HERNANDEZ. VERLANDER. ROUND TWO

One team would celebrate a trip to the World Series

October 7: In a rematch of Game 1, Felix Hernandez and Justin Verlander squared off with an immediate goal: get their team to the 2013 BARB World Series.

In the first matchup, Hernandez outdueled Verlander, allowing three runs in 7 1/3 innings while striking out 11. Verlander had a shutout into the seventh inning in that game, but he recorded only one out in that frame and was charged with four runs.

The wild card Frostbite Falls Flying Squirrels took that first game and the second in Yuma. Chris Melkonian’s Firebirds came back to overwhelm the Squirrels twice in northern Minnesota, all of which set up the rubber match back in the desert.

Frostbite Falls manager Mike Noakes, after his offense scored a total of two runs in the two home games, shook up his lineup and was rewarded in the top of the first when Kendrys Morales lined a two-out, bases-empty double and Mike Trout followed with an RBI single.

FROSTBITE FALLS 1, YUMA 0

Yuma came right back in the bottom half. Nick Markakis and Andrew McCutchen singled, and Ben Zobrist completed manufacturing the run by lifting a sacrifice fly to right.

YUMA 1, FROSTBITE FALLS 1

Over the next few innings, it was all Hernandez could do to keep Yuma from scoring more. With first and third occupied and one out in the second, Andrelton Simmons smashed a line drive to Evan Longoria’s right. “Longo” dove and stabbed the ball before scrambling to the bag and doubling up Denard Span, who had strayed too far down the line!

In the third, the Firebirds worked into the same situation: first and third, one away. Zobrist again stepped up. Another fly ball would put Yuma in the lead. This time, however, he grounded it right at Yonder Alonso. The Frostbite first baseman had a choice: go to second and attempt a double play—taking the risk that Zobrist’s speed would beat out the back end and allow the run to score—or see if Joey Votto broke for home and try for the tag play at the plate. Votto went, and so did Alonso. His throw was JUST in time for Wilson Ramos to swipe the tag and keep the game tied! Buster Posey, up next, cut under a curve for a harmless can of corn to end the frame.

The Flying Squirrels, buoyed by good bounces and great defense, swung the bats with more confidence in the top of the fourth. Trout led off with a single but was forced at second on a poor bunt attempt by Bryce Harper. Austin Jackson walked, and Jose Reyes took advantage of the runner in scoring position with an RBI double down the left field line.

FROSTBITE FALLS 2, YUMA 1

After Hernandez set down the Firebirds in order, Kendrys Morales added breathing room. After a double play off the bat of Longoria, Morales pulled a drive deep down the right field line—and gone! Just a solo shot, but any extra runs off Verlander are highly valued.

FROSTBITE FALLS 3, YUMA 1

It appeared that run would be extra valuable as Yuma put two on with two out in the bottom of the fifth. Zobrist had another chance, but he failed to make contact and was retired on three pitches.

The repeated failures to put the ball safely in the outfield seemed to deflate Yuma. Verlander went back out for the seventh inning and induced a groundout, but he hung an 0-2 slider to Jason Kipnis. The second baseman was all over it and ended up on second with a double. The first pitch to Longoria was another hanger, and this time it was blasted OVER the wall in left, a two-run shot!

FROSTBITE FALLS 5, YUMA 1

Against many bullpens a four-run lead with three innings to play would be almost insurmountable. Facing Frostbite’s ‘pen, and with Yuma’s vaunted offense, well…anything is possible. The best hope for the visitors was for Hernandez to remain in the game and continue holding off the Firebirds.

Hernandez was up to the challenge, sandwiching a strikeout, flyout and groundout around a Votto five-hopper through the left side. He was given more breathing room in the eighth, when Alonso dumped a soft line drive into center and Harper and Jackson sped around to score.

FROSTBITE FALLS 7, YUMA 1

The single drove many of the home fans to rush toward the exits, but their team had one last gasp. With Hernandez over 100 pitches in the bottom half of the eighth inning, Zobrist and Posey singled and doubled, respectively, to lead off. Span fouled off three pitches but then flailed away for the first out. Zimmerman also fouled a few but then froze on a 2-2 curve. Rookie Anthony Rendon showed his youth and inexperience and helped Hernandez finish his night with a first-pitch pop-up at the plate.

