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.
Cincinnati broke open a tight contest late in the affair as Reds posted an 8-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
With the victory, the Reds head home for game three with a 2-0 advantage in the best-of-five National League Division Series.
Erik Hanson (0-0) gets the start for the Reds as they look for a sweep to advance the the NL Championship series, while Dodgers counter with Orel Hershiser (0-0).
The Reds trailed 3-2 going into the top of the seventh inning against Los Angeles starter Kevin Gross.
Kevin Mitchell tied the contest with a solo homer to lead off the frame before a pair of errors by the Dodgers helped the Reds cause.
Deion Sanders smacked a two-run single to give the Reds a 4-3 lead, which also sent Gross to the showers.
In the bottom of the seventh, Cincinnati releiver Hector Carrasco took over for starter John Smiley and he shut down the Dodgers over the next two frames.
Cincinnati’s offense continued to roll on as the Reds loaded the bases against Omar Daal in the ninth.
Todd Worrell was called from the bullpen by Dodgers manager Tom Lasorda and the righty was greeted by Barry Larkin‘s triple that cleared the bases and put the Reds up by five.
Although it wasn’t a save situation, Jeff Brantley was told to close it out by Reds manager Davey Johnson, which he did.
Smiley (1-0) picked up the win as he gave up all three runs on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Gross (0-1) was tagged with the loss as he allowed five runs with just three being earned on five hits with a walk and six strikeouts.
Both teams got on the scoreboard in the first inning.
Larkin knocked in a a run with a ground out, while the Dodgers tied it with a RBI single by Tim Wallach.
Mike Piazza put the Dodgers on top in the third with a RBI single before Ed Taubensee‘s solo homer in the fifth tied it.
Raul Mondesi hit a solo homer in the sixth that put the Dodgers in front 3-2 to set the stage for Cincinnati’s offense to take over.
1994 Post-Season Tournament
National League Divisional Series
(1) Montreal Expos 5, (WC) Atlanta Braves 4
(WC) Atlanta Braves 5, (1) Montreal Expos 1
(WC) Atlanta Braves at (1) Montreal Expos
(WC) Atlanta Braves at (1) Montreal Expos
(WC) Atlanta Braves at (1) Montreal Expos, if necessary
(2) Cincinnati Reds 3, (3) Los Angeles Dodgers 1
(2) Cincinnati Reds 8, (3) Los Angeles Dodgers 3
(3) Los Angeles Dodgers at (2) Cincinnati Reds
(3) Los Angeles Dodgers at (2) Cincinnati Reds, if necessary
(3) Los Angeles Dodgers at (2) Cincinnati Reds, if necessary
American League Divisional Series
(1) New York Yankees 5, (WC) Cleveland Indians 4 (10)
(1) New York Yankees at (WC) Cleveland Indians
(WC) Cleveland Indians at (1) New York Yankees
(WC) Cleveland Indians at (1) New York Yankees, if necessary
(WC) Cleveland Indians at (1) New York Yankees, if necessary
(3) Texas Rangers 4, (2) Chicago White Sox 1
(2) Chicago White Sox at (3) Texas Rangers
(3) Texas Rangers at (2) Chicago White Sox
(3) Texas Rangers at (2) Chicago White Sox, if necessary
(3) Texas Rangers at (2) Chicago White Sox, if necessary