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.
Bob Robertson set the tone for the day with a home run in the bottom of the first inning as the 1971 Pittsburgh Pirates went on to a 13-7 victory over the 1978 New York Yankees in the 1970s Diamond Gems Tournament.
With the win, the Pirates will be in the road in the second round as they visit the 1975 Cincinnati Reds.
The Yankees tagged Pittsburgh starter Steve Blass with two runs in the top of the first to silence the Three River Stadium crowd.
The first tally came on an error before a sacrifice fly by Graig Nettles made it 2-0.
Facing New York starter Ron Guidry in the bottom of the first the Pirates went to work.
Dave Cash opened with a walk and one out later Roberto Clemente singled.
After Willie Stargell struck out, Al Oliver knocked in a run with a single before Robertson’s three-run blast sent the Pittsburgh fans into a fenzy.
Before the crowd settled down, Manny Sanguillen doubled and scored on a single by Gene Alley and the Pirates led 5-2.
Pittsburgh was at it again in the second as Stargell figured out Guidry as he sent a two-run homer over the fence and it was 7-2.
New York was able to answer in the top of the third as Reggie Jackson drove in a run with a triple before he came home on a double by Willie Randolph.
With Guidry gone after three innings, Clemente greeted Ken Holtzman with a solo homer in the fourth.
Holtzman was sent to the showers in the fifth after he gave up singles to Oliver, Robertson and Sanguillen to load the bases.
Yankees manager Bob Lemon called Dick Tidrow from the bullpen to stop the rally.
It didn’t work as Alley’s sacrifice fly gave the Pirates a 9-4 advantage. Tidrow retired Blass for the second out, but Cash singled.
Richie Hebner delighted the fans with a grand slam to put the Pirates up 13-4.
Blass got in trouble in the eighth as he exited after a two-run homer by Mickey Rivers.
Bruce Kison hit Roy White with a pitch and he would score the final run for the Yankees on a single by Jackson.
Blass (1-0) did get the win for the Pirates despite giving up 13 hits with a walk and three strikeouts. After Kison, Ramon Hernandez and Dave Giusti kept the Yankees off the scoreboard the rest of the way.
Guidry (0-1) went just three innings giving up seven runs on eight hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Holtzman gave up four runs and Tidrow two before Sparky Lyle was perfect in the seventh and eight. Rich Gossage got the final three outs in the ninth.
1970s Diamond Gems Tournament
Second Round Schedule
1974 Los Angeles Dodgers at 1979 Montreal Expos
1971 Pittsburgh Pirates at 1975 Cincinnati Reds
First Round Results and Schedule
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
1972 Cincinnati Reds at 1979 Baltimore Orioles
1975 Boston Red Sox at 1977 Los Angeles Dodgers
1977 Kansas City Royals at 1972 Oakland A’s
1979 Pittsburgh Pirates at 1970 Minnesota Twins