Metrodome Memories

October 25, 1987 at the Metrodome
Twins 4, Cardinals 2 
Twins Win Best of Seven Game Series 4-3

The Twins won their first World Series in a dramatic come from behind win in game seven over the Cardinals.  The Twins ace, Frank Viola, got the start for the Twins while Magrane threw for the Cardinals.

Things got off to a rough start as the Cardinals drew first blood.  Viola was tagged for two runs on four hits in the second inning and before the Twins could even come up to bat for the second time, they were down 2-0.

The Twins answered quickly though.  Don Baylor led off the inning and he got hit by a pitch.  Tom Brunansky singled before Ken Hrbek struck out.  Tim Laudner then singled to left field and Don Baylor tried to score but he was gunned down by Vince Coleman.  Steve Lombardozzi came through with a clutch single that scored Brunansky though and that run cut the Cardinals lead in half.

Neither team scored until the Twins came to bat in the fifth inning.  Dan Gladden led off the inning with a ground out before Greg Gagne singled.  Whitey Herzog went to his pen and he brought in Cox to pitch for Magrane but the move backfired.  Kirby Puckett was the first batter Cox faced and Kirby doubled home Gagen to tie the game up.  From there, the Twins scoring was limited by some questionable base running mistakes.  Kirby Puckett was caught stealing third and then on a Don Baylor single, Gary Gaetti was gunned down at the plate to end the inning.

The very next inning, the Twins took their first lead of the game.  Tom Brunansky and Kent Hrbek drew back to back walks and Herzog once again went to his pen and he went with Tim Worrell.  Tim Laudner popped out for the first out and then Roy Smalley walked to load the bases.  Dan Gladden struck out for out number two but Greg Gagne singled home the go ahead run to make it a 3-2 ball game. 

The Twins added a fourth run on an RBI double by Dan Gladden but it turned out to be unneccesary.  After the two run, four hit second inning, the Cardinals managed just a pair of hits off of Frank Viola and Jeff Reardon.  Frank Viola was named the MVP of the World series with his two wins and for the first time, The Minnesota Twins were world champions.

October 24, 1987 at the Metrodome
Twins 11, Cardinals 5
Best of Seven Game Series Tied 3-3

The Twins forced a game seven as they came from behind and ended up with a blowout win over the Cardinals.  St. Louis jumped out to a 5-2 lead but the Twins scored four in the fifth to take the lead and then Kent Hrbek blasted a grand slam in the sixth inning to open the game up.  It was Hrbek’s only hit of the game.  Don Baylor also had a solid day and he went two for three with a walk, a homerun, three RBIs and two runs.

Les Straker gave up the first four runs and he couldn’t even pitch out of the fourth inning.  Dan Schatzeder gave up the fifth run but he was in there when the Twins mounted their comeback.  Juan Berenguer was particularly impressive with three shutout innings while Jeff Reardon closed the game out with a scoreless ninth.

October 21, 1987 at Busch Stadium
Cardinals 7, Twins 2
Best of Seven Game Series Tied 2-2

In the sixth inning of game of game three, the Twins had a 2-0 series lead and a 1-0 lead in the game.  Now, after a game four loss, the Twins find themselves tied with the Cardinals in their best of seven game series after their ace, Frank Viola, was shelled by the Cardinals hitters.  The left hander gave up five runs on six hits and three walks with four strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings.  Dan Schatzeder was also touched up for two runs in what turned out to be a six run fourth inning.

Greg Gagne belted a solo homerun to account for half of the Twins mediocre offense.  Kirby Puckett singled home the other run in the fifth inning.

October 20, 1987 at Busch Stadium
Cardinals 3, Twins 1
Twins Lead Best of Seven Game Series 2-1

The Twins offense was held in check by Cardinals starter John Tudor as they managed justa single run on five hits.  That lone run actually gave the Twins the lead in the sixth inning when Tom Brunansky singled home Greg Gagne to break a scoreless tie.  The Cardinals answered with three runs in the seventh though and what could have been insurmountable lead turned into a close series in the blink of an eye.

Tim Laudner was the only Twins hitter with more then one hit.  Juan Berenguer gave up all three runs in that seventh inning and he took the loss.

October 18, 1987 at the Metrodome
Twins 8, Cardinals 4
Twins Lead Best of Seven Game Series 2-0

The Twins took a commanding two game lead in the 1987 World Series as they once again ran up the score on the Cardinals’ pitchers.  Tim Laudner had the big game at the plate and he went two for three with a walk, a homerun, three RBIs and two runs.  Gary Gaetti went two for three with a walk, a solo homer and two runs.

Bert Blyleven gave the Twins seven quality innings.  He gave up two runs on six hits and one walk with eight strikeouts in seven frames.  Juan Berenguer was touched up for two runs in the eighth inning but Jeff Reardon pitched a perfect ninth to complete the win for the Twins.

October 17, 1987 at the Metrodome
Twins 10, Cardinals 1
Twins Lead Best of Seven Game Series 1-0

The Twins dismantled starter Joe Magrane and the Cardinals bullpen as they took game one in the World Series.  The Twins big inning was the fourth when they racked up seven runs but they added two in the fifth and one in the seventh.  Dan Gladden had a huge game with a homerun, a single and five RBIs.  Steve Lombardozzi also went yard and he was a perfect two for two with a walk, two RBIs and three runs.

Frank Viola threw a solid game and he took care of business with all of the run support.  He yielded just a single run on five hits with five strikeouts in eight innings.