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.
Pat Kelly excited the crowd in Municipal Stadium with a walk-off single as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Chicago White Sox 3-2 in the opening round of the 1969 Strat-o-Matic Tournament.
The bottom of the ninth against White Sox starter Joe Horlen began with a pair of hits as Ellie Rodriguez single and Jackie Hernandez doubled.
After pinch-hitter Bob Oliver was retired by Horlen, Kelly stepped up to take advantage of the game-winning opportunity.
With the victory, the Royals advance to the second round to face the Minnesota Twins on road.
Royals starter Wally Bunker (1-0) went the distance allowing eight hits with a walk and six strikeouts.
Horlen (0-1) also gave up eight hits, while walking four and fanning eight.
Both teams scored in the third inning. Gail Hopkins had a RBI single for the White Sox and Mike Fiore tied the affair with a single.
The Royals took at 2-1 lead in the fourth as Rodriguez drove home Joe Foy with a double.
Walt Williams deadlocked the game in the seventh as the Chicago right fielder had a run-scoring single.
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
(4) Washington Senators 7, (5) New York Yankees 1
(6) Cleveland Indians 6, (3) Boston Red Sox 4
(2) Detroit Tigers, bye
AL West Bracket
(1) Minnesota Twins, Bye
(4) Kansas City Royals 3, (5) Chicago White Sox 2
(6) Seattle Pilots at (3) California Angels
(2) Oakland A’s, bye