Editor’s note: The 1970 Tournament games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter will be used for any games involving American League teams from 1973-79 when games are played at home. Injuries will only be used during the game when they occur. For this tournament, the rules include a three-man pitching rotation using the best lineups available.
The 1971 Pittsburgh Pirates are headed to the finale of the 1970s Diamond Gems Tournament thanks to an unlikely source.
Taking advantage of the opportunity to be a hero, Gene Alley smacked a walk-off single in the ninth to give the Pirates a 2-1 victory over the 1974 Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Pirates will entertain the winner of the 1975 Boston Red Sox at 1970 Minnesota Twins contest in the championship game.
Willie Stargell walked to begin the rally against Los Angeles closer Mike Marshall.
Marshall retired Al Oliver and Bob Robertson before Manny Sanguillen hammered a ball that appeared to be out of the strike zone for a single that moved Stargell all the way to third.
A flustered Marshall made a mistake pitch to Alley, who made him pay the price with a solid single to right as Stargell lumbered home with the winning run to set off the celebration in Three Rivers Stadium.
With a perfect top of the ninth, Dave Giusti (1-0) picked up the win for the Pirates, while Marshall (0-1) was tagged with the tough-luck loss.
Willie Crawford gave the Dodgers an early advantage with a solo homer in the second off Pittsburgh starter Luke Walker, but that turned out to be the only offense for Los Angeles.
Walker left the mound with one out in the seventh after allowing seven hits with a pair of walks and six strikeouts.
Nelson Briles followed Walker and got out of a jam in the seventh and tossed a perfect eighth.
Tommy John started for the Dodgers and needed Marshall to get the final out of the eighth.
John gave up six hits with six strikeouts before the Pirates tied the contest in the bottom of the eighth on a RBI single by Richie Hebner to set the stage for the ninth.
1970s Diamond Gems Tournament
Semifinals
1971 Pittsburgh Pirates 2, 1974 Los Angeles Dodgers 1
1975 Boston Red Sox at 1970 Minnesota Twins
Second Round Results
1974 Los Angeles Dodgers 5, 1979 Montreal Expos 0
1971 Pittsburgh Pirates 6, 1975 Cincinnati Reds 5 (12)
1975 Boston Red Sox 6, 1979 Baltimore Orioles 5
1970 Minnesota Twins 7, 1972 Oakland A’s 4
First Round Results
1979 Montreal Expos 5, 1970 Baltimore Orioles 0
1974 Los Angeles Dodgers 5, 1978 Boston Red Sox 1
1975 Cincinnati Reds 3, 1976 Philadelphia Phillies 2
1971 Pittsburgh Pirates 13, 1978 New York Yankees 7
1979 Baltimore Orioles 4, 1972 Cincinnati Reds 3
1975 Boston Red Sox 2, 1977 Los Angeles Dodgers 1
1972 Oakland A’s 3, 1977 Kansas City Royals 1
1970 Minnesota Twins 9, 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates 5