Editor’s note: Tournament games are played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter is also being used for all games.
A six-run second inning proved to be the difference as Pittsburgh advance to the finale of the 1977 Tournament with a 9-2 win over the New York Yankees.
The Pirates meet the Boston Red Sox for the championship of the event at Fenway Park.
After a scoreless first frame, New York starter Mike Torrez got hammered as six of the seven hitters he faced scored.
With one out, Bill Robinson singled and Ed Ott doubled. Phil Garner followed with a RBI single.
Another run scored as Omar Moreno reached second on an error by New York shortstop Bucky Dent.
Frank Taveras walked and then Rennie Stennett tripled to drive in three runs, which ended the day for Torrez.
Dave Parker hit a sacrifice fly off Don Gullett as the Pirates led 6-0.
Parker added a two run double in the fourth that had Gullett headed to the showers. Stargell capped that rally with a RBI single off Dick Tidrow and the Pirates led by nine runs.
The Yankees could only muster a pair of solo homers off Pittsburgh starter John Candelaria, who worked eight innings scattering six hits.
Thurman Munson hit one in the fourth, while Mickey Rivers smacked his in the eighth.
Kent Tekulve struggled in the ninth in a non-save situation as the Yankees loaded the bases, but the Pittsburgh righty was able to close it out.
1977 Tournament Results and Schedule
Championship Game
(7) Pittsburgh Pirates at (5) Boston Red Sox
Semifinal Round
(5) Boston Red Sox 6, (9) Chicago White Sox 2
(7) Pittsburgh Pirates 9, (3) New York Yankees 2
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
$ (16) San Francisco Giants 6, (1) Kansas City Royals 3
$ (9) Chicago White Sox 2, (25) Atlanta Braves 1 (10 innings)
(9) Chicago White Sox 6, (16) San Francisco Giants 4, final
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
$ (5) Boston Red Sox 13, (21) Milwaukee Brewers 4
$ (13) Chicago Cubs 6, (4) Los Angeles Dodgers 5
(5) Boston Red Sox 7, (13) Chicago Cubs 5, final
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
$ (3) New York Yankees 4, (14) Houston Astros 3
$ (6) Baltimore Orioles 5, (22) New York Mets 3
(3) New York Yankees 5, (6) Baltimore Orioles 3, final
Mike Schmidt Bracket
% (7) Pittsburgh Pirates 4, (26) Toronto Blue Jays 1
% (10) Cincinnati Reds 6, (23) Seattle Mariners 3
% (15) Montreal Expos 4, (18) California Angels 2
% (2) Philadelphia Phillies (101-61), bye
$ (7) Pittsburgh Pirates 6, (10) Cincinnati Reds 3
$ (15) Montreal Expos 5, (2) Philadelphia Phillies 2
(7) Pittsburgh Pirates 7, (15) Montreal Expos 6, final
% First Round
$ Second Round (Bracket Semifinals)