1990 AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES #2
Montana Cutthroats @ Chicago Demolition
Preview: American League East Champions the Chicago Demolition take on American League Wild Card #2 Seed Montana Cutthroats in a 5 game Division Series Match up.
Game #1: Kelly Downs (5-4 2.40) vs. Doug Drabek (15-11 3.97)
Wade Boggs & George Brett had 3 hits apiece, Doug Drabek goes 6.2 innings allowing only 1 run (Unearned), & Dennis Eckersley slams the door in the 9th as Chicago takes game one.
Final Score: Chicago 4 – Montana 2
Game #2: Omar Olivares (4-6 5.82) vs. Dave Stewart (21-10 2.11)
With the score tied at 1 run each in the bottom of the 7th, George Brett (2 for 4) has a 2-Run Bomb off Mark Thurmond who was brought in to face the left handed hitting Brett. That’s all Chicago would need as Stewart allowing only 1 Run over 7.2 Innings. Four Chicago relievers would hold things together, including Eckersley with his 2nd save of the series.
Final Score: Chicago 3 – Montana 1
Game #3: Roger Clemens (26-4 1.66) vs. Ramon Martinez (18-8 2.67)
Chicago held a 5-2 lead heading into the bottom of the 8th, when things imploded on the Demolition. Clemens had gone 7 Innings, yielding 2 Runs, on 5 Hits, Walked 2, Struck Out 7. Brian Barnes comes in and lets up 2 runs to cut the Demolition lead to 5-4. Larry Andersen is called upon to get 2 Outs and hold the lead. With a Ellis Burks on 2nd Andersen working to hold him close, Andersen pitches & gets a ground ball back to himself on the mound, he spears it, and he throws it right by Boggs at Third Base. Burks races around third, he scores & we have ourselves a tie ballgame! With Brian Harper on Third Base, with two outs, Chicago Manager Stray Corrado elects to give a free pass to Alvin Davis. Corrado will let Andersen take his chances with light hitting Joey Cora. Andersen does what most relievers do after an intentional walk, he throws it to the backstop for a wild pitch! Harper Scores, Cutthroats have the lead & that’s all they need to steal game #3
Final Score: Montana 6 – Chicago 5
Game #4: Dave Stieb (16-13 3.39) vs. Jose Rijo (12-11 3.70)
This was one for the ages. An instant classic. A classic pitcher duel. The only run that scored to win the game for the Demolition was done in the top of the 6th inning when Bill Doran who was inching off 3rd base does the Un-thinkable & takes off for the plate with a straight steal of home. He slid in just under the tag, and in Yogi Berra / Jackie Robinson moment home plate umpire James Hoye calls Doran “SAFE”… Stieb picks up the win, Dennis Eckersley is called upon in the 8th to get a 4 Out Save & the Demolition take the game & the series.
Final Score: Chicago 1 – Montana 0
Summary: Chicago takes the series 3 games to 1. American League East Champion the Chicago Demolition will now take on the American League Wild Card Seed #1 Detroit Stars in the American League Championship Series.