Editor’s note: The 100-Loss Tournament games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. 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 1981 San Diego Padres overcame a huge deficit to post a 9-8 victory over the 1969 Montreal Expos in the final contest of the second round of the 100-Loss Tournament.
San Diego got off to a good start with a pair of runs in the bottom of he first off Montreal pitcher Jerry Robertson. Ozzie Smith led off with a walk and then swiped second before Juan Bonilla doubled him home. Bonilla later scored in a single by Barry Evans.
However, the Expos had an seven-run answer in the second inning against Padres starter Rick Wise, who didn’t complete the frame.
The first run for Montreal crossed the plate as Bobby Wine hit a dribbler that forced San Diego catcher Terry Kennedy to throw to first for the out as Ron Brand raced home. Rusty Staub had a two-run single and Bob Bailey followed with a double that drove in two more to give the Expos a 5-2 advantage as Wise was sent to the showers.
Danny Boone was called from the San Diego bullpen and Coco Laboy welcomed him to the mound by knocking in a pair with a single and it was 7-2.
Gene Richards headlined the response for the Padres in the bottom of the second with a three-run blast that cut San Diego’s deficit to 7-5.
After Boone shut down the Expos with a perfect third, the Padres took the lead on three-run homer in the bottom of the inning by Joe Lefebvre to oust Robertson and it was 8-7. Kennedy’s RBI single in the fourth off Gary Waslewski produced San Diego’s final tally.
Montreal scored its last run in the ninth on a single by Brand as John Urrea earned a save with three innings of work.
Boone got the win for the Padres as he shut down the Expos for three frames giving up five hits with six strikeouts. Wise, who got just five outs, allowed all seven Montreal runs on five hits with three walks.
Tagged with the loss, Robertson surrendered eight runs on seven hits with a pair of walks and three strikeouts. Dan McGinn tossed a scoreless eighth for the Expos.
100-Loss Tournament
Semifinals
1948 White Sox at 1955 Senators
1962 Mets at 1981 Padres
Second Round Results
1948 White Sox 7, 2006 Devil Rays 3
1955 Senators 7, 1977 Blue Jays 4
1962 Mets 6, 2012 Astros 2
1981 Padres 9, 1969 Expos 8
First Round Results
1948 White Sox 5, 1988 Orioles 2
2006 Devil Rays 4, 1975 Tigers 2 (10)
1955 Senators 4, 1988 Braves 3
1977 Blue Jays 5, 2012 Cubs 4
1962 Mets 5 at 2002 Brewers 3
2012 Astros 2, 1980 Mariners 1
1969 Expos 4, 2006 Royals 2
1981 Padres 6, 2022 Reds 5 (14)