1981 National League Division Series

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Montreal Expos

Game 1, October 6

Reliant Astrodome

Reliant Astrodome, also known as the Houston Astrodome or simply the Astrodome, is the world's first multi-purpose, domed sports stadium, located in Houston, Texas, USA. The stadium is part of the Reliant Park complex...

in Houston, Texas

Houston, Texas

Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...

Fernando Valenzuela

Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea is a Mexican former left-handed pitcher, most notably with the Los Angeles Dodgers.In 1981, the 20-year-old Valenzuela took Los Angeles by storm, winning his first 8 decisions and leading the Dodgers to the World Championship...

faced Nolan Ryan

Nolan Ryan

Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....

, a matchup worthy of a pitcher's duel. The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth. Tony Scott

Tony Scott (baseball)

Anthony Scott is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.-Montreal Expos:Scott was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 71st round of the 1969 Major League Baseball Draft. After five seasons in their farm system, he received a September call-up to the Expos in...

singled home Terry Puhl

Terry Puhl

-See also:*List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases*List of Major League Baseball players from Canada*UHV Jaguars-External links:...

to score the game's first run, but Steve Garvey

Steve Garvey

Steven Patrick Garvey , nicknamed "Mr. Clean" because of the squeaky clean image he held throughout his career in baseball, is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and current Southern California businessman...

tied the game with a solo home run in the top of the seventh. The game would remain 1–1 into the bottom of the ninth. Dave Stewart retired the first two men, but surrendered a single to Craig Reynolds and Alan Ashby

Alan Ashby

Alan Dean Ashby is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, and Houston Astros...

stepped to the plate. He then slugged a two-run walk-off home run to end the game.

Game 2, October 7

Astrodome

Reliant Astrodome

in Houston, Texas

Houston, Texas

Jerry Reuss

Jerry Reuss -- pronounced "royce" -- is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, best known for his years with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the United States, who had a 22-year career from to ....

was pitted against Joe Niekro

Joe Niekro

Joseph Franklin Niekro was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He was the younger brother of pitcher Phil Niekro, and the father of Minor League Baseball pitcher Lance Niekro. A native of Blaine, Ohio, Niekro attended Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Ohio and attended West...

. Both pitchers kept the game scoreless, but both teams had trouble scoring runs when they managed to get men on. Reuss pitched nine innings and Niekro eight. It remained 0–0 until the bottom of the eleventh. Dave Stewart was brought in once again, although having lost the last game. He surrendered back-to-back singles to open the inning. He was taken out and the bases were loaded thanks to an intentional walk to César Cedeño

César Cedeño

César Cedeño Encarnación is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played with the Houston Astros , Cincinnati Reds , St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers . He batted and threw right-handed....

. The bullpen had managed to get two outs but pinch hitter Denny Walling

Denny Walling

Dennis Martin Walling is a former Major League Baseball player. Walling played all or part of eighteen seasons in the majors, from 1975 to 1992. He played his most games as a third baseman, but also saw significant time as an outfielder and first baseman.Walling may be best known as a...

hit the game winner, a single to right field.

Game 3, October 9

Dodger Stadium

Dodger Stadium, also sometimes called Chavez Ravine, is a stadium in Los Angeles. Located adjacent to Downtown Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium has been the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers team since 1962...

in Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...

Houston was now one win away from winning their first ever postseason series and moving one step closer to the franchise's first pennant. However, Burt Hooton

Burt Hooton

Burt Carlton Hooton , nicknamed "Happy" , is a coach and former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball...

was there to stop the streaking Astros against Bob Knepper

Bob Knepper

Robert Wesley Knepper is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball with a 15-year career from 1976 to 1990. He played for the San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros, both of the National League....

. Hooton held the Astros to three hits over seven innings and the bullpen held them to no hits through the last two innings. After an RBI double by Dusty Baker

Dusty Baker

Johnnie B. "Dusty" Baker, Jr. is a former player and current manager in Major League Baseball, currently the manager of the Cincinnati Reds. He enjoyed a 19-year career as a hard-hitting outfielder, mostly with the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers...

, Steve Garvey hit a two run homer to make it 3–0 in the bottom of the first. Art Howe

Art Howe

Arthur Henry Howe Jr. is a former Major League Baseball infielder, coach, scout and manager. He is an alumnus of the University of Wyoming...

would drive the only run of the game for the Astros by hitting a leadoff solo home run in the third. The Dodgers would add insurance in the eighth to win by a final score of 6–1.

