton pitched their hearts out, but neither factored into the decision.  Both gave up 3 runs over 7.  Neither team could break the 3-3 stalemate in regulation, nor could they score in the 10th.  LA threatened in the 11th, but blew a golden opportunity when Ken Landreau turned his lead off single into a caught stealing.  Baker and Sax reached base on rare consecutive errors by Concepcion, but reliever Price got Cey to fly out weakly to left to end the threat.  Rule of thumb:  when you don't capitalize on your opportunities in extra innings your opponent will make you pay, which is exactly what the Reds did in the bottom of the inning.  Driessen led off with a single and moved to third on Joe Nolan's double.  Oester was given an intentional pass, so the bases were loaded with nobody out.  Dodger reliever Bobby Castillo had no margin for error now.  Pinch hitter Sam Mejias fouled out to Scioscia behind the plate for the first out of the inning.  Up stepped Junior Kennedy for his first at bat since replacing Knight in the 9th.  On a 2-1 curveball Kennedy lined a clean single past the outstretched arms of Bill Russell to score Driessen and give the Reds a commanding series lead.
Reds lead series 2-0

10/11 - GAME 3 - Dodger Stadium
Pastore vs Reuss
Dodgers 8, Reds 3

Tied at 3-3 the game headed into the bottom of the 7th with a lot of pressure on the hometown Dodgers who are 1 game away from elimination.  Lefty Charlie Liebrandt toes he rubber for his second inning of work in relief of Frank Pastore, who gave up 3 runs in 5 innings.  Rookie second sacker Steve Sax leads off with a single and scores all the way from first on Dusty Baker's double to dead center. With 1 out Pete Guerrero singles to put runners on the corners, but the usually clutch Garvey goes down swinging for out number 2.  Derrell Thomas, making a rare start at shortstop, singles home Baker to make it 5-3.  Pinch hitter Rick Monday clears the bases with the long ball to put the game away and hand Jerry Reuss the victory.  Rick Sutcliffe atones for his poor outing in game 1 with 2 perfect innings of relief as the Dodgers stave off elimination
Reds lead series 2-1

10/12 - GAME 4
Soto vs Welch
Dodgers 3, Reds 2

Aging future HOF'er Johnny Bench made a rare start behind the plate and delivered a "turn back the clock" 4 for 4 night including an RBI single in the 4th that made it 1-0 Cincy.  1 inning later the Dodgers answered back with 3 backbreaking runs off of Reds starter Mario Soto.  Mike Scioscia led off the bottom of the 5th with a solo blas and was followed by Derrell Thomas who hit a blooper to right.  Kenny Landreaux doubled to right to put runners on the corners for pitcher Bob Welch, who singled home Thomas to give LA a 2-1 lead.  Dusty Baker hit a one hopper to Concepcion at short that turned into a room service 6-4-3 DP.  On the play Landreaux scored to make it 3-1 LA.  Welch now had a 2 run lead to protect.  After getting 2 quick outs in the top of the 8th he issued a 3-1 walk to Concepcion, which seemed harmless until Ken Griffey cranked a triple, which made it 3-2.  Down 2-1 in the series LA was not going to take a chance with Welch facing MVP candidate George Foster.  The opportunity to get out Foster would fall into the hands of 22 year old Alejandro Pena.  Foster hit a bullet to third, but the surehanded Ron Cey grabbed it and lobbed one over to first to easily get Foster for the third out.  Steve Howe would come on in the 9th to protect the 1 run lead.  Bench led off the inning with his 4th consecutive hit, but was forced at second as part of an around the horn 5-4-3 DP started by Cey.  Ron Oester represented the final out.  Howe jammed him, but Oester was able to fight it off and hit on down the third base line.  Cey made a brilliant stab at the ball and came up with it cleanly.  Cey's throw beat Oester by half a stride to end the game and force a decisive game 5 tomorrow back in the Queen City.
Series tied 2-2

10/13 - GAME 5 - Riverfront
Valenzuela vs Seaver
Dodgers 4, Reds 1

The winner of this series would advance to the NLCS.  The loser starts planning for next year.  LA tapped their rookie phenom, game 1 starter Fernando Valenzuela.  Cincy had but no choice but to go with 3 time NL Cy Young award winner Tom Seaver on short rest.  Seaver, who started game 2 and got a no decision in Cincy's win was asked to do the impossible:  Keep LA's potent lineup at bay and out duel a well rested Valenzuela, who is 15 years his junior.  Seaver, who did not lose a game all season, carried the Reds pitching staff on his back and into the post season with the best record in baseball.  It was apparent early on that Tom was not going to be terrific.  LA scored it's first run in the top of the 1st with a 2 out RBI single by Mike Scioscia to score Ron Cey, who walked with 2 out.  LA scored another run in the 2nd when Bill Russell's sac fly plated Derrell Thomas.  Seaver was battling and preventing the Dodgers from posting a big inning, but he was getting by purely on guile and grace.  Johnny Bench continued his hot hitting by hitting a solo shot to make it 2-1 after 2 innings.  The top of the third saw the exit of arguably the greatest righthander of the 20th century.  After loading the bases with nobody out Seaver handed the ball over to his manager and exited gracefully  Bruce Berenyi did his best to limit the damage, but the Dodgers managed to scratch out 2 more runs to make it 4-1.  Berenyi would pitch 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, but it would not matter on a day where Fernando-mania was running wild.  Valenzuela would fan 13 Reds with his baffling screwball as he went the distance allowing just 1 run on 6 hits, while throwing an incredible 145 pitches.  LA would rally back from an 0-2 series deficit to defeat the Reds, who just couldn't close them out while they had the chance.
Dodgers win series 3-2

