[Highlander]

In Game 1 of the AL Series, it was Ron Guidry of the Yankees versus Rich Gale of the Royals. The Yankees came out swinging and went out to a 2-0 lead in the 1st inning. The Royals scraped together a run in the 3rd but the Yankees got it back in the 4th, making it 3-1. Then, in the 7th, it all fell apart for Gale, as the Yankees rallied for 5 runs led by a 2-run double by Roy White. Guidry remained his usual unhittable self, as he gave up just 2 hits and only that lone run with 8 Ks. The Yankees would take Game 1 by a score of 8-1.

Game 2 saw a matchup between Dennis Leonard of the Royals and Dick Tidrow of the Yankees. The Royals jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the 1st on a 2-run HR by Amos Otis. That was all they would get however and a 3-run 6th by the Yankees would be enough to give them a 3-2 win and a 2-0 lead in the series. Graig Nettles hit his 2nd HR of the series for NY.

Game 3 was an important one for Kansas City, down 2-0. They sent Lary Gura to the mound to face Catfish Hunter. The Yankees had a 3-1 lead after 3, but the Royals rallied in the 8th and 9th against Goose Gossage to score 3 runs and win it 4-3. Lou Pinella had 2 triples for the Yankees and Clint Hurdle hit a HR for KC.

Jim Beattie took the mound for the Yankees against Paul Splittorff in Game 4 of the AL Championship. The Yankees had little pressure, with a 2-1 lead and the knowledge that Ron Guidry was waiting in the wings for the next game. An RBI double by Mickey Rivers and RBI single by Chris Chambliss in the 2nd gave NY a 2-0 lead. A Clint Hurdle RBI double in the 5th would get the Royals to 2-1, but Jim Beattie didn't allow any other runs to score and the Goose redeemed himself with a 2 inning save to send the Yankees to the World Series!