Editor’s note: The 1994 playoff games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter will be used for the American League contests as well as when those teams are at home during the World Series. 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 crowd in Comiskey Park was in a frenzy thanks to a double by Joey Cora.
Cora’s walk-off hit in the bottom of the 12th gave the Chicago White Sox 7-6 victory over the Texas Rangers as the best-of-five American League Division Series goes to a decisive fifth contest.
In game five, the White Sox will have Alex Fernandez (0-1) on the mound as the Rangers counter with Kevin Brown (1-0).
Eventual loser Bruce Hurst (0-1) was in his first frame as the White Sox came to bat in the 12th.
Hurst fanned Lance Johnson to begin the inning. Mike LaValliere, who entered the contest as a pinch-hitter in the eighth, singled.
Ozzie Guillen was retired on a fly ball, but Tim Raines singled to bring up Cora.
Cora’s double had LaValliere chugging home with the winning run.
Scott Sanderson (1-0) worked the final three innings for the White Sox to get the win as he allowed just two hits.
Rangers Lead Early
Jose Canseco‘s two-run homer in the first off Chicago starter Jack McDowell gave the Rangers a 2-0 lead.
Frank Thomas had a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the frame off Texas starter Kenny Rogers to cut Chicago’s deficit in half.
A RBI single by Juan Gonzalez in the third had Texas leading 3-1.
Julio Franco‘s solo homer in the sixth woke up the White Sox. One inning later, Chicago tied the affair as Cora doubled and scored on a single by Thomas.
The White Sox going in the eighth as Robin Ventura led off with a solo shot.
Tom Henke was called from the Texas bullpen, but things got worse for the Rangers. An error by Henke and then back-to-back walks to Cora and Thomas with the bases loaded gave the White Sox a 6-3 lead.
With Chicago fans ready to celebrate, Dean Palmer quickly changed the mood as he ended McDowell’s day with a solo homer.
Chicago’s Paul Assenmacher faced just one batter and retired Rusty Greer, but Roberto Hernandez struggled to get through the ninth.
Texas eventually tied the game at 6-6 on RBI singles from Manuel Lee and Ivan Rodriguez.
1994 Post-Season Tournament
National League Divisional Series
(1) Montreal Expos 5, (WC) Atlanta Braves 4
(WC) Atlanta Braves 5, (1) Montreal Expos 1
(1) Montreal Expos 9, (WC) Atlanta Braves 8
(WC) Atlanta Braves 5, (1) Montreal Expos 2
(WC) Atlanta Braves at (1) Montreal Expos
(2) Cincinnati Reds 3, (3) Los Angeles Dodgers 1
(2) Cincinnati Reds 8, (3) Los Angeles Dodgers 3
(3) Los Angeles Dodgers 5, (2) Cincinnati Reds 3
(3) Los Angeles Dodgers 11, (2) Cincinnati Reds 4
(3) Los Angeles Dodgers at (2) Cincinnati Reds
American League Divisional Series
(1) New York Yankees 5, (WC) Cleveland Indians 4 (10)
(1) New York Yankees 4, (WC) Cleveland Indians 2
(WC) Cleveland Indians 7, (1) New York Yankees 0
(WC) Cleveland Indians 7, (1) New York Yankees 5
(WC) Cleveland Indians at (1) New York Yankees
(3) Texas Rangers 4, (2) Chicago White Sox 1
(3) Texas Rangers 7, (2) Chicago White Sox 2
(2) Chicago White Sox 6, (3) Texas Rangers 3
(2) Chicago White Sox 7, (3) Texas Rangers 6 (12)
(3) Texas Rangers at (2) Chicago White Sox