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.
DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers were able to hang on to outlast the Cleveland Indians 7-6 in the opening round of the 1970 Strat-O-Matic Tournament.
With the win, the Tigers move on to the second round to face the Baltimore Orioles on the road.
Detroit began the contest by picking up four runs during the bottom of the first in Tiger Stadium against Cleveland starter Sam McDowell.
Mickey Stanley blasted a two-run homer before Norm Cash added a two-run single before McDowell recorded an out.
Cleveland found some offense in the top of the fourth as Ted Uhlaender and Tony Horton both singled off Detroit starter Mickey Lolich. Eddie Leon‘s sacrifice fly bought home a run for the Indians to make it 4-1.
Leon would tie the contest at 4-4 when he drilled a three-run homer off Lolich in the sixth.
The Tigers answered quickly in the bottom of the sixth when Bill Freehan hammered a solo shot to put Detroit back on top 5-4.
In the bottom of the eighth, Detroit sent McDowell to the showers as Jim Northrup led off with a triple and Cash followed with a homer that made it 7-4. Dennis Higgins went to the mound for the Indians and worked out of the trouble after giving up singles to Freehan and Don Wert.
Despite the deficit, the Indians were not done in the ninth as Jack Heidemann walked and pinch-hitter Buddy Bradford singled to end the day for Lolich. John Hiller took over on the mound for the Tigers and fanned Vada Pinson before walking Graig Nettles, which loaded the bases.
Detroit manager Mayo Smith called Tom Timmermann from the bullpen. After Timmermann retired Roy Foster on a shallow fly ball to Al Kaline in right field for the second out of the inning, Ray Fosse smacked a two-run single to get the Indians to within one.
Smith made another trip to the mound asking Fred Scherman to close the door on Cleveland. The lefty earned a save as he induced Uhlaender to hit a routine grounder to Cash at first to end the affair.
Lolich (1-0) picked up the win as he worked eight innings allowing six runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts and a pair of walks. McDowell (0-1) was tagged with the loss after tossing seven inning giving up 10 hits and seven runs of which five were earned. He also fanned eight and walked one.
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 (70-92) at (3) Boston Red Sox (87-75)
(2) New York Yankees (93-69), bye
National League East
(1) Pittsburgh Pirates (89-73), bye
(5) Philadelphia Phillies (73-88) at (4) St. Louis Cardinals (76-86)
(6) Montreal Expos (73-89) at (3) New York Mets (83-79)
(2) Chicago Cubs (84-78), bye
National League West
(1) Cincinnati Reds (102-60), Bye
(5) Atlanta Braves (76-86) at (4) Houston Astros (73-89)
(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