Three outs remained for each side. Frostbite went 1-2-3 and sent out Antonio Bastardo to seal the victory. No base runners and 13 pitches later, the Squirrels were flying on the field to celebrate a return to the BARB World Series.

FINAL: FROSTBITE FALLS 7, YUMA 1

There was quite a dichotomy in the post-game celebrations among certain players. In the winning clubhouse, long-time Flying Squirrels Hernandez, Tim Lincecum and injured Albert Pujols shared knowing nods as they sprayed champagne once again. Markakis, Votto and Zimmerman, among others, sat in the dugout and watched the jubilant party on the field with blank stares. Falling at the hands of Frostbite in the playoffs has become a regular occurrence for the powerhouse deftly handled by Melkonian:

2004 first round: Frostbite 3, Yuma 2

2005 World Series: Frostbite 4, Yuma 2

2006 World Series: Frostbite 4, Yuma 3

2010 first round: Frostbite 3, Yuma 1

2011 World Series: Frostbite 4, Yuma 1

MVP: FELIX HERNANDEZ

“The King” ruled this series. He started Games 1 and 5 on the road, winning both and allowing four runs while striking out 17 and walking one over 15 1/3 innings. He did benefit from some balls scorched right at his defense, but he also made the right pitches in stressful situations. Hernandez kept the game in his hands, averaging 127 pitches in the two outings. Unfortunately for his team, his Game 5 start means he is unable to throw until Game 3 of the World Series. The Squirrels would have to rely on their other starting pitchers to get off on the right foot.

Special mention for the MVP can be made for Zobrist. Had the Firebirds won the series, he may have taken home the trophy. The super utility man hit .444 with three home runs, five RBI and six runs scored, but he came up short in pressure situations in the final game.

"ZORILLA", MEDLEN SEND SERIES BACK TO YUMA

The "jack of all trades" celebrates after his second jack.

October 5: The Yuma Firebirds, after falling behind, 2-0, at home in the first round, put together two dominating performances to regain home field advantage for the rubber match. Game 4 saw Ben Zobrist and Kris Medlen star for the visitors.

Medlen, after a stellar 22-5, 2.64 regular season, was matched up against reeling Tim Lincecum (0-3, 4.40 in his final six regular season starts).

Early in the season, Medlen, on the same field, hurled one of the greatest games in BARB history—a no-hitter with only one runner reaching base safely (on an error). The right-hander’s chance for another gem vanished within three pitches in the bottom of the first, but before that he was staked to a two-run lead.

Lincecum recorded the first two outs in the top half of the first, but Andrew McCutchen kept the inning alive with a single the opposite way. Ben Zobrist worked the count to 2-2 and sat on a poorly-thrown Linceum change-up. The ball soared down the left field line and passed the foul pole with a few feet to spare, a two-run homer!

YUMA 2, FROSTBITE FALLS COMING UP

As was mentioned, Medlen saw the repeat no-no flash before his eyes and disappear on his third pitch. Frostbite second baseman Jason Kipnis just got a piece of a 1-1 slider and pushed it past the mound to his counterpart, Zobrist. It was hit too slowly for the “Zorilla”, though, and Kipnis was safe aboard first base with an infield single. After a strikeout, young Bryce Harper roped the first offering for a double to left center. This time, Kipnis had to hold up to make sure the ball wasn’t caught and he was held at third base. Medlen settled down, however, striking out Kendrys Morales and inducing a harmless grounder from Wilson Ramos to end the threat.

Energized by their pitcher’s mettle, the Firebirds manufactured a run in the top of the second. Denard Span and Ryan Zimmerman singled to lead off, and a force play put runners at first and third for Andrelton Simmons. The shortstop shortened up and dumped Lincecum’s first pitch into center for an RBI.

YUMA 3, FROSTBITE FALLS 0

Frostbite got on the board in the bottom of the third, with left-handed Kipnis getting just enough to put the ball over the left field wall for a solo shot.

YUMA 3, FROSTBITE FALLS 1

The Flying Squirrels gained momentum in the fifth. In the top half of the frame, reliever Alex Cobb induced a Zimmerman double play ball with bases loaded and one out. Mike Trout stepped up to lead off the bottom half. Trout, oh-for-11 in the leadoff spot the first three games of the series, hit a single in the second inning of Game Four in the seven hole. His second appearance of the day showed that he was ready to break out of his slump in a big way. Trout gained a 2-1 advantage and waited on his pitch from Medlen, which he CRUSHED to DEEP left-center, a long home run to bring the home squad within one!

