Editor’s note: The 1948 Tournament games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. Injuries will only be used during the game when they occur. For this tournament, the rules include a three-man pitching rotation using the best lineups available. The first and second round series will be the best two of three games. The semifinals are best of five, while the championship series is the best of seven.
The St. Louis Cardinals advanced to the second round of the 1948 Tournament with a 5-4 victory over the Washington Senators.
The win gives the Cardinals a sweep of the best of three series as St. Louis will move on to face the Brooklyn Dodgers.
St. Louis got the scoreboard in the first inning with an unearned run off Senators starter Walt Masterson.
Washington took the lead in the third off St. Louis starter Howie Pollet as Mark Christman blasted a two-run homer.
Bill Baker tied the contest in the fifth with a RBI double. Later in the frame, Ron Northey drilled a two-run homer to put the Cardinals on top 4-2.
Del Rice added to the Cardinals advantage with a solo homer in the sixth, which ended the day for Masterson.
Forrest Thompson finshed the game on the mound for the Senators as he held the Cardinals scoreless over the last three innings.
The Senators fell short with their comeback against Pollet. Mickey Vernon‘s two-run single closed the gap to a run, but Ted Wilks was called from the bullpen and he recorded the final four outs to earn a save.
1948 Tournament
First Round Pairings and Results
(N1) Boston Braves vs. (A8) Chicago White Sox, Braves 12-4, 5-0
(A5) Detroit Tigers vs. (N4) Pittsburgh Pirates, Tigers 11-4, 1-0
(A3) New York Yankees vs. (N6) Philadelphia Phillies, Phillies 6-2, 5-2
(N7) Cincinnati Reds vs. (A2) Boston Red Sox, Red Sox 20-1, 3-4, 9-5
(A1) Cleveland Indians vs. (N8) Chicago Cubs, Cubs 4-0, 1-3, 11-0
(N5) New York Giants vs. (A4) Philadelphia A’s, Giants 5-2, 6-1
(N3) Brooklyn Dodgers vs. (A6) St. Louis Browns, Dodgers 5-0, 6-3
(A7) Washington Senators vs. (N2) St. Louis Cardinals, Cardinals 3-0, 5-4
Second Round Pairings
(N1) Boston Braves vs. (A5) Detroit Tigers
(N6) Philadelphia Phillies vs. (A2) Boston Red Sox
(N8) Chicago Cubs vs (N5) New York Giants
(N3) Brooklyn Dodgers vs. (N2) St. Louis Cardinals