1985 LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Washington vs. Detroit –
Washington and Detroit squared off in the American League Championship series. Detroit’s power against Washington’s speed & pitching.
GAME #1
You could feel World Series hopes were in the air at Washington as a Standing Room Only crowd filled the park.
Andy McGaffigan 10-3 was set to pitch against Joe Hesketh 13-4.
Washington struck in the 1st inning, when George Brett (MVP candidate), homered deep into the right-field bleachers,
giving Washington a 1 – 0 lead after 1 inning.
Detroit failed to score in the top of the 2nd. Washington added 2 more on a 2-out, 2-rbi single by Greg Pettis.
So, after 2 innings it was Washington 3 – Detroit 0. That scored remained intact until the top of the 6th.
After 2 outs in the top of the 6th, Detroit’s Brett Butler tripled into the right-field corner and then scored on an infield hit by Julio
Franco. Hesketh was pulled and replaced by Greg Harris to face Dave Parker (MVP Candidate – Homerun & Rbi champion) Parker greeted Harris with a double to right scoring Franco to make the score Washington 3 – Detroit 2 after 5 1/2 innings. The score remained 3-2 until the bottom of the 8th when Moseby started the scoring by leading off the inning with a walk. One out later, with Moseby on 2nd base, Ozzie Smith double into left field driving in Moseby to make the score Washington 4 – Detroit 2. McGaffigan was then replaced by Niedenfuer. Herr popped out to 2nd and then Detroit decided to intentionally walk George Brett and face Mike Davis. Davis lined a single to left center scoring Smith to make it Washington 5 – Detroit 2.
The inning ended after fouled out to Franco. So after 8 innings the score was Washington 5 – Detroit 2.
Bob James (American League saves leader), was brought into pitch the 9th.
After striking out Dave Parker to leadoff the inning, George Bell tripled off the center-field wall to keep Detroits hopes alive.
Bell scored on the next play as Terry Kennedy grounded out to Ozzie Smith, making the score Washington 5 – Detroit 3.
Bob Horner ended the game by also grounding out to Smith. So Washington hangs on and squeaks out the victory over Detroit.
FINAL SCORE: WASHINGTON 5 – DETROIT 3
GAME #2
Again a standing room only crowd filled the park in anticipation of the second game of the American League Championship series. Danny Jackson 11 – 6 was to face Charlie Leibrandt 17 – 4.
The score remained tied 0 – 0 until the bottom of the 3rd. Ozzie Smith started the rally with a 1-out double in left center.
Pettis then grounded out to Franco at short, with Smith taking 3rd base. Then something very daring, but typical of Washington’s play all season, Smith took off for home and stole it ! Washington led 1 – 0. Herr flew out to center ending the inning with Washington ahead after 3 innings 1 – 0.
That scored remained intact until Washington batted in the bottom of the 5th. Lloyd Moseby started the inning with a single
to right-field. After Moseby made the first out with a deep drive to center, Pettis hit a gapper into deep right-field scoring Moseby.
Pettis tried for an inside-the-park-homer, but was gunned down at the plate. Herr ended the inning by lining out to right-field.
After 5 innings, Washington 2 – Detroit 0.
In the top of the 6th Detroit came back. Lou Whitaker started the comeback with a base on balls to start the inning.
Jim Rice promptly deposited the ball into left field stands just keeping the ball on the fair-side of the foul pole.
Detroit tied the score at 2 -2. Rudy Law came within a couple of feet of making it back-to-back homeruns but Mike Davis
caught the ball against the wall. Butler & Franco also hit deep fly balls which resulted in outs.
After 5 1/2 innings Washington 2 – Detroit 2.
George Brett started the bottom of the 6th inning for Washington by reaching 1st base on an error by Detroit’s 3rdbaseman George Bell. Fisk then struck out. Buckner then hit a ground ball up the middle that Franco reached and forced Brett at 2nd.
With 2 outs Mike Davis hit a ground ball to shortstop Franco. Franco’s throw to 1st was off Horner’s glove. The ball got away
from Horner and Buckner came all the way around to score making it Washington 3 – Detroit 2 after 6 innings.
After getting the first out in the top of 8th, Leibrandt gave way to Dave Smith. Smith faced 2 batters and retired them.
Bob James came in to pitch the 9th. James retired the side 1-2-3 and Washington lucked-another-one-out over Detroit.
FINAL SCORE: WASHINGTON 3 – DETROIT 2
Washington leads the series 2 – 0 over Detroit for GAMES 3/4/5 – American League Championship Series – Washington @ Detroit.
Detroit down 2 games to 0 comes back to win their 3 home games 6-3, 4-1 and 6-3.
GAMES 6 – Guidry pitched 9 1/3 innings in game 6 holding Washington to 1 run, but was a tough luck loser.
