Editor’s note: The 1960 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.
A walk-off is still a walk-off even if it’s as mundane as a sacrifice fly.
Curt Blefary‘s game-winning fly ball in the 11th inning gave the 1966 Baltimore Orioles a 2-1 victory over the 1965 Minnesota Twins and the final ticket to the second round of the 1960s Diamond Gems Tournament.
Frank Robinson led off the bottom of the 11th against Johnny Klippstein (0-1), who would then walk Brooks Robinson and Boog Powell to set the stage for Blefary to begin the celebration in Memorial Stadium.
A pitcher’s duel between Baltimore’s Dave McNally and Minnesota’s Mudcat Grant, the contest was scoreless until the top of the ninth.
A sacrifice fly by Twins pinch-hitter Rich Rollins put Minnesota in front with the first run of the contest. Powell’s RBI single tied the affair as the game would head to extra innings.
John Miller (1-0) would pick up the win for Baltimore as he worked a perfect 11th inning. After getting the final out in the ninth in relief of McNally, Moe Drabowsky tossed a scoreless 10th. McNally fanned nine Twins as he gave up seven hits with three walks.
Grant worked eight innings for the Twins allowing four hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Al Worthington gave up the run in the ninth inning on Powell’s hit before not allowing a run in the 10th.
Second Round Schedule
1960 Pittsburgh Pirates at 1961 New York Yankees
1968 St. Louis Cardinals at 1969 New York Mets
1967 Boston Red Sox at 1965 Los Angeles Dodgers
1966 Baltimore Orioles at 1967 St. Louis Cardinals
First Round Results
1961 New York Yankees 12, 1962 New York Mets 2
1960 Pittsburgh Pirates 3, 1969 Baltimore Orioles 0
1969 New York Mets 3, 1961 Cincinnati Reds 0
1968 St. Louis Cardinals 3, 1963 Los Angeles Dodgers 2
1967 Boston Red Sox 2, 1968 Detroit Tigers 1
1965 Los Angeles Dodgers 6, 1962 San Francisco Giants 0
1967 St. Louis Cardinals 2, 1961 Detroit Tigers 1
1966 Baltimore Orioles 2, 1965 Minnesota Twins 1 (11)