tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17762108460264256032024-03-19T03:34:08.626-07:00B.A.R.B. (Bullard Alternative Reality Baseball)A blog dedicated to the doings of the Bullard community's computer-based baseball simulation...Scott Hatfield . . . .http://www.blogger.com/profile/00363885800131794994noreply@blogger.comBlogger848125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776210846026425603.post-6113636905931494812019-02-03T22:04:00.001-08:002019-02-03T22:08:33.193-08:00FIRST ROUND: BROOKLYN VS CAROLINA<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The combined regular season win total of the Cactus Leagues’ 2nd
and 3rd seeds was 204, easily the most combined victories of any 2018 playoff
matchup. Carolina, led by infielders Eric Hosmer (.330, 42 doubles and 24
homers) and Jon Schoop (.282, 32 HR, 99 RBI), finished with 112 victories and
only a win in game 163 away from their first division title. On the other side
Brooklyn fielded a 92-win squad led by 1B Freddie Freeman (.289, 74 XBH, 107
RBI) and All-Star game MVP Francisco Lindor (54 doubles, 30 HR, 104 RBI). The
regular season series was won 9-5 in favor of Carolina but there were only a
9-run differential between the two teams in those 14 games. Would this series
be more of the same or will Brooklyn come out on top?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<u><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">GAME
1: Brooklyn @ Carolina<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Game
1 featured two pitchers who finished in the upper echelon of the League Cy
Young award race. For Carolina, Chad Green, who ultimately would finish 2nd to
Brownsville’s Corey Kluber, began the season as a dominant high-leverage
reliever and turned into a reliable short inning starter and would finish the
season with a great stat line (14-3, 2.13 ERA, 13.7 K/9). Green quickly
disposed of the first 3 batters of Brooklyn’s lineup as Christian Yelich struck
out, Mitch Haniger popped out to Schoop and Lindor grounded out back to the
mound. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Opposite
of Green was Brooklyn starter Justin Verlander who was one of three Brooklyn
starters to put up Cy Young worthy numbers (15-9, 290 K’s in 223 IP, 1.16
WHIP). While Verlander had had a good season his half of the inning was not
quite as quick as Green’s as he walked Eric Hosmer and Josh Donaldson to open
the game. Carolina then took the lead on an RBI single by Yasiel Puig.
Verlander looked to be settling down a bit when he fired in two quick strikes
to Michael Conforto but the young outfielder proceeded to launch the next pitch
deep into the seats in right field to give Carolina a 4-0 lead! Carolina
continued to threaten in the bottom of the 1st but Verlander got Tucker
Barnhart to ground out to third with two men on to end the inning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After
Green shut down the top of the 2nd, the Wildcats were at it again in the bottom
half. Verlander struck out Hosmer but then walked Donaldson, allowed a single
to Puig, then walked Conforto to load the bases before he was pulled. The
usually steady veteran only recorded 4 outs while walking 5 in 1.1 innings of
work. Mid-season acquisition Brad Peacock came in for him and proceeded to do
what he was brought in for inducing a ground ball to second but it was just
slow enough for Avisail Garcia to beat the throw to first, scoring Donaldson
from third. Things fell apart for Peacock as well after that as he walked
Schoop scoring Puig, bringing up Colin Moran with the bases loaded. Moran, who
played pretty much exclusively against right handed pitching hitting .291 with
a .805 OPS in 230 ABs, worked the count to 2-1 then laced a perfect gap shot to
left center that scored two! Peacock, still in the game, then hit Odubel
Herrera with a pitch loading the bases again. This time however the righty
struck out the next two batters ending the 2nd inning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After
the first two innings though the bats stayed quiet for both teams until
Brooklyn had a legitimate chance to score a few runs in the 7th. Green started
the inning and immediately gave up a single to Willson Contreras that would
chase him after 6+ innings of 4 hit ball with 11 Ks. With an 8 run lead
Carolina brought in Bud Norris and he walked Ben Zobrist on five pitches.
Norris then got Odor to fly out, advancing the runner to 3rd, but hit Ian Desmond
loading the bases. Tom Murphy then struck out on a payoff pitch bringing up
Christian Yelich who would sky the very next pitch out to Puig in right to end
the inning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Brooklyn’s
last shot to at least score a run or two came 2 innings later when new Wildcats
pitcher Dominic Leone walked Contreras to open the inning before getting pulled
for former MOAB Sonny Gray. Gray, taken off of Brooklyn’s roster in the 2016
draft, fired in a ball and a strike to Daniel Murphy before Murphy ensured his
team wouldn’t be held scoreless by crushing a high fastball deep over the right
field fence! Anthony King decided he had seen enough of the short right hander
and brought in trade deadline addition Adam Ottavino to close the game out. He
did his job, and the Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the series.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FINAL:
CAROLINA 8, BROOKLYN 2 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<u><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">GAME
2: BROOKLYN @ CAROLINA, CAROLINA LEADS 1-0<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After
watching one of their aces get tagged for 7 earned runs Brooklyn turned to
another in Madison Bumgarner, who missed some time during the regular season
but turned in a stellar season otherwise (10-4, 2.62 ERA, 1.05 WHIP).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Starting
on the mound for Carolina in the top of the 1st was the Wildcats ace, Clayton
Kershaw, who in 26 regular season starts went 17-2 with a 2.43 ERA and finished
top 5 in Cy Young Voting as well. Kershaw lost the leadoff batter Lindor on a
full count but made quick work of the rest of the inning getting 3 outs in 8
pitches. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bumgarner
got off to a fast start retiring David Freese and Avisail Garcia in 3 pitches
total. But Josh Donaldson worked a two-out walk that brought up Jon Schoop.
Schoop was arguably the Wildcats best hitter during the regular season and he
continued his strong run by crushing the third pitch of the AB deep down the
left field line to give the Wildcats a quick 2-0 lead in game 2! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After
a quick 2nd frame Brooklyn started the 3rd with some promise as Kershaw walked
the first two batters in the inning but responded by getting Lindor to ground
into a double play. Freddie Freeman stepped up with a runner on 3rd and two
outs. On the 4th pitch of the AB Freeman smashed a curveball that hung a bit
too much to deep right field, the right fielder Puig retreated to the track
before making the catch just feet away from the wall saving the run and ending
the 3rd.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another
quick inning by Bumgarner and Brooklyn was back on the offensive. Christian
Yelich stepped up with one gone and worked the count to a favorable 3-1 forcing
Kershaw to come right at him and after Yelich fouled off four straight pitches,
the Wildcats ace hung another one of those big curveballs and this time Yelich
didn’t miss. Again Puig raced back to the wall but quickly ran out of room as
he watched the ball sail over the wall and into the stands. The homer cut the
Wildcats lead in half and gave Brooklyn some needed momentum in an important
game 2. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kershaw
and Bumgarner continued to duel, only giving up one hit combined in the next 3
1/2 innings. To start the 8th however it was Carolina who blinked first and it
would end up costing them as Blake Parker would relieve Kershaw after 7 full
innings of 1 hit ball with 10 Ks. Parker, who was very solid in the regular
season, struck out Albert Almora but walked Jose Peraza and allowed him to
steal a base. Peraza then advanced to 3rd on Ben Zobrist’s fly out to left
field and with two outs and a man on 3rd holding a 1-run lead, the usually
reliable reliever lost the handle on a pitch down and away allowing the run to
score to tie the game at 2! Parker looked to be a little overwhelmed after the
wild pitch as he fell behind to Francisco Lindor 3-1 but Lindor swing at a
potential ball four and grounded out to first to end the frame. The damage had
been done however and, with Carolina going down quietly in the 8th, the game
was tied going into the final inning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Blake
Parker stayed in the game for the 9th and he seemed to settle down quite a bit
as he quickly disposed of the 2,3,and 4 hitters in Brooklyn’s lineup. The MOABS
finally decided to pull Bumgarner after 8 innings of 2-run ball and decided to
go with steady Jeurys Familia to send the game to extras. He got Avisail Garcia
to a 1-2 count before inducing soft contact on a groundout to 3rd, bringing up
Josh Donaldson with one away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Donaldson,
hitless in the game but responsible for drawing a walk just before Schoop’s
home run back in the 1st, took the first pitch for a ball, then smashed the
next pitch DEEP down the left field lineeeee… JUST FOUL! A visibly shaken
Familia then missed low with a sinker before delivering the next pitch, an
inside fastball, that Donaldson would crush down the left field line again but
this time it would stay fair for a walk-off solo shot!! The Wildcats would
celebrate at the plate knowing that one win over the next three games would
earn them a spot in the next round.. but they would have to go through Brooklyn
ace Max Scherzer on the road if they wanted to make it a clean sweep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FINAL:
CAROLINA 3, BROOKLYN 2 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<u><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">GAME
3: CAROLINA @ BROOKLYN, CAROLINA LEADS 2-0<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
a huge Game 3 for Brooklyn at home, the MOABS would turn to yet another Cy
Young contender in Scherzer who finished the regular year 2nd in strikeouts
with 312 and a 1.11 WHIP in 218.2 IP. And after he threw a scoreless beginning
frame Brooklyn would try to strike first against Carolina starter Dallas
Keuchel. Keuchel had a good regular season going 18-7 with a 3.22 ERA but he
found himself in some trouble early on. The leadoff man Lindor scored then
advanced to second on a groundout before Willson Contreras banged a single
between Schoop and Hosmer that would score Lindor after Puig chose not to make
the risky throw home giving Brooklyn a 1-0 lead! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Carolina
would respond in the 3rd via an RBI single by Yasiel Puig and would take the
lead in the next inning when Keuchel helped himself with a bloop single that
scored Colin Moran from second.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Wildcats were at it again just an inning later as Donaldson re-created his
majestic homer from the night before with another blast to make it 3-1.
Scherzer’s day was done in the 6th after walking the leadoff batter and Zach
Britton relieved him. Carolina capitalized again scoring two more runs in the
inning, making it 5-1 after 6. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Brooklyn
showed signs of life in the 7th as Almora doubled off the wall then Zobrist
continued his hot series by smoking an RBI triple down the right field line and
chasing Keuchel in the process. Dominic Leone would come in and strike out
Lindor however, ending the threat. Adam Ottavino, Blake Parker, and Brad Hand
would combine for the final two innings and seal the series sweep for the
Wildcats. The Brooklyn players could only watch from the home dugout while
watching Carolina celebrate on the mound. The Wildcats would await the winner
of the Yuma-Casselton series to see who their next opponent would be on their
quest for their first World Championship. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FINAL:
CAROLINA 5, BROOKLYN 2, CAROLINA WINS SERIES 3-0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /><br />
<br />
Andrew Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024898814168249094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776210846026425603.post-39453475678408112112018-12-31T00:00:00.006-08:002018-12-31T00:00:58.556-08:00FIRST ROUND: FROSTBITE FALLS VS ST. FRANCIS<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It is
becoming a tradition: the teams of Scott Hatfield and Andrew Haynes squaring off
in the BARB playoffs. From their first meeting in the 2003 World Series through
2016, Haynes’ Santa Barbara Storm and Frostbite Falls Flying Squirrels were
masterful against Hatfield’s Delta V’s, Darwin Finches and St. Francis
Friars/Kansans, taking three World Series and one divisional-round title. The
2016 series was the first to go the distance, with Frostbite Falls escaping in
the fifth game of the best-of-five.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In 2017,
the Kansans flipped the script. After taking the Grapefruit division in
commanding fashion, Hatfield’s charges had little trouble with Haynes’ Cactus
wild card squad, sweeping the series in three games.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The 2018
regular-season series went the way of St. Francis, though not by much the Kansans
took eight of the 14 games between the two but only outscored Frostbite Falls
by six in those 14 matchups. Their seven-game difference in the standing was
somewhat deceiving, with the Flying Squirrels turning in a slightly better
margin of runs scored against runs allowed than their hosts. So how would this
series turn out?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">GAME 1: FROSTBITE FALLS @ ST. FRANCIS<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">For Game 1 at The Monastery, the Kansans chose to start
crafty veteran Rich Hill, who had a history of solid playoff performances – as well
as a couple great starts in 2018 – against his former squad. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Immediately, the Squirrels put together a rally. Alex Bregman
singled to center and advanced on a swinging bunt groundout, then Nick Hundley
punched a seeing-eye single up the middle to score the speedy Bregman for a 1-0
lead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Opposing Hill was hard-throwing James Paxton. With an early
lead, Paxton promptly walked Jose Altuve and went to a full count on Justin
Turner, but a double play erased the runner and ended the threat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Kansans went down quietly in the second, but Kike
Hernandez tripled to open the third. Surely, the hosts would tie the score,
right? Nope. Strike out, pop out, ground out and the Big Maple got his team off
the field with the lead intact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Their pitcher stranding the runner gave momentum to the
Squirrels offense, and they capitalized with a two-run fourth. Josh Reddick was
nailed by Hill’s first offering of the frame, and with one out he stole second
base. A groundout put him at third, but the tally wasn’t confirmed until Elvis
Andrus hammered a 2-2 offering to left field – a 3-0 advantage for the
visitiors!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Frostbite Falls continued to put pressure on St. Francis
pitching, but they were unable to tack on insurance despite a leadoff triple in
the sixth and Mike Trout walk and stolen base to open the seventh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Paxton, meanwhile, issued just two walks from the fourth
through the sixth, and he was under 100 pitches into the seventh. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">That’s when the Kansans showed life with the bats. Turner
opened with a single, and with one out Eugenio Suarez lined a hit to center
field. Squirrels manager Mike Noakes went to the ‘pen, installing Justin Wilson
to face Wilson Ramos. There was no <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Improvement</i>
for the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Home</i>-standing Kansans, as
Frostbite took the Wilson-Wilson battle thanks to a can of corn to right field.
Tim Beckham then grounded back to the mound in a pinch-hitting appearance to
strand both runners.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Turner tried to kick-start a last-ditch rally in the ninth,
but his leadoff double went for naught as Josh Fields and Corey Knebel finished
things off. There would be no St. Francis sweep of Frostbite Falls this time
around, and the Flying Squirrels had wrested home-field advantage from their
counterparts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #002060; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">FINAL: FROSTBITE FALLS 3, ST. FRANCIS 0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">GAME 2: FROSTBITE FALLS @ ST. FRANCIS, FROSTBITE FALLS LEADS
1-0<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The second game started much the same as the first, with the
visiting Squirrels putting up a run before the Kansans even came to bat. In
fact, before any of the other 17 hitters starting the game stepped to the dish,
Mike Trout clobbered Walker Buehler’s second pitch of the game out of the park
to left-center, stunning a Kansans crowd that had yet to settle into their
seats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">St. Francis, facing another youngster in Jack Flaherty,
earned a pair of walks in the home half but couldn’t put either across.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A two-on, one-out situation in the third came up empty for
the hosts. In the fourth they did the same – but finally came up with a clutch
hit. Eugenio Suarez and Kyle Schwarber walked, and Wilson Ramos blooped into
left field. Suarez was sent around third as Adam Eaton’s throw came toward Gary
Sanchez. The normally stone-gloved Sanchez caught the throw on a hop, turned
and swiped at Suarez…OUT! The Kansans were held off the board once again, and
the Frostbite lead held.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Sanchez, apparently hyped up after his tag, found an extra
gear and beat out an infield single to start the fifth. With one out, he
motored to third base on and Elvis Andrus double. Trout was walked
intentionally to load the base with two down, and Eaton fell behind 1-2. That’s
when Buehler lost the handle on a slider, and it pegged Eaton in the thigh to
drive in a run and double the Frostbite lead!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After three tough innings in the first four, Flaherty settled
down and retired eight in a row. He issued his sixth walk with two out in the
seventh and was sent to the showers after 110 pitches while Brad Boxberger
finished the frame. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Still leading, 2-0, the Flying Squirrels tacked on one more
in the eighth. Trout singled against Josh Hader and then sprinted all the way
around on a Nick Hundley pinch-double.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Boxberger, Adam Morgan and Corey Knebel had little trouble
setting down St. Francis in the final two innings, and Frostbite Falls came
away with their second win on the road – giving them two chances to take the
series at home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #002060; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">FINAL: FROSTBITE FALLS 3, ST. FRANCIS 0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">GAME 3: ST. FRANCIS @ FROSTBITE FALLS, FROSTBITE FALLS LEADS
2-0<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In need of just one win with two chances at Rocky Top @ Bullwinkle
Corner, the Flying Squirrels put veteran right-hander Jake Arrieta on the mound
to face Charlie Morton.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Despite a walk and an error in the top of the first, Arrieta
kept his composure and induced an inning-ending double play to extend St.
