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.
Minnesota ace Mudcat Grant scattered eight hits as he led the 1965 Twins to a 2-1 victory over the 1969 Baltimore Orioles in the first contest of a three-game series at Memorial Stadium in the Second Chance Tournament.
Grant surrendered a home run to Baltimore’s Frank Robinson in the first inning and was able to hold the Orioles the rest of the way as he fanned six.
The Twins got all of the offense Grant would need in the top third frame.
Earl Battey led off with a single against Orioles starter Mike Cuellar, who like Grant would also go the distance limiting the Twins to six hits with six strikeouts.
After Cuellar struck out Jerry Kindall, Zoilo Versalles doubled.
With runners at second and third, Jimmie Hall drove in Kindall as he grounded out to Baltimore second baseman Davey Johnson.
Tony Oliva‘s RBI single put the Twins on top for good as he pick up one of his two hits on the day.
From that point, the Orioles mounted a threat in the sixth as Frank Robinson tripled with one out. Grant was able to get out of the jam.
The teams return to action in Minnesota as the teams battle in game two of the series.
The Twins will have Jim Kaat take the mound, while the Orioles counter with Jim Palmer.
Second Chance Tournament Results and Schedule
First Round
1954 Cleveland Indians 5, 1935 Chicago Cubs 2
1954 Cleveland Indians at 1935 Chicago Cubs
1935 Chicago Cubs at 1954 Cleveland Indians, if necessary
1946 Boston Red Sox 9, 1962 San Francisco Giants 8 (10 innings)
1946 Boston Red Sox at 1962 San Francisco Giants
1962 San Francisco Giants at 1946 Boston Red Sox, if necessary
1953 Brooklyn Dodgers 8, 1970 Cincinnati Reds 5
1953 Brooklyn Dodgers at 1970 Cincinnati Reds
1970 Cincinnati Reds at 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers, if necessary
1965 Minnesota Twins 2, 1969 Baltimore Orioles 1
1969 Baltimore Orioles at 1965 Minnesota Twins
1965 Minnesota Twins at 1969 Baltimore Orioles, if necessary