Celebrating the 70s - Wildcard Games

 

I decided to take my All 70s decade roster set for a spin in playoff mode on MLBTS20. This set features the best players for each franchise during the 1970s, and the wild card games didn't disappoint. On the National League side, I took the Expos against the Phillies as I was initially an Expo fan as a youngster until the 1975 World Series when my love affair began with the Red Sox, and I never looked back. I had success with Montreal but revisited some 70s heartbreak with my Red Sox.

Rogers Reigns Supreme in Epic Duel

Steve Rogers made a second-inning RBI double by Larry Parrish stand as the winning stroke as the Montreal Expos nipped the Philadelphia Phillies 1-0 in the National League Wildcard game. Rogers and Phillies ace Steve Carlton were embroiled in a showdown with both men pitching into the seventh inning. Carlton would leave after 6.1 with the Expos threatening with the bases loaded. Wayne Twitchell would come on and induce an inning-ending double play off the bat of Tim Foil.

In the home half of the seventh inning, Rogers faced his most contentious moment of the game. With two out, the Phillies tried to rally with Bob Boone lining a single, and Larry Bowa then doubled down the left-field line to put two runners in scoring position. Rogers got in on the hands of Denny Doyle which resulted in a weak pop-out to Parrish in foul ground. 

Philadelphia attempted an uprising against the Expo bullpen. David Palmer was nicked for a leadoff single against pinch hitter Jay Johnstone. Lonnie Smith popped out and then Garry Maddox gave himself up bunting Johnston over to second to set the table for Phillies' slugger Mike Schmidt. Palmer got Schmidt to roll over on a  soft grounder back to the mound to preserve the shutout.

Rice Strays to Sabotage Comeback

Jim Rice's indecisiveness rounding third on a Tony Conigliaro wall-ball double ended the American League Wildcard game in stunning fashion as the Kansas City Royals would hang on to defeat Boston 6-5. 

The Red Sox were trailing 6-2 entering the ninth inning, but the Royals' bullpen began to sag. Doug Bird surrendered a solo shot to Carl Yazstremski in the eighth, and Yaz went to work on the  Royals' pen once again in the ninth. Boston had two runners aboard on singles by Dwight Evans and pinch hitter Rick Burleson. This ended the night for Bird and Kansas City closer Dan Quisenberry was sent in to lock things down. After Lynn struck out chasing a slider outside the zone, Yazstremski lined a bullet down the right-field line off Quisenberry to cut the lead in half.

Quisenberry walked Rice to load the bases, and Conigliaro's double chased home Evans and Burleson. Kansas City shortstop Freddie Patek cut off Al Cowens's throw and saw Rice's overly aggressive turn at third. He fired to George Brett to cut Rice down to shockingly send the Royals to the ALDS.

This play may have been a moot point had it not been for the dazzling defensive play by John Mayberry in the seventh. Kansas City starter Dennis Leonard was masterful in six innings of work and was enjoying a 6-0 lead, but the wheels started to come off. With Fisk on second after slashing a double, Leonard walked Dwight Evans and Doug Griffin to load the bases. Marty Pattin came on to face pinch hitter Cecil Cooper and walked him to give Boston their first run. Fred Lynn followed and drilled a hard grounder that was snatched by Mayberry who then initiated a 3-6-3 twin killing to end the threat.