Francis’ scoreless streak in the series to 19 innings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Frostbite Falls, on the other hand, continued their habit of
scoring in the first. Mike Trout singled and stole second base and Adam Eaton
walked. Paul Goldschmidt, silent in the series, continued his cold spell with a
force out – though his hustle kept the home team out of a double play. The
fruits of his hustle showed two batters later, as Alex Bregman soared a fly
ball deep to right with the bases loaded. It didn’t go out, but with one down
it was enough to bring Trout across with the game’s first run. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The game was quiet until the bottom of the fourth. Bregman
singled and stole second base, and with one out Morton was replaced in favor of
Cole Hamels with the Kansans in emergency mode on the brink of elimination.
Hamels did his job and induced weak contact…but it was TOO weak. Josh Reddick
beat out a 20-bouncer toward second base to put runners on the corners. Stephen
Strasburg entered and hit Elvis Andrus, loading the bases, but Yoan Moncada
struck out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">That turned the lineup over for Trout. Strasburg tried to
sneak a fastball by Trout on the outside, but the slugging righty went with it
and laced the ball into the right-field corner. All three runners scored, sending
the crowd into a frenzy with their team just innings away from a sweep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The aforementioned scoreless streak turned in by Flying
Squirrels pitching continued on through the fourth, reaching 22 frames in the
series without allowing a run. That abruptly came to a halt in the fifth, when
Adam Duvall homered to bring the Kansans within three.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Two innings later, St. Francis struck again. Arrieta, clearly
tiring, gave up two singles around a strikeout of Duvall. Kyle Schwarber was
put in to pinch-hit for Wilson Ramos, but Justin Wilson trotted out of the
bullpen and struck out the slugger on three pitches. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Maybe Wilson should have remained in the game. Wilson’s job
done, erstwhile Kansans reliever Ken Giles entered prepared face a string of his
former teammates, all right-handed hitters. He hit the first, Justin Turner, to
load the bases, and Jose Altuve jumped on a hanging breaking ball. The line
drive dropped in shallow center field, scoring two runners. Josh Fields took
over and walked J.D. Martinez to load the bases, but Eugenio Suarez grounded
out to end the inning. The damage was done, however – St. Francis was right back
in the game, down 4-3.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Fields tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning, and after Josh Hader
walked Goldschmidt to open the bottom of the eighth Kenley Jansen made an
appearance. Goldschmidt, though, put himself in scoring position with a stolen
base, and he advance to third on a Matt Holliday fly out. Bregman then grounded
toward the right side. The infield was in, but Altuve had to lunge to his left
and was out of position to make the throw home. Goldschmidt scored, giving an
insurance run to Frostbite Falls as they went to the ninth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The 8-9-1 hitters were due up for St. Francis. Andrew Heaney
got Didi Gregorius to pop out. Kike Hernandez was announced as a pinch-hitter
for Schwarber, but the Squirrels countered with Corey Knebel. A ground out and
a Turner strikeout followed, sending the underdog Flying Squirrels onto the
field in celebration while Scott Hatfield lamented the new league policy of
allowing the division’s fourth-best team into the playoffs – taking away what
would have been a bye for his squad. Instead, he would have to watch from home
a year after coming within a game of taking his first World Championship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Squirrels, meanwhile, celebrated their sweep and awaited
the winner of the Brownsville-Oakland series to find out who they would face in
an attempt to advance to the 2018 World Series.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #002060; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">FINAL: FROSTBITE FALLS 5, ST. FRANCIS 3.
FROSTBITE FALLS WINS SERIES, 3-0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Andrew Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024898814168249094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776210846026425603.post-53058080218317056962018-12-30T20:39:00.001-08:002018-12-30T20:40:32.922-08:00FIRST ROUND: OAKLAND VS BROWNSVILLE<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The
Grapefruit Division’s 2-3 matchup featured the closest pairing of win-loss
records of any of the four first-round games. As can be expected, the series
went the distance, though there was a surprise before a single pitch was
thrown: The Cutters left Manny Machado, who had a horrid regular season (.227,
26 HR, 78 RBI) OFF their roster, instead leaving the hot corner to Kyle Seager
(.291, 16 HR) and shortstop to Paul DeJong (.256, 28 HR).</span></i></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">GAME 1: BROWNSVILLE @ OAKLAND<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Despite the absence of Machado, the visiting Cutters struck
first against the host Larks, and in a big way. Kyle Hendricks, who turned in a
solid 13-6, 3.31 regular season, threw a middling 21 pitches in the top half of
the first…but was lucky to record three outs. Brownsville’s first three hitters
all singled, and Shohei Ohtani lofted a one-out sacrifice fly to bring in the
game’s first run. DeJong then made the Brown bros look like geniuses by pulling
a first-pitch three-run blast over the left-field fence at PNC Park. Scooter
Gennett then wasted little time adding one to the tally, going deep for a solo
shot on the second offering he saw.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Hendricks came out for the second and faced one batter,
hanging a breaking ball for Yasmani Grandal to pound into center field for a
hit, before Oakland management saw fit to bring in Marco Estrada. A run would
score after a few outs on the bases, as Jose Abreu drove in Aaron Judge with a
single. Before the home fans had even settled into their seats, their team was
down by 6.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Oakland got on the board in the third frame with a Charlie
Blackmon bases-loaded sacrifice fly, but the Cutters answered on a Seager oppo
taco in the fourth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Going into the fifth, Brownsville southpaw Joey Lucchesi was
in control. He had struck out five through four innings while giving up four
hits and three walks. Going through the heart of the order for a third time
appeared dangerous, however. He walked the leadoff man on four pitches and then
committed an error to put runners on the corners with no outs. A pair of
singles scored a run and then loaded the bases, bringing up Robinson Chirinos.
Despite a paltry .223 average in the regular season, the platoon backstop was
more than capable against lefties. His .294 mark with 10 blasts in 102 at-bats
in the campaign were predictive, as he fell behind in the count but launched a
grand slam to left-center. All of a sudden, the Larks had pulled to within one
run. A pair of outs in the air sandwiched a walk, but with Lucchesi just over
100 pitches and two of the last three batters retired, he was left in to face
Chris Taylor. Taylor had singled in the first but struck out the next two
times. This go-round, a 2-2 curve was hammered to straight away center field.
Jay Bruce pivoted and sprinted, but he ran out of room as the ball just
disappeared for an 8-7 Oakland lead!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After that, the game flew by. Judge reached twice more in the
contest, but those were the only times the visitors had a man on base through
their final four turns. The Larks tallied 15 strikeouts of Brownsville hitters
and issued only one free pass, as the bullpen shut down the Cutters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: yellow; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">FINAL: OAKLAND 8, BROWNSVILLE 7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">GAME 2: BROWNSVILLE @ OAKLAND, OAKLAND LEADS 1-0<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After seeing a big lead slip through their hands, the
Brownsville Cutters were determined to even up their best-of-five series on
Oakland’s turf.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In stark contrast to Game 1, there weren’t any crooked
numbers in this second contest. In fact, no one crossed the plate at all in the
prescribed nine innings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Larks came closest in the early going, as Nolan Arenado
doubled to open the second. He was stranded there, however, when Corey Kluber
induced a ground out and K’d two more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Klubot” erred human in the sixth with a pair of one-out
walks, but Arenado hit into a 6-4-3 and the side was retired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The seventh was Brownsville’s opportunity to threaten the
goose eggs. Two singles put men on the corners with none out, but their rally
petered out with a pop up and two strikeouts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The game was scoreless through nine innings, and neither team
put a runner on base in the first inning and a half of extra frames. It
continued as such all the way into the 13<sup>th</sup>. With two down, Alex
Colome allowed a single to Tyler Flowers – the only base runner other than a
hit batter since he took the hill to start the 11<sup>th</sup>. The Larks then put
in left Ryan Buchter to set up a platoon matchup with Kyle Seager. The count
went full. Buchter offered an inside fastball, and Seager turned and CRUSHED it
down the right-field line…FAIR. HOME RUN! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The two-run blast was enough for Felipe Rivero to close the
game out, squaring the series at one win apiece after one of the longest
playoff games in BARB history!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ed7d31; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">FINAL: BROWNSVILLE 2,
OAKLAND 0 (13)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">GAME 3: OAKLAND @ BROWNSVILLE, SERIES TIED 1-1<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Much like Game 2, the third contest between the Grapefruit’s
2<sup>nd</sup>- and 3<sup>rd</sup>-place teams began slowly. Blake Snell and
Jacob deGrom matched zeroes for four innings, with three walks scattered by
Snell and two harmless hits against deGrom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Starling Marte had the first hit, in the second inning,
before being thrown out attempting to steal. His second time up was a leadoff assignment
in the fifth. After falling behind, Marte evened the count at 2-2 and fouled
away a couple of pitches. Finally, deGrom made a mistake. In just a matter of
seconds, the ball was a souvenir in the left-field bleachers at Cockerton
Field, a 1-0 Oakland lead! The Larks added a second tally that inning, with Dee
Gordon drawing a walk and scoring on a Robinson Chirinos double into the left
field corner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Entering the sixth, Snell was still working on a no-hitter.
Javier Baez brought that, and the shutout, to an end with a blast to
left-center to make it a 2-1 ballgame.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The home run spelled the end of Snell’s day, though he
finished the frame. Hunter Strickland entered for the seventh, and in a flash
the hosts were close to tying the game as Kyle Seager stroked a leadoff double.
A Jose Abreu single put two on with none out. Paul DeJong, hitless since his
home run in the first inning of Game 1, had a chance to be a hero, but in a 2-0
count he hit a worm-burner to shortstop Chris Taylor, who was playing in.
Seager broke on contact but was thrown out at the plate. The next two hitters
both struck out, and Strickland stared down the Cutters dugout as he walked off
the mound with the lead intact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The failed attempt to score seemed to demoralize the
Brownsville crowd, and they were further silenced by Oakland’s top of the
eighth. Carl Edwards walked Taylor and allowed a single with one out. Nolan
Arenado grounded to first, where Abreu fired to the plate…JUST LATE! Taylor
came across with a big insurance run for the visitors. After a strikeout,
Felipe Rivero came on to face Juan Soto, a lefty swinger who had harassed
southpaws in his freshman season to the tune of a .957 OPS. Playing the
traditional matchup didn’t work in favor of Brownsville, as Soto victimized
Rivero with a three-run round tripper to break the game open!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Cutters showed signs of life in the home half of the
eighth, scoring twice, but Jay Bruce struck out with the bases loaded,
representing the potential go-ahead run, to end the threat. Brownsville didn’t
put a runner on base in the bottom of the ninth, moving one loss from
elimination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: yellow; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">FINAL: OAKLAND 6, BROWNSVILLE 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">GAME 4: OAKLAND @ BROWNSVILLE, OAKLAND LEADS 2-1<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The first three games of the best-of-5 were seesaw battles,
with Oakland and Brownsville trading big innings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Game 4 was no different – at least for the home side. The host
Cutters, in potentially their final home game of the season, wasted no time in
barraging Oakland lefty Sean Newcomb. Tyler Flowers, in the leadoff spot for
the second game in a row, drew a walk to open the bottom of the first. Javier
Baez singled, and then Aaron Judge hit a monstrous blast down the left-field
line and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nearly</i> out of the entire
stadium for a three-run homer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Jose Martinez followed Judge with a double, and when Kyle
Seager cleared the center field wall the crowd erupted. Five batters, five
runs, no outs for Brownsville!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Newcomb settled down and induced three groundouts, but the
damage was done. A Flowers solo shot in the second made it 6-0, but Newcomb
pitched into the fifth inning to help save Oakland’s bullpen for the
nearly-certain Game 5. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">For the hosts, Collin McHugh was in control for six shutout
innings. He gave up two hits and walked one while striking out four in a
sterling 77-pitch effort. Three relievers combined for the final three frames
and preserved the shutout, sending the series to a decisive Game 5!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ed7d31; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">FINAL: BROWNSVILLE 6,
OAKLAND 0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">GAME 5: BROWNSVILLE @ OAKLAND, SERIES TIED 2-2<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In Game 1, Kyle Hendricks was bombed by the visiting Brownsville
Cutters for six runs in one-plus inning. For Game 5, the Oakland Larks turned
to him again, confident that their ace could wrap up a divisional-round playoff
spot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">On the other side, Brownsville made the decision to bring
back Game 2 hero Corey Kluber on short rest. Kluber struck out 11 in 7 2/3 shutout
innings in the second game, though he didn’t factor in the decision as his
Cutters won it in the 13<sup>th</sup>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Brownsville went down in order in the top of the first, but
after Kluber struck out Chris Taylor to open the home half, Daniel Murphy lined
a double to right-center. Charlie Blackmon struck out. Nolan Arenado saw a
pitch skip to the backstop, putting Murphy at third base. Arenado singled to
left to score Murphy and put the hosts up, 1-0.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Oakland threatened again in the third, also seeing a Kluber
wild pitch put a runner on third base, but they didn’t add to their lead until
the fourth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">With one out in the bottom of the fourth, David Peralta,
hitless in the series to that point, turned on a slider and put it in the bullpen
past the right field fence to double the Larks’ advantage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Cutters offense, meanwhile, was being shut down by
Hendricks. Kyle Seager singled to open the fourth but didn’t move past first,
and a two-out Scooter Gennett base hit in the fifth was quickly rendered null.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In the bottom of the fifth, Dee Gordon worked a full count
against Kluber and lined a single to left. The speedster stole second and
promptly sprinted home on a Taylor flare to shallow left, giving Oakland a 3-0 advantage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">All that was left was for the Larks to shut the door.
