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.
Billy Cox smacked a pair of homers and made the defensive play of the game to lead the Brooklyn Dodgers to a 4-2 victory over the Washington Senators in the opening round of the 1951 Tournament.
With the win, the Dodgers advance to the second round as they prepare to welcome the Cincinnati Reds to Ebbets Field.
Cox broke a scoreless tie with a two-run blast off Senators starter Connie Marrero in the bottom of the fifth inning.
At that point, the Senators were able to answer off Brooklyn starter Don Newcombe in the top of the sixth with a pair of runs.
Irv Noren had a RBI single that was followed by a sacrifice fly by Mickey Vernon and it was 2-2.
The Senators were working on grabbing the lead in the top of the seventh as Cass Michaels singled and Newcombe walked Pete Runnels. However, Cox was in the right place at the right time when Mike Guerra smashed a line drive at the Brooklyn third baseman, who started a triple play to end the threat.
With some momentum in the bottom of the seventh, Jackie Robinson gave the Dodgers a 3-2 lead with a run-scoring single as the day came to an end for Marrero (0-1) as he allowed seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
Cox added to Brooklyn’s advantage in the eighth with a solo shot off Mickey Harris for the final margin.
Newcombe (1-0) went the distance giving up five hits, three walks and a hit batter with seven strikeouts.
1951 Tournament
Second Round Pairings
(8) Chicago Cubs at (4) Boston Braves
(6) Cincinnati Reds at (2) Brooklyn Dodgers
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 (52-102) at (1) New York Giants (98-59)
(5) Philadelphia Phillies (73-81) at (4) Chicago White Sox (81-73)
(6) Philadelphia Athletics (70-84) at (3) St. Louis Cardinals (81-73)
(7) Pittsburgh Pirates (64-90) at (2) Cleveland Indians (93-61)