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 – The Houston Astros got off to a fast start and never looked back as they downed the Philadelphia Phillies 7-2 in the 1970 Strat-O-Matic Tournament championship game.
A two-run single by Denis Menke in the bottom of the first inning excited the Astrodome crowd as Houston would ride the wave of success on the way to the title.
Phillies starter Jim Bunning (1-1) lasted five innings giving up three runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and a walk. The third run came in the fifth as Bob Watson‘s sacrifice fly put the Astros up 3-0.
The big rally for the Astros came in the sixth as Barry Lersch replaced Bunning on the mound. Doug Rader singled and Cesar Cedeno hammered a two-run shot.
After Lersch walked Johnny Edwards, it was Joe Hoerner‘s turn to stop the Astros. He didn’t. Jesus Alou singled and Joe Morgan doubled to score Edwards and the Astros led 6-0. Lowell Palmer came in to pitch and was able to stop the outburst, but the damage was already done.
Astros starter Jack Billingham (2-0) didn’t retire a batter in the top of the seventh as the Phillies got on the scoreboard with a run-scoring single by John Briggs and a Tim McCarver RBI double. Ron Cook was called from Houston bullpen and he was able to clean up the situation without allowing another run.
Bill Wilson turned out to be Philadelphia’s final hurler of the contest despite giving up a RBI single to Alou in the seventh.
Cook got tired in the ninth and after a single by Larry Hisle, Fred Gladding was called from the Houston bullpen and he got Oscar Gamble to ground out to ignite the celebration inside the Astrodome.
1970 Tournament Championship
(4) Houston Astros 7, (5) Philadelphia Phillies 2
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 Divisional 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