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.
The right arm of Cincinnati’s Wayne Simpson and a couple of big swings ensured that the 1970 Reds would have a chance to sweep the 1965 Minnesota Twins in the Second Chance Tournament.
Cincinnati won 2-0 over the Twins at Riverfront Stadium as Simpson nearly made history.
Simpson was one out away from a no-hitter at Riverfront Stadium when Twins shortstop Zoilo Versalles broke it up with a triple.
Jimmie Hall hit a grounder to Reds third baseman Tony Perez for the final out of the affair. Simpson finished with five strikeouts and a pair of walks.
Twins starter Jim Perry was able to keep pace with Simpson until the sixth inning.
After allowing just two hits, Perry made a mistake to the powerful Lee May. May’s solo homer gave the Reds a 1-0 advantage.
In the seventh, Bernie Carbo ended Perry’s day with a line drive homer to right field that put the Reds ahead by two runs.
Johnny Klippstein took over for Perry and held the Reds scoreless the rest of the way, but Simpson’s effort proved to be too much for the Twins.
The second game of the the best of three series will be in Minnesota at Metropolitan Stadium.
Gary Nolan will start for the Reds, while the Twins counter with Jim Kaat.
Second Chance Tournament Results and Schedule
Semifinals
1946 Boston Red Sox 6, 1954 Cleveland Indians 4
1954 Cleveland Indians at 1946 Boston Red Sox
1946 Boston Red Sox at 1954 Cleveland Indians, if necessary
1970 Cincinnati Reds 2, 1965 Minnesota Twins 0
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