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.
A three-run second inning proved to be the difference as the Philadelphia Phillies opened their first round series of the 1948 Tournament with a 6-2 victory over the New York Yankees.
Del Ennis got things started with a solo homer off New York starter Vic Raschi and then Willie Jones later smacked a two-run single to put the Phillies on top 3-0.
New York got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second against Philadelpha starter Dutch Leonard on George McQuinn‘s RBI single.
Dick Sisler answered for Philadelphia in the top of the third as he drove in a run on a ground out to make it 4-1.
The score remained the same until the seventh inning when both teams were able to push runs across the plate.
With two outs, the Phillies had three straight hits to end the day for Raschi. Jones had a single that was followed by Richie Ashburn‘s double. Harry Walker then sent Raschi to the showers with a two-run single.
New York’s final tally came on a RBI single by Gus Niarhos.
Leonard (1-0) went the distance for the Phillies scattering seven hits with three strikeouts.
Raschi (0-1) was tagged with the loss as he left with two outs in the seventh after giving up nine runs with three strikeouts. Tommy Byrne finished up for the Yankees as he gave up a hit, but didn’t surrender a run the rest of the way.
Robin Roberts gets the start for the Phillies as they look to sweep the best of three series, while the Yankees counter with Allie Reynolds.
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, lead 1-0
(N7) Cincinnati Reds vs. (A2) Boston Red Sox
(A1) Cleveland Indians vs. (N8) Chicago Cubs
(N5) New York Giants vs. (A4) Philadelphia A’s
(N3) Brooklyn Dodgers vs. (A6) St. Louis Browns
(A7) Washington Senators vs. (N2) St. Louis Cardinals
Second Round Pairings
(N1) Boston Braves vs. (A5) Detroit Tigers