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.
Minnesota pounded out 18 hits as the Twins beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 11-4 in the opening round of the 2006 Tournament.
In the second round, Minnesota is set to entertain the winner of the Cleveland Indians at Los Angeles Angels contest.
Torii Hunter, Michael Cuddyer and Joe Mauer each had three hits to lead the Twins.
Hunter got things underway with a solo homer off Devil Rays starter Scott Kazmir in the first inning.
Minnesota added a run in the second on a fielder’s choice by Luis Castillo before scoring twice in the third to build a 4-0 advantage. Cuddyer had a RBI triple, which was followed by a run-scoring double by Maurer
Tampa Bay picked up a run in the fourth off Twins starter Johan Santana on a solo homer by Jonny Gomes.
The Twins had a big response in the fifth as they scored four runs to take control of the affair with an 8-1 lead.
Rondell White knocked in the first run with a double and then he scored on Tony Batista‘s single. Nick Punto drove in the last two runs with a single.
Minnesota continued to increase its lead as Cuddyer hit a two-run bomb in the sixth before Hunter capped the Twins offensive performance with RBI single in the seventh.
Santana went the distance for the Twins to get the win, but he did surrender pair of long balls.
Jorge Cantu hit a two-run shot in the sixth with Greg Norton drilling a solo blast in the seventh.
2006 AL Tournament
First Round Pairings and 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
Cleveland Indians at Los Angeles Angels
Seattle Mariners at Toronto Blue Jays
Oakland Athletics, bye
2006 NL Tournament
First Round Pairings
Chicago Cubs at New York Mets
Florida Marlins at Atlanta Braves
Colorado Rockies at St. Louis Cardinals
Milwaukee Brewers at Philadelphia Phillies
Washington Nationals at Los Angeles Dodgers
Arizona Diamondbacks at Houston Astros
San Francisco Giants at Cincinnati Reds
Pittsburgh Pirates at San Diego Padres