'60 Bucs advance to Dream Bracket 2 Rd of 16

PITTSBURGH -- Perhaps it’s only fitting that the team with the most thrilling Game 7 finish in World Series history is showing a flair for the dramatic even in a simulated tournament.

After beating the 1980 Phillies in seven games to advance out of the opening round, the '60 Pirates went down to the wire again before emerging victorious in a seven-game series against the '69 Cubs in the second round of the MLB Dream Bracket 2: Dream Seasons.

• Full bracket and info | Complete Dream Bracket 2 rosters

While Bill Mazeroski was the hero in the 1960 World Series, it was Bill Virdon who had the biggest hit in Game 7 of the Pirates’ simulated series against the Cubs. With the Cubs ahead by one run in the fourth inning, Virdon hit a two-run double to give the Pirates a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Virdon hit .308 (8-for-26) with two homers, three doubles and a team-leading five RBIs in the series. No surprise, Pittsburgh also received big starting pitching performances from Vern Law, Bob Friend and Harvey Haddix in the series.

The 1960 Bucs are moving on to the Round of 16 to face the '97 Marlins, who beat the ’84 Padres in seven games in the Round of 32 during this 64-team, best-of-seven simulation tournament featuring two of the best post-World War II teams from each of the 30 current Major League franchises as well as three Negro League teams and the 1994 Montreal Expos.

• Box score and game summary

The 64-team bracket is divided into the American League and National League, with two “regions” for each league. The 1960 Pirates are in NL Region 1, while the ’79 Pirates -- who lost to the ‘94 Expos on Wednesday -- were in NL Region 2. The simulated competition, featuring many of the greatest teams in baseball history, is being produced by Out of the Park Baseball 21, MLB‘s most realistic strategy game (PC and Mac).

Here’s a look at how the simulated series went down:

Game 1: Pirates 4, Cubs 1
The Pirates did all their damage against Fergie Jenkins via the long ball. Virdon hit a leadoff home run in the first inning, Bob Skinner went deep after Roberto Clemente singled in the fourth and Don Hoak added another solo shot in the fifth. That was more than enough for Friend, who struck out 12 while allowing only four hits over 7 2/3 innings. Roy Face took care of the rest, pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings to seal the series-opening victory.

Game 2: Cubs 3, Pirates 0
Law delivered an excellent performance, holding the Cubs' lineup to one run while striking out six over seven innings, but he was simply outdueled by Chicago starter Bill Hands. Ron Santo singled in a run in the third inning, then Billy Williams doubled in another run in the eighth and scored on a wild pitch by left-hander Fred Green with Ernie Banks at the plate. Shortstop and 1960 National League MVP Award winner Dick Groat had half of the Pirates’ six hits as the Cubs pulled even in the series.

Game 3: Cubs 2, Pirates 0
Ken Holtzman didn’t give the Pirates many chances in this one, much like Hands in Game 2. Holtzman scattered four hits and walked one while working 7 2/3 innings. Haddix put together a strong outing of his own, with only one unearned run scoring during his 5 2/3 innings on the mound. Banks’ eighth-inning homer off Joe Gibbon eliminated some of the drama in this one.

Game 4: Pirates 5, Cubs 3
Banks hit a three-run homer in the seventh off Vinegar Bend Mizell to put the Cubs ahead, 3-1, but two late homers led the Bucs to victory. First baseman Dick Stuart launched a game-tying two-run shot in the eighth, then Virdon -- once again playing the role of hero in this series -- untied it with a two-run blast of his own against Phil Regan in the ninth. Face recorded the final three outs, punching out two, to keep the Pirates from falling in a 3-1 series hole.

Game 5: Cubs 3, Pirates 0
After giving up three homers in Game 1, Jenkins came back with a vengeance in Game 5. The Hall of Fame right-hander scattered three hits and walked one while striking out six in a 97-pitch shutout. He forced the Bucs to hit into 14 outs on the ground, and their three hits were all singles -- two of them by Hoak. Friend pitched well, however, matching Jenkins until the seventh inning; Cubs center fielder Don Young hit the decisive three-run homer in the seventh, and that was plenty for Jenkins.

Game 6: Pirates 2, Cubs 1
Law would not be outdueled this time. The right-hander allowed only one run on five hits while striking out nine over eight innings. Face recorded the final three outs. Groat came up big in this potential elimination game, finishing with three hits and driving in both of Pittsburgh’s runs on a fifth-inning two-out single off Hands. Clemente came through with a huge defensive play, cutting down Don Kessinger at the plate in the sixth inning.

Game 7: Pirates 6, Cubs 4
This one didn’t get off to a great start for the Pirates, as Banks took Haddix deep in the first inning for a three-run homer. But Pittsburgh chipped away: Hoak doubled home Smoky Burgess in the second, Clemente drove in Haddix in the third and Hoak plated Skinner with a single in the fourth. Mazeroski then walked, and Haddix bunted over both baserunners with Virdon coming up. Virdon laced a double off Holtzman that put the Pirates up, 5-3. The Cubs got one run back in the seventh off Green, but Mazeroski negated that with a sacrifice fly in the eighth. Face pitched in the eighth to get through Santo, Banks and Randy Hundley, then Gibbon finished off the bottom of Chicago’s lineup to clinch the Pirates’ series victory.