YUMA 3, FROSTBITE FALLS 2

Unfortunately for the locals, that was as close as Frostbite got. Zobrist hit his second homer of the game, this a solo shot, with one away in the seventh. Later that inning, Anthony Rendon singled in Buster Posey.

Medlen finished seven strong, allowing just the two runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and no walks (93 pitches). Sean Doolittle and Drew Storen threw a perfect eighth and ninth, respectively, to tie the series and send it back to Yuma for the rubber match.

FINAL: YUMA 5, FROSTBITE FALLS 2

FRIARS FIND A WAY

Underdogs since their inception back in 2009, the St. Francis Friars capped an amazing comeback against the club that led all of BARB in scoring in the regular season, taking the fifth and decisive playoff game from the Worcester Eliminators to win their first-ever post-season series...and a trip to the 2013 World Series!

It would be the fourth trip to the Fall Classic for owner and league founder Scott Hatfield, who despite fielding some pretty good clubs in the last decade (se ven playoff spots, four divisional titles and three times leading the league in wins) has yet to taste a world championship with any of his three BARB franchises. "It's enough to drive an obsessed, middle-aged science teacher to consider voodoo," Hatfield remarked humorlessly. "At least once, I know that I had the better club, but in a short series, anything can happen....which is why I can sympathize with Worcester. A great club, with 114 wins in the regular season. And...we beat them."

The pathway to this unlikely outcome lay in a little-used starting pitcher, lefty Travis Wood. In a move reminiscent of the Squirrels starting journeyman Paul Maholm in the 2008 Series, Wood was summoned after Worcester had made mincemeat of the St. Francis bullpen and forced the Friars to use both Bronson Arroyo and R.A. Dickey in long relief. But Wood, unlikely hero, was equal to the task: the southpaw mixed in an effective breaking ball and changeup and kept the Eliminators off-balance for six innings of four-hit ball. St. Francis, meanwhile, had scored three in the top of the third against fireballing Max Scherzer. The mid-season trade acquisition had overpowered St. Francis the first time they faced, and he would strike out ten in this game. But Friars SS J.J. Hardy jumped on a 2-2 fastball leading off the frame and hit it out to left-center, a no-doubter. One out later, Shin-Soo Choo managed to pull an 0-1 fastball between third and short for the second hit of the inning. Choo stole second on the first pitch to Aaron Hill, who then took a slider and a borderline change to strike out.

Incensed, Hill protested the call and was promptly tossed by plate umpire Louie Braille. Yikes! Hill, a pretty solid hitter, was no longer available in a critical game, and former starting SS Alexei Ramirez, a free-swinger, would be asked to fill his role for the rest of the series. No matter: 1B Chris Davis then worked the count to 3-1, and Scherzer had no choice but to again come in with a fastball. For the third time in the inning, the Worcester righty's heater yielded a hit, this a booming double over the head of Justin Heyward in center field. Choo scored the second run! That brought up veteran Carlos Beltran, who would lead all batters in the series with a .368 clip. Beltran, protecting with two strikes, hit a 2-2 fastball up the middle that Scherzer couldn't flag, the fourth hit of the inning, and Davis easily scored when Beltran elected to take second. Worcester's defenders seized on the gamble, nailing Beltran ‘caught stealing', but the third run was in the books:

ST. FRANCIS 3, WORCESTER 0!

Wood, given the lead, continued to deal, and even struck out the side in the bottom of the Worcester sixth to leave a pair of runners on. But, in the next frame, Worcester finally solved Wood after 65 pitches. Hanley Ramirez doubled off a 1-1 curveball, and Jonathan Lucroy hit an 0-2 changeup a country mile, several rows back behind the left-field wall. Scott Downs relieved Wood with tying run at the plate, and nobody down. Downs walked the left-handed hitting Brandon Moss (owch), but Justin Heyward struck out and Martin Prado grounded sharply at Ramirez, who used his shortstop's arm to turn an unassisted double play ‘thing of beauty' to end the threat:

ST. FRANCIS 3, WORCESTER 2!

