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.
There was plenty of offense as the Washington Nationals were able to outlast the Los Angeles Dodgers 13-10 in the opening round of the 2006 Tournament.
Washington advances to the second round as the Nationals will visit the winner of the Arizona Diamondbacks at Houston Astros contest.
A total of seven runs were scored in the first inning at Dodger Stadium as the Nationals held a 4-3 edge in the offensive outburst.
Back-to-back RBI doubles by Ryan Church and Austin Kearns began things for the Nationals as Alfonso Soriano‘s two-run triple made it 4-0 against Dodgers starter Derek Lowe.
Nationals starter John Patterson didn’t have much luck either as he gave up a run-scoring single to Nomar Garciaparra and later a two-run triple to Jeff Kent.
Both teams added a run in the second. Church and Dodger shortstop Rafael Furcal knocked in a run with a single and the Nationals still led 5-4.
The Dodgers took a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the third on Kent’s two-run single.
In the top of the fourth, the Nationals scored twice to go in front 7-6. Church drove in a run with a triple and Kearns added a RBI single.
Lowe’s day ended in the fifth as the Nationals scored five times to go on top 12-6.
Felipe Lopez got the rally underway with a RBI single before Kearns brought home two more with a single.
Washington added a run on an error before Brian Schneider‘s sacrifice fly capped the inning. Schneider was the only Nationals starter that didn’t have of their 16 hits.
Los Angeles cut its deficit in half with three runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Andre Ethier had a sacrifice fly before Wilson Betemit‘s two-run homer made it 12-9.
Patterson was able to get the win on the mound for the Nationals as left the after the fifth.
Saul Rivera tossed the next three frames for the Nationals giving up a RBI single to Garciaparra in the eighth, while Chad Cordero worked a scoreless ninth to earn the save.
The Nationals scored their last run in the sixth on Jose Vidro‘s RBI single off Joe Beimel.
Church and Kearns led the Nationals with three hits each, while Kent topped the Dodgers with three hits.
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
St. Louis Cardinals 3, Colorado Rockies 1
Milwaukee Brewers 4, Philadelphia Phillies 3
Washington Nationals 13, Los Angeles Dodgers 10
Arizona Diamondbacks at Houston Astros
San Francisco Giants at Cincinnati Reds
Pittsburgh Pirates at San Diego Padres