REGIONAL #20:  By the ELO ranks, there were no bad teams in this group, and two pennant winners in the 1979 Orioles and the Old-Timer 1929 Cubs.  The #3 seed was an 88-win Dodger team from the 70s, a solid Braves team from 1961, and two respectable Cardinal teams from consecutive years in the early 1970s.  The rankings indicated that the Cubs should squeeze by the Orioles in their semifinal and then handle the Dodgers in the finals.  

The 102-win 1979 Orioles assured a spot in the semifinals by besting Bob Gibson and the 1971 Cardinals in a tight 4-3 game.  A Cardinal error set up a 3-run homer by Gary Roenicke in the 5th that gave the O’s a 4-0 lead, but homers by Jose Cruz and Matty Alou narrowed the gap requiring Baltimore to pull Mike Flanagan for closer Don Stanhouse, who earns the save.  However, that anticipated semifinal matchup with the 1929 Cubs wouldn’t happen, as instead the 1970 Cardinals will get a rematch with the O’s as they shut down the Cubs with another 4-3 game–decided by a 2-run homer by ex-Cub Lou Brock.  The 1961 Braves start swingman Don Nottebart, who rewards the choice with a 5-hit shutout against the 1982 Giants, with a 3-run homer by the other Frank Thomas being more offense than was needed.  Finally, Burt Hooton of the 1975 Dodgers tosses a 6-hitter, Steve Garvey pokes a 2-run shot, and the Dodgers take out the 1972 Royals 4-1.

For the second straight game, the 1979 Orioles are led by a 3-run homer by Gary Roenicke, this one off Steve Carlton, and the O’s dispose of the 1970 Cardinals in a 4-2 game, with Scott McGregor and Tippy Martinez combining for a 4-hitter.  In the other semifinal, another Frank Thomas homer puts the 1961 Braves up 3-0 in the 2nd inning, but the 1975 Dodgers come back from the 7th inning stretch with a 6-run inning that includes homers from Garvey, Cey, and Jimmy Wynn and the Dodgers move on to the finals with the 6-3 victory.

In the finals, it’s Jim Palmer and the #2 seed 1979 Orioles against Andy Messersmith and the #3 seed 1975 Dodgers, but Palmer exits in the 5th inning down 3-0 courtesy of a Bill Buckner RBI double.  The O’s bring in closer Don Stanhouse in the hopes of a comeback, but Steve Garvey dashes those hopes with a grand slam in the 7th inning and the Dodgers cruise to a 7-0 win, with Messersmith ending with a 5-hit shutout.  Garvey is the regional MVP with a two run homer in the first round, a three run homer in the second, and a four run homer in the third–making me wonder what he will do for an encore in the Dodgers’ next super-regional game!