Donnie Moore

Donnie Moore (February 13, 1954 - July 18, 1989) was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago Cubs (1975, 1977-79), St. Louis Cardinals (1980), Milwaukee Brewers (1981), Atlanta Braves (1982-84) and California Angels (1985-88).

ALCS Game Five

The game took place on October 12, 1986 in Anaheim. California held a 3 games to 1 lead of a best-of-seven against the Boston Red Sox. In the game, the Angels held a 5-2 lead going into the ninth inning. Boston scored two runs on a hit by Wade Boggs and a home run by Don Baylor, closing the gap to 5-4.

Related Topics:
Boston Red Sox - Wade Boggs - Don Baylor

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When Moore came in to shut down the rally, there were two outs, and a runner on first base, Rich Gedman, who had been hit by a pitch. The Angels were one out from getting into the World Series. But Dave Henderson hit a 2-2 pitch off Moore for a home run, giving the Red Sox a 6-5 lead. The Angels were able to score a run in the bottom of the ninth, pushing the game into extra innings.

Related Topics:
First base - Rich Gedman - Hit by a pitch - Dave Henderson

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:"The pitch . . . Deep to left and Downing goes back. And it's gone! Unbelievable! You're looking at one for the ages here. Astonishing! Anaheim Stadium was one strike away from turning into Fantasyland! And now the Red Sox lead 6-5! The Red Sox get four runs in the ninth on a pair of two-run homers by Don Baylor and Dave Henderson." -- Al Michaels, ABC-TV.

Related Topics:
Downing - Anaheim Stadium - Fantasyland - Al Michaels - ABC

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Moore continued to pitch for the Angels. He was able to stifle a 10th inning Red Sox rally by getting Jim Rice to ground into a double play. Nevertheless, the Red Sox were able to score off Moore in the 11th-inning via a sacrifice fly by Henderson. The Angels could not score in the bottom of the 11th, and lost the game 7-6.

Related Topics:
Jim Rice - Double play - Sacrifice fly

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The defeat still left the Angels in a 3 games to 2 advantage, with two more games to play at Fenway Park. The Angels were not able to recover, losing both games by wide margins, 10-4 and 8-1.

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Baseball is a team sport: games and series are not won or lost by single players. But Moore became associated with the loss of the pennant, in much the same manner that Bill Buckner became associated with the Sox' subsequent loss of the World Series.

Related Topics:
Baseball - Bill Buckner

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