Editor’s note: The 1980 Tournament games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter will be used for any games involving American League teams. 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.
Davey Lopes started a pair of rallies that made the difference as the 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the 1983 Chicago White Sox 6-4 in the 1980s Diamond Gems Tournament.
With the victory in the second round, the Dodgers are scheduled to entertain the 1986 Boston Red Sox in the semifinal round.
Lopes led off the bottom of the third with a single off Chicago starter Richard Dotson.
After swiping second, Lopes later scored on a double by Dusty Baker. Ron Cey added another run when his ground out allowed Ken Landreaux to score and the Dodgers led 2-0.
Chicago got on the scoreboard in the fourth against Los Angeles starter Jerry Reuss as Vance Law hit a sacrifice fly.
Reuss added his own sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth as he hit the ball deep enough to Harold Baines in right that Mike Scioscia rumbled home to make it 3-1.
By the seventh inning, it was time for Lopes to make a play. The second baseman drilled a solo homer that began a three-run outburst.
Landreaux followed with a single that ended the day for Dotson.
With Dennis Lamp on the mound, Baker and Scioscia added RBI singles as the Dodgers added to their margin and it was 6-1.
Reuss was looking for a complete game as the ninth inning got underway.
Vance Law walked and Scott Fletcher doubled to get some activity in the Los Angeles bullpen.
After Julio Cruz doubled home a pair of runs, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda decided bring in lefty Steve Howe.
Howe retired pinch-hitter Greg Walker and Rudy Law before Carlton Fisk singled to cut Chicago’s deficit to two runs.
The game ended when Howe struck out out Baines, who had also fanned three times against Reuss.
Reuss got the win with eight innings of work giving up nine hits with five strikeouts.
Dotson was tagged with the loss as he surrendered eight hits with two strikeouts.
Semifinals
(16) 1986 Houston Astros at (4) 1983 Baltimore Orioles
(10) 1986 Boston Red Sox at (6) 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers
Second Round Results
(16) 1986 Houston Astros 7, (9) 1985 St. Louis Cardinals 4
(4) 1983 Baltimore Orioles 5, (12) 1981 New York Yankees 2
(10) 1986 Boston Red Sox 6, (15) 1984 Chicago Cubs 5 (14)
(6) 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers 6, (14) 1983 Chicago White Sox 4
First Round Results
(16) 1986 Houston Astros 5, (1) 1986 New York Mets 3
(9) 1985 St. Louis Cardinals 4, (8) 1987 Minnesota Twins 2
(4) 1983 Baltimore Orioles 2, (13) 1985 Toronto Blue Jays 1
(12) 1981 New York Yankees 5, (5) 1988 Los Angeles Dodgers 3 (11)
(15) 1984 Chicago Cubs 7, (2) 1984 Detroit Tigers 2
(10) 1986 Boston Red Sox 5, (7) 1985 Kansas City Royals 1
(14) 1983 Chicago White Sox 4, (3) 1989 Oakland A’s 2
(6) 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers 12, (11) 1982 Milwaukee Brewers 6