Computer simulation: Game 1
The following is a computer simulation of the 2006 World Series provided by DYNASTY League Baseball, from the designer of Pursue the Pennant.
Molina’s sac fly in 12th edges Tigers
Yadier Molina's sacrifice fly in the 12th inning gave the St. Louis Cardinals a 6-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers in Game 1 of the 2006 World Series.
Molina, whose series-clinching homer made him the hero of the NLCS, had three hits. His liner down the left-field line off Todd Jones (0-1) was caught by a sliding Craig Monroe but allowed Scott Rolen to score the winning run.
Adam Wainright (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings and Braden Looper pitched a scoreless 12th to earn the save.
| Linescore | ||||
| St. Louis 113 000 000 01--6 | ||||
| Detroit 000 302 000 00--5 | ||||
| Boxscore | ||||
| Player | AB | R | H | RBI |
| St. Louis | ||||
| D. Eckstein, SS | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| C. Duncan, DH | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| A. Pujols, 1B | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| J. Edmonds, CF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| S. Rolen, 3B | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| S. Spiezio, DH | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| S. Taguchi, LF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Encarnacion, RF | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Y. Molina, C | 6 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| R. Belliard, 2B | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 47 | 6 | 15 | 5 |
| Detroit | ||||
| C. Granderson, CF | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| P. Polanco, 2B | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| S. Casey, 1B | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| M. Ordonez, RF | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| C. Guillen, SS | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| I. Rodriguez, C | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| C. Monroe, LF | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| M. Thames, DH | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| B. Inge, 3B | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals | 47 | 5 | 13 | 5 |
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | BB- K |
| St. Louis | ||||
| Reyes | 3.2 | 6 | 3 | 2-4 |
| Hancock | 1.2 | 2 | 2 | 0-1 |
| Kinney | 2.1 | 3 | 0 | 0-3 |
| Johnson | 1.1 | 1 | 0 | 0-1 |
| Wainwright | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 |
| Looper | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0-1 |
| Detroit | ||||
| Verlander | 3 | 9 | 5 | 1-1 |
| Grilli | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 0-0 |
| Rodney | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 2-2 |
| Zumaya | 3.0 | 2 | 0 | 2-2 |
| Jones | 2.0 | 2 | 1 | 0-1 |
The Cardinals jumped over Tigers starter Justin Verlander to build a 5-0 lead through three innings. Verlander gave up nine hits and solo homers to Rolen (second inning) and Chris Duncan (third).
Monroe's two-run homer in the fifth tied the score 5-5. It was 425-foot shot left.
Analysis: The key to Game 1 was Verlander’s poor outing, which might have been the result of too much rest and overthrowing at being pumped up for Game 1.
Leyland might have made a better choice starting the more experienced Kenny Rogers in Game 1 –- especially since the Cardinals have more trouble hitting left-handed pitching. Rogers and Verlander most likely will get two starts in a World Series destined to end up back in Detroit to determine the winner. It won’t be a short series -– these teams are too evenly matched.
La Russa decided on Anthony Reyes for his Game 1 starter in part because of spacious Comerica Park. Reyes allowed 1.8 HR/9 IP but will be helped by some of the deepest dimensions in any big-league park -- left-center (409), center field (420) and right-center (400). Reyes did allow a homer in Game 1, but he’ll have a chance at being a much better pitcher in Comerica.
Despite their 83 wins, the Cardinals have become a character team that has come through in the clutch -- they have three Clutch rated hitters in the DYNASTY League Baseball simulation, including Pujols, Spiezio and Encarnacion -- and pitching out of Jams (three Jam rated pitchers in the DNYASTY League Baseball simulation. including Carpenter, Wainwright and Suppan).
What became apparent in Game 1, is that Cardinal baserunners will challenge the weak arm of Curtis Granderson going first to third three times in the first three innings.
Another trend in the series will be the lack of stolen bases and hit-and-runs. Ivan Rodriguez and Yadier Molina both have rifle arms with quick releases making it difficult to steal or risk being thrown out. Not only are the catchers tough to run on, but pitchers such as Carpenter and Rogers are extremely tough to run on as well. No one attempted to steal in Game 1.
The result of it being so difficult to move runners is that there will be more double plays. The Cardinals grounded into four double plays in Game 1 and the Tigers into two.
Provided by DYNASTY League Baseball, from the designer of Pursue the Pennant.
