Ringo bracket: Giants (87) defeat Expos (87) in five games

Game One: 87 Giants 6, 87 Expos 0
WP: Reuschel (3-0)
LP: De Martinez (0-2)
HR: W Clark (3)

Game Two: 87 Giants 3, 87 Expos 0
WP: LaCoss (1-0)
LP: B Smith (0-1)
Save: Garrelts (1)

Game Three: 87 Giants 2, 87 Expos 1
WP: Dravecky (2-0)
LP: McGaffigan (1-1)
Save: D Robinson (1)
HR: C Davis 2 (3)

Game Four: 87 Expos 2, 87 Giants 1
WP: Burke (1-0)
LP: D Robinson (0-3)
HR: Wallach (3)

Game Five: 87 Giants 5, 87 Expos 0
WP: Reuschel (4-0)
LP: De Martinez (0-3)
HR: Leonard (1)

The 1987 Giants threw three shutouts in the five games and allowed a total of three runs to advance past the 1987 Expos.

Rick Rueschel opened the series in Candlestick Park with a complete game five-hitter. The Expos got no more than one base runner an inning. The Giants scored twice in the fourth off Dennis Martinez and added a two-run homer by Will Clark in the seventh before scoring twice in the eighth off Jeff Parrett.

Game Two had half the runs for the Giants but another shutout, this one a three-pitcher performance by Mike LaCoss, Atlee Hammaker and Scott Garrelts. LaCoss worked six innings, allowing six hits and three walks; Hammaker threw two perfect innings and Garrelts faced just three men in the ninth. The Giants scored twice in the first and once in the third as Chili Davis and Rob Thompson stole two bases apiece.

The series shifted to Montreal and Stade Olympique for Game Three, where southpaws Dave Dravecky and Neal Heaton dueled. The Expos landed their first run of the series in the second inning when Tim Wallach singled, advanced to third on a pair of ground outs and scored on Reid Nichols' base hit. Heaton held the 1-0 lead until the sixth, when Davis homered. The 1-1 tie held until the eighth, when Davis homered again, this time off Andy McGaffigan. Dravecky allowed four hits in seven innings; Craig Lefferts and Don Robinson each threw hitless innings to secure the win.

Game Four was another 2-1 pitchers duel, this one featuring Kelly Downs and Pasqual Perez. The Giants got an unearned run in the first; Wallach tied it in the fourth with a sac fly. This tie held until two outs in the bottom of the ninth, when Wallach took Robinson deep and extended the series.

It was only a brief reprieve. Reuschel again was dominant in Game Five, scattering six hits while walking two. Davis drove home the first run in the third inning and had another RBI in a four run eighth off Martinez and Tim Burke that put the game away. Garrelts and Mike Krukow each threw a hitless inning to secure the series.

Player of the series: With consideration to Chili Davis (6-for-18 with four runs, four RBIs, two homers, two doubles, four walks and two steals) we have to go with Rick Rueschel for 16 innings of shutout ball in two starts.

Player availability: With four days off before Round Three, the Giants are free to set up their rotation as they wish.

Projected rotation: Reuschel-Dravecky-Hammaker-Downs-(Reuschel)-(Dravecky)-(Hammaker)