Editor’s note: The 1990 Tournament games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter will be used for any contests involving American League teams when games are played at home. Injuries will only be used during the game when they occur. For this tournament, the rules include a three-man pitching rotation using the best lineups available.
The 1990 Cincinnati Reds grabbed an early lead and they were able to hold on to defeat the 1990 Oakland A’s 6-4 in the second round of the 1990s Diamond Gems Tournament.
In the semifinals, the Reds will visit the winner of the 1992 Toronto Blue Jays at 1993 Philadelphia Phillies.
Eric Davis led off the second inning for the Reds with a double off Oakland starter Bob Welch. Davis scored on a single by Hal Morris. Later in the frame, Mariano Duncan‘s two-run double put the Reds in front 3-0.
Paul O’Neill added tp Cincinnati’s lead in third with a RBI double.
Mark McGwire tagged a Tom Browning pitch in the top of the fourth for a three-run blast that brought the A’s to within one. Duncan’s solo homer in the bottom of the inning made it 5-3.
Jose Canseco smashed a solo homer in the sixth to get Oakland back to within a run.
The Reds added their final run in the eighth when Barry Larkin led off with a single, swiped second and then scored on a double by Davis.
Browning (1-0) picked up the win with eight innings on the mound for Cincinnati as he allowed four runs on six hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. Rob Dibble gave up a double to McGwire to begin the ninth and he was replaced by Randy Myers, who retired the next three hitters to earn a save.
Welch (0-1) got the loss for the A’s as he worked seven innings giving up all six of the Reds runs on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Rick Honeycutt and Dennis Eckersley finished up in the eighth.
1990s Diamond Gems Tournament
Second Round Schedule and Results
1990 Cincinnati Reds 6, 1990 Oakland A’s 4
1992 Toronto Blue Jays at 1993 Philadelphia Phillies
1990 Pittsburgh Pirates at 1997 Florida Marlins
1994 Montreal Expos at 1993 San Francisco Giants
First Round Results
1990 Cincinnati Reds 4, 1998 Houston Astros 2
1990 Oakland A’s 4, 1998 New York Yankees 3
1992 Toronto Blue Jays 5, 1997 Baltimore Orioles 1
1993 Philadelphia Phillies 8, 1996 Atlanta Braves 2
1990 Pittsburgh Pirates 8, 1998 San Diego Padres 2
1997 Florida Marlins 5, 1991 Minnesota Twins 4
1993 San Francisco Giants 2, 1996 New York Yankees 1
1994 Montreal Expos 2, 1995 Cleveland Indians 1