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.
A late rally by Detroit led to a walk-off victory as the Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals 4-3 in the opening round of the 2006 Tournament.
The Tigers advance to the second round to entertain the Chicago White Sox.
Kansas City starter Mark Redman began the bottom of the ninth looking for a complete game as the Royals led 3-2, but after a single by Sean Casey with one out his day was done.
Ambiorix Burgos would go to the mound and not retire a batter as he gave up three straight hits.
Placido Polanco greeted Burgos with a single to move Casey to third. Brandon Inge singled to score Casey, which tied the affair.
Curtis Granderson delighted the hometown fans with a single that had Polanco racing home with the game-winning run.
Early Lead
Kansas City jumped on Detroit starter Kenny Rogers in the first inning as the Royals built a 2-0 advantage.
Mark Grudzielanek singled and then Eric Brown tagged Rogers for a two-run homer.
Brown’s second homer of the contest, a solo shot in the fifth, put the Royals on top 3-0.
The Road Back
Limited to four hits by Redman through seven frames, Detroit found some life in the eighth.
Inge started the rally with a solo blast, while a run-scoring double by Ivan Rodriguez got the Tigers closer to set the stage for the ninth.
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
Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Minnesota Twins
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