Editor’s note: Tournament games are played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. Three-man pitching rotations will be used for starting pitchers. Injuries are in-game only during this single elimination event.
A late rally helped the Los Angeles Dodgers to an 8-5 victory over the Houston Astros in the opening round of the 1969 Strat-o-Matic Tournament.
With the score tied at 5-5, the Dodgers pinch-hitter Jim Lefebvre singled with two outs against Houston starter Larry Dierker.
Maury Wills reached on an error by shortstop Denis Menke and Willie Crawford added an infield single to lead the bases.
Houston manager Harry Walker called Jack Billingham from the bullpen, but the right-hander would only face two hitters.
Willie Davis smacked a two-run single and the Dodgers grabbed the lead at 7-5 on the centerfielder’s fourth hit of the day. Andy Kosco capped the frame with a RBI single for the final tally. Jim Bouton got the Wes Parker for the last out of the inning, but the damage was done.
In the top of the ninth, Jim Brewer took over for Dodgers starter Bill Singer. Brewer gave up a single to pinch-hitter Bob Watson, but the that was it was the lefty earned a save.
With the win Los Angeles advances to the second round as the Dodgers are set to visit the Atlanta Braves.
Both teams got on the scoreboard early with a pair of runs in the first inning.
Menke knocked in both runs with a single for the Astros, while Kosco drilled a two-run homer.
A RBI single by Kosco in the third put the Dodgers in front 3-2, but the advantage didn’t last long.
Two sacrifice flies gave the Astros a 4-3 lead as Johnny Edwards had one in the fourth and Norm Miller hit another in the fifth.
Edwards added a solo homer in the top of the sixth, which turned out to be Houston’s last run off Singer.
Bill Sudakis picked up a run-scoring single in the bottom of the sixth as the Dodgers began their comeback.
Kosco’s RBI double tied the contest at 5-5 to set the stage for the rally in the eighth. Kosco had four hits and drove in five runs in the contest.
Singer (1-0) gave up eight hits in his eight innings on the mound for the Dodgers with a two walks and 10 strikeouts.
Dierker (0-1) tagged with the loss as he left with two outs in the seventh after surrendering 13 hits with a walk and eight strikeouts.
1969 Tournament Schedule
First and Second Round Pairings
NL East Bracket
(1) New York Mets, bye
(5) Philadelphia Phillies 4, (4) St. Louis Cardinals 2
(3) Pittsburgh Pirates 10, (6) Montreal Expos 0
(2) Chicago Cubs, bye
NL West Bracket
(1) Atlanta Braves, Bye
(4) Los Angeles Dodgers 8, (5) Houston Astros 5
(6) San Diego Padres at (3) Cincinnati Reds
(2) San Francisco Giants, bye
AL East Bracket
(1) Baltimore Orioles, Bye
(5) New York Yankees at (4) Washington Senators
(6) Cleveland Indians at (3) Boston Red Sox
(2) Detroit Tigers, bye
AL West Bracket
(1) Minnesota Twins, Bye
(5) Chicago White Sox at (4) Kansas City Royals
(6) Seattle Pilots at (3) California Angels
(2) Oakland A’s, bye