Editor’s note: The 2006 Tournament games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter will be used for any games involving American League teams. Injuries will only be used during the game when they occur.
Mike Cameron saved his best for the last moment.
Cameron’s walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning gave the San Diego Padres a 4-3 victory over the Houston Astros.
With the win, the Padres are set to entertain the Atlanta Braves for the National League championship contest in the 2006 Tournament.
Perhaps the biggest rally of the game was in the bottom of the ninth as the Padres scored three times to tie the affair at 3-3.
Houston starter Brandon Backe had blanked the Padres on five hits through eight innings before things went wrong.
Mike Piazza doubled with one out before he scored on another double by Brian Giles made it 3-1.
Astros manager Phil Garner had closer Chad Qualls ready, but he elected to leave Backe on the mound. It turned out to be a decision that he would regret as Khalil Greene tied the contest with a homer.
Qualls came in to retire Todd Walker for the final out to send the game to extra innings.
After Clay Hensley threw a scoreless top of the 10th, the San Diego offense quickly went to work on Qualls.
Josh Barfield single with one out and then swiped second. Cameron’s single brought home Barfield as the victory celebration began.
Astros in Control
The Astros grabbed an early lead as Luke Scott hit a solo homer off Padres starter Jake Peavey.
In the fourth, the Astros added another run when Lance Berkman single and then scored in a triple by Aubrey Huff.
Scott was at it again in the sixth as he led off the frame with another solo homer to give the Astros a 3-0 advantage.
Peavey worked seven innings allowing five hits with eight strikeouts before giving way to Scott Cassidy, who tossed a pair of scoreless innings set the stage for the comeback.
2006 AL Tournament
Championship
Toronto Blue Jays at Chicago White Sox
Semifinals
Chicago White Sox 10, New York Yankees 8
Toronto Blue Jays 7, Los Angeles Angels 2
Second Round Results
New York Yankees 11, Texas Rangers 1
Chicago White Sox 10, Detroit Tigers 5
Los Angeles Angels 7, Minnesota Twins 3
Toronto Blue Jays 5, Oakland Athletics 2
First Round Results
New York Yankees, bye
Texas Rangers 10, Boston Red Sox 4
Chicago White Sox 9, Baltimore Orioles 3
Detroit Tigers 4, Kansas City Royals 3
Minnesota Twins 11, Tampa Bay Devil Rays 4
Los Angeles Angels 4, Cleveland Indians 1
Toronto Blue Jays 7, Seattle Mariners 6
Oakland Athletics, bye
2006 NL Tournament
Championship
Atlanta Braves at San Diego Padres
Semifinals
Atlanta Braves 6, St. Louis Cardinals 1
San Diego Padres 4, Houston Astros 3 (10)
Second Round Results
Atlanta Braves 6, Chicago Cubs 0
St. Louis Cardinals 8, Milwaukee Brewers 1
Houston Astros 6, Washington Nationals 4
San Diego Padres 7, San Francisco Giants 6
First Round Results
Chicago Cubs 6, New York Mets 3
Atlanta Braves 8, Florida Marlins 5
St. Louis Cardinals 3, Colorado Rockies 1
Milwaukee Brewers 4, Philadelphia Phillies 3
Washington Nationals 13, Los Angeles Dodgers 10
Houston Astros 6, Arizona Diamondbacks 1
San Francisco Giants 9, Cincinnati Reds 5
San Diego Padres 2, Pittsburgh Pirates 1 (11)