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.
Al Rosen drove in three runs and the Cleveland Indians survived a late rally by the Pittsburgh Pirates to post a 5-3 win as the opening round of the 1951 Tournament came to an end.
With the victory, the Indians are slated to entertain the St. Louis Cardinals in what will be the final contest of the second round.
After Rosen had helped the Indians build a two-run advantage, Cleveland starter Bob Feller got in trouble in the top of the ninth with one out as George Strickland, pinch-hitter Bill Howerton and Pete Castiglione all singled to load the bases.
At the point, Cleveland manager Al Lopez called Lou Brissie to the mound. Brissie retired Rocky Nelson on a pop out and George Metkovich grounder to pick up a save to preserve the Cleveland victory.
Pirates on Top
It was a two-run homer by Metkovich in the first inning off Feller that gave the Pirates an early lead.
A RBI single in the bottom of the first by Rosen off Pittsburgh starter Murry Dickson cut Cleveland’s deficit in half.
Rosen’s two-blast in the third put the Indians in front 3-2.
Both teams added a run in the fourth.
Pittsburgh’s Gus Bell singled and reached second on an error by Indians centerfielder Larry Doby. Bell would later score to tie the affair at 3-3 on a single by Joe Garagiola.
In the bottom of the frame, Ray Boone and Jim Hegan singled. With Boone at third, Feller grounded into a double play that allowed the run to score.
A run scoring single by Hegan in the eighth provided the final tally of the game.
Feller (1-0) gave up 11 hits with three walks and three strikeouts to get the win, while Dickson was tagged with the loss as he surrendered 11 hits with three walks and five 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
(3) St. Louis Cardinals at (2) Cleveland Indians
First Round Results
(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
(3) St. Louis Cardinals 2, (6) Philadelphia Athletics 0
(2) Cleveland Indians 5, (7) Pittsburgh Pirates 3