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.
A five-run inning made the difference for Cincinnati as the 1970 Reds defeated the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers 7-2 at Ebbets Field.
With the victory, Cincinnati takes the best of three series two games to one to move on to the semifinals of the Second Chance Tournament to meet the 1965 Minnesota Twins.
Both teams scored in the second inning on solo homers. The Reds got one from Johnny Bench, while Duke Snider had the long ball for the Dodgers.
In the third, the Big Red Machine ran over the Dodgers as Cincinnati sent nine batters to the plate against Brooklyn starter Preacher Roe.
Dave Concepcion began the frame with a single and he went to second when Tommy Helms executed a perfect sacrifice bunt.
Pete Rose singled to bring home Concepcion and giving the Reds a 2-1 advantage.
Bobby Tolan followed with a single sending Rose to third. After Lee May struck out, Tony Perez drove a ball over the left field fence for a three-run homer.
Bench capped the rally with his second homer of the contest, which made it 6-1.
May eventually got involved in the home run derby as he hit a solo shot in the eighth inning to finally send Roe to the showers.
The Dodgers picked up their final run against Reds starter Wayne Simpson as Pee Wee Reese had a sacrifice fly.
Simpson would go the distance for the Reds as he gave up 10 hits, but only allowed two runs.
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
1965 Minnesota Twins at 1970 Cincinnati Reds
1970 Cincinnati Reds at 1965 Minnesota Twins
1965 Minnesota Twins at 1970 Cincinnati Reds, 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 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