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.
PITTSBURGH – Jim Bunning tossed eight innings to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 5-3 victory over Pittsburgh in Three Rivers Stadium, which is the new home of the Pirates.
The Phillies are now slated to visit the winner of the New York Mets at Chicago Cubs in the National League East Championship of the 1970 Strat-O-Matic Tournament.
Bunning (1-0) allowed all three runs on 11 hits with a walk and seven strikeouts as he left the affair in the bottom of the ninth without retiring a batter. Dick Selma earned the save as he held off the Pirates.
After the Pirates scored a run in the bottom of the first when Al Oliver hit into a fielder’s choice, the Phillies answered in the second as Larry Hisle‘s RBI double tied it at 1-1.
The Phillies took the lead in the fourth as Byron Browne made it 2-1 with a RBI single. Philadelphia added another tally in the fifth on a single by Tim McCarver.
Bruce Dal Canton replaced Pittsburgh starter Bob Veale in the eighth and he was greeted by Browne with a solo homer that gave the Phillies a 4-1 advantage.
Pittsburgh picked up its second run in the bottom of the eighth on a single by Gene Alley.
Another RBI single by McCarver gave the Phillies their final run.
Pinch-hitter Bob Robertson tripled leading off the ninth for the Pirates to send Bunning to the showers. Selma took over on the mound allowing a run-scoring single to Richie Hebner, but he was able to preserve the victory.
Veale (0-1) struggled with his control as he walked six and gave up three run on six hits with four strikeouts. Dal Canton worked the final two innings surrendering two runs on three hits with a strikeouts.
1970 Tournament Division Championships
American League East
(2) New York Yankees at (1) Baltimore Orioles
1970 Tournament Second Round Divisional Pairings and 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 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
(3) California Angels at (2) Oakland Athletics
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