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.
Catfish Hunter threw a two-hitter to lead the Oakland A’s to a 4-1 win over the California Angels in the second round of the 1972 Strat-o-Matic Tournament.
With the victory, the A’s will entertain the winner of the Minnesota Twins at Chicago White Sox winner in the third round.
The A’s scored a run in the bottom of the first inning off California starter Clyde Wright on a ground out by Sal Bando.
Hunter, who had just walked Ken McMullen in the second, gave up his first hit in the fifth to Bob Oliver as the solo homer tied the game at 1-1.
In the top of the sixth, Hunter (1-0) gave up a single to Ken Berry as he would finish with two walks and fan six in the contest.
Wright got in trouble in the bottom of the sixth as Hunter slapped a single to lead off the frame. Bert Campaneris followed with a single that moved the Oakland pitcher to third.
After Campaneris stole second, Joe Rudi singled to drive in two runs and the A’s led 3-1. A two-base error by McMullen on a grounder by Bando had Rudi racing home for the final tally.
Wright (0-1) surrendered seven hits with a walk and a strikeout in six innings, while Andy Messersmith and Lloyd Allen each worked a scoreless inning.
After the hit by Berry, Hunter retired the final 10 batters he faced to put the game away.
Ken Holtzman is scheduled to start for Oakland in the third round contest against the Twins of White Sox.
1972 Tournament Schedule
Third Round Pairings
NL East Bracket
(2) Chicago Cubs at (1) Pittsburgh Pirates
AL East Bracket
(2) Boston Red Sox at (1) Detroit Tigers
AL West Bracket
(3) Minnesota Twins-(2) Chicago White Sox winner at (1) Oakland A’s
Second Round Results and Pairings
NL East Bracket
(1) Pittsburgh Pirates 2, (4) St. Louis Cardinals 1
(2) Chicago Cubs 9, (6) Philadelphia Phillies 1
AL East Bracket
(1) Detroit Tigers 2, (5) Cleveland Indians 0
(2) Boston Red Sox 7, (3) Baltimore Orioles 2
AL West Bracket
(1) Oakland A’s 4, (5) California Angels 1
(3) Minnesota Twins at (2) Chicago White Sox
NL West Bracket
(4) Atlanta Braves at (1) Cincinnati Reds
(3) Los Angeles Dodgers at (2) Houston Astros
First Round Results
NL East Bracket
(1) Pittsburgh Pirates, bye
(4) St. Louis Cardinals 5, (5) Montreal Expos 3
(6) Philadelphia Phillies 3, (3) New York Mets 0
(2) Chicago Cubs, bye
AL East Bracket
(1) Detroit Tigers, Bye
(5) Cleveland Indians 7, (4) New York Yankees 0
(3) Baltimore Orioles 4, (6) Milwaukee Brewers 0
(2) Boston Red Sox, bye
AL West Bracket
(1) Oakland A’s, Bye
(5) California Angels 1, (4) Kansas City Royals 0
(3) Minnesota Twins 3, (6) Texas Rangers 0
(2) Chicago White Sox, bye
NL West Bracket
(1) Cincinnati Reds, Bye
(4) Atlanta Braves 4, (5) San Francisco Giants 1
(3) Los Angeles Dodgers 4, (6) San Diego Padres 2
(2) Houston Astros, bye