Hendricks walked the leadoff man in the sixth before a force play and double
play erased the runner, and he gave way to Mike Minor for the seventh. Minor
tossed two perfect frames. Oakland handed closer Alex Colome the ball for the
ninth, and all he did was retire the side in order – handing Jay Parks his
first playoff series win in BARB!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: yellow; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">FINAL: OAKLAND 3, BROWNSVILLE 0. OAKLAND WINS
SERIES, 3-2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A tight series, but the team with home-field advantage came
out on top. Oakland set their sights on the next round, in which they would
either take on Grapefruit champion St. Francis or fourth-seed Frostbite Falls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Andrew Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024898814168249094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776210846026425603.post-49762920309324033482018-02-04T23:24:00.003-08:002018-02-04T23:24:44.865-08:00WORLD SERIES GAME 7<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Both teams have had their chances to take
control and claim the Cup. So far, neither could establish the momentum needed
to put away the other. So it comes down to this. The St. Francis Kansans at the
Yuma Firebirds in Game 7 of a hotly-contested 2017 BARB World Series. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Coming off a
blowout loss in Game 6, you’d figure the Kansans might be in shock and
struggling to get energized for the rubber match.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Not so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The visitors
had their ace, Stephen Strasburg, on the mound for the third time in the World
Series. In the opener, he struck out 11 and allowed just one run while pitching
into the seventh. Game 4 saw a quicker hook in an attempt to keep him fresh for
a start in just this situation. He still pitched five strong frames, giving up
two runs and striking out 7. Including a dominant performance in the first game
of the division series, where he wiped the floor with the Frostbite Falls
Flying Squirrels to the tune of 13 Ks and one run in six innings, the San
Diego-born righty had a 2.04 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 17.2 innings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Needless to
say, Kansans owner Scott Hatfield was bullish on his chances for a first BARB
title. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Oddly enough,
however, Yuma figurehead Chris Melkonian was also optimistic. He figured his
offense’s familiarity with Strasburg would come out in his favor, and that by
the end of the night his Firebirds would be hoisting a fifth BARB Cup in the
league’s 15-year history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">On the mound
for the hosts, and on full rest, was Game 3 starter Carlos Carrasco. In this
situation just two years earlier, the right-hander was masterful in shutting
down the New England Yankee Stompers on one hit over eight innings and scoring
the only run in a Game 7 victory for the Firebirds. Earlier in this Fall
Classic, however, Carrasco got rocked, allowing five runs on six hits in under
five innings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As soon as the
first inning of Game 7 started, it seemed recent history would repeat itself. After
a walk and a single, Cody Bellinger took a vicious cut at a 1-2 pitch…and
HAMMERED the ball DEEP to right center…..GONE! St. Francis struck first in the
winner-take-all contest with a crooked number before Yuma even came to bat!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">At the end of
one, that lead had been cut by a run – Dexter Fowler, on Strasburg’s second
pitch of the night, launched a dinger of his own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The rest of
that frame passed quietly, but Anthony Rendon opened the home half of the
second with a ringing double off the left-field fence. Following a pair of
strikeouts, Brett Gardner took a borderline full-count pitch to put two on
base. Mike Zunino scored Rendon with a seeing-eye single, and after another
walk loaded the bases Joey Votto pulled a double down the line to score two
more and give Yuma a 4-3 lead!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The home crowd
re-awakened, Carrasco promptly allowed back-to-back doubles in the top of the
third. The score once again knotted up, Carrasco was pulled in favor of Jose
Quintana. The southpaw’s first offering saw the same fate as Carrasco’s final
two pitches, as Justin Turner dumped a bloop on the chalk for two bases and an
RBI giving St. Francis the lead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Bellinger made
it four doubles in four batters with a line drive to right-center (about 100
feet short of his blast in the first) to plate Turner and put the Kansans up,
6-4.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Unfazed, Yuma’s
Rendon turned on a Strasburg fastball and parked it in the bleachers in left
field with a man on in the bottom of the third. In the blink of an eye, it was
back to a tie. Strasburg indeed was struggling to fool the Firebirds, and he made
it only two outs into the fourth before a Mookie Betts triple knocked him from
the ballgame.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The three-bagger
didn’t damage the score, as Josh Hader struck out pinch-hitter Ben Zobrist to
end the frame, but it was a foreshadowing of things to come. Hader pitched a
perfect fifth and got the first out of the sixth before giving way to Trevor
Cahill. In hindsight, maybe the Kansans should have kept the young southpaw in
the game – Cahill went to full counts on each of the three hitters he faced,
and he lost them all to free passes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In came Chris
Devenski, still fatigued from pitching in both Game 4 and 5, to face Betts.
Mookie fell behind at 1-2, but Devenski couldn’t bury the changeup enough and
the ball was ripped down the right-field line. Two runs scored, giving Yuma an
8-6 lead. Zobrist stepped up and worked the count full before getting a hold of
a Devenski fastball that clearly didn’t have its normal zip. It sailed DEEP
toward right. Marcell Ozuna got on his horse and leaped at the wall in an
attempt to flag it down….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">GONE!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A stunning
blast from light-hitting Zobrist completed the turning of the tide. After
taking the momentum with a three-run first and their best starter on the mound,
the St. Francis Kansans had been outgunned, overwhelmed at their own game of demoralizing
quick-strike offense that carried them to 105 regular-season victories. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Three innings
remained for the Yuma Firebirds to hold an 11-6 lead and become World
Champions. Bryan Shaw worked a strong seventh and retired two in the eighth
inning before Sean Manaea took over. Just before St. Francis’ last turn at bat,
Yuma’s offense put the final nails in the coffin on a pair of singles, a double
and a sacrifice fly to go up by eight runs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">With the crowd
in a frenzy, ready to celebrate another title, Ryan Dull took the mound to
start the ninth. Nerves got to him and he walked Kike Hernandez. Pinch-hitter
Jesse Winker grounded out, and a wild pitch put Hernandez on third. Christian
Vazquez came out from behind the plate to remind Dull to focus solely on the
hitter with the huge lead, and Dull did just that. A grounder to first brought
in the run, and then Jose Altuve chased a slider on the first pitch and hit a
three-hopper directly at Ian Kinsler. The throw was in time, and the Firebirds
rushed the field in celebration of their third BARB title in four years, with
fireworks adding a concussive feel in the background.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #ed7d31; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2;">FINAL: YUMA 14, ST. FRANCIS 7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Chris
Melkonian glad-handed family and friends in the home owner’s box, while Scott
Hatfield sat stone-faced after yet another playoff run gone awry for his
long-suffering franchise. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The title was
Yuma’s fifth, trailing just Santa Barbara/Frostbite Falls (seven) for most by a
single team in BARB history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">MVP: Mookie
Betts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Indeed, the
electric outfielder was the most valuable component to Yuma’s rise to glory. He
went hitless in just one game (Game 2) and stroked exactly two hits in each of
the other six games. Betts hit .400 overall (12-for-30), slugged four homers
among eight extra-base hits and drove in a whopping 10 runs. Votto also knocked
in 10, but Betts’ average cinched the award. St. Francis totaled 15 home runs
as a team in the Series and featured 10 different players hitting over the
fence, but had they won Strasburg would have earned the nod. But Yuma took the
title, and Betts was clearly their star.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Andrew Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024898814168249094noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776210846026425603.post-19090786777954754522018-02-02T21:58:00.001-08:002018-02-02T21:58:22.186-08:00WORLD SERIES GAME 6<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Scott Hatfield could almost taste it. 14
years after taking his Delta V’s to the inaugural BARB World Series, with three
more title-round appearances under his belt but no ring to show for it, his St.
Francis Kansans were just nine innings away from a clinching victory. But to do
it, they’d have to go through the mighty Yuma Firebirds – on Yuma’s home turf.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In the top of
the first, Jose Altuve doubled but ended up stranded on third. That would be as
close as the Kansans would come to a lead all night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Rich Hill,
handed the ball with a chance to make up for his extra-inning blowup in Game 4,
committed an error on a comebacker on the first pitch he threw. Rattled, he
left a hanger to Joey Votto. There must have been a brisk breeze blowing in
from left, as the ball stayed in the ballpark for the first out. Two singles
and a groundout later, however, the hosts were on top, 2-0.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Things went
from bad to worse in the third, when Hill faced four batters but could not
record an out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After a Votto
walk, Mookie Betts hammered a 3-0 fastball on a frozen rope apparently into the
left-field corner. Actually, it was hit so hard that it carried over the fence
and just inside the foul pole! The two-run bomb doubled Yuma’s lead, and got
the St. Francis bullpen up and warming in a hurry. It wasn’t quick enough, as
Anthony Rendon doubled and the next pitch, Hill’s last, was a grounder kicked
by Altuve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In relief came
Ervin Santana. He disposed of two hitters via strikeout to put the end of the
frame in view, but then fell behind Ben Zobrist. “Zorilla”, given a rare
playoff start as the left fielder, lofted a fly toward right field. It
continued carrying, all the way over the fence. A stunning three-run blast,
taking the wind completely out of the Kansans’ sails!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The 7-0 game
after three innings changed the strategies of both sides. Yuma focused on
piling on more runs and extending starting pitcher Chris Sale to save their
bullpen for Game 7. St. Francis, on the other hand, recognized their lost cause
and also hoped to use as few pitchers as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The rest of the
game flew by. The hosts scored three more times in the seventh and forced
another pitching change, with Rendon adding a two-run homer in the bottom of
the eighth. St. Francis avoided the shutout with a top-of-the-ninth blast from
Wilson Ramos, but they couldn’t do enough to knock Sale from the game – the Firebirds
ace tossed a complete game tossed a complete-game three-hitter, with no walks
and nine strikeouts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #ed7d31; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2;">FINAL: YUMA 12, ST. FRANCIS 1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As the Kansans
trudged down to the locker room, Chris Melkonian cautiously glad-handed the
guests in his owner’s suite – while the big win was refreshing after five close
games, a similar performance from the 2016 Fall Classic was running through his
mind. In Game 4 of that year’s Series, the Firebirds blew out the Frostbite
Falls Flying Squirrels, 10-0…only to run out of steam and fall in seven games.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And, indeed,
this year’s World Series would feature a Game 7 – the third-consecutive in BARB
annals to go the distance – with Stephen Strasburg looming for the visiting
Kansans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Andrew Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024898814168249094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776210846026425603.post-59824640594712546512018-02-01T16:03:00.003-08:002018-02-01T16:03:49.462-08:00WORLD SERIES GAME 5<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2;">With Yuma’s win
in Game 4 guaranteeing the 2017 BARB World Series would at least see a Game 6
in Arizona, both the Firebirds and their Game 5 host, the St. Francis Friars,
looked to beleaguered pitching staffs to pull them within one win of a title.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And,
amazingly, after the teams had combined to use 26 relievers in back-to-back
extra-inning games the previous two days, the finale in St. Francis was a pitcher’s
duel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Chris
Devenski, who tossed three innings of nearly-perfect relief for the Kansans in
relief of Stephen Strasburg in Game 4, earned the start as Rich Hill, who took
the turn after Strasburg’s Game 1 outing, struggled in a late appearance to
take the loss in Game 4. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Other than a
two-out triple in the third, Devenski didn’t encounter any trouble through four
innings. His pitch count, at 65, was a tad high, but not terrible – he hadn’t
issued a single free pass. In the top of the fifth, however, it all went downhill
in a hurry. Ian Kinsler opened with a single before scoring two pitches later,
on a Mike Zunino double to the wall in left-center. The Firebirds sensed a
possible breakout inning against Devenski, so Brian Dozier was sent up to
pinch-hit for starting pitcher Sean Manaea. Devenski walked him on five pitches
and was pulled from the game after throwing 77 on the night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A double
switch brought Kyle Schwarber in to catch as Trevor Cahill took the mound. Three
groundouts later, the Kansans were out of the inning. They did trail, 2-0, but
the possible outburst was averted and the home team was still in the game. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Gerrit Cole
was inserted in place of Manaea for the Firebirds, after the young southpaw
finished four scoreless innings against one of the best offenses in the league.
Cole, after an injury-riddled regular season, picked up where Manaea left off
with goose eggs in the fifth and sixth frames (though the Kansans did threaten
with a man on third in the fifth) and remained in the game after Jesse Winker,
pinch-hitting for Cahill, blasted a first-pitch moonshot to right in the home
half of the seventh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">With his team
leading by one, Cole recorded the first out in the eighth on a groundout. He lost
J.D. Martinez on a full-count, and with left-handed prodigy Cody Bellinger
looming Yuma played the matchup game with Sean Doolittle. The veteran
overmatched the young hitter for the second out to bring up Marcell Ozuna, who
was 0-for-3 on the night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">An O-fer so
far didn’t mean Ozuna wasn’t licking his chops at the first Doolittle offering,
a hanging breaking ball. The slugger didn’t miss, launching a soaring drive to
left as the home crowd exploded. The Kansans, trailing since the fifth inning,
suddenly had the LEAD, 3-2!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As the game
moved to the top of the ninth, most in attendance figured the Kansans had the
game in the bag. Kenley Jansen, one of the best closers in the league, was
called upon to close out the Firebirds and send the St. Francis crowd home
happy one last time in 2017. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A couple quick
outs pushed Yuma to the brink, but Kinsler took a close pitch for ball four and
Ben Zobrist, in a pinch-hit appearance, did the same. Two on, two out for
another bat off the bench…ICHIRO! The wily veteran eyed Jansen while pulling up
his right sleeve, bat pointed to the sky. First pitch…low. A called strike on
the inner half and a splitter slashed foul brought the count to 1-2. Jansen
came set and exhaled, then fired a 98-mph fastball toward the outside. Ichiro
tried to fight it off, but he put it on the ground in fair territory…right at
third baseman Justin Turner. The throw was in time, and the Kansans practiced a
subdued celebration. The home slate at The Monastery was over for the year, but
St. Francis was just a single win from earning Scott Hatfield his first BARB
title!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #385723; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #385723; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=50000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">FINAL: ST. FRANCIS 3, YUMA
2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Andrew Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024898814168249094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776210846026425603.post-47633953692997664302018-01-29T20:38:00.001-08:002018-01-29T20:38:04.016-08:00WORLD SERIES GAME 4<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After a barn-burner Game 3, in which 11
total relievers were used, Yuma and St. Francis had to re-assess starting pitcher
availability for Game 4. The answers? For Yuma, Johnny Cueto, who threw the
final inning-plus of Game 3. St. Francis turned to their ace, Stephen Strasburg
– ready for action despite just three days of rest following his Game 1
shutdown of the Firebirds.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As you might
expect, Cueto and Strasburg were saddled with markedly different expectations.
In a hostile environment, Yuma simply wanted a few good frames from Cueto to
give their offense time to solve Strasburg. A St. Francis victory off a strong
Strasburg start, on the other hand, would put the Kansans in prime position to
take their first BARB title. And taking the ball this game gave Strasburg as
much time as possible to rest in case he was needed for a Game 7.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After scoring
just one run in almost seven innings while striking out 11 times against
Strasburg in Game 1, the Firebirds seemed ready for revenge in Game 4. They jumped
on the slender righty immediately, with Joey Votto doubling and Mookie Betts
blasting a two-out, two-run bomb in the first. Amazingly, that was Yuma’s only
threat in Strasburg’s five frames. He retired the next nine in order before a
pair of singles opening the fifth, after which a double play and harmless
pop-up put any more run-scoring hopes to death for the visitors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Meanwhile, St.
