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.
Roberto Alomar smacked three hits and drove a trio of runners to lead the 1992 Toronto Blue Jays to a 5-1 win over the 1997 Baltimore Orioles.
With the victory in the opening round of the 1990s Diamond Gems Tournament, Toronto travels to face the winner of the 1993 Philadelphia Phillies at 1996 Atlanta Braves affair in the second round.
In the bottom of the first, Alomar singled and swiped second as the Blue Jays failed to score off Baltimore starter Scott Erickson.
However in the second Candy Maldonado drilled a solo homer to give Toronto the lead.
Baltimore answered in the third with help from Toronto starter Juan Guzman, who walked four in the frame with the final one issued to Geronimo Berroa with the bases loaded to tie it at 1-1.
After Devon White‘s RBI single in the fourth, Alomar added to the Toronto advantage with a two-run double.
Alomar capped the scoring for the Blue Jays with a solo homer in the seventh.
Guzman (1-0) left the mound with two outs in the ninth with two runners on base after allwing four hits with five walks and 10 strikeouts.
Al Leiter was called from the Toronto bullpen to face Rafael Palmeiro and the contest ended with a ground out to Alomar at second.
Erickson (0-1) worked until the seventh before Armando Benitez finished the final two innings for Orioles. Erickson gave up seven hits with four walks and eight strikeouts.
1990s Diamond Gems Tournament
First Round Schedule and 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 at 1996 Atlanta Braves
1990 Pittsburgh Pirates at 1998 San Diego Padres
1997 Florida Marlins at 1991 Minnesota Twins
1996 New York Yankees at 1993 San Francisco Giants
1995 Cleveland Indians at 1994 Montreal Expos