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.
Bob Gibson survived some early trouble to toss a complete game as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Montreal Expos in the first round of the 1972 Strat-o-Matic Tournament.
With the victory, the Cardinals are set to travel to meet the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second round.
Gibson (1-0) gave up a lead off homer to Bob Bailey in the first inning before the Expos added an other run in the second a sacrifice fly by Montreal starting pitcher Bill Stoneman.
A two-run single by Ken Reitz in the bottom of the fourth tied the affair at 2-2.
The Cardinals were able to take the lead for good in the sixth. Ted Simmons had a sacrifice fly and one out later Bernie Carbo made it 4-2 with a RBI double.
Montreal closed the gap to 4-3 in the seventh as Ron Fairley had a sacrifice fly.
The final tally for St. Louis came in the eighth against Montreal reliever Mike Marshall in his only inning.
A pair of errors by the Expos followed by a RBI double by Mick Kelleher provided the final margin.
Gibson allowed eight hits with six walks and four strikeouts, while Stoneman (0-1) worked seven frames giving up four runs on eight hits with a two walks and two strikeouts.
In their next contest, the Cardinals will send Rick Wise to the mound as the Pirates counter with Steve Blass.
1972 Tournament
Second Round Pairings
NL East Bracket
(4) St. Louis Cardinals at (1) Pittsburgh Pirates
First Round Results and Pairings
NL East Bracket
(1) Pittsburgh Pirates, bye
(4) St. Louis Cardinals 5, (5) Montreal Expos 3
(6) Philadelphia Phillies at (3) New York Mets
(2) Chicago Cubs, bye
AL East Bracket
(1) Detroit Tigers, Bye
(5) Cleveland Indians at (4) New York Yankees
(6) Milwaukee Brewers at (3) Baltimore Orioles
(2) Boston Red Sox, bye
AL West Bracket
(1) Oakland A’s, Bye
(5) California Angels at (4) Kansas City Royals
(6) Texas Rangers at (3) Minnesota Twins
(2) Chicago White Sox, bye
NL West Bracket
(1) Cincinnati Reds, Bye
(5) San Francisco Giants at (4) Atlanta Braves
(6) San Diego Padres at (3) Los Angeles Dodgers
(2) Houston Astros, bye