Editor’s note: Tournament games are played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter is also being used for all games.
Chicago’s Rick Reuschel won a pitcher’s duel as the Cubs beat the San Diego Padres 2-1 at Wrigley Field in the first round of the 1977 Tournament.
With the win, the Cubs advance to the second round to meet Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium.
Reuschel gave up just five hits as did his San Diego counterpart Bob Shirley, who left the mound with one out in the eighth.
Shirley got tagged early in the affair as Ivan De Jesus led off the bottom of the first with a single. However, he was thrown out trying to steal by Padres backstop Gene Tenace.
Larry Biittner launched a homer to right that put the Cubs on top 1-0.
In the third, it was Bobby Murcer‘s turn to play long ball ball as he blasted a solo shot that gave the Cubs a 2-0 advantage.
Reuschel was cruising along until the sixth having allowed just a pair of singles by Mike Ivie and George Hendrick.
It was Hendrick that got to the Cubs righty in the sixth. With one out, Bill Almon singled and swiped second before Hendrick drove him home with a single.
From that point, each team could only manage one hit.
Gene Richards had a single and a steal in the top of the eighth for the Padres, but Reuschel ended that threat by retiring Almon and Dave Winfield.
Murcer’s single in the eighth ended the day for Shirley as he gave way to Rollie Fingers for the last two outs of the frame.
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
(19) Cleveland Indians (71-90) at (14) Houston Astros (81-81)
(22) New York Mets (64-98) at (11) Minnesota Twins (84-77)
(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