Francis supported their starter with a second-inning rally against Cueto that
resulted in a run, and a couple of hits strung together in the fourth to knock
out the right-hander and tie the game. Wilson Ramos, like Strasburg a trade
pickup by the Kansans, drove both runs in with singles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">If the crowd
at The Monastery was expecting another offensive outburst, they were
disappointed. The 2-2 tie lasted for long after the starting pitchers were out
of the game. Reliever after reliever entered and encountered trouble (only one
half-inning from the sixth-inning on didn’t see a runner reach base), but still
no one could break through. The hosts came close a couple times, putting
runners on third base in the sixth, seventh and ninth innings, but each time
the runner was stranded just 90 feet from paydirt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Especially
frustrating for Scott Hatfield and crew was the bottom of the ninth. Needing
just a run to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series, they loaded the bases
with one out. Brandon Morrow came to the mound for Yuma and induced a grounder
from Marcell Ozuna on which Jose Altuve was retired at the plate, then Kevin
Kiermaier struck out to give the fans free baseball. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Kansans
again threatened in the 10<sup>th</sup>, with a pair of two-out singles putting
runners on the corners, but Justin Turner couldn’t capitalize. In the top of
the 11<sup>th</sup>, it appeared Yuma would break through. They loaded the
bases with none out against new pitcher Trevor Cahill, and the Kansans brought
on ace reliever Andrew Miller. The southpaw earned a good chunk of his $9
million salary for the season with two strikeouts and a groundout from the middle
of the Firebirds order.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Miller worked
a perfect 12<sup>th</sup> but was removed for Rich Hill as the top of the 13<sup>th</sup>
began. The top of Yuma’s lineup licked their chops as the wily veteran’s curve
didn’t exhibit its normal depth. Dexter Fowler doubled and Votto singled,
plating the first run in the game since the fourth inning. A Corey Seager walk
was followed by Betts popping up a bunt, but Anthony Rendon redeemed himself
from multiple errors in the playoffs with a deep drive down the right field
line, safely inside the foul pole! A three-run BOMB, and a 6-2 Yuma lead!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">All that was
left was for Ryan Dull to finish it out, and he did just that with only nine
pitches in the home half of the 13<sup>th</sup>. In possibly the longest game
in BARB playoff history, the Firebirds came away with the victory of the
bullpens and drew into a 2-2 tie in the World Series!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #ed7d31; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2;">FINAL: YUMA 6, ST. FRANCIS 2 (13)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Andrew Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024898814168249094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776210846026425603.post-61206272051627598482018-01-28T16:16:00.003-08:002018-01-28T16:16:47.681-08:00WORLD SERIES GAME 3<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #44546a; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;">Yuma and St.
Francis entered the first of three games in Kansas all knotted at one win
apiece. Game 3 provided one of the wildest games in BARB playoff history. Which
team would take the upper hand?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Fans of the
Kansans were, of course, hoping it would be their side…as was Scott Hatfield.
Through three different franchises, including two expansion teams, his squad
had vanquished Yuma only once in five tries – and that as the Delta V’s in BARB’s
inaugural season, 2003, in a first-round set. Since then, Chris Melkonian beat
Darwin in the division series in 2005 and World Series in 2007, and St. Francis
in 2011 and 2014 in the divisional round.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This time
would be different, right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Not if Ervin
Santana laid an egg. Which he did in the top half of the first.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The veteran
righty, signed by the Kansans after going undrafted at the beginning of the
season, had turned in a decent campaign (15-8, 4.70). In this start, he quickly
got ahead of Dexter Fowler and induced a pop-up for the first out, but Joey
Votto and Corey Seager squared up singles. A Mookie Betts double scored Seager,
and after a sharp lineout by Anthony Rendon, Wilson Ramos allowed a passed ball
to plate Votto. Finally, Brandon Crawford grounded through the left side to
make it 3-0.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">BARB’s best
team at hitting home runs in 2017 came right back in the second, when Marcell
Ozuna clubbed one to left center. An inning later, Carlos Carrasco gave up a
single to his counterpart on the first pitch. A double and wild pitch brought
the hosts within one, and Justin Turner tied the game with a sacrifice fly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The teams
traded a quiet fourth, and the Firebirds appeared to be going in order in the fifth
before Seager drew a full-count, two-out walk. Betts again victimized Santana,
but this time had more loft. His drive ended up clearing the left-field wall at
The Monastery, giving the visitors a sudden 5-3 lead!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Sensing
Santana was out of bullets, St. Francis management plugged in Logan Morrison to
lead off the home half of the fifth…BOOM! Once again, the Kansans trailed by
one. A Jose Altuve single knocked Carrasco from the game, and Steve Cishek
walked his first batter to bring up J.D. Martinez. The slugger worked the count
in his favor and smashed a get-it-in fastball. A NO DOUBT three-run bomb threw
the crowd into a frenzy as St. Francis surged ahead for the first time, 7-5!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But…not for
long. Lucas Giolito was the choice to replace Santana, and he allowed two
singles before Josh Hader was handed the ball. The young southpaw retired the
next two without a run scoring, but the dangerous Votto, despite being at a
platoon disadvantage, pulled a back-up slider JUST inside the right-field foul
pole. Unbelievable – ANOTHER lead change! And Yuma added to it on an Ian
Kinsler single in the seventh. Just a few innings to go, and a 9-7 lead for the
Firebirds!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Thanks to the
Kansans’ power, said lead didn’t survive. Zack Cozart pinch-hit to open the
bottom of the seventh and clocked it. 9-8. In the home half of the eighth, Kike
Hernandez (!?!) grabbed a bat and launched the first pitch HE saw. 9-9!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">St. Francis
ended up putting a pair on with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but a
double play ended the threat and the game went to extra innings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The first Yuma
batter was Brandon Crawford. He singled, but strayed too far from the bag on a
pitch to Kinsler; Ramos threw behind to nail him diving back in. That was all
Yuma could do; they needed Johnny Cueto to toss a scoreless bottom half to have
a chance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Cueto, after
his ninth-inning troubles (including a walk), went to a full count on Adam
Duvall before disposing of the slugger with a solid breaking ball. However,
Hernandez didn’t see a strike before trotting down the line. Ramos came up and
saw three pitches outside the strike zone. He got the green light from the
third base coach… and it was the perfect decision. A fastball piped down the
middle, but The Buffalo blasted it high and deep to left…JUST disappearing over
the fence! The Kansans mobbed Ramos at the plate as The Monastery rocked and
roared! A game-ending blast from the late-season acquisition had put St.
Francis ahead in the series, 2-1, with two games remaining at their place.
Would this be the year of the Kansans?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">FINAL:
ST. FRANCIS 11, YUMA 9 (10)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Andrew Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024898814168249094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776210846026425603.post-24922243362800141352018-01-24T23:15:00.003-08:002018-01-24T23:15:28.251-08:00WORLD SERIES GAME 2<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #44546a; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;">After a late
blast to steal Game 1 in thrilling fashion, the St. Francis Kansans looked to
stun the Yuma Firebirds with two wins in Arizona and a decided advantage to
begin the 2017 BARB World Series.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It wouldn’t be
easy – on the hill for the hosts was their ace, towering southpaw Chris Sale
(18-4, 2.86 in the regular season). Unavailable for Game 1 thanks to a
divisional series that went the distance, Sale worked a quick first inning but
was stung by a first-pitch homer off the bat of Marcell Ozuna in the second. He
also allowed a base runner on an error by Anthony Rendon in the third but
worked around it to keep the deficit at one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">St. Francis
also started a lefty, this the mercurial Rich Hill. Perfect through two frames,
Hill quickly lost the handle in the third. Brandon Crawford singled the
opposite way and advanced a base when Brett Gardner dumped a single to right.
Christian Vazquez, starting behind the plate in place of light-hitting Mike
Zunino, waited on a curve and laced it to the wall in right-center to score
Crawford. After a pop out, Joey Votto closed the book on the inning with a
single 15 feet off the right-field line to plate both remaining runners for a
3-1 Yuma lead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">That was all
the Firebirds would muster. Could they hold off powerful St. Francis?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Well, yes...and
no.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Sale settled
down and remained in the game into the top of the seventh, when his 86<sup>th</sup>
offering of the game turned into a souvenir thanks to Didi Gregorius. It was
just a solo shot, bringing the Kansans within a run. Bryan Shaw then came on
and finished the frame with the lead intact. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Things got
interesting in the final two innings. Shaw hit Justin Turner in the eighth but
promptly induced a double play to end the inning. In the ninth, a single and a
walk put two on with none out and caused Jose Quintana to earn the call from
the Yuma bullpen. His 1-1 to Zack Cozart was bounced straight to Ian Kinsler. The
second-sacker flipped casually to Crawford, followed by a laser to first.
Double play! The tying run, however, had advanced to third. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Despite the
southpaw on the mound, Kansans management decided to send up a left-handed
pinch hitter for weak-hitting Kevin Kiermaier. Jesse Winker, a late-season
call-up who drove in two runs in two plate appearances in the regular season,
took two balls from Quintana before called and swinging strikes. The fifth
pitch was smashed…RIGHT AT Votto. The Canadian snagged Winker’s laser and
trotted to the bag, ending the game to even the Series at one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #ed7d31; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2;">FINAL: YUMA 3, ST. FRANCIS 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Another close
one, but this time the Kansans couldn’t sustain a rally long enough to push
across the tying run. That meant the World Series would shift to St. Francis
for a guaranteed three games. If either team could sweep at The Monastery, they
would clinch the BARB crown.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Andrew Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024898814168249094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776210846026425603.post-60808497973793213972018-01-23T22:54:00.003-08:002018-01-23T22:54:59.259-08:002017 BARB WORLD SERIES GAME 1<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Finally, the 15<sup>th</sup> iteration
of the BARB World Series. Featuring the two division winners from the 2017
regular season, both with extensive playoff histories, this year’s Fall Classic
shaped up to be a good one. It did not disappoint.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Thanks to
their BARB-record 115 wins in the regular season, the Cactus division champion
Yuma Firebirds held homefield advantage for the World Series over Grapefruit
title-winning St. Francis. Of course, with 105 wins on their resume, the
Kansans were no slouch. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">With a long
history in the background between the most dominant BARB team of recent vintage
(Chris Melkonian’s charges were appearing in their fourth-straight Classic,
with four titles all time) and a perennial bridesmaid (Scott Hatfield has taken
his team to 11 playoff appearances in 15 years, with five consecutive
postseason berths under his belt but nary a pennant), this year’s World Series
got off to a scintillating start.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Stephen
Strasburg, who struck out 13 in his start in the division series, got the call
on full rest for the visiting Kansans…and he showed he was still on his game.
The slender flamethrower struck out three in the first two innings before
running into trouble in the third with a single and walk by Yuma, but he induced
a Joey Votto ground out to get out of the jam before striking out the side in
the fourth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The St.
Francis offense only rapped one hit in the first five frames against Firebirds
lefty Sean Manaea, but it happened to be a leadoff blast in the third by Adam
Duvall, 15 rows deep in left field.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Yuma chose
more of a small-ball approach to tie the game in the fifth. Brandon Crawford
doubled and then advanced on a fly out before scoring on a seeing-eye single
off the bat of Ian Kinsler.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Zack Cozart
replicated Duvall’s feat in the sixth to put the Kansans back on top, and their
lead remained 2-1 into the eighth when Mookie Betts brought the game level
again on a solo blast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It appeared
the game would at least go to the bottom of the ninth, or even extra innings,
in a 2-2 tie. St. Francis put a man on in the top of the ninth, but Marcell
Ozuna was lingering on first with sidewinding Steve Cishek mowing down Kansans
hitters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Until Duvall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">That’s right,
the powerful outfielder HAMMERED a 1-1 offering again deep to left, clearing
the fence with room to spare! Just like that, the visitors had a 4-2 lead!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">That was all
Kenley Jansen needed. Despite a Crawford leadoff hit, Jansen finished the home
half of the ninth scoreless as St. Francis took Game 1 of the World Series on
the road in Yuma!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #00b050; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">FINAL:
ST. FRANCIS 4, YUMA 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Andrew Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024898814168249094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776210846026425603.post-67378762318609727412018-01-22T19:52:00.003-08:002018-01-22T19:52:22.333-08:00DIVISIONAL ROUND: FROSTBITE FALLS VS ST. FRANCIS, GAME 3<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">With their
backs against the wall of an 0-2 deficit and smarting from a pair of contests
that had seen their power mostly neutralized, the Frostbite Falls Flying
Squirrels returned home with one thought in mind: support their pitching with
big flies, extend the series to four games and give the defending world champs
a shot at returning to the World Series.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">To that end,
the Squirrels would have to win a matchup of staff win leaders: Julio Teheran
(15-7, 3.76) had led the defending champs with 15 wins in the regular season in
his fourth year in Frostbite’s rotation, and would be matched with Ervin
Santana (15-8, 4.70), a free agent plucked off the scrap heap who had paced the
Kansans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Santana’s win
total belied his chief weakness against a club like Frostbite Falls, however:
namely, that he had led his ballclub with 38 home runs surrendered, the
fourth-highest total in the league. So it was no surprise that, leading off the
bottom of the first, last year’s Series MVP would touch them all against the
veteran, as Mike Trout popped a 1-1 pitch down the left-field line, JUST FAIR,
for the game’s first run-----and, notably, the first long ball in the series
for the Squirrels:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">FROSTBITE
FALLS 1, ST. FRANCIS 0!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">LONG BALLS THE
THEME<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So, the
Squirrels had a blast and a lead, but Teheran had shown a propensity for giving
up big flies as well (28 in the regular season), and it took no time for Cody
Bellinger and the Kansans to answer in the top of the 2nd. J.D. Martinez took a
full-count pitch for ‘ball four’, and when Teheran bounced a curve ball, was
given credit for a stolen base on the very next pitch. Bellinger popped his
fourth circuit shot in three games to put two on, erasing Frostbite’s brief
edge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But THAT only
lasted until the bottom of the second, when the Squirrels got another leadoff
HR, this time off the bat of Paul Goldschmidt, to tie the game at 2-2. AND,
when Jason Kipnis added another solo shot in the 4th, the third blast allowed
by Santana, the lead changed again in favor of the home team! NOW, with a 3-2
lead, they needed to just get another frame out of Teheran, and let their
bullpen-by-committee mix and match the rest of the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The only
problem with extending Teheran? The fact that, in addition to giving up a pair
of long balls, he had walked four and already thrown 80 pitches entering the
fifth. To make the plan work, he would need to be economical. Altuve
cooperated, popping up a<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">0-1 change to
shallow left, a can of corn. But Justin Turner (a .636 hitter in the Series!)
stayed back on Teheran’s next change, pushing a 1-1 pitch up the middle under
Teheran’s glove and past a diving Andrus. That brought up J.D. Martinez, who
had worked Teheran to a full-count walk earlier in the game. The player dubbed
‘Kong’ by agent Scott Boras took a close 2-2 pitch to wring another full count
out of Teheran, and the next pitch, the hurler’s 91st of the ballgame . . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">CLUBBED!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Off the end of
the bat, arcing like an easy fly, but carrying, carrying, GONE! A two-run HR,
another lead change, and the end of the road for Teheran:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #00b050; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">ST.
FRANCIS 4, FROSTBITE FALLS 3!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Alex Colome
relieved Teheran, and the momentum of the game had clearly moved in favor of
the visitors and their BARB-leading bullpen. Santana (1-0, 5.40) worked a solid
fifth, and then a parade of arms were brought forward to anesthetize the
slugging Squirrels: Lucas Giolito worked a perfect sixth against the middle of
the lineup, Andrew Miller set down Andrus and a pair of pinch-hitters in
succession, and Kenley Jansen, BARB’s top closer in the regular season (7 wins,
26 saves, 124 K’s in 89 frames) was brought in to start the eighth. Clearly, if
he was performing, this would be a six-out save situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Mike Trout
wasn’t going quietly! He doubled over the head of Kevin Kiermaier to start the
frame, giving the trio of Sanchez, Harper and Longoria a gold-plated
opportunity to tie the frame with a runner in scoring position. Just get a hit!