Game 4, October 10

Dodger Stadium

in Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California

Fernando Valenzuela

would take the hill for the Dodgers once again, this time faced against Vern Ruhle

Vern Ruhle

Vernon Gerald Ruhle was an American right-handed pitcher and coach in Major League Baseball who played thirteen seasons from 1974 to 1986, primarily with the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros....

. Both pitchers would pitch complete games for their respective teams. Eventual co-World Series MVP Pedro Guerrero got the Dodgers on the board first with a solo homer in the bottom of the fifth. Bill Russell

Bill Russell (baseball)

William Ellis Russell is a former shortstop, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. Russell played his entire 18-year, 2,181-game career with the Los Angeles Dodgers as the starting shortstop for four National League pennant winners and one World Series champion...

would drive in the potential winning run in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI single. A two-out RBI single in the ninth would be all the Astros would get as the Dodgers won Game 4 2–1.

Game 5, October 11

Dodger Stadium

in Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California

Nolan Ryan

Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....

was brought in on clinching day to win the Astros their first ever postseason series. Opposing him would be Jerry Reuss

Jerry Reuss

, who had pitched so well in Game 2. Thanks to a few walks and an error, the Dodgers struck for three runs in the bottom of the sixth. A two-out triple by Steve Garvey made it 4–0 Dodgers in the seventh. In the end, Reuss went the distance again and pitched a brilliant five-hit shutout to put the Dodgers in the 1981 National League Championship Series

1981 National League Championship Series

- Game 1 :Tuesday, October 13, 1981 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CaliforniaThe Dodgers took the first game of the series behind the strong pitching of starter Burt Hooton. For the first seven innings the game stayed close, with the only scoring coming in the second inning when the Dodgers got...

. In addition, the Dodgers avenged their loss to the Astros the previous year

1980 in baseball

-Major League Baseball:World Series: Philadelphia Phillies over Kansas City Royals ; Mike Schmidt, MVP*American League Championship Series: Frank White, MVP*National League Championship Series Manny Trillo, MVP...

in a one-game playoff for the NL West title.

Composite box

1981 NLDS (3–2): Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...

over Houston Astros

Houston Astros

The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...

Game 1, October 7

Olympic Stadium

Olympic Stadium (Montreal)

The Olympic Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district of Montreal, Quebec, Canada built as the main venue for the 1976 Summer Olympics...

in Montreal, Quebec

Montreal

Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...

In the other division series, the Expos, making their first and only playoff appearance, would have to defeat the defending World Champions, the Philadelphia Phillies. Steve Rogers faced Steve Carlton

Steve Carlton

Steven Norman Carlton , nicknamed "Lefty", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1965-1988 for six different teams in his career, but it is his time with the Philadelphia Phillies where he received his greatest acclaim as a professional and won four Cy Young Awards...

in Game 1 in Montreal, the first-ever MLB postseason game played outside the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. A Gary Carter

Gary Carter

Gary Edmund Carter , nicknamed "Kid" and "Kid Carter", is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 19-year baseball career, mostly with the Montreal Expos and the New York Mets, Carter established himself as one of the premier catchers in the National League, winning three Gold...

double scored the first Expo run in postseason history in the first. But the Phillies wasted no time in responding. Keith Moreland

Keith Moreland

Bobby Keith "Zonk" Moreland is a former outfielder, catcher and infield in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and San Diego Padres. In , the final year of his career, he played for the Detroit Tigers, then the Baltimore Orioles...

homered to lead off the second. The game was tied at one. A Chris Speier

Chris Speier

Christopher Edward Speier is a former Major League Baseball player and current bench coach for the Cincinnati Reds. He was drafted second overall in the January secondary 1970 Major League Baseball Draft.-Playing career:...

double gave the Expos the lead for good. Warren Cromartie

Warren Cromartie

Warren Livingston Cromartie is a retired American baseball player.-Baseball career:Warren Cromartie debuted with the Montreal Expos of the Major Leagues on September 6, 1974 after being picked 6th in the 1973 amateur draft...

would double in the third and final Expo run of the game. The score would remain the same. Rogers pitched innings and gave up ten hits, but only one run was allowed. Jeff Reardon

Jeff Reardon

Jeffrey James Reardon , nicknamed "The Terminator" for his intimidating presence on the mound and 98 mph fastball, is a former professional baseball relief pitcher from 1979-1994 who played for the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, Minnesota Twins, and Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati...

got the final out and the save. This was the Expos' first postseason victory.

Game 2, October 8

Olympic Stadium

Olympic Stadium (Montreal)

The Olympic Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district of Montreal, Quebec, Canada built as the main venue for the 1976 Summer Olympics...

in Montreal, Quebec

Montreal

Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...

