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.
Back-to-back hit batters proved to be the difference as the Cincinnati Reds beat the San Diego Padres 5-3 in the opening round of the 1969 Strat-o-Matic Tournament.
The game was tied 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth when Cincinnati starting pitcher Jim Maloney singled off his mound counterpart Joe Niekro.
Pete Rose followed with a double and Niekro was sent to the showers. With Bobby Tolan at the plate Padres manager Preston Gomez picked lefty Billy McCool to face Cincinnati’s centerfielder.
McCool hit Tolan to load the bases and Gomez was headed back to the mound as he called righthander Tommie Sisk in from the bullpen to pitch to Alex Johnson.
Sisk hit Johnson and the Reds led 3-2. After Sisk managed to get two outs, Johnny Bench added to Cincinnati’s advantage with a two-run single.
Maloney went back out for the ninth inning, but he was unable to get the complete game.
Cito Gaston singled and then one out later Maloney walked pinch-hitter Ivan Murrell.
Reds manager Dave Bristol called on Wayne Granger to finish the job after giving up a RBI single to Jose Arcia.
With the win, Cincinnati moves on as the Reds are scheduled to make the trip to San Francisco to face the Giants in the second round.
The Padres got off to a fast start in the first inning as Ollie Brown and Nate Colbert smashed solo homers off Maloney.
Cincinnati was able to tie it in the third when Johnson tagged Niekro with a two-run homer.
Maloney (1-0) gave up seven hits with four walks and six strikeouts.
Niekro (0-1) also allowed seven hits in his seven innings of work with two 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
(3) Cincinnati Reds 5, (6) San Diego Padres 3
(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