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.
Los Angeles pitcher Tommy John went the distance as he led the Dodgers to a 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves in the third round of the 1972 Tournament.
With the win, the Dodgers move on to the semifinals to entertain the Minnesota Twins. The Dodgers will send Don Sutton (1-0) to the mound as the Twins give the ball to Bert Blyleven (1-0).
John (1-0) gave up four hits with a walk and six strikeouts in his complete game effort.
A pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning off Atlanta starter Ron Schueler gave the Dodgers an early lead.
Frank Robinson led off the frame with a walk and Wes Parker followed with a single.
Steve Garvey doubled to knock in the first run, while a sacrifice fly by Bill Russell made it 2-0.
Both teams scored their final runs in the sixth.
Hank Aaron had a RBI single in the top of the inning before Lee Lacy answered with a single to drive in a run for the Dodgers.
Schueler (0-1) worked seven innings for the Braves giving up eight hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Cecil Upshaw tossed a perfect eighth, but the Braves couldn’t rally in the ninth against John.
1972 Tournament Schedule
Semifinal Pairings
(1) Detroit Tigers at (1) Pittsburgh Pirates
(3) Minnesota Twins at (3) Los Angeles Dodgers
Third Round Results
NL East Bracket
(1) Pittsburgh Pirates 7, (2) Chicago Cubs 3
AL East Bracket
(1) Detroit Tigers 2, (2) Boston Red Sox 0
AL West Bracket
(3) Minnesota Twins 5, (1) Oakland A’s 2
NL West Bracket
(3) Los Angeles Dodgers 3, (4) Atlanta Braves 1
Second Round Results
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 2, (2) Chicago White Sox 1
NL West Bracket
(4) Atlanta Braves 4, (1) Cincinnati Reds 2
(3) Los Angeles Dodgers 6, (2) Houston Astros 5
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