Minnesota Twins at Cincinnati Reds
October 10, 1970
Game One at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
Bert Blyleven vs. Gary Nolan
Five Run 8th Inning gives Twins opening game win
Cincinnati's bullpen fails to hold the lead against surprising Minnesota
Cincinnati, OH Oct. 10 (AP) - The usually solid Red's bullpen surrendered five runs in the eighth inning spoiling 21 game winner Gary Nolan's solid outing giving the Twins the victory in Game One of the 1970 World Series.
Cincinnati sent ace Gary Nolan to the hill looking to dispose of the Twins quickly. The Twins countered with 19 year old mid-season call-up Bert Blyleven. The Twins veteran rightfielder Tony Oliva got the Twins on the board first with a solo shot over the rightfield fence in the first. Cincinnati rallied in the third inning jumping on the young Twins's righthander for four runs. Nolan led off the third with a double into right center. Following a Pete Rose ground out and a Bobby Tolan walk, Thirdbaseman Tony Perez banged a double over Twins Centerfielder Cesar Tovar's head knocking both base runners. Bench then singled moving Perez to third. Big Lee May jerked a double into Centerfield putting the Reds up 3-1. Red's rookie leftfielder Berne Carbo capped the inning with a fielder choice bringing home Perez.
Minnesota seemed undaunted as the Twins scored two runs in the fourth behind Harmon Killebrew and Leo Cardenas RBI singles. The Reds however countered the Twins comeback as they banged around Blyleven with a single tally in the fourth and a two run blast by Johnny Bench in the sixth inning.
Up 7-3 in the eighth inning a well-rested Red's bullpen came on to close out an opening game win. Reds manager Sparky Anderson called on Clay Carroll to close out the game. Carroll a dependable reliever all season failed to get an out. Veteran Harmon Killebrew greeted Carroll with a hard single past Reds second sacker Tommy Helms. Rich Reese was hit by an errant Carroll pitch, putting runners on first and second. Twins shortstop Leo Cardenas stepped to the plate and drilled Carroll's first pitch into the rightfield corner scoring Killebrew. Sparky Anderson promptly pulled Carroll and called in young fire balling lefty Don Gullett. Still up by two the 19 year-old Gullett looked in at Twins slugger Brant Alyea and walked him on four pitches. With the bases loaded Gullett got Paul Ratliff on a called third strike. Twins manager Bill Ringey sent up utility man Rick Renick to pinch-hit for Stan Williams. Gullett control once again abandoned him as he walked Renick making the score 7-6 Reds. Anderson paced nervously in the dugout as Wayne Granger loosened in the pen. Cesar Tovar battled Gullett before drawing the third walk in the inning as Gullett struggled to find the plate. With score 7-7 and the Reds fans began calling for Sparky to pull the young lefty. Twins secondbaseman Rod Carew came up. Rattled Gullett walked Carew on four pitches putting the Twins up 8-7. Anderson had finally seen enough went to his closer Wayne Granger. Granger induced Oliva into a sacrifice fly to center scoring Renick from third on a close play. Killebrew flied to Carbo to end the inning but the damage had been done five runs on two hits and four walks. The Twin's manager handed the ball to Ron Perranoski who despite issuing two walks, blanked the Reds over the final two innings to give Minnesota the win.
Minnesota Twins at Cincinnati Reds
October 11, 1970
Game Three at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
Jim Perry vs. Jim McGlothlin
Twins Jim Perry handcuffs Reds in Game Two
Minnesota's ace Jim Perry shutdown Cincinnati's bats with a solid performance
Cincinnati, OH, Oct. 11 (AP) - Twins ace, Jim Perry, scattered six hits over 8 and 2/3 innings as Minnesota jumped out to a two games to nothing lead in the 1970 World Series. Perry 23-9 on the year took the mound against Reds 20 game winner Jim McGlothlin. From the outset both pitchers locked up in a tight game. Perry retired the first nine Reds batters, while McGlothlin scattered 3 hits over the same period.
The game remained scoreless over the first five innings before Minnesota scratched home a run. Rod Carew led off the inning with a hard single into right field. Tony Oliva popped out to Pete Rose in shallow right. Harmon Killebrew worked a walk putting runners on first and second. McGlothlin appeared to be out of the jam when he got Rich Reese to line out to Bobby Tolan. Jim Holt however smacked a single into left center plating Cardenas.
Minnesota added to their lead with two more in the seventh. With two down rookie Davey Concepcion fired a routine ground ball by Cesar Tovar over Lee May's head. With the dangerous Rod Carew up, Tovar swiped second. Carew took McGlothlin's next offering into the right field corner for a double, scoring Tovar. Tony Oliva hit a blooper off of a McGlothlin curve ball scoring Carew.
In the bottom of the eighth, with one outs Bobby Tolan rammed a double down the left field line. Tony Perez took Perry's next offering hammering it into the right field gap, breaking up the shutout with Johnny Bench coming to the plate. Bench promptly walked as Perry appeared to lose his command. The tough veteran hurler regained his composure as Lee May popped up to defensive sub Frank Quilici in foul ground. Bernie Carbo then lifted a high fly out to Jim Holt in left.
