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.
John Smoltz withstood a bad inning early the game to help the Atlanta Braves to an 8-5 win over the Florida Marlins in the opening round of the 2006 Tournament.
With the victory, the Braves will now entertain the Chicago Cubs in the second round.
Smoltz gave up eight hits with seven strikeouts allowing just two hits over the last five frames.
Atlanta got off to a fast start with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first against Florida’s Dontrelle Willis.
Chipper Jones had a RBI double and Brian McCann later followed with a run-scoring single and the Braves led 2-0.
In the third, the Marlins did their damage to Smoltz.
Dan Uggla smacked a two-run double to tie the contest.
Miguel Cabrera added a single that brought home two more runs as the Marlins went on top 4-2.
Willis got in the act in the fourth as he drilled a solo homer off his pitching counterpart to give Florida a 5-2 advantage.
It took four innings, but the Braves eventually bounced back to tie it at 5-5.
The Braves picked up a run in the fourth when Smoltz grounded into a double play. Adam LaRoche doubled to begin the fifth and later scored on a single by Ryan Langerhaus. Jones had a sacrifice fly for the Braves in the seventh.
Three runs in the bottom of the eighth made the difference for the Braves. Marcus Giles put Atlanta ahead 5-4 with a RBI double. Edgar Renteria capped the rally with a two-run single.
2006 AL Tournament
Second Round Pairings
Texas Rangers at New York Yankees
Chicago White Sox at Detroit Tigers
Los Angeles Angels at Minnesota Twins
Toronto Blue Jays at Oakland Athletics
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
First Round Pairings and Results
Chicago Cubs 6, New York Mets 3
Atlanta Braves 8, Florida Marlins 5
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