But Sanchez fanned on three pitches, and, with Trout leaning at second, Harper
DRILLED a ball up-the-middle that Altuve snared running to cover the bag, and
doubled off Trout to end the inning, the defensive play of the series and a
dagger in the hearts of the Squirrels!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">To make
matters worse, in the top of the ninth, Altuve hit the first pitch he saw from
Pedro Baez over the left-field wall, an insurance run and a 5-3 St. Francis
lead. While Brad Boxberger came in to prevent further damage, the Squirrels
would need to get some offense from the middle of the order in Jansen’s second
inning of work. With one out, Paul Goldschmidt raised their hopes, going deep
to right with no one aboard, narrowing the Kansans lead. It was their fourth
boundary belt of the contest, after hitting none in the first two games. But,
as owner Andrew Haynes ruefully remarked, “All solo shots.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So it was that
the game ended with a whimper and an exclamation point: a soft fly to medium CF
by Kipnis, and then pinch-hitter Justin Bour fanning on three straight cutters!
A six-out save for Jansen, a three-game sweep for the red-hot Kansans, and a
trip to the World Series:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #00b050; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">ST.
FRANCIS 5, FROSTBITE FALLS 4!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">CO-MVP’S?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">How to decide
who best deserved honors? Was it Steven Strasburg, who set a playoff record
with more than a dozen strikeouts in Game One? The clutch hitting and defense
of Jose Altuve? The big cleanup bat of J.D. Martinez?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In the end,
none of the above, as journeyman IF Justin Turner, finally a regular, saw his
7-for-11 streak partner with the 4 HR of rookie 1B Cody Bellinger to take home
MVP honors in almost fairy-tale fashion, as seemingly every break had gone in
favor of the Kansans, who compiled a 2.33 ERA, hit .299 and slugged .607 for a
convincing sweep. They would now take their storybook season to the next stage,
and play in just their second World Series in nine seasons!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Andrew Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024898814168249094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776210846026425603.post-12067945060649394942018-01-20T00:54:00.002-08:002018-01-20T00:54:58.307-08:00DIVISIONAL ROUND: BROWNSVILLE VS. YUMA, GAME 5<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A winner-take-all Game 5 to advance to
the World Series, between BARB’s winningest team and a talented but overlooked
wild card. What more needs to be said?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The setup:
Yuma, at home, starting righty Carlos Carrasco, who is no stranger to big
games. Lest we forget, in Game 7 of the 2015 BARB World Series, Carrasco was handed
the ball against the New England Yankee Stompers. All he did in that contest
was toss eight one-hit innings, with one walk and eight strikeouts…while
scoring the only run of the game after a third-inning single. The Firebirds won
their fourth title that day on the back of Carrasco’s performance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">On this day,
however, he’d have to up his game. His opponent, Brownsville ace Corey Kluber,
had pitched very well in Game 2 but didn’t factor into the decision thanks to a
bullpen meltdown. The pitcher who came out on top would likely propel their
team to a title round tilt with either St. Francis or Frostbite Falls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Unfortunately for
Yuma, Carrasco wasn’t at his best in this must-win. The Cutters jumped on
him right away in the first, with A.J. Pollock doubling and Aaron Judge drawing
a four-pitch walk. With one out, Manny Machado singled to plate Pollock, and
Judge came across on a Mark Reynolds groundout.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #ed7d31; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2;">BROWNSVILLE 2, YUMA 0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Kluber wasn’t
great, either, though he managed to work his way around three walks in the
first two frames and another following a single and error in the third. But in
the fourth, with two out and the bases empty, Brandon Crawford singled and Ian
Kinsler put a charge into one down the left field line to tie the game in a
flash. The Cutters bullpen began to heat up, but things happened so quickly
that no one was ready to relieve Kluber before Yuma took the lead. Mike Zunino
doubled, one of only two hits for him in the series, and the backstop labored
around third to score just ahead of the throw on Dexter Fowler’s single.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">YUMA
3, BROWNSVILLE 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Yuma joy
was short-lived as Jose Quintana, in his second inning of relief, gave up a
single to start the top of the sixth and, two batters later, a pinch-hit,
full-count blast off the bat of Michael Taylor. The little-used outfielder
(.240/9/26 in 104 AB during the regular season) had swung the momentum in favor
of the visiting Cutters with just a few innings remaining.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #ed7d31; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2;">BROWNSVILLE 4, YUMA 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Kluber was
still in the game after a perfect fifth, but walking Brian Dozier on four
pitches in the home half of the sixth proved his undoing. Immediately he was
removed for Carl Edwards with the bottom of the Yuma order waiting to hit. Edwards
did his job with a little help. Dozier was nabbed by new catcher Tyler Flowers
while attempting to steal second, Crawford struck out and Ben Zobrist grounded
out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">What transpired
the next inning was sure to have Brownsville talk radio up in arms for weeks.
Even with the threat of left-handed hitting Joey Votto and Corey Seager due up
in the seventh, Cutters manager Bruce Bochy refrained from warming up a
southpaw. Edwards, after 13 pitches cleaning up the sixth, issued a four-pitch
walk to Fowler to open the seventh…and was left in the game. He threw three
balls to Votto, one being a wild pitch to move Fowler into scoring position as
the potential tying run, but got help as the Canadian reached for ball four and
grounded harmlessly to third. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Even after a
pair of 3-0 counts, Bochy trusted Edwards without a matchup option warming up. Against
Seager, the trust was betrayed. The slender righty again fell behind, this time
2-1. A backdoor curve attempt was left over the heart of the plate, and the
hearts of the visiting fans were ripped out and shredded as Seager connected
for a drive over the right field fence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">YUMA
5, BROWNSVILLE 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Christian
Vazquez, in only his fourth at-bat of the series, added an insurance run for
the Firebirds with an eighth-inning solo shot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Brownsville
refused to give up, getting handed two runners on a walk and an error against
Bryan Shaw in the ninth. Scooter Gennett grounded out for the second out, but
both runners were in scoring position and hulking Judge stepped up. Wily
veteran Johnny Cueto, banished to the bullpen for the playoffs, earned the call
from Yuma management. The two stars battled to an even count, 2-2, before Cueto
rocked back and fired a laser above the letters. Judge took a CUT…WHIFF! The rookie
looked toward the sky and rolled his eyes as the Firebirds rushed the field,
dreadlocked Cueto having escaped the jam to secure Yuma’s fourth-straight World
Series berth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">FINAL:
YUMA 6, BROWNSVILLE 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">With the best
record in the league, the Firebirds were assured of hosting the winner of the
other divisional series to kick off the World Series, and they celebrated into
the night. In the other clubhouse, reporters pressed for answers on Brownsville’s
bullpen management throughout – some positing the Cutters may have actually won
the series in a sweep or four games had different choices been made in that
department. Nonetheless, the loss closed the book on what might have been
Brownsville’s best-ever season, and the front office turned their thoughts to
the possibility of building on the success in 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Andrew Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024898814168249094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776210846026425603.post-64265000889270343552018-01-15T21:26:00.002-08:002018-01-15T21:26:55.352-08:00DIVISIONAL ROUND: FROSTBITE FALLS VS ST. FRANCIS, GAME 2<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">After surrendering four home runs in the opening game of the
series, two to rookie Cody Bellinger, the visiting Squirrels would turn to
second-half revelation James Paxton (10-3, 2.36) in a marquee matchup of
southpaws, vs. St. Francis’s Rich Hill (12-6, 2.94 ). A win would tie the
series and guarantee two games at home for the visitors, whereas a loss would
hand the Kansans a commanding lead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">To that end, Frostbite Falls tweaked their lineup a bit, allowing
veteran backup C Nick Hundley to receive Paxton, rather than starter Gary
Sanchez, based on Hundley’s numbers against lefties. And Paxton was definitely
up to the challenge, coming out of the gate with great stuff. But the second
hitter in the bottom of the first, 2B Jose Altuve, pulled a 2-2 pitch over the
wall in left, the fifth circuit shot of the series for the home team, good for
an early lead:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">ST. FRANCIS 1, FROSTBITE FALLS 0!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">HILL, PAXTON DOMINATE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Given a lead, Hill was effective, retiring the first seven he
faced, including Hundley. It was Paxton himself who broke the string with a
two-out free pass in the third, but Hill pushed a rising fastball over the bat
of Mike Trout to end that threat. Other than a leadoff walk in the fourth to
Paul Goldschmidt, Hill was in control and after five frames had six strikeouts,
and no hits allowed!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">But after Altuve’s first-inning rocket, Paxton had been if
anything more dominant! Other than J.D. Martinez, who twice doubled with two
out, Paxton had the Kansans lineup unable to locate his two-strike slider, and
he racked up the strikeouts: two in the 1st, three in the 4th, and at least one
‘K’ in every frame but the third.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">This kept things a one-run ballgame going into the middle innings,
and it was here, for the first time, that the Squirrels found life in their bats.
After Paxton struck out to start the top of the sixth, Trout ended the
no-hitter with worm-killer that Hill couldn’t snag, and Goldschmidt followed
with a dying quail over short to put two runners on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">A shocking play kept Hill in for an extra hitter, though: with
Evan Longoria at the plate, both runners attempted to advance on a ball in the
dirt, but Wilson Ramos somehow grabbed it and whipped it to second to nail
Goldschmidt, who might have slid too far! Yet, on the play, Trout advanced to
third, and Hill made his first real mistake, leaving a flat curve over the
plate. Longoria drilled off the left-field wall, a double, and Trout trotted in
with the tying run! Though Hill retired the left-handed hitting Bryce Harper to
escape further damage, you could see Scott Hatfield shake his head in the
owner’s box. The right-handed Trevor Cahill had been ready, but the club had
elected to stay with Hill because of a baserunning gift, rather than play the
percentages:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">ST. FRANCIS 1, FROSTBITE FALLS 1!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The Kansans went quietly in the bottom of the 6th, and in the 7th
sent out enigmatic Ken Giles to hold the fort down. But former Kansans SS Elvis
Andrus walked, and ‘That Man’ Nick Hundley, only catching because of a lefty
starter, hit a solid single off the right-handed Giles to put two on. Giles
fanned Alex Bregman, but then walked pinch-hitter Nick Willams on a full count
to load the bases. Giles yielded to Cahill, and the Squirrels got the matchup
they desired, using left-handed slugger Justin Bour off the bench to pinch-hit
for Paxton.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Bour . . . . .NEARLY dialed ‘8’, hitting a long ball that CF Kevin
Kiermaier had bounce off the wall to corral. An EASY ‘sac fly’ that missed
being a grand slam by a fraction, Andrus coming in to score the go-ahead run.
Rookie Josh Hader, who had already warmed up four times in this series, was
finally brought in, and it was a spot: summoned to retire Mike Trout with two
runners on. But Hader got Trout to roll an 0-2 breaking ball to Cozart, who
went the short way to force Williams to get out of the jam. But the game was
now the Squirrels to lose:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">FROSTBITE FALLS 2, ST. FRANCIS 1!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Yet things would not last for the Squirrels and their
‘bullpen-by-committee’. Slow-working Pedro Baez fanner Kiermaier, but gave up
an infield single to Wilson Ramos (!), and when pinch-hitter Adam Duvall slowly
grounded to short, pinch-runner Kike Hernandez was able to avoid the force
play, Duvall out at first.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">That brought up the left-handed hitting Didi Gregorius
pinch-hitting for Zack Cozart. Gregorius hit a roller JUST between short and
third, which kept rolling to short left! Hernandez, with the play in front of
him, never looked at Keon Broxton in left, and rounded third! Broxton’s throw
was . . . .well up the line, and Kike’s ‘daring dash’ with two out had paid
off. A series of improbable plays, beginning with Ra0mos’s infield hit, had
allowed St. Francis to tie the ballgame:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">FROSTBITE FALLS 2, ST. FRANCIS 2!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Adam Ottavino came on bail out Baez, and while he fanned Altuve,
the fatigue was still showing on a Squirrels club that had been forced bite and
claw its way past its wild card matchup with Brooklyn. Meanwhile, the rested
St. Franchis pen frustrated the visitors: Chris Devenski worked a 1-2-3 eighth
with Kenley Jansen (BARB’s top closer in 2017) ready and waiting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">That brought up the bottom of the eighth. Justin Turner,
previously hitless, worked a full-count walk against Ottavino, and J.D.
Martinez laced the first pitch he saw into left to put two runners on. That
brought up Cody Bellinger, who had drilled two bombs in the opener, who would .
. . MAKE IT THREE IN THE SERIES, a big fly over the wall in deep right, a
three-run shot, and the first real ‘breathing room’ for either side in the
game. Ottavino (0-1, 20.25) retired the next three straight, but screamed in
his glove as he walked off the mound, knowing he had put his team in desperate
circumstances entering the final inning:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">ST. FRANCIS 5, FROSTBITE FALLS 2!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The well-rested Jansen, perhaps amped up, allowed a walk to
Andrus, his former teammate, but then fanned pinch-hitters Gary Sanchez and
Jason Kipnis in quick succession, before a harmless ground ball from Nick
Williams rolled to Altuve, who pegged it to Bellinger . . . GAME OVER! Devenski
(1-0, 0.00) had the win, Jansen the save, the Kansans had taken the second game
and would take a 2-0 Series lead on the road to Frostbite Falls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Frustratingly for the Squirrels, their lineup of stars had so far
been unproductive compared to the 6-HR onslaught of the Kansans, led by three
off the bat of their rookie 1B. Someone (Jake Arrieta? Julio Teheran?) needed
to put a lid on that, and someone (anyone) in their lineup needed to find THEIR
home-run swing if they were going to get back into a series against St.
Francis’s nine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Andrew Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024898814168249094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776210846026425603.post-61612252344699714192018-01-09T23:09:00.002-08:002018-01-09T23:09:53.310-08:00DIVISIONAL ROUND: BROWNSVILLE VS YUMA, GAME 4<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Needing a win to stay alive, the
Brownsville Cutters exploded and excited the home crowd…until a stunning late
implosion. Could they survive and send the series back to Yuma?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Explode, the
Cutters did. Facing Yuma ace Chris Sale, Javier Baez got things started with a
leadoff homer in the bottom of the 1st. After a single and a pair of
strikeouts, Jedd Gyorko got into the act with a two-run shot for a 3-0
Brownsville lead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After Yuma
plated a run on a Corey Seager double down the line in the 3rd, the hosts went
back to work. With Aaron Judge aboard after an infield single, Gyorko launched
his second two-run blast. Next up was Michael Taylor, who also pulled the ball
into the left field bleachers. In the span of three turns at bat, Brownsville
had scored six runs against the southpaw Sale, and the third would be his last
inning of work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Yu Darvish, on
the mound for the Cutters, hadn’t been too successful keeping the Firebirds off
the bases in the first three innings, and his issues spilled over into the 4th.
