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 big fifth inning proved to be the difference as the Philadelphia Philles downed the Chicago White Sox 10-3 in the opening round of the 1951 Tournament.
With the win, the Phillies are slated to entertain the St. Louis Browns in the second round.
Leading 2-1, Philadelphia scored five times in the fifth to put the game away as Chicago starter Billy Pierce (0-1) was sent to the showers as he would allow seven runs on seven hits with four walks and a strikeout.
Eddie Waitkus singled to begin the rally before Pierce walked Richie Ashburn and Dick Sisler. Del Ennis then hit a smash that was misplayed by White Sox first baseman Eddie Robinson as the first run scored.
Willie Jones drilled a triple to clear the bases and the Phillies led 6-1. After Luis Aloma replaced Pierce, Jones would later score the final run on a RBI single Eddie Pellagrini.
The White Sox scored their final runs in the fifth cutting their deficit to 7-3. Chico Carrasquel scored on a passed ball, while Bob Dillinger added a RBI single.
Randy Gumpert worked two scoreless innings on the mound for the White Sox before Joe Dobson took over. Dobson gave up a run in the eighth on a RBI single by Sisler before Pellagrini capped the contest for the Phillies in the ninth with a two-run homer.
Robin Roberts (1-0) went the distance for Philadelphia surrendering eight hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
1951 Tournament
Second Round Pairings
(8) Chicago Cubs at (4) Boston Braves
(6) Cincinnati Reds at (2) Brooklyn Dodgers
(8) St. Louis Browns at (5) Philadelphia Phillies
First Round Results and Pairings
(8) Chicago Cubs 2 at (1) New York Yankees 1
(4) Boston Braves 5, (5) Detroit Tigers 2
(6) Cincinnati Reds 4, (3) Boston Red Sox 2
(2) Brooklyn Dodgers 4, (7) Washington Senators 2
(8) St. Louis Browns 6, (1) New York Giants 1
(5) Philadelphia Phillies 10, (4) Chicago White Sox 3
(6) Philadelphia Athletics (70-84) at (3) St. Louis Cardinals (81-73)
(7) Pittsburgh Pirates (64-90) at (2) Cleveland Indians (93-61)