October 10th, 1982
American League Championship Series,
Game 5
California Angels at Milwaukee
Brewers
County Stadium, Milwaukee
The
Milwaukee Brewers have never had much success as a Big League franchise. In
fact, in the 48 years of their existence—including their one season in 1969 as
the Seattle Pilots—the club has made the playoffs a total of four times. The
first time was the strike-shortened season of 1981 when they qualified as the
second-half division winner (the season was split into two halves due to the
strike) and lost the ALDS to the New York Yankees in five games.
The
following season, the Brewers completed the regular season in first place in
the A.L. East with 95 wins and would play the California Angles, winners of the
A.L. West with 93 wins, in the best-of-five ALCS.
The
Brewers didn’t get off to a good start as the Angels took the first two games
in Anaheim Stadium by scores of 8-3 and 4-2. But with their backs to the wall
facing elimination, the Brewers reeled off two home wins of their own, 5-3 and
9-5, setting up a series-deciding Game 5 at Milwaukee’s County Stadium. The
winner would take on the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.
Bruce
Kison would take the ball for the Angels while Pete Vuckovich would toe the rubber
for Milwaukee. In front of 54,968 fans, both the Angels and Brewers would
attempt to win their first American League Pennant.
The
Angels would score in the top of the first on an RBI single off the bat of Fred
Lynn that scored Brian Downing for a 1-0 California lead. But the Brew Crew
would come right back to tie the game in their half of the first on sacrifice
fly by Ted Simmons that scored Paul Molitor.
After
a scoreless second, Lynn’s second single of the game knocked in Bob Boone and
the Angels had the lead again. They extended it to 3-1 in the fourth when Boone
singled in Doug DeCinces. But Milwaukee closed the gap to 3-2 in the bottom of
the inning on a solo home run by Ben Oglivie.
Then,
the scoring stopped. The fifth and sixth went by without any runs. After a
double play ended an Angels threat in the top of the seventh, the Brewers came
to bat, still needing a run to tie. They were down to their final nine outs.
With
one out, back-to-back singles by Charlie Moore and Jim Gantner put two Brewers
on base. But then Molitor popped up in foul territory and became the second
out. Robin Yount walked to load the bases, bringing up first baseman Cecil
Cooper. The Brewers and their fans knew that this may be the last chance to
score some runs as the heart of the order would unlikely come up to the plate
again.
On
a 1-1 pitch, Cooper lined a single into left field. Both Moore and Gantner
scored, giving Milwaukee a 4-3 lead and sending the Brewer fans into a frenzy.
The Angels got a single in the top of the ninth, but with two out and the tying
run on second, Angel All-Star first baseman Rod Carew hit a ground ball to
Yount. The Milwaukee shortstop threw to Cooper at first and the Brewers had
their first and—to date—only pennant.
A
thrilling World Series between Milwaukee and St. Louis would follow, but
unfortunately, the Brewers would fall in seven games.
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