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.
For six innings it appeared that the 1993 San Francisco Giants might win the 1990s Diamond Gems Tournament championship, but that changed in the seventh when Mariano Duncan stepped into the batter’s box.
Duncan’s three-run homer was the decisive blow as the 1993 Philadelphia Phillies would go on to claim the title with a 4-3 win over the Giants.
Giants starter Bill Swift walked Kevin Stocker to begin the seventh as the Phillies trailed 2-1.
After Philadelphia starting pitcher Curt Schilling advanced Stocker to second with a sacrifice bunt, Swift issued a free pass to Lenny Dykstra. Duncan’s blasted ended the day for Swift (0-2), who left the mound after giving up four runs on six hits with four walks and three strikeouts.
Jim Deshaies came on to get the final two out for the Giants and worked into the ninth before Rod Beck retired to last Philadelphia hitter.
A solo homer by Barry Bonds in the eighth closed the gap for San Francisco to a run, but that’s as close as the Giants could get against Schilling.
Schilling (2-0) tossed his second complete game in the tournament as he allowed seven hits with three walks and six strikeouts.
San Francisco grabbed an early lead in the second as the Phillies made two errors and Willie McGee scored on a passed by Philadelphia catcher Darren Daulton. Matt Williams drilled a solo homer in the fifth that put the Giants up 2-0.
The Phillies finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth with a RBI single by Jim Eisenreich that would set the stage for Duncan.
1990s Diamond Gems Tournament
Championship Game
1993 Philadelphia Phillies 4, 1993 San Francisco Giants 3
Semifinals
1993 Philadelphia Phillies 2, 1990 Cincinnati Reds 1
1993 San Francisco Giants 7, 1990 Pittsburgh Pirates 3
Second Round Results
1990 Cincinnati Reds 6, 1990 Oakland A’s 4
1993 Philadelphia Phillies 7, 1992 Toronto Blue Jays 3
1990 Pittsburgh Pirates 8, 1997 Florida Marlins 7 (10)
1993 San Francisco Giants 4, 1994 Montreal Expos 3
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