European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 6, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday october 6, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 21 x amp amp amp Ltd Chris Sabo of the reds yells at Umpire Paul Runge after being called out at second on a tag by Jose Lind of the pirates. The play came in the fourth inning of Pittsburgh a 4-3  take game 1 Andy Van Slyke watches his game winning hit take off to left Field. By Jim Donaghy Cincinnati a Eric Davis and the Cincinnati reds let game 1 of the National league playoffs get away on thursday night. Davis botched play on Andy Van Slykes Fly Ball to left Field gave the Pittsburgh pirates a 4-3 Victory in a game that hardly started in their favor. A it was an easy Ball. I just misjudged it a Davis said. A what can i say nine times out of 101 make that  reds manager Lou Piniella thought it was surer than that. A i done to know what happened on that play a he said. A the makes that play 99 times out of 100. Its a Tough  Van Slyke was in a 3-for-25 slump at the time and has had trouble hitting left handers this season batting .261. A i knew i hit the Ball pretty hard a Van slake said. A i saw him breaking Back on the Ball and i thought he had it. The lights out in left Field Are Tough and Eric has played Center his entire  Davis moved from Center to left this year because of his sore Knees. He made Only two errors in 127 games. The reds with 14-game Winner Jose Rijo on the Mound took a 3-0 Lead in the first inning and then gave it All Back. Pinch hitter Gary Redus sin National league playoffs led off loser Norm Charlton with one out in the seventh and stole second. After Jay Bell walked with two outs Van Slyke hit a slicing drive that got Over Davis head and bounced Over the left Field Fence for a ground Rule double that scored Redus. Pittsburgh a Bob Patterson took the Mound to Start the ninth inning and Pinch hitter Todd Benzinger singled before Davis walked. Pinch hitter Ron Oester then attempted a sacrifice but Patterson forced Benzinger at third in a close play. Ted Power came on and with the count 0-1 to Chris Sabo Pinch runner Billy Bates was out at second on the Back end of a double steal. Piniella chose Bates for the playoffs when second baseman Bill Doran underwent Back surgery. Piniella figured Bates for Speed off the Bench. Davis who has permission to run whenever he wants took off. Bates decided to follow on a double steal a a bad Choice. Catcher Mike Lavalliere threw Bates out by three feet for the second out. Power struck Sabo out on the next pitch to end the game. The reds and Rijo were ready to Roll after taking the Lead in the first off Bob walk. Barry Larkin Drew a walk leading off the first inning moved to second on Billy hatchery a perfect sacrifice and scored on Morris opposite Field single to left. Morris was 4 for 23 against Pittsburgh during the regular season with no Bis. Davis doubled Home Morris and moved to third on the play when Bonilla bobbled the Ball in the right Field Corner. Paul of Neill followed with a double to right Center and walk was close to an Early Shower. But walk settled Down and the pirates scored a run in the third and tied it in the fourth on Sid Breames two run Homer. During the season Pittsburgh was 16-0 in games in which Bream homered. A this was How we have played All season a Bream said. A we did no to finish first by giving  Barry Bonds walked with two outs and Rijo became preoccupied with trying to pick him off. Rijo forgot about Bream and his 1-1 pitch a a fat fastball a was deposited in the right Field seats. In the third Rijo walked Lavalliere and Jose Lind sent a hard grounder Down the right Field line. Of Neill bumped into the Wall and his weak relay from a prone position allowed Lavalliere to score from first. The reds were to try to even the series on Friday when Tom Browning opposed 22-game Winner Doug Drabek