Game 1 of our 1988 World Series replay features the Los Angeles Dodgers who beat the Mets in 7 games and the Oakland A’s who beat the Red Sox in 7 games.
Game 1 starters will be Bob Welch (17-9 3.64 Grade 11yz) for the visiting A’s and Tim Belcher (12-6 2.91 Grade 12XZG) for the home town Dodgers.
Here we go World Series, two really good teams. The A’s would jump on the board first as with 2 out and no one on in the first Jose Canseco lines a Belcher fastball out to left center to make it a 1-0. (Side note I remember as a kid Canseco hitting the Grand Slam in Game 1 off the camera in center and thinking there is no way the A’s will lose this series. Shows you what I know, and why I love baseball so much).
After Canseco’s homer Belcher would settle in and Welch was locked in as well. With it still 1-0 in the 6th would again get to Belcher. A single by Dave Henderson and a double by Jose Canseco would make it 2nd and 3rd. Veteran Dave Parker would drive a Belcher splitter over Steve Sax‘s head for a 2 run single to make it 3-0 A’s. This would be all for Belcher as the bullpen would come in to keep it close. Welch was on cruise control as he would work out of base runners in the 7th and 8th with no damage. With Eckersley up in the pen in the 9th, Welch would sit them down 1-2-3 to complete the shutout victory. The A’s win 3-0 and take a 1-0 series lead.
Final Score: A’s 3, Dodgers 0
WP: Bob Welch (1-1)
LP: Tim Belcher (1-2)
HR’s: A’s – Jose Canseco (3)