This Elite matchup features the #13 seed Houston Astros who upset the #4 New York Yankees and the #5 Los Angeles Dodgers who beat the Baltimore Orioles. The Astros will send Nolan Ryan (10-12 3.80 Grade 10XG) to the mound against Jerry Reuss (14-10 2.92 Grade 14Z).
The Astros come out of the gate and get 2 quick runs courtesy of a Kevin Bass homer. The Dodgers would answer back against Ryan in a huge way by scoring 5 runs. A single by Mariano Duncan and a couple walks would load the bases for Greg Brock who would line a grand slam homer to right. Two batters latter Ken Landreaux would line a Ryan fastball out to center for a homer. In the 2nd Mike Scioscia would take Ryan deep and remove him from the game.
With the score 6-2 the Astros would mount a comeback in the 7th scoring 3 runs. Glenn Davis and Jerry Mumphrey with big RBI hits. In the bottom of the 8th the Dodgers would get two huge insurance runs as Scioscia would line a 2 RBI single to center. Tom Niedenfuer would come on to pick up the save and the Dodgers take game 1.
Final Score: Dodgers 8, Astros 5
WP: Jerry Reuss (1-1)
LP: Nolan Ryan (0-1)
Save: Tom Niedenfuer (2)
HR’s: Astros – Kevin Bass (1), Dodgers – Mike Scioscia (1), Greg Brock (1), Ken Landreaux (1)