KOD 13 - Tier A Playoffs - Bucs eliminate 'Stros in 4

Game One - Alan Ashby's two-run double in the eighth gives the Astros a 2-1 lead, but Bill Madlock leads off the bottom of the eighth with a homer to tie the game, and Willie Stargell's pinch-hit double in the ninth scores Tim Foli to give the Pirates a 3-2 lead.

WP - M. Lee        LP - D. Smith

Game Two - The Astros break open a tie game with four runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth and cruise to a 10-3 win over the Pirates. The big hits were a two-run triple by Jose Cruz in the fifth and an RBI triple by Tony Scott in the sixth, while Bob Knepper scatters ten hits in going the distance.

WP - Knepper    LP - Tiant

Game Three - The Pirates score an unearned run to tie the game with two outs in the top of the ninth on Joe Pitman's error and send the game into extra innings. Kent Tekulve gets into, and out of a bases-loaded jam in the eleventh, and the Pirates score in the thirteenth on Jason Thompson's RBi single and win the game 3-2.

WP - O. Jones    LP - LaCorte    SV - Scurry

Game Four - Dave Parker's three-run homer breaks the game open in the eighth to give the Pirates a 6-1 lead, and Kent Tekulve comes in from the bullpen in the ninth for Eddie Solomon to close out the Astros 6-2 to clinch the series in four games for Pittsburgh.

WP - Solomon    LP - J. Niekro    SV - Tekulve

--submitted by Chris Gotay--

KOD 13 - Tier C Playoffs - AL Qualifier - Tribe sweeps Twinkies in 2

10/8/1981 - GAME 1 - HHH Metrodome
Barker vs Havens
Indians 5, Twins 3 (11 inn)

The Tribe scored 2 huge runs in the top of the 9th to turn a 2-1 Twin lead into a 3-2 Indian lead.  After Rick Manning worked out a walk, Andre Thornton doubled him home.  Thornton took third on an errant throw to the plate as the Twins tried to gun down Manning unsuccessfully.  A perfectly executed squeeze bunt by Tom Veryzer made it 3-2.  Dan Spillner, who got the final 2 outs in the 8th came back on the hill for the Tribe needing 3 more outs to gain the victory.  Mickey Hatcher greeted Spillner with a lead off double.  Butch Wynegar failed to advance Hatcher to third by grounding out to third.  John Castino was called on to pinch hit for Greg Adams and hit a one hopper off the hefty bag for a game tying RBI double.  No further scoring occurred and the game headed to extra innings.  Neither team scored in the top of the 10th.  Doug Corbet, who pitched a scoreless 10th for the Twins was not as lucky in the 11th.  Rick Manning once again was the catalyst with a lead off single.  An error by shortstop Ron Washington put runners on 1st and second with nobody out.  Tom Veryzer once again layed down a perfect bunt.  This time he moved both runners up 90 feet into scoring position for catcher Ron Hassey who lined a single to right center, which scored both Manning and Thornton to make it 5-3 Tribe.  Unlike the bottom of the 9th, there would be no comebacks left in the Twinkies.  Mike Stanton set Minnesota down one-two-three to get the win and put the Tribe up 1-0 in the series.
Indians lead series 1-0

10/9 - GAME 2
Erickson vs Blyleven
Indians 3, Twins 2

If you want to give yourself a real good chance to close out a short series, send a HOF'er to the mound.  Bert Blyleven, fresh off his election to the HOF came out looking to prove that he is truly of that caliber.  The man with the unhittable curve ball scattered 8 hits and gave up just 2 runs (1 earned), while going the distance, but he came very close to getting a no decision.  Roger Erickson gave up just 2 runs in the 2nd to the Twins.  He would have been losing 2-1 if not for an error by Bannister at second and an RBI single by Mickey Hatcher to make it 2-2 in the 6th.  The game remained tied until the bottom of the 8th, when Tom Veryzer led off the home half of the inning with a clean single to right.  Bo Diaz hit a double in the gap and Veryzer never stopped moving.  He was waved around third, but ran out of steam and Mickey Hatcher's throw beat him by a hair as Wynegar applied the tag for the first out of the inning.  On that play Diaz snuck into third.  Miguel Dilone got the momentum back for the Tribe by lining a single to right to score Diaz.  Jorge Orta narrowly missed a 2 run homer, which would have put the game out of reach.  Blyleven started the 9th on shaky ground after serving up a lead off double to Hatcher.  Wynegar grounded one back to the box for the first out.  Hatcher had to remain on 2nd because Blyleven looked him back to the bag before throwing to first.  Pinch hitter Roy Smalley hit a can of corn to center for the 2nd out.  Pinch hitter John Castino linced a single to center that Manning charged hard and picked up about 10 paces off the infield.  This prevented Hatcher from attempting to score.  Minny's 3rd consecutive pinch hitter, Ron Jackson, grounded weakly to Toby Harrah at 3rd.  Harrah sidearmed the ball to Bannister at second to force Castino to end the game and the series.
Indians win series 2-0

