a one-game playoff against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park the following afternoon. San Diego's Gaylord Perry notches his 3,000 career strikeout when he fans Joe Simpson of the Dodgers in the eighth inning of a Padres' 4–3 victory. October 2 – Bucky Dent's three-run, seventh-inning home run off Mike Torrez puts the visiting New York Yankees ahead for good as they defeat the Boston Red Sox, 5–4, in a one-game playoff for the American League East title. Reggie Jackson's solo home run in the eighth inning off Bob Stanley provides the winning margin. Ron Guidry gets the win, finishing 25–3 on the season. October 4 – Steve Garvey's two home runs pace the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 9–5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in the opening game of the National League Championship Series. October 6 – The Yankees overcome three home runs by the Royals' George Brett to win Game 3 of the American League Championship Series, 6–5, and take a 2 games to 1 series lead. October 7 – The Los Angeles Dodgers win their second consecutive National League pennant over the Philadelphia Phillies, with an extra-inning 4–3 win in Game 4 at Dodger Stadium. Ron Cey scores the winning run on Bill Russell's two-out single off Tug McGraw in the bottom of the tenth. A walk to Cey and a routine liner that Garry Maddox muffs in center field sets up Russell's game-winner. Dusty Baker collects four hits for the Dodgers. The Yankees win their third straight American League Championship Series over the Kansas City Royals with a 2–1 victory in Game 4 at Yankee Stadium. Solo home runs by Roy White and Graig Nettles account for the Yankees' runs, and Ron Guidry shuts down the Royals for the win. October 10 – The World Series, a rematch from last season, begins at Dodger Stadium. Davey Lopes belts 2 home runs and drives in 5 runs to lead the Dodgers to an 11–5 win over the Yankees. October 11 – The Dodgers take a 2–0 lead in the World Series with a 4–3 win in Game 2. The Dodgers' Ron Cey and the Yankees' Reggie Jackson drive in all the runs for their respective teams. Bob Welch saves the win for Burt Hooton in dramatic fashion, putting two runners on before striking out Jackson for the final out. October 13 – The World Series moves