Editor’s note: Tournament games are played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. Three-man pitching rotations will be used for starting pitchers. Injuries are in-game only during this single elimination event.
Hank Greenberg smashed a pair of homers as he led the Detroit Tigers to a 5-1 victory over the Boston Bees in the opening round of the 1938 Tournament.
With the win, the Tigers are set to entertain the Philadelphia A’s in the second round.
Greenberg’s first long ball broke open a scoreless affair in the bottom of the third against Boston starter Jim Turner.
Chet Morgan singled and Dixie Walker walked to begin the rally.
After Charlie Gehringer lined out, Greenberg gave the Tigers a 3-0 advantage with a mighty swing.
The Tigers added two more runs in the fifth as Greenberg led off with a solo shot. Rudy York followed with a single and one out later Billy Rogell singled. Mark Christian picked up the RBI with another single as the Tigers led by five runs.
George Gill (1-0) went the distance on the mound for the Tigers as he scattered seven hits with two walks, while not striking out a batter.
The only run for the Bees came in the ninth as Ray Mueller had a RBI double.
Turner (0-1) worked seven innings for the Bees as he allowed 13 hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Ira Hutchinson tossed a perfect eighth to final the contest for the Bees.
1938 Tournament
Second Round Pairings
(4) Cincinnati Reds at (1) New York Yankees
(7) St. Louis Browns at (6) St. Louis Cardinals
(8) Philadelphia A’s at (4) Detroit Tigers
First Round Results and Pairings
(1) New York Yankees 4, (8) Philadelphia Phillies 2 (22 innings)
(4) Cincinnati Reds 3, (5) Washington Senators 1
(6) St. Louis Cardinals 4, (3) Cleveland Indians 3 (10 innings)
(7) St. Louis Browns 10, (2) Pittsburgh Pirates 0
(8) Philadelphia A’s 3, (1) Chicago Cubs 0
(4) Detroit Tigers 5, (5) Boston Bees 1
(6) Chicago White Sox (65-83) at (3) New York Giants (83-67)
(7) Brooklyn Dodgers (69-80) at (2) Boston Red Sox (88-61)