Editor’s note: The Reds Decade Tournament games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. Injuries will only be used during the game when they occur. For this tournament, the rules include a three-man pitching rotation that starts over with each best-of-three game series. If a real life starter is not in the rotation, he can be used in relief. Cincinnati squads that did not made the post-season are featured in this event as one team from each decade from the 1910s to the 1980s were selected.
A three-run homer in the first inning by Johnny Bench was all of the offense the 1977 Cincinnati Reds needed to post a 6-2 win over the 1911 Cincinnati Reds.
With the victory, 1977 leads the best of three series 1-0 in the second round of the Reds Decade Tournament.
Tom Seaver (2-0) went the distance for the 1977 squad allowing four hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
Pete Rose singled to begin the quick start before a fly out by Ken Griffey.
Joe Morgan followed with a walk and the table was set for Bench to feast off 1911 starter Bobby Keefe.
Both teams added runs in the fourth as the 1977 squad maintained its edge at 4-1.
Bench scored on a single by Dave Concepcion for 1977, while Dick Hoblitzell raced home for 1911 on a double play.
A hustling Rose helped 1977 pick up another run in the fifth. After a lead-off triple, Rose came home on a ground out off the bat of Griffey that was fielded by catcher Larry McLean.
In the bottom the sixth, the 1911 team scored its final tally on a ground out by Mike Mitchell.
A solo homer by Dan Driessen in the eighth off Jack Compton ended the scoring for the contest.
Keefe (0-1) was tagged with the loss for the 1911 team as he gave up five runs on seven hits with a walk and two strikeouts in five innings. Bert Humphries tossed two scoreless frames before Compton finished the affair.
Fred Norman (0-0) gets the start for the 1977 squad in game two of the series, while the 1911 team counters with George Suggs (1-0).
Second Round Schedule and Results
(Best two out of three)
1911 Reds vs. 1977 Reds (2-6, 1977 Leads 1-0)
1924 Reds vs. 1948 Reds
First Round Results
(Best two out of three)
1911 Reds vs. 1955 Reds (5-4, 6-4, 1911 Wins 2-0)
1934 Reds vs. 1977 Reds (3-7, 5-6, 1977 Wins 2-0)
1948 Reds vs. 1986 Reds (5-1, 8-3, 1948 Wins 2-0)
1924 Reds vs. 1964 Reds (3-2 (10), 3-0, 1924 Wins 2-0)