1988 AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES #2

Wild Card #2 the Detroit Stars come west on I-94 to take on the Demolition of Chicago.

Chicago has it’s top 3 starters ready to go for the American League Division Series, but star center fielder Eric Davis is out for the first two games of the series.   Detroit will be without second baseman “Sweet” Lou Whitaker for the first three games of the series.

Game #1:  Jack Lazarko (0-1  0.84) vs. Orel Hershiser (22-8  2.34)

Chicago gets on the board with a Kal Daniels solo Home Run in the bottom of the 6th to give the Demolition a 1-0 lead.

Ozzie Guillen tagged up on a shallow fly to George Bell in the 7th & scored making it 2-0 Chicago.

That’s all Orel Hershiser would need as he cruised through 8 innings allowing only 1 hit.  Dennis Eckersley closed the door with a 1-2-3 9th, with 2 strikeouts.

Final Score: Chicago 2- Detroit 0

Game #2:  Danny Jackson (18-7  2.46) vs. Dave Stewart (22-5  2.54)

In the 3rd inning after a Ozzie Guillen single & a well executed Hit-N-Run by Wade Boggs – with runners now at 1st & 3rd – Stars pitcher Danny Jackson threw a inside pitch that deflected off of Damon Berryhill‘s glove for a passed ball – allowing Guillen to score from 3rd for the 1st run of the game.

After a Guillen triple Wade Boggs lifted a lazt fly ball near the stands at first base.   John Kruk went to the rail & made the catch, but the ever thinking Ozzie Guillen raced home and scored as Berryhill’s tag just missed Guillen and put the Demolition up 2-0.

Dave Stewart went 6.2 innings, allowed only 3 hits & 3 walks.  The Chicago bullpen followed as Willie Hernandez, Jay Howell held the game in check at 2-0 until Eckersley came on for the 9th and closed the door for Chicago – putting them up two games to none, heading back to Detroit for games 3 (& 4 if necessary).

Final Score: Chicago 2- Detroit 0

Game #3:  Roger Clemens (19-7  2.98) vs. Mark Gubicza (18-11  2.50)

RBI’s by Wade Boggs, George Brett & Kal Daniels are all the runs that Roger Clemens needs in going the distance and shutting out the Stars for the 3rd consecutive game in a row for the Demolition.   Clemens allows 4 hits while striking out 12.

Final Score: Chicago 3- Detroit 0

Wade Boggs hits .727 for the series and Chicago throws 3 shutouts in a row, allowing only 9 hits in the series.

Chicago heads home to take on Traverse City in the American League Championship Series.