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.
BALTIMORE – Frank Robinson‘s walk-off double gave the Baltimore Orioles a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers in the second round of the 1970 Strat-O-Matic Tournament.
The Orioles advance to the American League East Division Championship contest that will be in Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium against the winner of the Washington Senators at New York Yankees affair.
Entering the bottom of the ninth down 2-1, the Orioles were facing John Hiller as he was called from the Detroit bullpen to take over from Tigers starter Joe Niekro.
After Hiller retired pinch-hitter Andy Etchebarren and Mark Belanger, Detroit manager Mayo Smith went to the mound.
Baltimore’s Earl Weaver called for Merv Rettenmund to pinch-hit for Orioles starting pitcher Mike Cuellar. Smith countered the move as Tom Timmerman was selected to take over for Hiller.
Smith watched helplessly as Rettenmund doubled and Don Buford was hit by a pitch. Paul Blair‘s single allowed Rettenmund to race home to tie at 2-2.
Before Smith could get another arm from the Detroit bullpen, Robinson doubled and the game was over.
Cuellar (1-0) went the distance for the Orioles to get the win as he surrendered two runs on five hits with three walks and nine strikeouts.
Timmerman (0-1) got tagged with the loss as he didn’t retire a batter. In his eight innings, Niekro gave up a run on five hits. He finished with five strikeouts and walked three.
The Tigers grabbed an early lead as Cesar Gutierrez drove in a run in the second with a single before Al Kaline‘s RBI double in the third made it 2-0. Brooks Robinson‘s solo homer in the sixth gave the Orioles their first tally of the contest.
1970 Tournament Second Round Divisional Pairings and Results
American League East
(1) Baltimore Orioles 3, (4) Detroit Tigers 2
(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
(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