Minnesota widened their lead with a solo run in the ninth inning. Perry retired the first two Reds before surrendering a single to Cincinnati pinch-hitter Hal McRae. Ron Perranoski was summoned from the pen and got Pete Rose to sky a pop up to Jim Holt in left ending the game
Cincinnati Reds at Minnesota Twins
October 13, 1970
Game Three at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota
Wayne Simpson vs. Jim Kaat
Reds jump out to an early lead and beat the Twins 4-0
Four Cincinnati pitchers combine to blank Minnesota
Bloomington MN, October 13 (AP) - The heavily favored Reds traveled to Minnesota down two game to none. Game Three the Reds skipper Sparky Anderson handed the ball to rookie Wayne Simpson. Simpson went 11 and 8 with a minuscule 2.08 ERA over his initial campaign. Facing Simpson the Twins sent southpaw Jim Kaat.
The Reds stormed out of dugout tagging Kaat for 3 runs in the first. Pete Rose drove Kaat's first offering into the gap in left center for a lead off double. Tolan bounced a seeing eye single through the middle of the infield sending Rose home. With Tony Perez at the plate Kaat forgot about Tolan who promptly took advantage of Kaat's mental lapse and swiped second. Perez then drove Kaat's next pitch over Cesar Tovar's head scoring Tolan. Down 2-0 and without an out Kaat walked Johnny Bench. Lee May pushed Perez and Bench to second and third on a hard chopper to Killebrew at third. Bernie Carbo slashed a sharp grounder which was snared by the Twins slick fielding shortstop Leo Cardenas, scoring Perez for the final run in the inning.
With score 4-0 the skies opened up in the top of the fifth inning, delaying the game for an hour and half. When the clouds cleared both starters had been pulled. The Reds went to their bullpen to get the final 15 outs. Despite the previous poor performances the Reds bullpen came through, as Tony Cloninger, Pedro Borbon and Clay Carroll mowed the Twins down over the final five innings giving the Reds some life with a 4-0 win.
Cincinnati Reds at Minnesota Twins
October 14, 1970
Game Four at Metropolitan Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Gary Nolan vs. Bert Blyleven
Reds score two in eighth to tie the series
Bobby Tolan and Pete Rose lead the Cincinnati to win
Bloomington MN, October 14 (AP) The Reds down 2 games to 1 sent their ace Gary Nolan to the hill against Twins rookie hurler Bert Blyleven. In the first both teams trade runs as the Reds scored on a Tony Perez single to center. Undaunted the Twins tied the game on a sharp single to left by Harmon Killebrew. Over the next five innings both pitchers traded goose eggs with one another. The top of the sixth, the Reds Centerfielder Bobby Tolan banged a solo shot into the rightfield bleachers putting the Reds up 2 to 1. The Twins once again came back, with two outs Tony Oliva doubled into the rightfield corner. Cleanup hitter Harmon Killebrew then drove a deep home run in left giving the Twins the lead. In the seventh Reds put two runners aboard with one out sending Blyleven to the showers. Workhorse Stan Williams got Tommy Helms to pop to second. Darrell Chaney then was sent up to pinch-hit for Gary Nolan. Chaney hit a slow roller to Killebrew who through a rocket to first killing the rally. Six outs away Stan Williams had to face the top of the Reds order. Williams first pitch to Pete Rose was drilled into the rightfield seats knotting the game up at three. The Rose homer seemed to rattle the veteran hurler as Bobby Tolan dunked a ball into right, then promptly stole second. With Tolan at second, Perez swung catching the ball with the end of his bat sending a flair to left. Leo Cardenas raced back and Jim Holt raced in, neither could reach the ball as it fell to the ground as Tolan raced home with the eventual winning run. Stan Perranoski came in and retired the Reds without any further damage. In the bottom of the eighth Don Gullett sent the Twins down one, two, three. Perranoski did the same to the Reds in the ninth. Wayne Granger was summoned to finish the game for the Reds. With one out Jim Holt singled to right. Following a Brant Alyea fly out, George Mitterwald singled to left, moving Holt to second. With the tying run at second, Wayne Granger bore down against Cesar Tovar. With two out Tovar ripped a line drive to centerfield that Bobby Tolan snared to end the game, giving the Reds the win and tying the series at 2.
