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.
Danny Darwin perhaps deserved a better fate, but in the end he ended up on the wrong side of the outcome.
The 1983 Baltimore Orioles celebrated a 5-4 victory in 10 innings over the 1986 Houston Astros to reach the title affair of the 1980s Diamond Gems Tournament.
Darwin had retired 12 straight batters for the Astros before Baltimore’s Cal Ripken Jr. smashed a walk-off homer in the 10th giving the Orioles to chance to play for the championship.
As the top remaining seed, Baltimore will entertain the winner of the 1986 Boston Red Sox at 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers contest for the title.
Denny Walling gave the Astros an early lead with a RBI single in the first inning off Baltimore starter Mike Flanagan. It was the first of four singles for Walling on the day.
A sacrifice fly by Baltimore’s Ken Singleton tied it at 1-1 in the fourth.
With three runs in the fifth, the Orioles ousted Houston starter Nolan Ryan as they built a 4-1 advantage.
Ryan walked Dan Ford and Ripken before Eddie Murray blasted a three-run homer to put the Orioles in front.
The Astros began the road back in the top of the eighth against Flanagan by manufacturing a pair of runs.
Jose Cruz had a sacrifice fly and Bill Doran beat out a double play attempt as a run scored.
In the ninth, Tippy Martinez took over on the mound for Baltimore.
With one out, Davey Lopes singled and stole second. After a ground out by Walling that didn’t advance Lopes, Glenn Davis singled to tie the contest and set up the extra inning.
After the blown save, Martinez picked up the win with a scoreless 10th. Flanagan went eight innings giving up 10 hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
For Houston, Ryan worked five innings allowing seven hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Darwin tossed four frames with five strikeouts with the only mistake being a pitch to Ripken.
Championship Game
(10) 1986 Boston Red Sox at (6) 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers winner
at (4) 1983 Baltimore Orioles
Semifinals
(4) 1983 Baltimore Orioles 5, (16) 1986 Houston Astros 4, (10)
(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