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.
HOUSTON – Larry Dierker tossed a three-hitter as the Houston Astros posted a 1-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the 1970 Strat-O-Matic Tournament.
The Astros will travel to Riverfront Stadium to meet the Cincinnati Reds in the second round.
Dierker (1-0) was perfect until he walked Henry Aaron with two out in the fourth.
Fans in the Astrodome groaned as Hal King broke up Dierker’s no-hitter by stroking a single with one out in the fifth. The right-hander finished the contest with a pair of walks and just one strikeout.
Atlanta’s other hits were also singles by Rico Carty in the seventh and Gil Garrido in the eighth.
Bob Watson drove in Houston’s lone run in the third with a double as Jim Winn raced home after he had doubled.
Braves starter Pat Jarvis (0-1) tossed seven innings allowing six hits with a strikeout and a walk. Bob Priddy gave up a hit as he worked a scoreless eighth for Atlanta.
1970 Tournament Second Round Divisional Pairings
American League East
(4) Detroit Tigers at (1) Baltimore Orioles
(6) Washington Senators at (2) New York Yankees
National League East
(5) Philadelphia Phillies at (1) Pittsburgh Pirates
(3) New York Mets at (2) Chicago Cubs
National League West
(4) Houston Astros at (1) Cincinnati Reds
1970 Tournament First Round Divisional Pairings and 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 (63-99) at (3) San Francisco Giants (86-76)
(2) Los Angeles Dodgers (87-77), bye
American League West
(1) Minnesota Twins (98-64), bye
(5) Milwaukee Brewers (65-97) at (4) Kansas City Royals (65-97)
(6) Chicago White Sox (56-106) at (3) California Angels (86-76)
(2) Oakland Athletics (89-73), bye