Editor’s note: The 1970 Tournament games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. 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.
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Philadelphia Phillies will travel to the Astrodome to face Houston in the 1970 Strat-O-Matic Tournament championship game.
Houston reached the title affair with a 3-1 semifinal victory over the Minnesota Twins in Metropolitan Stadium.
Larry Dierker (2-0) won his second game of the tournament allowing six hits with six strikeouts and a walk. Dierker beat Atlanta 1-0 with a three-hitter in the first round.
Bert Blyleven (0-1) went seven innings giving up three runs on five hits, while fanning six and walking three. Tom Hall tossed two scoreless frames as the Twins hoped to mount a comeback.
With two runs in the top of the third, the Astros gained an edge thanks to a RBI triple by Jesus Alou. Joe Morgan‘s single brought Alou home as the Astros were on their way to the win.
Jim Wynn walked to begin the Houston sixth. After Winn stole second, he scored on a single by Bob Watson. Brant Alyea knocked in Minnesota’s tally in the sixth with a single.
Dierker gave up a hit in the seventh before retiring the final eight hitters he faced to punch Houston’s ticket to the finale.
1970 Tournament Championship
(5) Philadelphia Phillies at (4) Houston Astros
1970 Tournament Semifinals
(5) Philadelphia Phillies 6, (2) New York Yankees 1
(4) Houston Astros 3, (1) Minnesota Twins 1
1970 Tournament Division Championships
American League East
(2) New York Yankees 1, (1) Baltimore Orioles 0
National League East
(5) Philadelphia Phillies 7, (3) New York Mets 2
National League West
(4) Houston Astros 6, (2) Los Angeles Dodgers 5
American League West
(1) Minnesota Twins 7, (3) California Angels 6
1970 Tournament Second Round Results
American League East
(1) Baltimore Orioles 3, (4) Detroit Tigers 2
(2) New York Yankees 5, (6) Washington Senators 2
National League East
(5) Philadelphia Phillies 5, (1) Pittsburgh Pirates 3
(3) New York Mets 3, (2) Chicago Cubs 1
National League West
(4) Houston Astros 8, (1) Cincinnati Reds 4
(2) Los Angeles Dodgers 4, (6) San Diego Padres 3
American League West
(1) Minnesota Twins 2, (5) Milwaukee Brewers 0
(3) California Angels 9, (2) Oakland Athletics 4
1970 Tournament First Round Divisional Results
American League East
(1) Baltimore Orioles (108-54), bye
(4) Detroit Tigers 7, (5) Cleveland Indians 6
(6) Washington Senators 5, (3) Boston Red Sox 2
(2) New York Yankees (93-69), bye
National League East
(1) Pittsburgh Pirates (89-73), bye
(5) Philadelphia Phillies 1, (4) St. Louis Cardinals 0
(3) New York Mets 10, (6) Montreal Expos 4
(2) Chicago Cubs (84-78), bye
National League West
(1) Cincinnati Reds (102-60), Bye
(4) Houston Astros 1, (5) Atlanta Braves 0
(6) San Diego Padres 5, (3) San Francisco Giants 2
(2) Los Angeles Dodgers (87-77), bye
American League West
(1) Minnesota Twins (98-64), bye
(5) Milwaukee Brewers 3, (4) Kansas City Royals 2
(3) California Angels 4, (6) Chicago White Sox 1
(2) Oakland Athletics (89-73), bye