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 two-run single in the sixth inning by Al Kaline was all of the offense the Detroit Tigers needed to post a 2-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox in the third round of the 1972 Tournament.
The game-winning rally began as Dick McAuliffe singled off Red Sox starter Marty Pattin.
Aurelio Rodriguez reached on a two-base error by Boston shortstop Luis Aparicio as McAuliffe raced to third.
Kaline didn’t waste a lot of time has he drilled a single to left that gave the Tigers the lead.
Things would get interesting for Detroit starter Joe Coleman in the eighth.
Coleman walked Tommy Harper with one out, but the Boston centerfielder was thrown out by Detroit catcher Bill Freehan as he attempted to swipe second.
After Aparicio hit a grounder that was misplayed by Rodriguez, back-to-back walks to Carl Yastrzemski and Reggie Smith loaded the bases.
Detroit manager Billy Martin called Chuck Seelbach from the bullpen and he retired Rico Petrocelli on a grounder to Rodriguez.
The Red Sox were not quite finished as the were able to jam the bases again with a pair of walks and a single by Dwight Evans.
Eventually, Seelbach got Harper to hit into a double play that preserved the win for the Tigers.
Coleman (1-0) gave up four hits with four walks and six strikeouts as Seelbach surrendered a hit with two walks as the duo combined for the shutout.
Pattin (0-1) worked seven frames giving both runs on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Roger Moret and Sonny Siebert blanked the Tigers in the eighth to keep Boston’s hopes alive for the ninth.
The Tigers advance to the semifinals as they will travel to Pittsburgh. Detroit will have Woodie Fryman on the mound, while the Pirates counter with Dock Ellis.
1972 Tournament Schedule
Semifinal Pairings
(1) Detroit Tigers at (1) Pittsburgh Pirates
Third Round Results and Pairings
NL East Bracket
(1) Pittsburgh Pirates 7, (2) Chicago Cubs 3
AL East Bracket
(1) Detroit Tigers 2, (2) Boston Red Sox 0
AL West Bracket
(3) Minnesota Twins at (1) Oakland A’s
NL West Bracket
(4) Atlanta Braves at (3) Los Angeles Dodgers
Second Round Results
NL East Bracket
(1) Pittsburgh Pirates 2, (4) St. Louis Cardinals 1
(2) Chicago Cubs 9, (6) Philadelphia Phillies 1
AL East Bracket
(1) Detroit Tigers 2, (5) Cleveland Indians 0
(2) Boston Red Sox 7, (3) Baltimore Orioles 2
AL West Bracket
(1) Oakland A’s 4, (5) California Angels 1
(3) Minnesota Twins 2, (2) Chicago White Sox 1
NL West Bracket
(4) Atlanta Braves 4, (1) Cincinnati Reds 2
(3) Los Angeles Dodgers 6, (2) Houston Astros 5
First Round Results
NL East Bracket
(1) Pittsburgh Pirates, bye
(4) St. Louis Cardinals 5, (5) Montreal Expos 3
(6) Philadelphia Phillies 3, (3) New York Mets 0
(2) Chicago Cubs, bye
AL East Bracket
(1) Detroit Tigers, Bye
(5) Cleveland Indians 7, (4) New York Yankees 0
(3) Baltimore Orioles 4, (6) Milwaukee Brewers 0
(2) Boston Red Sox, bye
AL West Bracket
(1) Oakland A’s, Bye
(5) California Angels 1, (4) Kansas City Royals 0
(3) Minnesota Twins 3, (6) Texas Rangers 0
(2) Chicago White Sox, bye
NL West Bracket
(1) Cincinnati Reds, Bye
(4) Atlanta Braves 4, (5) San Francisco Giants 1
(3) Los Angeles Dodgers 4, (6) San Diego Padres 2
(2) Houston Astros, bye