[Nick Soulis]

Series #189



1947 Boston Braves
Record: 86-68
Finish: 3rd in NL
Manager: Billy Southworth
Ball Park: Braves Field
WAR Leader: Warren Spahn (9.4)
Franchise Record: 1-6
1947 Season Record: 1-4
Hall of Famers: (1)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BSN/1947.shtml

1989 Seattle Mariners
Record: 73-89
Finish: 6th in AL West
Manager: Jim Lefebvre
Ball Park: Kingdome
WAR Leader: Scott Bankhead (4.5)
Franchise Record: 3-4
1989 Season Record: 1-5
Hall of Famers: (2)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SEA/1989.shtml
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Young Talent Shines For Seattle
Favored Braves Don't Show Up In Disappointing Effort



Game 1
At Braves Field
1989 Seattle Mariners 7
1947 Boston Braves 4 (15 inn)
WP: J. Reed (1-0) LP: S. Johnson (0-1)
HR: E. Torgeson (1), B. Elliott (1)
POG: Warren Spahn (9 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 120 P)
1989 Mariners Lead Series 1-0

In Game 1 of the Field of Dreams Series #189 at Braves Field on October 1, 1947, the 1989 Seattle Mariners edged the 1947 Boston Braves 7-4 in a 15-inning marathon, taking a 1-0 series lead behind Edgar Martinez’s clutch 15th-inning double that sparked a decisive three-run rally. Boston jumped ahead 2-0 in the first with Earl Torgeson’s leadoff homer and Bob Elliott’s solo shot off Mark Langston, who battled through 8.1 innings, allowing 4 runs on 10 hits. Warren Spahn was brilliant for the Braves, tossing 9 innings of 8-hit ball, yielding just 1 earned run, but Seattle tied it at 4-4 in the ninth on Henry Cotto’s pinch-hit single. After a tense stalemate, Dave Cochrane’s leadoff double and Martinez’s two-run hit off Si Johnson in the 15th, followed by Harold Reynolds’ RBI single, sealed the win under clear 62-degree skies, with Jerry Reed earning the victory in relief despite Torgeson’s 3-for-7 day in this imagined opener.

Game 2
At Braves Field
1989 Seattle Mariners 2
1947 Boston Braves 0
WP: E. Hanson (1-0) LP: J. Sain (0-1)
HR: None
POG: Erik Hanson (9 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 110 P)
1989 Mariners Lead Series 2-0

Erik Hanson delivered a dominant performance, tossing a complete-game three-hit shutout as the 1989 Seattle Mariners defeated the 1947 Boston Braves 2-0 in Game 2 of their best-of-seven series at Braves Field. The Mariners now hold a commanding 2-0 lead heading back to Seattle.
Hanson was nearly flawless, striking out four while allowing just one walk across nine innings. Jay Buhner's sacrifice fly in the first and Hanson helping his own cause with an RBI single in the second provided all the offense Seattle needed. **Boston’s Johnny Sain pitched a solid nine-inning complete game, surrendering just five hits and two runs, but the Braves’ bats remained silent against Hanson’s precision. With the series shifting to the Kingdome for Game 3 on Saturday the Braves must find a way to solve Seattle’s pitching or risk falling into an insurmountable hole.

Game 3
At Kingdome
1947 Boston Braves 2
1989 Seattle Mariners 8
WP: S. Bankhead (1-0) LP: R. Barett (0-1)
HR: B. Elliott (2)
POG: Jay Buhner (5-5, 2 2B, 4 RBI, R)
1989 Mariners Lead Series 3-0

In Game 3 of the Field of Dreams Series #189 at the Kingdome on October 4, 1947, the 1989 Seattle Mariners surged to a 3-0 series lead over the 1947 Boston Braves with an 8-2 rout, driven by Jay Buhner’s record-setting 5-for-5 day, including two doubles, four RBI, and a run scored. Scott Bankhead twirled a complete game, allowing just 2 runs—Bob Elliott’s solo homer and Earl Torgeson’s triple-driven RBI—on 6 hits, stifling Boston’s offense under clear 61-degree skies. Buhner’s two-run double in the fourth off Red Barrett broke a 3-1 game open, while Ken Griffey Jr. (2-for-5, 3 runs) and Alvin Davis (2-for-3, 3 runs) fueled a 16-hit barrage. Despite Elliott’s 2-for-5 effort, the Braves faltered with two errors and stranded 10, leaving Seattle one win from a sweep in this playoff clash before 51,740 fans.

Game 4
At Kingdome
1947 Boston Braves 1
1989 Seattle Mariners 4
WP: B. Swift (1-0) LP: W. Lanfranconi (0-1) S: M. Schooler (1)
HR: None
POG: Billy Swift (7.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 0 K, 114 P)

In Game 4 of the Field of Dreams Series #189 at the Kingdome on October 5, 1947, the 1989 Seattle Mariners completed a 4-0 sweep of the 1947 Boston Braves with a 4-1 victory behind Billy Swift’s masterful 7.2 innings of one-run ball on 4 hits. Swift, supported by Mike Schooler’s 1.1-inning save, outdueled Walt Lanfranconi, who allowed 4 runs over 6 innings, as Jay Buhner’s two-out triple in the first and Greg Briley’s fourth-inning double off the wall sparked a balanced attack. Alvin Davis (2-for-3, RBI) and Ken Griffey Jr. (stolen base, run) kept the pressure on, while Phil Masi’s double drove in Boston’s lone run in the second. Under clear 61-degree skies, Seattle’s defense turned four double plays and Buhner’s series earned him MVP honors, igniting a jubilant celebration before 51,740 fans in this playoff finale.

1989 Seattle Mariners Win Series 4 Games To 0

Series MVP:

(.353, 6 RBI, 3 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, .588 SLG, 5-5 game)