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.
A four-run second inning proved to be the difference as the Cincinnati Reds upended the New York Yankees 5-4 in the second round of the 1938 Tournament.
With the victory, the Reds advance to the semifinals to square off against the winner of the St. Louis Browns at St. Louis Cardinals affair.
After each team scored a run in the first inning, the Reds got to New York starter Lefty Gomez to take a 5-1 advantage in the second.
Lew Riggs and Billy Myers both singled and then moved to second and third on a sacrifice bunt by Reds starting pitcher Johnny Vander Meer.
Lonny Frey grounded out as neither runner was able to advance a base, but Wally Berger singled to put the Reds on top 2-1.
Ival Goodman walked to load the bases for Frank McCormick, who doubled to bring home three runs for the Reds.
The Yankees picked up a run in the fourth as Joe DiMaggio had a solo homer.
A long ball in the bottom of the seventh by New York’s Joe Gordon brought home Bill Dickey, who had walked.
Vander Meer (1-0) gave up nine hits in his complete game effort with three walks and seven strikeouts.
Grove (0-1) was tagged with the loss after working all nine frames, while allowing six hits with two walks, a hit batter and eight strikeouts.
A RBI double by Ernie Lombardi produced an unearned run for the Reds in the top of the first.
The Yankees answered in the bottom of the frame when Tommy Henrich grounded into a fielder’s choice to drive home an unearned run to make it 1-1.
1938 Tournament
Second Round Results and Pairings
(4) Cincinnati Reds 5, (1) New York Yankees 4
(7) St. Louis Browns at (6) St. Louis Cardinals
(8) Philadelphia A’s at (4) Detroit Tigers
(6) Chicago White Sox at (2) Boston Red Sox
First Round Results
(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 6, (3) New York Giants 0
(2) Boston Red Sox 6, (7) Brooklyn Dodgers 3