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.
Boston scored early and the 1946 Red Sox were able to hang on for a 4-2 victory over the 1970 Cincinnati Reds in the opener of the championship series of the Second Chance Tournament at Riverfront Stadium.
The Red Sox now have a 1-0 advantage in the best of five series as the teams prepare for game two in Cincinnati. Tex Hughson is slated to throw for the Red Sox, while the Reds will counter with Wayne Simpson.
Reds starter Don Gullett had a wild streak in the second inning as Boston scored a pair of runs without a hit.
Gullett walked four batters with the last one going to Pinky Higgins with the bases loaded. Hal Wagner knocked in the other tally with a sacrifice fly.
Rudy York added to Boston’s lead in the third with a RBI single.
Cincinnati got on the scoreboard in the fourth against Boston starter Dave Ferriss as Bobby Tolan hit a solo homer.
York drove in Boston’s final run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly.
Ferriss would go the distance for Boston to get the victory with three strikeouts. He was able to survive a Reds rally in the ninth that produced an unearned run.
Second Chance Tournament Results and Schedule
Championship Series
1946 Boston Red Sox 4, 1970 Cincinnati Reds 2
1946 Boston Red Sox at 1970 Cincinnati Reds
1970 Cincinnati Reds at 1946 Boston Red Sox
1970 Cincinnati Reds at 1946 Boston Red Sox, if necessary
1970 Cincinnati Reds at 1946 Boston Red Sox, if necessary
Semifinals
1946 Boston Red Sox 6, 1954 Cleveland Indians 4
1946 Boston Red Sox 3, 1954 Cleveland Indians 2
Red Sox win series 2-0
1970 Cincinnati Reds 2, 1965 Minnesota Twins 0
1970 Cincinnati Reds 7, 1965 Minnesota Twins 3
Reds win series 2-0
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 7, 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers 2
Reds win series 2-1
1965 Minnesota Twins 2, 1969 Baltimore Orioles 1
1965 Minnesota Twins 13, 1969 Baltimore Orioles 7
Twins win series 2-0