The Yankees sweep four from the Tigers to clinch a playoff spot. El Capitan, Derek Jeter (.329) and "Whadya Know" Robbie Cano (.362) are the only Bronx Bombers to finish over .300. Mike Mussina (6-1, 3.86) wins the series finale as New York 23-15 heads to the post season.
Boston headed into their series with Baltimore needing a sweep to realistically have any chance of post season aspirations. The Bosox proceeded to lose the opener and take themselves out of contention immediately. Jim Palmer (4-2, 3.70), who was not having a banner season gave up just 2 runs over 8 innings to out duel Dennis Eckersley (2-3, 4.80) to close out Boston's season. Freddy Lynn was the only Sahx regular to hit over .300. Jim Rice managed 10 homers, but hit a disappointing .273. Baltimore was playing out the string for weeks. Eddie Murray (.305) was the only Oriole mainstay to do anything worth writing home about. Baltimore's much touted pitching staff never got on track all season.
Here is a complete synopsis of the HUGE Toronto vs Cleveland battle for 1st place series thanks to Robert Chisholm (Toronto Mgr). The results of this series clinched the AL East crown for the Blue Jays, who finished mathematically tied for first with the Yankees, but owned the h2h (4-0 vs NYY) tie breaker.
Toronto 3 Cleveland 2
Clancy (W) Garcia (L)
Cleveland got on the board in the 1st when Avila scored on a Rosen sacrifice fly. In the 5th Whitt game MVP lead off with a solo home run. With two out Fernandez singled and advanced on a pickoff attempt. Mulliniks doubled scoring Fernandez and Bell singled scoring Mullineks.In the bottom of the inning Fain doubled and then scored on ground outs by Smith and Avila. Jim Clancy went 6 innings allowing 4 hits, Eichhorn came in for the 7th and 8th allowed 1 hit with 3 strikeouts and Henke pitched the 9th for the save.
Toronto 2 Cleveland 8
Stieb vs Lemon (W)
An error by Stieb in the 3rd started a rocky inning. He later hit Smith and allowed Avila a double scoring Hegan, walked Doby and a sacrifice by Wertz scored the 2nd run. With 2 out in the 6th Barfield and Moseby singled and Whitt reached 1st on an error scoring Bell, a walk to Mullineks and Upshaw tied the score at 2. Wells came into relieve Stieb but in the 7th the bottom fell out Hegan singled, Lemon sacrifice bunt and Smith was intentionally walked. Gordon came in to face Avila who singled, Doby walked and Wetz hit a grandslam. In all 5 runs scored. In the 8th Ward took over Strickland singled, Mossi walked, and Avila singled scoring Strickland. Bob Lemon was game MVP.
Cleveland 2 Toronto 5
Score (L) Key (W)
Score ran into trouble in the 2nd Barfield lead off with a single but was tossed out on an Iorg sacrifice bunt, but the relay was not in time to get Iorg. Moore, Gruber, Beniquez and Moseby all walked in a row then Fernandez and Bell singled scoring 5. In the 5th Cleveland bats came alive Doby and Wertz doubled and Evers singled but Key kept it to 1 run. In the 6th Smith and Avila singled, Key threw a wild pitch and Walked Doby and Kiner but again Key settled down allowing only 1 run. Gamme MVP Mark Eichhorn came to the mound in the 8th with 1 out to record his 1st save of the season going the rest of the distance.
