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.
Paul Konerko really liked the pitches he saw from Justin Verlander.
Konerko smacked a pair of homers as he led the Chicago White Sox to a 10-5 win over the Detroit Tigers in the second round of the 2006 Tournament.
With the victory, the White Sox are set to visit the New York Yankees during the semifinals of the American League portion of the event.
After perfect first frame, the Detroit starter surrendered a solo shot to Konerko in the second.
Verlander retired just one batter in the third as he walked Jim Thome with the bases loaded before Konerko’s grand slam ended his day as the White Sox built a 6-0 advantage.
Wil Ledezma took over on the mound for the Tigers and he walked Jermaine Dye then gave up a single to Joe Crede. A.J. Pierzynski‘s three-run blast made it 9-0.
Chicago starter Freddy Garcia ran into some trouble in the fourth as he gave up five runs, but was able to bounce back to go the distance for the White Sox.
Ivan Rodriguez started the Detroit rally with a RBI double, which was followed by a run-scoring single from Craig Monroe.
Carlos Guillen drilled a two-homer homer and Sean Casey added a solo blast as the Tigers cut their deficit to 9-5.
Crede’s sacrifice fly in the fifth was the final tally of the affair for the White Sox.
Garcia scattered four hits over the last five innings as he fanned four overall to get the win.
2006 AL Tournament
Second Round Pairings and Results
New York Yankees 11, Texas Rangers 1
Chicago White Sox 10, Detroit Tigers 5
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
Second Round Pairings
Chicago Cubs at Atlanta Braves
Milwaukee Brewers at St. Louis Cardinals
Washington Nationals at Houston Astros
San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres
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)