Brandon Crawford, who had lasered an opposite-field double with one out, scored
easily on an Ian Kinsler ground ball up the middle. With two out, pinch hitter
extraordinaire Brian Dozier was called upon, taking Sale’s place. Proving the
fables true, Dozier put on a massive upper cut on a 1-1 Darvish slider. The soaring
drive seemingly didn’t come back to earth (in reality, it landed at the top of
the Cockerton Field bleachers). When he finished his trot, Yuma had pulled
within two.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">With the
ballgame close, Baez got back to work in the bottom of the 4<sup>th</sup>. Behind
in the count at 0-2, Baez shortened up and lined a single to center. He then
stole second base and took third on a deep fly out from Manny Machado. A Judge
double presented an easy opportunity for Baez to waltz home, and the lead was
extended to 7-4.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">From there, it
was almost all Brownsville. Two runs scored off Gerrit Cole in the fifth, both
coming on a bases-loaded single from Baez. Cole, relegated to a mop-up role for
the playoffs, continued to eat innings and save the bullpen for an impending
Game 5…but in the process he allowed a pair to cross in the Cutter 6<sup>th</sup>,
the final of those on a single by the opposing RELIEF pitcher, Cam Bedrosian.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Fast forward
to the top of the 9<sup>th</sup>. Brownsville, cruising with an 11-4 lead, tossed
Fernando Salas on the mound. Surely the seasoned reliever could handle a
seven-run advantage, right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">RIGHT???<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">WRONG</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In what must
have seemed a nightmare for the fans in attendance, Salas couldn’t find the
plate after inducing an Anthony Rendon groundout to open the frame. Crawford
got ahead in the count before singling. Kinsler walked on four pitches, as did
pinch-hitter Nomar Mazara. Ben Zobrist grabbed a bat to hit for Cole, but he
didn’t need it. A 3-1 offering skipped off the dirt, forcing in a run. Dexter
Fowler fell behind 0-2, saw Tyler Flowers fail to stop a breaking ball for a
run-scoring passed ball, then fouled off four pitches while taking three more
balls for another free pass. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After all of
that, the score was still 11-6. But with Joey Votto stepping up, and Seager and
Mookie Betts behind him, Bruce Bochy had to be roused from his nap on the end
of the bench. The bullpen heated up as Votto worked the count full before a
seeing-eye single to center to plate an additional two Firebirds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">One out, two
hits, four walks, six runs on 36 pitches? Yeah, that was it for Salas. Seager,
representing the potential tying run, was the first to greet Will Harris. The youngster
wasted no time in driving the ball up the middle to score Fowler. Betts? Just a
first-pitch single down the left field line. Votto, across the plate. Seager,
to third base. A huge advantage for the home team had crumpled in a matter of
minutes, and just a few more hits would put their season on the brink.
Remember, Brownsville needed a win to keep the series alive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The next
hitter was the only one who had made an out in the frame. Rendon, with the full
force of his boisterous dugout behind him, was confident he would get the hit
to tie the game – or take the lead. He went ahead, two balls and a strike, then
swung all-out at a fastball!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But the ball slowed
and dropped. It was a changeup. Rendon’s eyes bulged as the ball hit the bottom
half of the bat and skidded right to Harris. The veteran spun and calmly
delivered the ball to Gyorko covering second. Rendon’s speed put pressure on
the play, but Gyorko was accurate to first for the final out as the Cutters
fans gasped a collective exhale. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">FINAL:
BROWNSVILLE 11, YUMA 10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A game which
appeared in hand since the early going turned into a nailbiter, but Brownsville
prevailed against the battle-hardened Firebirds to send the series to a fifth
and deciding game at Yuma, with the winner advancing to the BARB World Series.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Andrew Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024898814168249094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776210846026425603.post-24264832831480119082018-01-08T22:49:00.001-08:002018-01-08T22:54:50.822-08:00DIVISIONAL ROUND: FROSTBITE FALLS VS ST FRANCIS, GAME 1<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">After using a pair of one-run victories to edge the
Brooklyn Moabs in three games, the Cactus Division wild card-winning Frostbite
Falls went on the road: to Kansas, where the surprising St. Francis Kansans had
emerged as Grapefruit Division champs with a dominant stretch drive.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">This
was the fifth straight trip to the postseason (and sixth overall in nine
campaigns), but it was unfamiliar territory for St. Francis GM Scott Hatfield
to earn a ‘bye’ as a divisional champion, and it definitely lent his club an
advantage over the visiting Squirrels, who had been forced to burn James
Paxton, Julio Teheran and Jake Arrietta in their nail-biting contest with the
Moabs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">As
such, Frostbite Falls GM Andrew Haynes would send out swingman Lance Lynn (8-4,
5.08 in 37 games) to match St. Francis ace Steven Strasburg. Originally drafted
by Hatfield at the end of the 2008 BARB draft, the often-brittle righthander
pitched too well down the stretch for the Kansans to pass up, and he was a
perfect 3-0 in six starts down the stretch to help Hatfield and Company win
their first divisional title!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">But
that was then, and when Strasburg had trouble controlling the zone in the top
of the first, Mike Trout (BB) and Gary Sanchez (soft single) reached to begin
the game. But Strasburg, finding his stuff, bookended a long fly from the bat
of Evan Longoria with a pair of strikeouts (Harper, Goldschmidt) to escape the
drama.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">That
brought up the powerful Kansans lineup, which had led the Grapefruit Division
with 976 runs in the regular season, and Lynn (0-1, 18.00) was in trouble from
the word ‘go’. Didi Gregorius hit a 2-1 pitch into the RF corner that Harper
had to leap at the wall to corral. With one out, Jose Altuve lined a double
where neither Harper or Trout could get to it. Justin Turner hit a 1-1 flare
over Kipnis’s glove to add a second runner, and J.D. Martinez CRUSHED a 2-2
offering for a 3-0 St. Francis lead. Bellinger just got under an 0-2 offering
that landed in Harper’s mitt. Hard contact, from five straight hitters. Lynn
finally put the string to bed by getting Ozuna to nub an easy one-hopper to
Longoria, but the damage was done:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">ST. FRANCIS 3, FROSTBITE FALLS 0!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">STRASBURG DOMINATES<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Given
a lead, Strasburg dialed up the heat against the bottom of the Squirrels
lineup. Reddick chased a 3-2 to end the second, blew cheese past Lynn and Trout
to start the third, and struck out the side on just ten pitches in the fourth.
By that point, the </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif;">Kansans
had done it to Lynn again: a sharp single from Altuve to lead off the bottom of
the third, an absolute BOMB from Justin Turner to score both of them, and a
solo shot from Bellinger!</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">With
a six-run lead, Strasburg (1-0, 1.50) became, for all purposes, unhittable. He
fanned Trout and Sanchez to end the fifth, and struck out the side AGAIN in the
sixth. In all, St. Francis fans hung 13 silhouettes of the state of Kansas
above the left-field bullpen (K’s . . . . get it?), as dominant a pitching
performance in any BARB post-season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">To
add insult to injury, the Kansans added another run when they loaded the bases
in the fifth off Tyson Ross, in relief of Lynn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Frostbite
Falls finally got a run of its own in the top of the seventh. Strasburg, having
thrown 96 pitches, was allowed to start the frame, but Elvis Andrus lined a 2-2
pitch that fell in front of Kiermaier. The Squirrels managed to eke out a run
against St. Francis’s middle relief with a sac fly to get on the board, but
Cody Bellinger answered with a second solo HR in the bottom of the inning to
take any momentum away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">After
that, it was all St. Francis’s pen on display: in quick succession, Trevor
Cahill, Chris Devenski and Andrew Miller all put on shutdown innings, with the
game ending when pinch-hitter Justin Bour grounded a tailor-made double-play
ball: Altuve----to Gregorius---to Bellinger----GAME OVER:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">FINAL: ST. FRANCIS 8, FROSTBITE FALLS 1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">It
would be difficult to imagine a better start for the host Kansans: Justin
Turner went 4-for-4 with a bomb, Altuve doubled twice, Martinez started it all
with a first-inning blast, Cody Bellinger (2B, 2 HR) scored three of the club’s
runs. Meanwhile, Strasburg just handed the ball to the league’s best bullpen
(25 wins, 51 saves and three arms with 100-plus K’s in the regular
season!)----and the five arms combined for 15 K’s!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">The
next game would also be at The Monastery. If the Squirrels were going to even
the series, they would need a big game from their surprising lefthander, James
Paxton(10-3, 2.36), in a marquee matchup with baffling southpaw Rich Hill
(12-6, 2.94). Stay tuned!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Andrew Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024898814168249094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776210846026425603.post-86580264987355252012018-01-07T23:07:00.001-08:002018-01-07T23:07:12.411-08:00DIVISIONAL ROUND: BROWNSVILLE VS YUMA, GAME 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #525252; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #525252; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=50000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent3; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;">Two games down; one win apiece. With the series shifting to
Brownsville for Games 3 and 4, would the Cutters be able to take advantage of
the home turf and advance their playoff dreams?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In the early
going, it sure looked promising. Despite three hits in the top of the 1st,
Jacob deGrom escaped having only allowed one run – Dexter Fowler’s leadoff
homer. In the bottom half, the hosts excited the crowd as Jose Abreu (4-for-9
with a HR and 4 RBI in the first two games) pulled a liner just inside the left
field foul pole at Cockerton Field with a man aboard to give his team a 2-1
lead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">deGrom settled
down, retiring the Firebirds in order from the second through the 5th, and he
got a tad more run support with an Aaron Judge solo blast in the bottom of the
3rd.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In the top of
the 6<sup>th</sup>, however, deGrom faltered once again. This time, it cost
Brownsville the game. He set down the first two hitters with ease, marking 15
batters retired in a row going back to the final out of the 1<sup>st</sup>, but
Corey Seager, Mookie Betts and Anthony Rendon all notched singles. Seager
scored on the final base hit in that stretch to bring Yuma within one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">deGrom,
clearly losing it despite having thrown just 77 pitches, was left in to face
Brandon Crawford. The righty went ahead 0-2, but Crawford laced the next pitch
over the head of A.J. Pollock in center, the ball nearly slamming off the fence
399 feet from the plate. When the dust settled, both Betts and Rendon had
crossed the plate and Crawford was standing on third base having silenced the
raucous Brownsville crowd with a Firebird lead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The inning
wasn’t over. Hunter Strickland replaced deGrom and promptly hit Ian Kinsler
while ahead in the count. It appeared he would escape with only a one-run
deficit when Brian Dozier grounded to sure-handed third baseman Manny Machado…but
the corner was just a bit too hot for Machado and the ball kicked away,
allowing Crawford to score.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Now trailing,
5-3, the Brownsville troops rallied and gave their fans hope. A pair of one-out
singles were followed by a two-out error on Machado’s counterpart Rendon
(eliciting murmuring in the press box about the possibility of pebbles near the
third base bag), but the ducks were left on the pond in the home half of the 6<sup>th</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Fast forward
to the bottom of the 9<sup>th</sup>, with the scoreboard still reading a
two-run Yuma lead. Steve Cishek, who had hurled nearly-perfect ball through the
7<sup>th</sup> and 8<sup>th</sup>, didn’t come close in a walk to Tyler
Flowers, bringing the potential tying run to the plate with none out. Southpaw
Sean Doolittle didn’t fare much better on his first hitter, as Maikel Franco
took a free pass. Javier Baez was next. The youngster smashed a drive to
left-center. It was HIGH, it was DEEP, and it was…………………SNAGGED!!! Brett
Gardner, brought in for defense in the 7<sup>th</sup>, made his manager look
the part of a genius by running down a ball that had “TIE GAME, OR MORE”
written all over it! Flowers did tag and go to third, but Franco still stood on
first, seemingly a light-year from home plate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The walk and
flyout scare earned Bryan Shaw an appearance for the third-consecutive game,
and he immediately raised the stakes with a four-pitch walk to Machado. Bases
loaded, one down. The next two hitters had provided all of Brownsville’s
offense on the night: Judge and Abreu. The noise was deafening, as Cutters fans
expected to see their team get a leg up on BARB’s most dominant squad of 2017.
Judge, however, faltered in the big moment by flailing on three pitches. The hulking
Abreu then saw the count even at a ball and a strike but rolled over a breaking
ball on the outside. The result? A harmless grounder to short. Crawford went
the short way, and Yuma celebrated their second-straight come-from-behind
victory, just one win from their fourth World Series appearance in a row.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">FINAL:
YUMA 5, BROWNSVILLE 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Andrew Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024898814168249094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776210846026425603.post-20611046819281105252018-01-04T21:28:00.001-08:002018-01-04T21:28:56.416-08:00DIVISIONAL ROUND: BROWNSVILLE VS YUMA GAME 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://tlaworldwide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Mookie-Betts-3-e1498149416149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://tlaworldwide.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Mookie-Betts-3-e1498149416149.jpg" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="466" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Mookie Betts hit a big two-run homer as Yuma tried to tie the series</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2;">After surviving
to take Game 1 on the road, the Brownsville Cutters entered the second game at
Yuma smelling blood – a second win on the road in the best-of-five series would
all-but guarantee the Grapefruit wild card advanced to the BARB World Series.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">True to the
story, Kyle and Kory Brown’s troops struck first. In the top of the 2<sup>nd</sup>,
Manny Machado lined the first Carlos Carrasco offering of the frame into the
gap in left-center, and he cruised into second base with a double. Two pitches
later he crossed the plate, driven in by a Mark Reynolds single.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Brownsville
power show from Game 1 continued in the third, as Scooter Gennett launched a
solo blast to right-center for a 2-0 advantage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Corey Kluber,
unavailable for Game 1 after kicking off the wild card round, took the ball on
full rest in Game 2 and dominated through four innings, allowing just a single
and a runner on an error. But in the fifth the Firebirds struck and tied the
game in the span of four pitches. Anthony Rendon doubled and scored on a Brett
Gardner single, and Brandon Crawford’s double drove in Gardner. A potential big
inning was short-circuited, however, when Crawford attempted to take third on
the throw home but was cut down by 10 feet. Two of the next three hitters
singled, but they were both stranded when Joey Votto struck out looking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Kluber’s day ended
just the next inning, when he bookended a pair of outs with singles to put
runners on the corners. Brownsville called upon lefty Felipe Rivero, who
induced an inning-ending lineout from Brandon Crawford to keep the game tied,
2-2.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In the top of
the 7<sup>th</sup>, Carrasco faltered. Jay Bruce led off and took a mighty cut
at the 3-1 pitch, the ball soaring over the right field fence for a 3-2 Cutters
lead. With one out, Jose Abreu lined a single to left and Sean Doolittle
appeared from the Firebirds bullpen. Yuma’s top lefty matched his counterpart
Rivero, getting out of the inning without any additional runs scoring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Rivero set
down the hosts in order in the bottom of the seventh, putting the game right
back in the hands of his offense. A single and intentional walk put two on with
two out, but Bryan Shaw entered his second game in a row and retired
pinch-hitter Michael Taylor to keep Yuma’s deficit at one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Votto led off
the home half of the 8<sup>th</sup> and immediately grounded to short, but
Corey Seager pulled a hanging 0-2 curve into the gap in right-center. With two
right-handed batters due up next, young Carl Edwards was brought in for the
visitors. Mookie Betts, working on a 0-for-3 day after a 2-for-6 Game 1, fell
behind at a ball and two strikes. The next Edwards pitch was decent, but the
dangerous Betts dug it out and drove the ball toward the fence in left. Taylor
rushed toward the fence and leaped, but the ball skimmed off his glove and into
the bleachers for a 4-3 Yuma lead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Stunned,
Brownsville couldn’t muster even a runner against Shaw in the ninth, and the
series fell into a 1-1 tie headed to the Cutters’ Cockerton Field for the next
two contests.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #ed7d31; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2;">FINAL: YUMA 4, BROWNSVILLE 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Andrew Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024898814168249094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776210846026425603.post-24982124055890098962018-01-03T22:33:00.000-08:002018-01-03T22:33:32.011-08:00DIVISIONAL ROUND: BROWNSVILLE VS YUMA GAME 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.chicago-d.com/312/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/jose_abreu_white_sox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.chicago-d.com/312/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/jose_abreu_white_sox.jpg" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Jose Abreu was on fire in Game 1, lacing a homer and two doubles while driving in four</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After escaping the Worcester
Eliminators in three games, Grapefruit wild card winner Brownsville visited
Cactus division champion Yuma for the first game of the best-of-5 divisional
round. What followed was two evenly-matched teams giving fans in attendance
some free baseball.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Cutters,
who hit the second-most home runs in BARB in 2017, came out swinging right away
against Chris Sale in the top of the first. Sale recorded a couple quick outs
before Aaron Judge jumped on a first-pitch fastball for a single to right. Jose
Abreu took a ball, and the following hanging curve was deposited into the right
field stands for an instantaneous 2-0 Brownsville lead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Yuma came
right back in the home half. Zack Greinke issued a pair of walks to open the
frame, and Corey Seager cashed in with a double to score a run. Mookie Betts
then grounded out to plate a second Firebird runner, and the game was knotted
up at two runs apiece.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Both teams
doubled their total in the third; Abreu doubled in a run before a Jedd Gyorko
sacrifice fly for Brownsville and a Brett Gardner bases-loaded walk and Ian
Kinsler infield single again matched the Cutters total on the Yuma side.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The 4-4 tie
remained until the 8<sup>th</sup>. Bryan Shaw entered to replace Sale, who
completed seven innings with 11 strikeouts but six hits and four runs allowed.
