Editor’s note: Tournament games are played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter is also being used for all games.
Nino Espinosa posted the first shutout in the 1977 Tournament as the New York Mets blanked the Minnesota Twins 3-0 at Metropolitan Stadium.
With the victory, the Mets will travel to Baltimore to face the Orioles in the next round.
Limiting the Twins to six hits, Espinosa also fanned seven in the complete game effort.
The Twins had several threats during the contest, but the fourth inning probably set the tone for Espinosa.
After Larry Hisle walked to begin the frame, Glenn Adams doubled and the Twins were prepared to break the scoreless affair.
However, Espinosa was able to find some fortitude to strikeout Butch Wynegar, Mike Cubbage and Dan Ford to end the potential rally.
In the sixth, Dave Henderson led off with a triple against Twins starter Dave Goltz.
Goltz induced John Milner to ground out with the infield pulled in to keep Henderson at third.
Bruce Boisclair was next at the plate for the Mets. Goltz would not be able to wiggle out of trouble as the left fielder singled to make it 1-0.
Two innings later, Goltz would be done on the mound after John Stearns drilled a two-run homer to basically put the game out of reach.
1977 Tournament Results and Schedule
George Brett Bracket
(1) Kansas City Royals (102-60), bye
(16) San Francisco Giants 4, (17) Detroit Tigers 3
(9) Chicago White Sox 8, (24) Oakland Athletics 6
(25) Atlanta Braves 4, (8) Texas Rangers 2
Tom Lasorda Bracket
(5) Boston Red Sox (97-64), bye
(21) Milwaukee Brewers 8, (12) St. Louis Cardinals 4
(13) Chicago Cubs 2, (20) San Diego Padres 1
(4) Los Angeles Dodgers (98-64), bye
Reggie Jackson Bracket
(3) New York Yankees (100-62), bye
(14) Houston Astros 7, (19) Cleveland Indians 5
(22) New York Mets 3, (11) Minnesota Twins 0
(6) Baltimore Orioles (97-64), bye
Mike Schmidt Bracket
(26) Toronto Blue Jays (54-107) at (7) Pittsburgh Pirates (96-66)
(23) Seattle Mariners (64-98) at (10) Cincinnati Reds (88-74)
(18) California Angels (74-88) at (15) Montreal Expos (75-87)
(2) Philadelphia Phillies (101-61), bye