Worst All-Time Twins Tournament, Nolasco Round, Day 2: Have Yost-self a merry little Christman

Selig Sectional

(9) 1956 Senators 13
(5) 1981 Twins 0
‘81 trails 2-0

Neither Roger Erickson nor the rest of the ‘81 pitching staff could escape the powerful bat of Eddie Yost.

Yost clubbed two home runs, including a grand slam, to lead ‘56 to a 13-0 rout.

‘56 starter Chuck Stobbs pitched a complete-game six-hit shutout, not needing nearly as much offensive help as he got to keep ‘81 quiet.

It took until the third inning for ‘56 to jump on Erickson, who loaded the bases on a single and two walks before Yost clobbered a full-count offering for a four-run four-bagger. Erickson surrendered another run in the inning before retiring the side, but his fourth-inning replacement Pete Redfern was not immune to Yost. With two outs and a man on first, Jose Valdivielso singled to bring up Yost, who sent Redfern’s second pitch 433 feet for a three-run shot.

‘56 added five more runs off the rest of ‘81’s bullpen. John Verhoeven, who recorded the final five outs while allowing just one single, was the only home reliever to hold ‘56 scoreless.

Meanwhile, Stobbs (who walked no batters) and the ‘56 defense made quick work of ‘81, retiring three of their six baserunners on double plays. Stobbs’ 100th pitch, a Roy Smalley bouncer to Yost at third, concluded the contest.

Manfred Regional (played)

(10) 1982 Twins 2
(6) 1948 Senators 6
Series tied 1-1

In the midst of a pitcher’s duel, one swing turned a tight game into a comfortable jog.

Mark Christman’s pinch-hit three-run home run capped a five-run sixth inning and Walt Masterson struck out 13 ‘82 batters over seven innings as ‘48 tied their semifinal by a score of 6-2.

Until that sixth inning, Albert Williams nearly matched Masterson’s performance, having allowed a single run on four hits and a walk through five. The one stroke that marred a dual shutout came in the first inning, when Mickey Vernon doubled and Eddie Yost singled him home.

Meanwhile, Masterson was working a gem, scattering just three hits and walking one over his seven innings on the rubber.

But the sixth inning saw ‘48 finally get to Williams. After a walk and a strikeout, Gil Coan and Al Kozar singled to load the bases. Junior Wooten lined a single just out of reach of Gary Gaetti at third, driving in a pair of runs to extend the lead to 3-0. After Al Evans flied to center, ‘48 sent up Christman in place of Sammy Meeks, and Christman lined Williams’ second pitch just over the wall in left-center. Terry Felton relieved Williams, but a batter too late.

‘82’s offense did nothing off Masterson, having to wait until Dick Welteroth relieved him in the eighth to end the string of zeroes on the scoreboard. With two outs, Welteroth walked Bobby Mitchell and Gary Ward singled him to third. Evans’ passed ball allowed Mitchell to score and Ward to advance to second, a postion which permitted Kent Hrbek’s single to bring him home.

Milo Candini relieved Welteroth in the ninth and allowed one single, but John Castino’s game-ending double play prevented any late drama.

Nolasco Round, Day 1 | Nolasco Round, Day 2 | Nolasco Round, Day 3