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 Chicago White Sox head back home to Comiskey Park needing just one win to take the 1994 World Series title.
With a 7-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the fifth contest of the best-of-seven series, the White Sox hold a three games to two edge.
Wilson Alvarez (4-0) gets the ball for Chicago in the sixth affair as the White Sox look to clinch the championship as the Reds counter with lefty John Smiley (1-1).
Alex Fernandez (4-1) worked seven innings on the mound for the White Sox in game five to get the win as Scott Sanderson and Roberto Hernandez both tossed scoreless frames tp preserve the victory. Hernandez picked up his fifth save of the post-season.
Fernandez allowed all five of Cincinnat’s runs on eight hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
Cincinnati ace Jose Rijo (2-3) struggled to get through five frames as he surrendered six runs on eight hits with a pair of walks, while fanning four. Chuck McElroy, Hector Carrasco and Tim Fortugno finished up for the Reds.
A two-run homer by Frank Thomas in the top of the first got the White Sox going before a RBI single by Kevin Mitchell in the bottom of the inning cut Cincinnati’s deficit in half at 2-1.
Reds third baseman Tony Fernandez tied it in the second with a solo homer before Cincinnati took a 3-2 lead in the third on a run-scoring single by Hal Morris.
The Cincinnati advantage didn’t last long as Ozzie Guillen tied the contest with a RBI single in the fourth. The White Sox made it 4-3 as Mike LaValliere scored on a double play with the bases loaded.
Robin Ventura‘s two-run blast in the fifth built Chicago’s margin to 6-3.
Cincinnati closed the gap to 6-5 in the seventh as Barry Larkin smacked a two-run homer, but the Reds couldn’t get any closer. Chicago’s final tally came against Carrasco in the ninth on a triple by Tim Raines.
1994 Post-Season Tournament
World Series
(2) Cincinnati Reds 9, (2) Chicago White Sox 1
(2) Chicago White Sox 9, (2) Cincinnati Reds 6
(2) Chicago White Sox 2, (2) Cincinnati Reds 1
(2) Cincinnati Reds 4, (2) Chicago White Sox 1
(2) Chicago White Sox 7, (2) Cincinnati Reds 5
(2) Cincinnati Reds at (2) Chicago White Sox
(2) Cincinnati Reds at (2) Chicago White Sox, if necessary
National League Championship Series
** Reds wins series 4-2
(WC) Atlanta Braves 7, (2) Cincinnati Reds 5 (15)
(2) Cincinnati Reds 1, (WC) Atlanta Braves 0
(2) Cincinnati Reds 9, (WC) Atlanta Braves 4
(WC) Atlanta Braves 9, (2) Cincinnati Reds 8
(2) Cincinnati Reds 5, (WC) Atlanta Braves 3
(2) Cincinnati Reds 4, (WC) Atlanta Braves 3 (12)
American League Championship Series
** White Sox win series 4-0
(2) Chicago White Sox 5, (WC) Cleveland Indians 1
(2) Chicago White Sox 3, (WC) Cleveland Indians 0
(2) Chicago White Sox 4, (WC) Cleveland Indians 3
(2) Chicago White Sox 5, (WC) Cleveland Indians 3 (10)
National League Divisional Series
** Braves win series 3-2
(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 4, (1) Montreal Expos 3
** Reds win the series 3-2
(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
(2) Cincinnati Reds 10, (3) Los Angeles Dodgers 8
American League Divisional Series
** Indians win series 3-2
(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 3, (1) New York Yankees 0
** White Sox win series 3-2
(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)
(2) Chicago White Sox 14, (3) Texas Rangers 5