#World series play by play free

The series matched the Astros with the Dodgers for three games at Dodger Stadium. The Astros held the lead for the majority of the season thereafter, including a three-game lead over Los Angeles entering the final series of the season. They were not as successful over the remainder of the season, only occasionally taking the division lead and last holding it on August 16. The Reds maintained early success in 1980 with an eight-game winning streak to open the season and held at least a share of first place in the division until April 30. Dave Kindred of The Washington Post, George Vecsey of The New York Times, and Astros' relief pitcher Joe Sambito all credited Morgan's leadership with the Astros' success in 1980.

#World series play by play free

The Astros acquired Joe Morgan and Nolan Ryan via free agency during the offseason and the Dodgers signed Dave Goltz. However, the Reds went on to lose the 1979 NLCS in three games to the Pittsburgh Pirates, ending their season. The Cincinnati Reds won the West Division the previous season with the Astros finishing 1.5 games back in second, and the Dodgers 11.5 back in third. Main articles: 1980 Houston Astros season, 1980 Los Angeles Dodgers season, and 1980 Cincinnati Reds season In baseball statistics, the tie-breaker counted as the 163rd regular season game for both teams, with all events in the game added to regular season statistics. This victory advanced the Astros to the 1980 NL Championship Series (NLCS), in which they lost to the Philadelphia Phillies, ending the Astros' season.

The Astros won the game, 7–1, with Houston starter Joe Niekro throwing a complete game. The Dodgers won a coin flip late in the season which, by rule at the time, awarded them home field for the game. It was necessary after the Dodgers overcame a three-game deficit in the final three games of the season and both teams finished with identical win–loss records of 92–70. The game was played on October 6, 1980, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The 1980 National League West tie-breaker game was a one-game extension to Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1980 regular season, played between the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers to decide the winner of the National League's (NL) West Division. KTTV: Vin Scully, Jerry Doggett and Ross Porter KRIV-TV: Gene Elston, Dewayne Staats and Larry Dierker