GAMES 7 – Fernando Valenzuela holds Detroit to 1 run for the second game in a row. Washington wins it 3-1 and goes on to the MWWL World Series.
Valdosta vs. Hollywood –
Game 1: Bryn Smith vs Rick Sutcliffe. Greg Walkers doubles 2 home in the first to give Valdosta a 2-0 lead. Ricky leads off the bottom half with a walk, a steal of second and scores on a Dale Murphy single to cut the lead to 2-1. With 2-outs in the 4th and Eddie Murray leading off, Hollywood pulls an unlikely hit-and run which puts runners on the corners. Tony Pena than comes up and belts a 3-run homer to give Hollywood a 4-2 lead. In the 5th, after Jim Gantner and Murphy single, Murray doubles home a run to make it 5-2 – then Smith uncorks a WP to make it 6-2. Than after Pedro Guerrero singles home Murray to make it 7-2 Hollywood, Smith is pulled. Hollywood tacks on 2 more thanks to Flannery to stretch it to 9-2 and the starters are pulled…..Hollywood wins 9-4
Game 2: Jerry Reuss vs Joaquin Andujar. Jack Clark belts a 3-run shot in the first to make it 3-0 Valdosta in the first before Andujar records an out. Ricky singles in the bottom half to lead it off and scores on a Gantner double to cut the lead to 3-1. Than Murray ties the game with a 2-run shot of his own. Tim Wallach gets Valdosta back out in front in the 3rd with an RBI single, after which Walker knocks a SF to make it 5-3 Valdosta. Pedro closes the gap to 5-4 after a solo shot in the 4th. Trailing 6-4 in the bottom of the 9th, Hollywood gets the tying run to the plate, but cant break thru. Valdosta heads home for 3 with the series tied at 1.
The Vampires make the cross country trip to Georgia with the series tied @ 1.
Game 3: Mickey Mahler (4-1, 2.22) vs Charlie Hough (14-11, 3.00). When Mickey Mahler hits a triple and knocks in more runs than he gives up you know it’s gonna be a long day. Vamps romp to an easy 9-0 win. Eddie Murray and Templeton added HR’s to the hitting attack. Hough allowed 9 runs in 3 IP.
Game 4: Roger Mason (2-0, 7.22) vs Bill Gullickson (17-6, 3.17). RBI hits from Greg Walker and Brian Downing put the Bombers up 2-0 after 6. Gullickson was brilliant as he allowed just 5 hits in 8 2/3 IP. He ran out of gas after a Raffy Ramirez error led to an unearned run in the 9th. John Franco came on with the tying run on to record the final out and picked up his 2nd save of the series. Valdosta wins 2-1.
Game 5: Sutcliffe vs Bryn Smith in a rematch of game 1 in which Smith was pounded for 8 runs. This time Smith was great as he scattered 5 hits and allowed just 1 run in a CG victory. Bombers clung to a 2-1 lead until the 8th when Valdosta broke through for 4 runs against the Hollywood pen. Bob Brenley knocked in 4 for the Bombers as they win 5-1.
Back to Hollywood for the end of the series.
Game 6: Trailing 3 games to 2, Hollywood sends Joaquin Andujar back to the mound against Jerry Ruess. The game remains scoreless until the 3rd, when Eddie Murray singles home Rickey Henderson, giving Hollywood a 1-0 lead. Than Pedro Guerrero follows with a SF, to make it 2-0. Rickey extends the lead to 3-0 with a solo shot in the 5th. Al Cowens cuts the lead to 3-1 in the 7th with a solo shot. Pinch hitter Tim Flannery extends the lead back to 3 when he singles home Templeton in the 7th. Tony Armas puts it out of reach with a 2-run shot in the 8th, making it 6-1 Hollywood. Hollywood ties the series at 3 games a piece with the 6-1 win.
Game 7: Winner takes all in game 7. Charlie Hough takes the mound against Mickey Mahler. Garry Templeton gets Hollywood on the board first with a RBI single in the 2nd, making it 1-0 Hollywood. Jerry Royster triples to start the 3rd and scores on a Hough blooper to tie the game at 1. Dale Murphy gets Hollywood back on top in the bottom half with an RBI single. Than Bo Diaz comes up with a big bases loaded single to give the Bombers the 3-2 lead in the 5th. They then get a Gary Redus SF to make it 4-2. Pedro Guerrero cuts the Hollywood deficit to 1 run with a solo shot in the 6th. Than Tony Pena ties it with a FC which moves Templeton to 3rd with 1 out. PH Wayne Krenchicki comes thru with a big RBi single to make it 5-4 Hollywood. Dale Murphy extends the lead to 7-4 with a 2-run shot in the 7th. Hollywood turns to their solid bullpen to close the door and they deliver. Hollywood heads to World Series #5 with a 7-4 win!