Judge kicked things off by beating out a trickler toward second, bringing up
Abreu. The Cuban slugger continued his reign of terror, lacing a 2-2 offering
to the gap in right-center to score Judge from first.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Brownsville
added a run in the top of the ninth. Tyler Flowers and A.J. Pollock singled,
with Pollock erased on a fielder’s choice. Flowers trotted home right after, as
Manny Machado poked a single to right for a 6-4 lead going to the bottom of the
9<sup>th</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Cutters closer
Wade Davis trotted to the mound, just three outs away from a road victory in
Game 1. What happened next could have been taken straight out of a Hollywood
script. Betts tapped the ball on the ground toward first and beat out Abreu’s
attempt to scamper back to the bag after picking up the ball. Davis, clearly
shaken, balked Betts to second. The righty recovered with a ground out and
strikeout, but Yuma pinch hitter extraordinaire Brian Dozier took a backup
slider in the side to put the tying run on base with two down. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Kinsler, with
a pair of hits in three trips to the plate, jumped on Davis’ first pitch. The ball
shot toward left-center field and skipped off the turf all the way to the wall.
Betts scored easily and leaped in the air as Dozier joined him to tie the game.
Seeing Michael Taylor struggle picking up the ball, Kinsler endeavored to gain
an extra 90 feet…but Taylor recovered and fired to Gyorko, with the relay
hitting Machado’s glove in time to end the regularly-prescribed innings in a
6-6 deadlock.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The prospect
of losing the game after a two-run lead in the ninth left the visitors stunned,
and they were set down quietly by Steve Cishek in the top of the tenth. Davis,
given another chance, put men on first and third with two out. Bruce Bochy
called upon Will Harris to keep the game alive. He did just that, striking out
Betts to send the game to the 11<sup>th</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Flowers opened
the second extra frame with a single through the 5-6 hole, prompting the
Firebirds to call on…Johnny Cueto? The erstwhile starter allowed a line drive
to center off Pollock’s bat, but it settled in Dexter Fowler’s glove for the
first out. Cueto wasn’t as lucky on a full-count pitch to Scooter Gennett. The infielder,
with newfound power in 2017, exhibited that improvement with a drive to right
that sailed over the fence in a hurry, stunning the home crowd and giving
Brownsville a brand-new two-run lead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Harris was
much more reliable than Davis in closing out Yuma. Three balls were put in play
in the bottom of the 11<sup>th</sup>, and all three times his defense made the
play. In surprising fashion, the upstart Cutters had stolen Game 1 from 115-win
Yuma.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">FINAL:
BROWNSVILLE 8, YUMA 6 (11)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Andrew Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024898814168249094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776210846026425603.post-3663403125130166202017-12-25T22:22:00.000-08:002017-12-25T22:22:11.301-08:00CACTUS WILD CARD GAME 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://calltothepen.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/135/files/2014/05/paul-goldschmidt-mlb-philadelphia-phillies-arizona-diamondbacks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="266" src="https://calltothepen.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/135/files/2014/05/paul-goldschmidt-mlb-philadelphia-phillies-arizona-diamondbacks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Paul Goldschmidt kept Brooklyn at bay with his glove while contributing with his bat in a tense rubber match</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A squeeze and a smash<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After a
dominant Game Two victory, the Brooklyn Moabs looked to capitalize on their
momentum and capture the Cactus division wild card series with Rick Porcello on
the mound. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Opposing him
in the rubber match was another former Cy Young award winner, Jake Arrieta of
the Frostbite Falls Flying Squirrels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It didn’t take
long for the host Moabs to break the ice. In the bottom of the second, after
Frostbite left two on in the top half, Jake Lamb crushed the ball over Mike
Trout’s head in center field and raced around for a triple. Willson Contreras
capitalized with a line drive single to center as Lamb trotted in. Contreras
promptly motored to third on a Rougned Odor double. A tapper back to Arrieta
was dropped and everyone was safe, from Eddie Rosario to Odor to Contreras
crossing the plate for a 2-0 lead with none out. The Flying Squirrels escaped
further damage when Odor was thrown out at the plate on a sharp Porcello
grounder to Paul Goldschmidt…a foreshadowing of things to come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Porcello was
on his game until a minor slip-up in the top of the fifth. Elvis Andrus beat
out an infield single, moved to second on a walk and took third on an Arrieta
sacrifice bunt. A Trout groundout scored Andrus and cut the Brooklyn lead in
half.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The 2-1
advantage held for Brooklyn until the eighth. Porcello immediately showed signs
of tiring, issuing a leadoff walk to Trout and allowing a Gary Sanchez single
up the middle. Bryce Harper stepped up and took a mighty hack, but the ball
soared high and shallow down the left field line. Moabs shortstop Francisco
Lindor hustled and pulled the ball in, preventing any advance for the first
out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Porcello’s
final pitch of the game was a hanging curve to Evan Longoria, with the
resulting line drive nearly decapitating the righty. Trout was waved around
third with Ender Inciarte’s cannon cocking for a throw. Trout approached the
plate, but Contreras went to a knee as the toss was just inches short and Trout
scored standing to tie the game. The ball, however, skipped off Contreras’
shinguard and toward the on-deck circle – allowing Sanchez to advance to third
base.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Finally,
Porcello was yanked and Jeurys Familia entered the contest. Familia had pitched
in both previous games in the series, and that workload nearly led to a
disastrous result. Goldschmidt, who had grounded into a double play in the
fourth, drove a pitch to left. Christian Yelich sprinted back as the crowd held
their breath, but he stopped short of the fence and camped underneath the fly
for the second out. As the fans exhaled, Sanchez tagged and scored for a
Frostbite lead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Frostbite Falls
retained their 3-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning, and Brad Boxberger
was sent in to close the game and secure a divisional round matchup with St.
Francis. It was immediately clear he wasn’t going to make it easy. Boxberger
threw nine pitches to the first two hitters, walking both. Contreras smashed a
pitch into the ground, and Longoria’s only play on the Baltimore chop was to
first. One out, tying run on third and winning run on second. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The play might
have given the Gold Glove third sacker too much confidence, as he tried for an
out at the plate on an Odor grounder but Delino DeShields, Jr, who was running
for Freddie Freeman, slid in ahead of the throw to tie the game. Brooklyn now
had the potential winning run on third base, still with just one away. With the
infield in, Rosario’s eyes brightened as the third base coach relayed the call:
squeeze bunt. Sure enough, the confident Rosario squared and dropped it toward
first. Goldschmidt came in on a full sprint, fielding the ball with his glove
and flipping it to Sanchez. The tag…IN TIME! Frostbite had snuffed out the
Moabs’ daring attempt to take the game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Roberto Osuna
got the call for the home squad as the game entered extra innings, and the top
of the Flying Squirrels order was his task. He easily disposed of Trout, but
Sanchez turned on a get-it-in fastball and pulled it deep…and FAIR inside the
left field foul pole! The visiting Squirrels took the air right out of The
Launch Pad by regaining the lead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After his
inauspicious first frame of relief, Boxberger briskly marched out for the bottom
of the tenth. This time, he succeeded. Yelich flied out, Inciarte struck out
and Lindor followed with the same. The Flying Squirrels had their second
one-run victory of the series, and a date with Grapefruit champion St. Francis
just days away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">FINAL:
FROSTBITE FALLS 4, BROOKLYN 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Andrew Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024898814168249094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776210846026425603.post-60062302752801796982017-12-11T21:35:00.000-08:002017-12-11T21:35:29.399-08:00GRAPEFRUIT WILD CARD GAME 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://imagesvc.timeincapp.com/v3/fan/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthatballsouttahere.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F11%2F855177426-baltimore-orioles-v-cleveland-indians.jpg.jpg&w=850&h=560&c=sc" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="800" height="262" src="https://imagesvc.timeincapp.com/v3/fan/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthatballsouttahere.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F11%2F855177426-baltimore-orioles-v-cleveland-indians.jpg.jpg&w=850&h=560&c=sc" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Manny Machado was on fire in the rubber match, with a home run and three RBI</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2;">Worcester
opened the scoring in the rubber match of the Grapefruit Wild Card series, but
could they hold on and advance to face Yuma in the divisional series?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Indeed, the
Eliminators, after a 6-1 thrashing of host Brownsville in Game 2, put the first
run on the board in the finale. In the first inning, in fact, George Springer
walked and stole second. With two down, Robinson Cano lined a single through
the middle, nearly decapitating Yu Darvish, and Springer came home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Big lefty
Jordan Montgomery held the one-run advantage through two solid frames, giving
up just a Manny Machado double, but in the third the Cutters jumped on him to
take the lead. Montgomery’s first offering of the frame nicked Tyler Flowers,
and Darvish dumped a hit into center. The pitcher was erased as Javier Baez
grounded into a force play for the first out. Next was Machado, and he proved
he had Montgomery figured out. The Brownsville third baseman hammered the first
pitch he saw the opposite way down the line, the blast just creeping over the
wall inside the foul pole to give the Cutters a 3-1 lead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The very next
inning, the hosts added one to their lead. After Montgomery thought he’d
stemmed a rally with a double play, Michael Taylor turned around an 0-2 pitch
and lifted it far over the left-field fence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The 4-1 game
held until the sixth, when Cano lined a hanging breaking ball out of the park
to straightaway center. Montgomery gave that right back in the home half,
walking Aaron Judge and allowing advance on a wild pitch. Judge later scored on
a deep sacrifice fly off the bat of A.J. Pollock.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The book on
Montgomery’s night came to a close when Carlos Gonzalez pinch hit in the top of
the seventh. With one out and the bases empty, Gonzalez took a 2-0 Darvish
offering deep to right-center. It was the last pitch Darvish threw, as Carl
Edwards took over and finished the inning with a pair of strikeouts to hold the
5-3 lead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Worcester drew
another run closer on a Nelson Cruz blast in the eighth, but with no one on
base the Cutters remained in the lead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">One run is as
close as the Eliminators got. Their bullpen, short on healthy arms entering the
playoffs, faltered and gave up five runs in the bottom of the frame. Judge
opened with a walk and later scored on a Pollock double. Taylor drove in a pair
with another two-bagger, and Baez finished the barrage with a bases-loaded
double.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Wade Davis was
the Brownsville choice to finish it off. After a single, Davis induced a double
play. Finally, he struck out Trea Turner and the Cutters took the field in
celebration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #ed7d31; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2;">FINAL: BROWNSVILLE 10, WORCESTER 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">With the win,
Brownsville punched their ticket to the divisional round. Their prize? A
best-of-five with the best team in the league: the Yuma Firebirds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Andrew Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024898814168249094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776210846026425603.post-5819933826093609782017-12-06T23:19:00.003-08:002017-12-06T23:19:58.178-08:00CACTUS WILD CARD GAME 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.baseballessential.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/oakland-athletics-v-minnesota-twins-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="800" height="227" src="https://www.baseballessential.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/oakland-athletics-v-minnesota-twins-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Eddie Rosario 's home run and two RBI were instrumental in keeping Brooklyn alive</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: yellow; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A pair of former Frostbite Falls rotation-mates
matched up in the second game of the three-game set. Would Julio Teheran pitch
the visiting Flying Squirrels into a matchup with St. Francis, or would the
spotlight shine on Carlos Martinez, who was dealt before the 2016 season for
Paul Goldschmidt, trying to extend the series for Brooklyn at The Launch Pad?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The first few
innings passed quietly, with both teams stranding runners on second base. In
the bottom of the third, with two out and the bases empty, Teheran issued a
pair of walks to bring up Francisco Lindor. The shortstop shot the first
offering into right field. Bryce Harper picked up the ball and rifled a throw
home. Christian Yelich, hustling the moment the bat connected, was waved home.
Harper’s cannon sent the ball on a line toward Gary Sanchez, in tim…NO!
