Friday, June 10, 2022

1977 A.L. Championship Series (Games 1 & 2)


The Oakland Athletics sent Jerry Koosman to the mound in Game 1. The 34 year-old Koosman locked down the New York Yankees, allowing only 1 run (a solo HR to pinch-hitter Charlie Spikes). Oakland's usual backstops Gene Tenace (playing 1B in this game) and Rick Dempsey each homered for the Athletics, while DH-Hal McRae batted 2-for-5 with a double & 2 RBI and Reggie Jackson added a two-run double in a huge Game 1, 9-1 victory. 

During Game 2, Doug DeCinces was the hero, batting 3-for-3 with a HR, 2 singles, a walk & 4 RBI, leading the Athletics to a 10-5 win. The Athletics' Steve Carlton was far from perfect, allowing 5 ER through 8 innings, but logged 8 strikeouts; All five runs came off Carlton after the 5th inning. The Athletics' Joe Rudi and the Yankees' John Mayberry each added dingers.

The Athletics travel across the country to play in New York at old Yankee Stadium II, while sending their big ace to the mound in Vida Blue. Blue showed up, plus more, not by only shutting the Yankees out, but while no-hitting them in front of the stunned home crowd. The Yankees also made 4 errors as well.

The Yankees' Pat Dobson did his best to keep the Athletics off the board, keeping Oakland scoreless through the first 6 innings, until balk in the 7th and two RBI singles in the 8th gave the A's just enough to win in Game 3 by the score of 3-0.

In Game 4, Chet Lemon and Bill Buckner hit back-to-back RBI single during the top of the 2nd, the Yankees' John Mayberry hit a solo HR (his 2nd of the series) during the bottom of the 2nd. The score would stick, 2-1 for the Athletics to pull off a 4-0 series sweep of the Yankees. Oakland's rookie pitcher Matt Keough pitched the complete game, allowing only 4 hits, while facing 32 batters. 

Doug DeCinces earns the A.L.Championship Series MVP Award, batting 7-for-15 (.467) with 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 runs & a .529 on-base percentage. All four starting pitchers for Oakland went at least 8 innings, while one reliever in Milt Wilcox made a relief appearance.

The Pittsburgh Pirates came back from a 3-1 series deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers to win the N.L. Pennant, and will face the Oakland Athletics in the World Series. Omar Moreno won the N.L. Championship Series MVP, batting 11-for-31 with 2 HR & 7 RBI. The Pittsburgh Pirates last won the World Series back in 1971, while the Oakland Athletics last won the World Series back in 1974.


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