Editor’s note: The 1970 Tournament games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter will be used for any games involving American League teams from 1973-79 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.
The semifinals of the 1970s Diamond Gems Tournament as the 1970 Minnesota Twins punched the final ticket with a 7-4 victory over the 1972 Oakland A’s contest.
Minnesota is scheduled to entertain the 1975 Boston Red Sox for a chance to play in the championship game.
The Twins broke open a scoreless game with three runs in the top of the fifth inning to oust A’s starter Ken Holtzman.
Rich Reese and Jim Holt both singled to begin the rally as the next three hitters each knocked in a run. Leo Cardenas had a RBI double before George Mitterwald made it 2-0 with a ground out that produced a run.
Twins starting pitcher Jim Kaat helped himself with a run-scoring single to cap the outburst. Kaat added another RBI single in the sixth off Bob Locker.
In the seventh, the Twins picked up their final three runs to build a 7-0 advantage. Reese had a RBI single off Darold Knowles before Cardenas added a two-run double against Rollie Fingers.
Oakland closed the gap in the bottom of the seventh with what turned out to be the only runs of the affair for the A’s.
Reggie Jackson had a sacrifice fly before Mike Epstein ended Kaat’s day as he drilled a three-run homer.
Tom Hall took over for Kaat and closed out the contest to earn a save as he allowed a hit and fanned three the rest of the way.
Kaat (1-0) gave up six hits with four walks and two strikeouts to get the win.
Holtzman (0-1) was tagged with the loss as he left with one out in the fifth after surrendering five hits with four strikeouts.
1970s Diamond Gems Tournament
Semifinals
1974 Los Angeles Dodgers at 1971 Pittsburgh Pirates
1975 Boston Red Sox at 1970 Minnesota Twins
Second Round Results
1974 Los Angeles Dodgers 5, 1979 Montreal Expos 0
1971 Pittsburgh Pirates 6, 1975 Cincinnati Reds 5 (12)
1975 Boston Red Sox 6, 1979 Baltimore Orioles 5
1970 Minnesota Twins 7, 1972 Oakland A’s 4
First Round Results
1979 Montreal Expos 5, 1970 Baltimore Orioles 0
1974 Los Angeles Dodgers 5, 1978 Boston Red Sox 1
1975 Cincinnati Reds 3, 1976 Philadelphia Phillies 2
1971 Pittsburgh Pirates 13, 1978 New York Yankees 7
1979 Baltimore Orioles 4, 1972 Cincinnati Reds 3
1975 Boston Red Sox 2, 1977 Los Angeles Dodgers 1
1972 Oakland A’s 3, 1977 Kansas City Royals 1
1970 Minnesota Twins 9, 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates 5