DROPPED! They Flying Squirrels had Yelich dead to rights but couldn’t quite
complete the putout, and the host Moabs took a 1-0 lead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After
Frostbite put two men on in the fourth but suffered a pickoff and double play,
Eddie Rosario blasted his first home run of the playoffs, a solo shot, to give
Brooklyn a two-run advantage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Ender Inciarte
duplicated Rosario’s feat with a leadoff bomb in the fifth, and with Martinez
continually stranding single runners, it appeared all but certain this series
would go to a rubber match. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">That
possibility was cemented in the bottom of the eighth. Joe Musgrove, in his
second inning of work, allowed back-to-back screamers from Lindor and Freddie
Freeman before issuing a walk and giving up a single that got him pulled from
the game. Adam Ottavino induced a slow groundout, but a Rosario line drive
caught in medium-deep center brought in Brooklyn’s sixth run.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Frostbite
Falls made the game interesting in the top of the ninth, when a pair of walks
and two-out Josh Reddick triple knocked Martinez from the contest. Jeurys
Familia got the call and allowed a run-scoring double to Alex Bregman, bringing
the game to 6-3. Even though the potential tying run was still in the on-deck
circle, Brooklyn management went to their closer. Roberto Osuna was tasked with
facing one of the best players in the game and the Flying Squirrels leadoff
hitter, Mike Trout. The battle lasted five pitches, with Trout eventually
chasing a high fastball in a 2-2 count to secure the Moabs victory. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So the Cactus
Wild Card series, just like the Grapefruit series, would see a third and
deciding game the next day to determine who moved on and who went home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">FINAL:
BROOKLYN 6, FROSTBITE FALLS 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Andrew Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024898814168249094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776210846026425603.post-85066830345383984542017-12-03T21:33:00.001-08:002017-12-03T21:33:45.302-08:00GRAPEFRUIT WILD CARD GAME 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sportscanyon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/1508971605_lance-mccullers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sportscanyon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/1508971605_lance-mccullers.jpg" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="770" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Lance McCullers, Jr., was elated after carrying the Eliminators on his back with eight strong innings</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Needing a win to keep their season alive,
the Worcester Eliminators put Lance McCullers, Jr., on the hill. The
second-generation big leaguer was up to the challenge, but could he outduel his
esteemed opponent, Jacob deGrom, on the latter’s home field?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The two
righties matched pitch-for-pitch for two innings, but in the third Worcester
broke through – the blow coming off the bat of McCullers. Scooter Gennett
opened the frame by kicking a routine grounder off the bat of Kyle Seager, who
scampered to second as the ball trickled into no man’s land. After a pop out,
McCullers navigated a roller through the box and into center to allow Seager to
streak home with the game’s first run.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The visitors
nearly extended their lead in the fifth, but George Springer grounded into a
double play with the bases loaded to stall the threat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The fifth
inning was simply a precursor to the one to come. While McCullers was working
on a no-hitter, deGrom was playing with fire…that burned him in the top of the
sixth. deGrom labored to full counts on three of the first four hitters in the frame,
allowing a pair of singles, a double and a walk to open the Worcester lead to
two and load the bases. Seager was next and capitalized with a double down the
right field line to plate a pair. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">With Brownsville’s
bullpen heating up in a hurry, Jonathan Lucroy put the final nail in deGrom’s
coffin with a smash up the middle to score the final two, making the total five
in the inning and extending Worcester’s lead to 6-0.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">McCullers,
handed the new cushion, turned in one final 1-2-3 inning before A.J. Pollock
broke up the no-no with a single through the left side opening the home half of
the seventh. Despite a double play, the Cutters still broke through in the frame
with their only run of the game. Aaron Judge and Mark Reynolds both drew
full-count walks, and Manny Machado dumped a single to center to score Judge. A
baserunning blunder cut the potential rally short, however, as Machado tried to
make too much happen and was thrown out going for second.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The game
cruised from that point on, with McCullers closing the books on a strong eight
innings and Craig Kimbrel striking out two in a perfect ninth. The season would
extend for one more day for both Brownsville and Worcester, with the winner of
the next contest advancing to the divisional round.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">FINAL:
WORCESTER 6, BROWNSVILLE 1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Andrew Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024898814168249094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776210846026425603.post-63117853857320490162017-12-02T22:53:00.000-08:002017-12-02T22:53:10.669-08:00CACTUS WILD CARD GAME 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://halohangout.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/480711668-86th-mlb-all-star-game.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://halohangout.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/480711668-86th-mlb-all-star-game.jpg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Mike Trout showed his slugging ability with a two-run homer in the third</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Longtime rivals Brooklyn and Frostbite
Falls finished second and third, respectively, in the Cactus division to set up
a Wild Card series. Despite both hovering at or near the top of the heap over
the years, this was their first playoff meeting since the 2004 World Series,
which saw the Moabs take the title in six games.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">With both teams
clinching their spots in the playoffs well before the end of the season, they
were able to line up their aces for Game 1. Max Scherzer (21-10, 3.00 regular
season) was on the hill for the visiting Moabs, who would host Game 2 and the
if-necessary Game 3. The defending BARB champion Flying Squirrels, playing in
their home ballpark – Rocky Top at Bullwinkle Corner – handed the ball to their
2017 revelation, James Paxton (10-3, 2.36).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After an
uneventful first inning, the visitors struck in the top of the second. With one
out, Delino DeShields, Jr., roped a double to right-center to plate Rougned
Odor. Ender Inciarte beat out a tapper and Christian Yelich walked with two
away. Young Francisco Lindor, acquired by Brooklyn in the middle of the season
for longtime Moabs stalwart Troy Tulowitzki, laced a single through the left
side. DeShields scored with ease and Inciarte motored around right behind him,
crossing without trouble as Josh Reddick airmailed the plate with his throw.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Trailing by
three entering the third, the hosts pulled within one on a single swing of the
bat. Mike Trout, who launched 25 bombs in a regular season abbreviated by
injuries, elevated a Scherzer 1-2 changeup that caught too much of the plate
with a man on and two down. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Frostbite
Falls threatened the very next frame, putting two on with two out, but Elvis
Andrus’ attempt at a surprise bunt single was snuffed out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In the fifth,
however, Frostbite broke through and knotted the game at three apiece. Three-straight
free passes loaded the bases with two out. It appeared Brooklyn would escape
the inning unscathed, but a routine Jason Kipnis ground ball skipped off the
glove of Healy at third base and everyone was safe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The tie didn’t
last long. After Paxton set down the Moabs in order in the top of the sixth,
Josh Reddick led off the home half with a solo blast to right – something he
accomplished only four times in 48 games with Frostbite Falls after being
acquired in the middle of the season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Paxton tried
his best to hold the 4-3 lead, but he wasn’t long for the game. After recording
an out in the seventh, he gave up a ringing double to Kurt Suzuki (in an odd
move, pinch-hitting for Christian Yelich thanks to a better average and
slugging percentage against lefties). Brad Boxberger entered and got a can of
corn from Lindor before striking out Willson Contreras to keep the lead in
Frostbite’s hands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Brooklyn,
which won four games more than Frostbite during the season, put a man on in the
eighth but couldn’t break through. In the ninth, Boxberger walked Eddie Rosario
and gave way to Hansel Robles. The new hurler checked on the speedy Rosario and
then got a pitchout sign. The timing was perfect, with Rosario on the move on
that first offering to Travis Shaw. Gary Sanchez, given a perfect set up on the
pitchout, gunned down Rosario for the second out. Shaw ended up walking, but
Lindor’s smash to center settled in the glove of Trout for the final out of the
ballgame.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">FINAL:
FROSTBITE FALLS 4, BROOKLYN 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Andrew Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024898814168249094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776210846026425603.post-2901421690832816562017-11-16T23:10:00.001-08:002017-11-16T23:10:58.614-08:00GRAPEFRUIT WILD CARD GAME 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.bigplay.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/aaron-judge-c2c712271130d583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="800" height="239" src="https://www.bigplay.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/aaron-judge-c2c712271130d583.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Aaron Judge reached base five times and scored three runs for Brownsville</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #ed7d31; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2;">A
back-and-forth series opener sees five combined runs in the third…and SIX total
runs in the ninth. Who would gain the upper hand between Brownsville and
Worcester?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Worcester,
with the third-best finish in the Grapefruit division, played host in this
first game of the best-of-three. The visiting Brownsville Cutters, fresh off
the best regular season in team history, would host the second and (if
necessary) third games of the Wild Card set.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The
Eliminators, after suffering numerous pitching injuries during the season
(including a season-ending ailment inflicting presumptive ace Aaron Sanchez),
sent Junior Guerra to the hill to get things started. The righty worked down in
the zone in the top of the first, inducing a pair of groundouts before Aaron
Judge singled to center. A Mark Reynolds fly out ended the frame.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Leading off
the bottom of the first against Corey Kluber, Trea Turner worked the count in
his favor before finding the outer regions of the right-center field gap for a
triple. The home crowd then went wild as he scored the first run of the game on
a George Springer groundout.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It wasn’t long
before Brownsville evened the score. With two out and the bases empty in the
second, Jedd Gyorko homered to left-center.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Cutters
were back at it in the top of the third, as Brian McCann singled to left and
A.J. Pollock, Scooter Gennett and Judge drew consecutive free passes to force
in a run. A Reynolds sacrifice fly represented the first out in the frame and
gave the visitors a two-run lead, but Guerra battled and induced a Manny
Machado double play to escape further damage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Kluber
exhibited signs of struggle in the home half of the third, allowing two
stinging singles to put runners on the corners with no outs. Turner tapped slowly
toward third and was thrown out, but a run scored and Yangervis Solarte
advanced to second. Springs walked, and Edwin Encarnacion beat out a roller on
the infield to load the bases. Veteran Robinson Cano cashed in with a single to
left-center to plate two and put the Elims back on top. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The score
remained 4-3 into the fifth, when three singles, a bases-loaded walk and
sacrifice fly gave Brownsville another lead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">From there,
the Cutters focused on holding Worcester’s offense and trying to scratch out insurance
runs. Two runners were stranded in both the sixth and seventh, and a seeing-eye
single in the top of the seventh scored Judge, who had singled and stolen
second. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Cam Bedrosian,
who had replaced Kluber in the sixth, gave up a leadoff double to Kyle Seager
in the eighth but settled down to retire the next two hitters with the runner
advancing one base. Turner made it a one-run game by using his blazing speed to
beat out a slow roller, and Bedrosian was knocked out by a Springer humpback
liner. In an odd decision, Bruce Bochy called upon Fernando Salas…but it
worked. An Encarnacion grounder stranded the potential tying run on second
base. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Clinging to a
one-run advantage in the top of the ninth, Brownsville’s offense broke through
to create a comfortable cushion. Judge and Reynolds both singled to start the
frame, and Enny Romero’s 1-2 offering caught too much of the plate to Manny
Machado. The third baseman went oppo, shooting a blast over the right-center
field fence to open the Cutter lead to four.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Worcester wasn’t
out of it yet. With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Nelson Cruz lined a
single to right. Domingo Santana lined sharply to second for the second out – a
ball that could have made things more interesting had it sailed through. Seager
then pulled his first pitch from Salas deep down the right field line. If it
stayed fair, it would cut the deficit in half. Indeed, it curled around the
foul pole. Next was Carlos Santana, and HE got a hold of one to right field.
All of a sudden, Salas had allowed three runs with two outs for a one-run game.
Bochy left Salas in the game, and he was rewarded by a first-pitch routine
grounder to third by Solarte.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #ed7d31; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2;">FINAL: BROWNSVILLE 9, WORCESTER 8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">An exhale
filled the visitors’ dugout. The Cutters were just one win away from moving on
to face the Yuma Firebirds, and they had two chances in their home ballpark to
pull it off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Andrew Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024898814168249094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1776210846026425603.post-69933737770318507272017-10-24T23:48:00.000-07:002017-10-24T23:48:19.251-07:00DEADLINE DEALS BOLSTER CONTENDERS<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Five
trades, with 2017 playoff race implications ranging from inconsequential to potentially
massive, were completed involving a total of five teams near the deadline;
other rumored deals fell through<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Another BARB trade deadline has come and gone, and for the
umpteenth-straight year the St. Francis Kansans made multiple deals geared at a
playoff push for Scott Hatfield’s first league title.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The following, just two days before the deadline, was
disseminated from the St. Francis offices:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“The St. Francis Kansans, having just gone over the .500 mark
for the fifth consecutive season, have after months of indecision decided to go
'all in' on a trade of star prospects for a hired gun, Carolina RHP Stephen
Strasburg.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The injury-prone Strasburg had struggled along with his
teammates in a disappointing season for the Wildcats, going just 5-11 with a
4.28 ERA in 22 starts. But the brittle
righty, when healthy, has shown elite stuff and that made him attractive to the
Kansans. A beaming Team President, Scott
Hatfield, was quick to remark: "I've ALWAYS liked Steve. That's why I was happy to take him with the
122nd pick in the 2008 BARB Draft's compensation round, as a freshman out of
San Diego State. We think that just
being on a team that's making a real run for the post-season, and just keeping
things simple, will keep him fresh. We
think this could be the moment that he finally turns the corner, and lives up
to his potential."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Speaking of potential, the price for Strasburg was NOT
cheap: St. Francis sent their best
hitting prospect, precocious teenager Vladimir Guerrero Jr., along with
Brazilian left-handed pitching prospect Luiz Gohara. "We always hate to move great young
talent before you have a chance to see it blossom," Hatfield
conceded. "But it's a tribute to
our organization this year that we have hit on so many of our draft picks, and
seen their value grow, and that's allowed us to have favorable leverage this
year.’”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The next day, Hatfield approached the podium in a much feebler
manner, according to reports:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">”Beleaguered Team President Scott Hatfield began today's press
conference with a long pause.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">An awkward silence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Then, it got worse.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hatfield, rubbing hollows under his eyes, began the late afternoon presser
by apologizing to the media.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"I . . . know this is going to be hard to understand,
but we're trading away . . . Elvis Andrus."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Consternation among the knights of the keyboard followed, as
reporters shouted:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"I thought you were BUYERS, not SELLERS?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"What happened to the PLAYOFFS, just a joke?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A reporter from the Worcester Times pool was overheard giving
off war whoops, while the local </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Kansas scribes rubbed their temples.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Through gritted teeth, Hatfield replied, "Our . . . CEO,
Mr. Drumpf, he's looked ahead at our future payroll, and he's-----Not. Pleased.
He asked me WHY I am keeping Andrus, who will make $15 million next
year, when I have two other shortstops?
Our shareholders are concerned about our bottom line, and we are
concerned about our catching depth, and . . . .so, we've made a trade."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Hatfield handed a loose sheaf of paper to an assistant, and
motioned that he read it, then quickly vanished from the room before reporters
could realize he was ducking out. The
assistant, statistician Nate Silver, read the following in a monotone voice:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"Mindful of future financial constraints, the St.
Francis Kansans have traded All-Star SS Elvis Andrus to the Frostbite Falls
Flying Squirrels. In return, the
organization will receive C Wilson Ramos, and two prospects from Frostbite's
system: OF Willie Calhoun and a really
great player, a good person on any side, C Andrew Susac. The organization thanks Mr. Andrus for his
many contributions to the ballclub, but we have lots of depth in the middle
infield, and we aren't sure his visa will be renewed next year, if and when America
becomes great again. So, believe me,
you'll thank me for this, you'll see."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">(signed) Donald Drumpf<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">CEO, The St. Francis Kansans Baseball Club and Drumpf
Enterprises”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In an even stranger twist, in the hours leading up to the
deadline the Kansans acquired ANOTHER catcher, Chris Iannetta, for the price of
former budding star Matt Harvey. St. Francis now has four healthy catchers on
their roster but will focus on platooning Ramos and Yadier Molina.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Strasburg and Ramos both impacted the Kansans early in their
stints, with the flame-throwing right-hander pitching six solid innings with
seven strikeouts in his debut and Ramos clearing the bases with a double in a
comeback win September 2.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As for the trade involving Ramos, Frostbite Falls owner
Andrew Haynes was pleased with his pickup of a starting shortstop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Elvis Andrus has long been a reliable starter at one of the
most important positions on the field. Separate deals this year improved our
future but cost us our two shortstops from Opening Day, Didi Gregorius and
Trevor Story. We handed the reigns to a combination of Orlando Arcia and Alex
Bregman, but they weren’t quite able to pull their weight with the bat. Andrus
gives them more time to grow while strengthening our lineup for a chance to
repeat as BARB World Series champions. Ramos was a great Squirrel for a number
of years, despite dealing with injuries. Gary Sanchez’s emergence, however,
made Wilson expendable. We wish him the best with his new organization.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">In other news, Carolina completed a pair of minor swaps. The Wildcats
and Yuma Firebirds traded players to be named later, and Santi City send
Anthony King’s squad lefty reliever Tony Cingrani in exchange for a player to
be named.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Surprisingly, neither Ron Melkonian nor Anthony Guerra were
heard from during the proceedings. Rumors flew that Melkonian was trying to
pick up a young infielder from Frostbite Falls in exchange for prospects, and a
blockbuster with a New England team hanging on to playoff hopes didn’t gain
much traction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">PLAYOFF
PROGNOSIS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The races in each divisions are strikingly different with one
month to play. In the Cactus division, the playoff entrants are all-but assured
– the only question is how they’ll line up. Yuma leads Brooklyn and Frostbite
Falls by six games thanks to a sizzling 21-6 run in August. The Firebirds haven’t
slumped all season and hold a magic number of 21 to clinch the division and a
first-round bye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Moabs and Flying Squirrels, both with sparkling 88-48
records that would have either one on top of the Grapefruit division if they
were there, are 18 games ahead of the Cactus’ fourth-place team, Cooperstown. Only
a complete collapse would keep any of the three teams out of the postseason.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Grapefruit, on the other hand, features five teams at
least clinging to playoff hopes. St. Francis now leads the division by five games,
with a magic number of 22. Brownsville sits in second, and after their worst
stretch of the season Worcester is in third place. Casselton is 12 games back
overall and four out of a playoff spot, and two-time defending Grapefruit
champion New England sees themselves eight behind the Eliminators for the final
place in postseason play. As with the typical ebb and flow of baseball,
however, Worcester is destined to heat up again and push toward the top of the
division.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">For the first time in a number of years, there don’t appear
to be any surprises in the playoff chase. Typically, a team with a low run
differential will upend a team with an apparent advantage in the category for a
spot, but in 2017 the top three in each league are far and away above any
others in differential.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Andrew Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024898814168249094noreply@blogger.com0