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.
Despite an early advantage, the Boston Braves needed a wake-up call in the fifth inning.
The Braves answered and never looked back on the way to a 12-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox in the opening opening round series of the 1948 Tournament.
With the win, the Braves will hope to take the best of three series on the road as they send Warren Spahn to the round against Chicago’s Joe Haynes.
Boston scored three times in the second inning against White Sox starter Bill Wight.
Al Dark had a two-run single and Eddie Stanky followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.
After Johnny Sain had surrendered just one hit through four innings, the White Sox grabbed a 4-3 lead in the top of the fifth.
Aaron Robinson‘s single brought home the first score, while Don Kolloway smacked a double to drive in another run. Dave Philley put Chicago on top with a two-run single.
In the fifth, the Braves sent Wight (0-1) to the showers as they exploded for five runs.
Earl Torgeson hit a two-run blast, which was followed by a pair of walks to Bob Elliott and Jeff Heath that ended Wight’s day.
White Sox manager Ted Lyons picked Randy Gumpert from the bullpen and Jim Russell welcomed the new hurler to the mound with a three-run blast that made it 8-4.
The situation didn’t improve for the White Sox in the sixth as Gumpert gave up three straight RBI singles to Torgeson, Elliott and Heath as the Braves built an 11-4 margin.
Boston’s final tally came in the eighth as Russell added a RBI single off Howie Judson.
Sain (1-0) went the distance giving up eight hits with four strikeouts.
Torgeson topped the Braves with four hits.
1948 Tournament
First Round Pairings and Results
(N1) Boston Braves vs. (A8) Chicago White Sox, Braves 12-4, lead 1-0
(A5) Detroit Tigers vs. (N4) Pittsburgh Pirates
(A3) New York Yankees vs. (N6) Philadelphia Phillies
(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