Cleveland 5 Toronto 6
Wynn(L) Flanagan (W)
Things looked bad right out of the gate for Flanagan. Smith doubled, Avila and Rosen singled, Doby homered and Kiner walked. 4 runs and no one out. A visit to the mound to check on Flanagan and he settled down. The Jays hitter responded with 1 out McGriff, Bell and Mullineks singled, Whitt walked Moseby popped up, Upshaw and Barfield singled. Score 4-4 after 1. Flanagan walked Strickland, he scored on a Avila double. Cleveland was up 5-4. Both starters then settled down. In the 7th Bell doubled and gam MVP Mullineks homered and Wynn went to the showers Early. In the 8th Cleveland rallied as Eichhorn allowed a single to Avila but instead of turning an easy doubleplay manny Lee error-ed and runners were on 1st and second. Toronto quickly brought in Jeff Musselman to face Doby who flied out, Woodling lined to first but runners advanced on a wild pitch. Evers the grounded out. In the ninth Musselman got Philley to ground out, but with the game on the line Toronto went to Tom Henke who struck out Harrell and Pope for the win.
The series was close but in the end Toronto prevailed winning 3 of 4. Thanks to Jim for playing.
Clancy (W) Garcia (L)
Cleveland got on the board in the 1st when Avila scored on a Rosen sacrifice fly. In the 5th Whitt game MVP lead off with a solo home run. With two out Fernandez singled and advanced on a pickoff attempt. Mulliniks doubled scoring Fernandez and Bell singled scoring Mullineks.In the bottom of the inning Fain doubled and then scored on ground outs by Smith and Avila. Jim Clancy went 6 innings allowing 4 hits, Eichhorn came in for the 7th and 8th allowed 1 hit with 3 strikeouts and Henke pitched the 9th for the save.
Toronto 2 Cleveland 8
Stieb vs Lemon (W)
An error by Stieb in the 3rd started a rocky inning. He later hit Smith and allowed Avila a double scoring Hegan, walked Doby and a sacrifice by Wertz scored the 2nd run. With 2 out in the 6th Barfield and Moseby singled and Whitt reached 1st on an error scoring Bell, a walk to Mullineks and Upshaw tied the score at 2. Wells came into relieve Stieb but in the 7th the bottom fell out Hegan singled, Lemon sacrifice bunt and Smith was intentionally walked. Gordon came in to face Avila who singled, Doby walked and Wetz hit a grandslam. In all 5 runs scored. In the 8th Ward took over Strickland singled, Mossi walked, and Avila singled scoring Strickland. Bob Lemon was game MVP.
Cleveland 2 Toronto 5Score (L) Key (W)
Score ran into trouble in the 2nd Barfield lead off with a single but was tossed out on an Iorg sacrifice bunt, but the relay was not in time to get Iorg. Moore, Gruber, Beniquez and Moseby all walked in a row then Fernandez and Bell singled scoring 5. In the 5th Cleveland bats came alive Doby and Wertz doubled and Evers singled but Key kept it to 1 run. In the 6th Smith and Avila singled, Key threw a wild pitch and Walked Doby and Kiner but again Key settled down allowing only 1 run. Gamme MVP Mark Eichhorn came to the mound in the 8th with 1 out to record his 1st save of the season going the rest of the distance.
Cleveland 5 Toronto 6
Wynn(L) Flanagan (W)
Things looked bad right out of the gate for Flanagan. Smith doubled, Avila and Rosen singled, Doby homered and Kiner walked. 4 runs and no one out. A visit to the mound to check on Flanagan and he settled down. The Jays hitter responded with 1 out McGriff, Bell and Mullineks singled, Whitt walked Moseby popped up, Upshaw and Barfield singled. Score 4-4 after 1. Flanagan walked Strickland, he scored on a Avila double. Cleveland was up 5-4. Both starters then settled down. In the 7th Bell doubled and gam MVP Mullineks homered and Wynn went to the showers Early. In the 8th Cleveland rallied as Eichhorn allowed a single to Avila but instead of turning an easy doubleplay manny Lee error-ed and runners were on 1st and second. Toronto quickly brought in Jeff Musselman to face Doby who flied out, Woodling lined to first but runners advanced on a wild pitch. Evers the grounded out. In the ninth Musselman got Philley to ground out, but with the game on the line Toronto went to Tom Henke who struck out Harrell and Pope for the win.
The series was close but in the end Toronto prevailed winning 3 of 4. Thanks to Jim for playing.
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