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.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Dave May‘s two-run blast in the eighth inning made the difference as the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Kansas City Royals 3-2 in the opening round of the 1970 Strat-O-Matic Tournament.
The Brewers advance to face the Minnesota Twins on the road in the second round.
With the contest tied at 1-1, May smacked a Dick Drago offering over the fence with two outs to put the Brewers on top for good at 3-1.
Kansas City added its final tally in the bottom of the eighth against Brewers starter Marty Pattin on a RBI single by Lou Piniella. After Ed Kirkpatrick singled to put runners on first and second, Dave Baldwin took over on the mound and fanned Bob Oliver to end the threat.
Ken Sanders tossed a perfect ninth for the Brewers to earn a save. Pattin (1-0) picked up the win as he left with two outs in the eighth after allowing two runs, nine hits with three strikeouts and a walk.
Drago (0-1) took the loss as he surrendered three runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and three walks. Al Fitzmorris took over for Drago and got the final four outs for Kansas City to give the Royals a chance to comeback.
Both teams scored in the first inning that eventually set the stage for May’s homer. Danny Walton had a sacrifice fly for Milwaukee, while Kirkpatrick had a run-scoring double for the Royals.
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
(6) San Diego Padres at (2) Los Angeles Dodgers
American League West
(5) Milwaukee Brewers at (1) Minnesota Twins
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 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
(6) Chicago White Sox (56-106) at (3) California Angels (86-76)
(2) Oakland Athletics (89-73), bye