Editor’s note: Tournament games are played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter is also being used for all games.
Willie McCovey was the hero as the San Francisco Giants defeated the Detroit Tigers 4-3 in the opening game of the 1977 Tournament at Candlestick Park.
With San Francisco trailing by a run in the bottom of the eighth, McCovey’s two-run double off Detroit reliever John Hiller gave the Giants the lead for good.
Giants lefty Gary Lavelle worked a perfect ninth to preserve the victory for bullpen mate Dave Heaverlo.
Derrel Thomas put the Giants on top in the third as he drilled a two-run homer off Tigers starter Dave Rozema.
The Tigers were able to answer in the sixth with a run off Giants starter Ed Halicki to cut their deficit in half.
Tito Fuentes had a one-out double and later scored on a single by Jason Thompson.
In the seventh, Halicki would get sent to the showers as the Tigers took the lead.
After Halicki got two outs, he got in trouble as Milt May and Tom Veryzer both singled. Ron LeFlore followed with an infield single to load the bases.
Halicki convinced Giants manager Joe Altobelli that he could retire Fuentes, who played in San Francisco from 1965-74.
Fuentes got the best of his former teammate as he drove in two runs with his second double of the contest that put the Giants in front 3-2.
Heaverlo was called from the bullpen and he promptly walked Rusty Staub to reload the bases before getting Thompson to ground out.
Rozema’s day for the Tigers would end in the eighth.
Tim Foli started the frame with a single and then Thomas hit a fly ball to LeFlore in center for the first out.
Bill Madlock singled and Ralph Houk went to the Tigers bullpen for Hiller, who would face just two batters.
Darrell Evans coaxed a walk, which loaded the bases and set the stage for McCovey.
The Giants advance to the second round of the tournament to face the Kansas City Royals.
1977 Tournament Results and Schedule
George Brett Bracket
(1) Kansas City Royals (102-60), bye
(16) San Francisco Giants 4, (17) Detroit Tigers 3
(24) Oakland Athletics (63-98) at (9) Chicago White Sox (90-72)
(25) Atlanta Braves (61-101) at (8) Texas Rangers (94-68)
Tom Lasorda Bracket
(5) Boston Red Sox (97-64), bye
(21) Milwaukee Brewers (67-95) at (12) St. Louis Cardinals (83-79)
(20) San Diego Padres (69-73) at (13) Chicago Cubs (81-81)
(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