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.
Jim Thome‘s heroics put the Chicago White Sox in the 2006 Tournament championship game.
With the score tied 6-6, Thome’s RBI double gave Chicago a walk-off 7-6 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays as the White Sox claimed the American League title.
The White Sox are set to face the winner of the National League championship, which will be decided as the Atlanta Braves visit the San Diego Padres.
Chicago closer Bobby Jenks was ready to finish off the Blue Jays in the top of the ninth as the White Sox led 6-4.
Unfortunately for Jenks, Lyle Overbay led off the frame for Toronto with his second solo homer of the game. Alex Rios doubled and then Bengie Molina singled to tie the contest.
A frustrated White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen called Matt Thornton from the bullpen, who got out of the jam as he retired Frank Catalanotto from the bullpen.
Brandon League was in his third inning of relief of Toronto starter Roy Halladay as he began the bottom of the ninth by fanning Juan Uribe.
Scott Podsednik and Tahahito Iguchi both singled off League and he was done.
B.J. Ryan took over on the mound for the Blue Jays and he retired Jermaine Dye on a shallow fly ball to right fielder Alex Rios that didn’t allow either runner to advance.
Thome’s game-winning double took care of advancing the runners as Podsednik raced home to end the affair.
A See-Saw Battle
Both teams trailed during the game and fought back to tie it.
A RBI triple by Thome in the first inning gave the White Sox an early advantage.
Toronto grabbed the lead in the top of the fourth when Troy Glaus blasted a two-run homer to make it 2-1.
However, the White Sox had an answer in the bottom of the frame with three runs to go back in front 4-2.
Brian Anderson‘s RBI double tied the contest at 2-2.
Subbing for an injured Paul Konerko, Ross Gload‘s two-run single had the White Sox dugout celebrating. Konerko went down for the remainder of the tournament during the semifinal victory over the New York Yankees.
Both teams scored in the seventh.
Overbay and Molina hit solo homers as the Blue Jays tied it at 4-4 before Podsednik’s two-run triple put the White Sox in the lead to set the stage for the wild ninth inning.
2006 AL Tournament
Championship
Chicago White Sox 7, Toronto Blue Jays 6
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)