Editor’s note: Second Chance Tournament games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter is also being used for all games. The first and second rounds will be decided with a best of three series, while the championship series will be a best of five format.
Cincinnati’s Gary Nolan tossed a complete game as the 1970 Reds scored in the bottom of the eighth on their way to a 4-3 victory over the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers.
With the win at Riverfront Stadium, the Reds evened the three-game series at 1-1 in the first round of the Second Chance Tournament.
Johnny Bench led off the eighth for the Reds with a single off Dodgers starter Clem Labine.
Labine walked Bernie Carbo and then retired Hal McRae on a fly ball.
After Dave Concepcion reached on an error by Labine to load the bases, Bench was able to make it home on a passed by that was charged to Roy Campanella.
Nolan gave up his eighth hit on the contest to begin the ninth as Gil Hodges singled, but the right hander got the next three hitters out to preserve his victory.
Powerful Start for Dodgers
The Dodgers got to Nolan early with a pair of solo homers in the first inning by Jackie Robinson and Duke Snider.
Concepcion cut the Reds deficit in half with a RBI single in the second.
Tony Perez gave Cincinnati a 3-2 lead in the third as he hit a deep two-run shot that landed in the Red seats.
Snider double to begin the fourth inning for the Dodgers and he scored on a single by Campanella that tied the affair at 3-3.
The finale of the series will be back in Brooklyn at Ebbets Field.
Preacher Roe gets the start for the Dodgers, while Wayne Simpson takes the mound for the Reds.
Second Chance Tournament Results and Schedule
Semifinals
1946 Boston Red Sox at 1954 Cleveland Indians
1954 Cleveland Indians at 1946 Boston Red Sox
1946 Boston Red Sox at 1954 Cleveland Indians, if necessary
First Round
1954 Cleveland Indians 5, 1935 Chicago Cubs 2
1954 Cleveland Indians 3, 1935 Chicago Cubs 0
Indians win series 2-0
1946 Boston Red Sox 9, 1962 San Francisco Giants 8 (10 innings)
1946 Boston Red Sox 9, 1962 San Francisco Giants 6
Red Sox win series 2-0
1953 Brooklyn Dodgers 8, 1970 Cincinnati Reds 5
1970 Cincinnati Reds 4, 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers 3
1970 Cincinnati Reds at 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers, if necessary
Series tied 1-1
1965 Minnesota Twins 2, 1969 Baltimore Orioles 1
1969 Baltimore Orioles at 1965 Minnesota Twins
1965 Minnesota Twins at 1969 Baltimore Orioles, if necessary