Editor’s note: The 1990 Tournament games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter will be used for any contests involving American League teams when games are played at home. 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.
Barry Bonds had four hits and drove in five runs as the 1990 Pittsburgh Pirates beat the 1998 San Diego Padres 8-2 in the opening round of the 1990s Diamond Gems Tournament.
With the victory, the Pirates are scheduled to visit the winnner of the 1997 Florida Marlins at 1991 Minnesota Twins contest in the second round.
Pittsburgh grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the second inning against San Diego starter Kevin Brown as Bonds singled, stole second and scored on a single by Mike LaValliere.
After Andy Van Slyke‘s solo homer in the third, the Pirates took control of the affair as they ousted Brown and added four runs in the fifth to make it 6-0.
Bonds had a three-run double that sent Brown to the showers before he scored on a double that Sid Bream hit off Randy Myers.
San Diego scored against Pittsburgh starter Doug Drabek in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run homer by Greg Vaughn.
A two-run homer by Bonds off Mark Langston in the seventh ended the scoring for the Pirates.
Drabek (1-0) tossed a complete game for the Pirates allowing nine hits with two walks and nine strikeouts.
Brown (0-1) gave up six runs on eight hits with a walk and four strikeouts by the time he left the mound with one out in the fifth.
1990s Diamond Gems Tournament
First Round Schedule and Results
1990 Cincinnati Reds 4, 1998 Houston Astros 2
1990 Oakland A’s 4, 1998 New York Yankees 3
1992 Toronto Blue Jays 5, 1997 Baltimore Orioles 1
1993 Philadelphia Phillies 8, 1996 Atlanta Braves 2
1990 Pittsburgh Pirates 8, 1998 San Diego Padres 2
1997 Florida Marlins at 1991 Minnesota Twins
1996 New York Yankees at 1993 San Francisco Giants
1995 Cleveland Indians at 1994 Montreal Expos