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 pair of homers by Paul Konerko made the difference as he led the Chicago White Sox to a 10-8 victory over the New York Yankees in the semifinals of the 2006 American League Tournament.
With the win, the White Sox advance to the title affair to face the survivor of the Toronto Blue Jays at Los Angeles Angels semifinal contest.
The game was tied 5-5 heading into the top of the sixth as Konerko led off with a solo homer against New York starter Chien-Ming Wang to put the White Sox up for good.
Chicago added another score on a RBI single by Brian Anderson.
Both teams scored in the seventh as the White Sox maintained an 8-7 advantage.
Jim Thome hit a solo homer for the White Sox, while Bobby Abreu had RBI double and Jorge Posada added the final tally on a ground out.
Tadahito Iguchi‘s two-run homer in the top of the ninth sealed the deal for the White Sox. The Yankees added a run as Posda grounded out, but it wasn’t enough as Bobby Jenks earned the save.
Jose Contreras picked up the win as he worked into the seventh allowing 11 hits and seven runs. Mike MacDougal tossed two scoreless frames to set up Jenks.
Wang was tagged with the loss as he left with no outs in the sixth after surrendering seven runs on 13 hits.
Both teams the tone for the contest as they each scored three times in the second inning.
Juan Uribe had a two-run single before Iguchi’s RBI single made it 3-0.
The Yankees tied it on a sacrifice fly by Posada and a two-run blast by Hideki Matsui.
Abreu put the Yankees on top with a homer in the third before Matsui’s RBI single made it 5-3.
Koneko tied it in the fourth as he hit his first long ball of the game, which was a two-run shot.
2006 AL Tournament
Semifinals
Chicago White Sox 10, New York Yankees 8
Toronto Blue Jays at Los Angeles Angels
Second Round Results
New York Yankees 11, Texas Rangers 1
Chicago White Sox 10, Detroit Tigers 5
Los Angeles Angels 7, Minnesota Twins 3
Toronto Blue Jays 5, Oakland Athletics 2
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
Semifinals
Atlanta Braves at St. Louis Cardinals
Houston Astros at San Diego Padres
Second Round Results
Atlanta Braves 6, Chicago Cubs 0
St. Louis Cardinals 8, Milwaukee Brewers 1
Houston Astros 6, Washington Nationals 4
San Diego Padres 7, San Francisco Giants 6
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)