KOD 13 - Tier C Playoffs - AL Qualifier - Jays sweep M's in 2

10/8 - GAME 1 - Exhibition Stadium
Abbott vs Stieb
Blue Jays 8, Mariners 7

Both teams combined for 28 hits and 15 runs in this battle of attrition between 1977 expansion clubs.  Toronto managed to outlast the M's, who scored a solo run in the 8th to make it a 1 run game and put a lot of pressure on reliever Dale Murray, who got the final 5 outs.  Dave Stieb was less than spectacular, but he was still able to gain the win.  Jays third baseman Ted Cox went 5 for 5 with 3 runs scored and 2 RBI's.  Catcher Ernie Whitt also scored 3 runs.
Blue Jays lead series 1-0

 

10/9 - GAME 2 - Kingdome
Leal vs Bannister
Blue Jays 5, Mariners 2

Toronto broke the ice with 3 in the top of the 3rd thanks to Floyd Bannister issuing 3 walks and Barry Bonnell getting a 2 run single.  The M's tightened things up with 2 in the 5th thanks to an RBI single by Richie Zisk and a sac fly by Jeff Burroughs.  Otto Velez' solo blast to lead off the 8th gave the Jays a 2 run lead.  Alvis Woods singled home Bonnell later in the inning to provide the winning margin.  Luis Lea went 7 1/3 and gave up just 2 runs on 7 hits to get the win.  Roy Lee Jackson finished off the final 5 outs for the save.  Toronto scored 5 runs on 4 hits thanks to the 5 walks that Bannister issued.  Leal struck out 8, while walking only 1, which in the end was the difference maker.
Blue Jays win series 2-0

KOD 13 - Tier C Playoffs - Friars sweep Amazin's in 3 straight

10/8/1981 - GAME 1 - Jack Murphy Stadium
Scott (5-3) vs Eichelberger (3-4)
Padres 10, Mets 8

Mike Scott was brilliant all season for the Amazin's, but his luck ran out here in the playoff opener.  Scott barely made it out of the 3rd after giving up 11 hits and 7 runs (3 earned).  Not only did he not have his good stuff, but his mates made 2 big errors in the field.  With that said, New York rallied back to make it 9-8 after 7 1/2 innings.  That rally courtesy of Juan Eichelbergers's generosity.  San Diego's hurler was marginally better than Scott.  A Luis Salazar RBI single in the bottom of the 7th gave the Friars a 2 run lead, which they nursed to the finish line.  Lead off hitter Gene Richards (4-5) knocked in 3 runs.  Salazar, Perkins and Ruppert Jones each added 3 hits of their own.  Jim Lefebvre was the only Padre regular to go hitless besides Eichelberger, who somehow got credited with the win.  Littlefield pitched a scoreless 9th to get his 2nd save.  New York wasted a 4-4 day by short stop Bob Bailor.
Padres lead series 1-0

10/9 - GAME 2
R.Jones vs Welsh
Padres 8, Mets 4

Randy Jones returned home to the scene of his greatest triumphs and proceeded to lay an egg.  Jones never got out of the 4th inning, where he was replaced by Ray Searage.  Jones gave up 8 runs (6 earned) on 8 hits in 4 2/3 innings.  New York was scoreless until the threw up a 3 spot in the 6th.  In a losing cause Dave Kingman hit his 17th homer and Joel Youngblood hit his 3rd.  Rookie Hubie Brooks was 3 for 4, but their offensive prowess could not overcome Jones' lack of pitching skills.  Luis Salazar (2-5) paced the Friar offense with 3 RBI's.  Pitcher Chris Welsh (7 IP / 4 ER) was average on the hill, but dynamite with the bat (1-2, 2 RBI).
Padres lead series 2-0

10/11 - GAME 3 - Shea Stadium
Wise vs Harris
Padres 5, Mets 4

Tied a 1 apiece after 5 innings the Friars looked like they busted the game wide open with 4 runs in the top of the 6th with an improbable 2 out rally.  Jim Lefebvre got it all going with a solo blast off of Met starter Greg Harris.  Terry Kennedy singled and Salazar walked before Broderick Perkins doubled home Kennedy to make it 3-1.  Acrobatic shortstop Ozzie Smith, hitting in the 8 hole, delivered a 2 run single to make it 5-1.  The Amazin's with their backs up against the wall were not rolling over just yet.  David Arthur Kingman doubled home Mookie Wilson to make it 5-2.  Frank Taveras singled home Lee Mazzilli and Kingman to make it a 1 run ball game.  That's when the Padres went to their secret weapon, reliever Gary Lucas, who gave up just 1 hit over the final 3 innings to close out the series as the Friars swept the Amazin's in 3 straight.
Padres win series 3-0