Cincinnati Reds at Minnesota Twins
October 15, 1970
Game Five at Metropolitan Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Jim Merritt vs Jim Perry
Reds win in a route take series lead
Cincinnati wins their third straight as the bomb Minnesota ace Jim Perry
Bloomington MN, October 15 (AP) With the series tied at two, the Twins, despite dropping two straight games at home, felt confidant in game five as ace Jim Perry took the hill. Perry breezed through the Reds in game two. The Reds staring pitcher Jim Merritt had been inconsistent in the regular season going 12-13 with a 5.41 ERA had his good stuff on this day. Pete Rose opened up game five with a single, Perry then hit Bobby Tolan. With runners on Perry was looking to induce Reds slugger Tony Perez into a ground ball. Perry instead served up a three-run homer putting the Reds up 3-0. After Bench grounded out, Lee May slammed a long home run into the leftfield bleachers. Obviously rattled Perry walked Carbo on four pitches. Twins catcher George Mitterwald walked out to the mound to try and calm the Twins ace down. Meanwhile Luis Tiant worked feverishly in the bullpen. Perry got Tommy Helms to bounce to Secondbaseman Frank Quilici who got Carbo at second, but Helms beat the throw. Rookie shortstop Dave Concepcion stepped up to the plate and hit a flair into left, Twins leftfielder Brant Alyea raced in as shortstop Leo Cardenas raced back. Both players collided as they went for the ball, Tommy Helms raced home as both Twins lay prone on the ground as the ball rolled to the wall. By the time the dust cleared both Alyea and Cardenas had to come out. Minnesota skipper Bill Ringey also sent his ace to the showers. With Concepcion standing on second and a five nothing lead Luis Tiant surrendered a double to the Jim Merritt making it 6-0 Reds. Pete Rose followed with a single to rightfield scoring Merritt. Rose, who took second on the throw home, then joined his teammates on the merry-go-round as Bobby Tolan doubled him home for the eighth Red run and chasing Tiant. The Reds added six more runs in the third as Lee May hit his second home run of the game. By the time it was over the Reds had taken three straight from Minnesota on the road and headed home with a 3 -2 series lead.
Minnesota Twins at Cincinnati Reds
October 17, 1970
Game Six at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
Tom Hall vs. Jim McGlothlin
Twins power their way into Game Seven
Minnesota's three homers lead the way as the beat the Reds at Riverfront.
Cincinnati, OH, Oct 17 (AP) - Coming off of their three game sweep at Metropolitan Stadium the Reds felt quite confident with 20 game winner Jim McGlothlin taking the mound against the hard slinging lefty Tom Hall. Bobby Tolan bounced a single into rightfield with one out in the first. Tolan then stole second. Hall got Perez to bounce to second, moving Tolan to third. Hall checking the speedy Tolan at third, fired a fastball to Johnny Bench who drove the ball to deep center over the outstretched glove of Cesar Tovar for a run scoring double. Jim McGlothlin started the top of the second pitching to the Twins slugger Harmon Killebrew. Killebrew worked the count to 3 and 2, McGlothlin tried to get the big slugger with an off-speed pitch. It did not work as the "Killer" crushed the offering over the leftfield fence tying the game. It stayed that way until the fourth inning. McGlothlin got two quick outs, when Rich Reese drew a walk, Cardenas scratched out a single. Jim Holt then stepped up to face the Reds righthander. McGlothlin quickly fell behind 2 and 0 to Holt. Trying to get a fastball past the rookie, Holt ripped the ball over the rightfield fence putting the Twins up 4-1. That pretty much wrapped up for Minnesota as Tom Hall mowed the Reds down, just surrendering a single tallies in the fifth and seventh, before giving way to Ron Perranoski. The Twins reliever blanked the Reds over the final two innings and Minnesota sent the World Series into a final showdown.
Minnesota Twins at Cincinnati Reds
October 19, 1970
Game Seven at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
Bert Blyleven vs. Jim Merritt
Twins Win!!! Twins Win!!!
Minnesota jumped on the Reds early then hangs on for a 9-6 win
Cincinnati, OH, Oct 18 (AP) - The Twins and Reds squared off for Game Seven. The previous day had seen the Twins 4-0 lead vanish in a deluge that eventually saw the game called. Both Jim Perry and Gary Nolan were too tired to go the next day. Instead the Twins would entrust their championship hopes with 19 year old rookie Bert Blyleven. The Reds countered with veteran hurler Jim Merritt. Merritt who shut the Twins down in Game 5, reverted back to his season long inconsistent form. In the first inning the Twins quickly jumped on Merritt for 3 runs. Carew doubled in Tovar, and later scored on a fielders choice. Merritt then walked Rich Reese and a sharp single to Jim Holt. Leo Cardenas dump a single between secondbaseman Tommy Helms and rightfielder Pete Rose. The Reds tried to mount a comeback loading the bases in the second inning. Blyleven forced Pete Rose to pop up to Carew to end the threat. Johnny Bench hit a solo shot in the third cutting the Twins lead to 3-1. In the fourth the wheels fell off of the Big Red Machine. Merritt got into trouble as Leo Cardenas singled and George Mitterwald walked. With one out, Cesar Tovar hit a long drive over the leftfield fence putting Minnesota up 6-1. The Twins would add another in the inning giving them a 7-1 lead. The Reds tried to make it close with a 2 run sixth and a 2 run seventh. However the Twins offense chipped in single tallies in seventh and eighth, while the bullpen kept the Reds at bay. Stan Williams forced Reds rookie sensation Bernie Carbo to pop-up to Leo Cardenas ending the game and giving the Minnesota Twins the World Series.