Hartford Whalers(96-66)
AT
Denver Broncos(105-57)
Code:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Hartford 4 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 0 10 13 0
Denver 0 0 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 6 8 1
You know how I said not to expect Hartford to hit a lot of homeruns this series? All I can say is.... oops. In the top of the first inning of Game One,
Louis Guerriero,
John Rachal, and
Ralph Jennings hit back to back to back homeruns.
Guerriero's was a 2-run shot and the other two were solo blasts to give the Whalers a very quick 4-0 lead.
Hartford's lead didn't last long. In the bottom of the third, Denver's
Booker Romero hit a run-scoring double with one out.
Lee Chappel smacked a 2-out, 2-run homerun.
Brooks Branco doubled in the tying run. Finally,
Masahachirou Shunji delivered a run-scoring single to give the Broncos a 5-4 lead.
The Broncos' lead was even more short-lived than the Whalers'. In the top of the fourth inning,
Lucas Bustamante scored from second base when third-baseman
Michael Phillips committed a throwing error on a ground ball by
Robert Perkins. Center-fielder
Larry Romanowski added a sacrifice fly and
Rachal hit a run-scoring single to make 7-5, in favor of Hartford.
Denver cut Hartford's lead to one run in the bottom of the fifth when
Chappel homered for a second time.
Unfortunately,
Louis Guerriero, who has been pretty much unstoppable all season long, also went deep for a second time. This one was a knockout blow- a 2-out, 3-run bomb in the eighth inning. That completed the scoring in a
10-6 Hartford victory.
Bruce Congdon took home the victory for the Whalers. He pitched 6 2/3 innings, gave up 7 hits and 6 runs, and 6 strikeouts against 1 walk.
Louis Guerriero finished with 2 hits(both homeruns), 5 RBI, and 2 runs scored.
John Rachal had 2 hits, 2 RBI, and a run scored.
Robert Perkins and
Norman Adrover both had 2 hits, 2 runs scored, and a walk.
Ray Lockridge was the losing pitcher. In 5 innings, he surrendered 8 hits and 7 runs(5 earned), and had 5 strikeouts against 3 walks.
Lee Chappel had 2 hits(both homeruns), 3 RBI, and 2 runs scored.
Hartford leads the World Series, 1 game to none.