Dick Ruthven

Richard David Ruthven is a former Major League Baseball pitcher with a 14-year career from 1973 to 1986. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs all of the National League. During his career, Ruthven had a record of 123-127, an ERA of 4.14, and 1145 career strikeouts...

was called on to stem the tide against Bill Gullickson

Bill Gullickson

William Lee Gullickson is a former major league baseball pitcher who played for six different major-league teams, in Canada, the U.S...

. Chris Speier

Chris Speier

's RBI single in the second made it 1–0 Expos. Then a two-run homer in the third by Gary Carter

Gary Carter

made it 3–0. Gullickson was masterful, allowing only one run and six hits in innings. Jeff Reardon

Jeff Reardon

got the save for the second consecutive game.

Game 3, October 9

Veterans Stadium

Philadelphia Veterans Stadium was a professional-sports, multi-purpose stadium, located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...

in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...

Ray Burris

Bertram Ray Burris was a pitcher with a 15 year career from 1973 to 1987. He played for the Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Montreal Expos and St. Louis Cardinals all of the National League and the New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, and Milwaukee Brewers all of the American League...

was called on in the potential clincher against Larry Christenson

Larry Christenson

Larry Richard 'L.C.' Christenson , is a former professional baseball pitcher who played his entire career for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1973-1983....

, hoping to keep the Phillies alive. In the second, Chris Speier's amazing postseason continued with another RBI single to give the Expos the lead. But Manny Trillo

Manny Trillo

Jesús Manuel Marcano Trillo , also nicknamed "Indio", is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues from to...

's two run single in the bottom of the second gave the Phillies the lead. Two more RBI singles made it 4–1 in the sixth. Two more runs for the Phillies in the seventh gave them six for the night. The Expos would get another on a sac fly in the seventh but the score would remain 6–2 as the Phillies won.

Game 4, October 10

Veterans Stadium

in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Arguably the best game of the series took place in Game 4. Scott Sanderson

Scott Sanderson

Scott Douglas Sanderson is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for seven teams from 1978 to 1996.-Baseball career:...

started against Dickie Noles

Dickie Noles

Dickie Ray Noles was a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies , Chicago Cubs , Texas Rangers , Cleveland Indians , Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles ....

. The Phillies jumped out to a 2–0 lead in the first on a two-run homer by Mike Schmidt

Mike Schmidt

Michael Jack Schmidt is a Hall of Fame third baseman popularly considered among the greatest third basemen in the history of Major League Baseball. He played his entire career for the Philadelphia Phillies....

. Keith Moreland

Keith Moreland

's two-run single made it 4–0 in the third. But the Expos refused to go quietly. Gary Carter

Gary Carter

homered to lead off the fourth to make it 4–1. A Jerry White

Jerry White (baseball)

Jerome Cardell "Jerry" White is a former Major League Baseball player and current first base coach of the Minnesota Twins. He played for 11 seasons in the MLB, including stints with the Montreal Expos, Chicago Cubs, and Saint Louis Cardinals...

sac fly made it 4–2 in the fifth. The Expos would tie the game thanks to Chris Speier's RBI single and he would later score. Gary Matthews

Gary Matthews

Gary Nathaniel Matthews Sr. , nicknamed Sarge, is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball. He now serves as a color commentator for the Philadelphia Phillies. From through , Matthews played for the San Francisco Giants, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and Seattle...

would homer to give the Phillies the lead. Gary Carter would double to tie the game again in the seventh. In the bottom of the tenth, George Vukovich

George Vukovich

George Stephen Vukovich , is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played all or part of six seasons in the majors from 1980-1985 for the Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Indians. He also played two seasons in Japan for the Seibu Lions in 1986-1987.-External links:...

would walk the game off with a leadoff homer off Jeff Reardon

Jeff Reardon

. It tied the series at two games apiece and set up the clinching Game 5.

Game 5, October 11

Veterans Stadium

in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

In Game 5, the defending Champions sent their best, Steve Carlton

Steve Carlton

, to the mound. Carlton would once again face Steve Rogers. Carlton was hoping to avenge his Game 1 loss. Both pitchers kept the game scoreless into the fifth inning. A single and two walks loaded the bases for Rogers. In what proved to be the series winning hit, Rogers singled to center that would score Larry Parrish

Larry Parrish

Larry Alton Parrish is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and right-handed batter who played with the Montreal Expos , Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox...

and Chris Speier

Chris Speier

. An RBI double by Parrish in the sixth made it 3–0. That would be all Rogers would need. He allowed only six hits and one walk in a complete game shutout of the defending World Champions. His brilliance led the Expos to the NLCS and their first ever postseason series win.

Composite box

1981 NLDS (3–2): Montreal Expos
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...

over Philadelphia Phillies

Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...

External links

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