Game 1 in Oakland
Bob Welch (14-9, 4.63) v Jack Morris (17-12, 3.20)
A tighter tussle than the scorline indicates as the A’s grind out a Game 1 win behind Bob Welch, with Phil Bradley’s 8th-inning grand slam putting the Reds away for good.
Game 2 in Oakland
Tim Belcher (19-9, 3.32) v Mitchell Johnson (9-2, 3.12)
A's lead series 1-0
Both sets of bats have a gay old time in a wild Game 2, with 4 hits by Dan Gladden and 3 RBI by Rick Lundblade power the Reds past their hosts 12-6 to square the series.
Game 3 in Cincinnati
Jose Rijo (14-12, 4.37) v Danny Jackson (16-10, 3.61)
Series tied 1-1
This one stays close until the middle innings when the Reds break it open with 4 in the 6th and tack on another in the 7th to get home 6-1.
Jose Rijo gives Cincy 7 quality innings and Lenny Dykstra goes 3-for-5 to spark the offence.
Game 4 in Cincinnati
Ken Howell (10-3, 2.92) v Oil Can Boyd (19-2, 3.85)
Reds lead series 2-1
The A’s lose Oil Can Boyd to injury early and the bats stay ominously quiet with just 3 hits as the Reds double their advantage with a fairly low-key 3-1 win.
Game 5 in Cincinnati
Jack Morris (1-2, 7.56) v Bob Welch (2-0, 1.65)
Reds lead series 3-1
The Reds completely dominate the A’s and finish them off in fine style with a cushy 10-3 win.
The A’s just didn’t turn up to play (hello, 1990!) and never looked even remotely competitive from Game 2 onward.
Dave Henderson (oh the irony), who goes 4-for-4 with 5 RBI in the clincher, wins the MVP.