The Friars would threaten again, putting two on in the bottom of the seventh, but Greg Holland got pinch-hitter Todd Frazier to fly to the warning track in right. In the eighth and ninth, Kenley Jansen and Craig Kimbrel let loose with the triple digits, retiring the final four Friars hitters and giving Worcester one more shot with the bottom of their lineup against Mariano Rivera. The 43-year-old legend had bailed out Derek Holland in the eighth after St. Francis's uneven southpaw had hit Robinson Cano to put the go-ahead run on base...but now, in the top of the ninth, the oldest player in BARB seemed gassed, walking a hitless Chase Headley. St. Francis had one more ace, though: unheralded mid-season pickup Koji Uehara, the hottest pitcher in the final month of the season. Uehara popped up Hanley Ramirez on an 0-1 change, dismissed Jonathan Lucroy with a sick 0-2 slider, then, on a full count...blew a slider past Brandon Moss! A save for Uehara, a win for Wood, and a playoff series victory for the Friars!!

What, what, what, WHAT???

PEREZ, BELTRAN NAMED CO-MVP'S

Veteran Carlos Beltran, who switched to RF mid-summer after Jose Bautista was lost to injury, led all hitters in the series with a .360 clip and drove in four runs, while youthful Salvador Perez hit .350, completely shut down Worcester on the basepaths and smoothly coaxed fabulous long relief stints from R.A. Dickey and Bronson Arroyo as well as nurturing the little-used Travis Wood in the final game.

FORMER ELIMS LEAD THE WAY

Trailing two games in their best-of-five series with the Worcester Eliminators, the upstart Friars of St Francis got a boost from a pair of former Eliminators, and saved off "elimination" with just the second postseason win in franchise history!

Prior to the 2013 season, veteran 1B Mark Teixeira and closer Mariano Rivera both toiled for Worcester GM Matt Caskey, who had made very good use of their (pinstriped) skill sets over the previous four seasons (2009-2012), including a sweep of Frostbite Falls in the 2010 World Series, capped by Teixera's grand slam off Squirrels closer Joakim Soria.   Teixeira was the Series MVP, while Rivera (who led all BARB hurlers with 36 saves in the regular season that year) was untouched in relief.

But, with Rivera hinting at retirement and Teixeira dealing with injuries, these expensive veterans were both allowed to test the free-agent waters, and by different routes made their way to St. Francis.   The Friars, flush with extra cash, signed the switch-hitting Teixeira as a free agent and got a decent week of production when the 1B was briefly activated from the DL.   Their joy turned to ashes as, despite hitting a fistful of home runs, Teixeira was not able to remain healthy, and it was determined that the $11,000,000 man would need season-ending surgery.

Rivera, meanwhile, was signed to similarly sizeable deal by the (then) Sin City Aces, who quickly fell into the second division in a disappointing season that saw Worcester absolutely dominate the East Division in unprecedented fashion, with a BARB record 108 wins.   It seemed that any chance of either the Sandman or 'Big Tex' witnessing playoff glory had vanished.   But, in a move that signaled the Friars were 'all in' for a playoff spot, St. Francis moved Teixeira's contract as part of complex deal to afford the salary of both Rivera and aging veteran OF Ichiro Suzuki.   The former Aces promptly remanded Teixeira to the disabled list.   But, in a curious move, while in rehab Teixeira kept in touch with St. Francis, perhaps out of a sense of loyalty to Friars team President Scott Hatfield, who had first drafted him as a 3B in the eleventh (!) round of the 2004 BARB draft.

So it was that with his old club trailing 2-0 in the Series, Rivera (the oldest player in all of BARB, and the most respected veteran in the club house) called a player's-only meeting.   Reporters were not present, but it is known that Teixeira made a surprise appearance as well, and the two veterans not only went over some of their former Worcester teammates tendencies, but emphasize the fact that there was no reason to panic.   Back at home, with a friendly crowd just happy to be in the playoffs, the club's mood shifted: Why not win one game, and see what happens?

St. Francis's first move, the choice of starter, proved less sanguine for Friars fans:  Clay Buchholz would give up six hits and three runs in the first three innings, allowing half the hitters he faced to reach base.   The only reason the Friars even left the brittle righthander in that long was a two-run home run by 1B Chris Davis in the bottom of the first.   Still, with two on and one out in the third, the score was tied and everyone had seen enough of Buchholz.   Former New England stalwart R.A. Dickey came into the ball game and coughed up a sac fly to give Worcester the lead, and it seemed as if despite the pre-game pep talk, the Friars would now have to bow to the inevitable Eliminators juggernaut.

But something happened.  Something remarkable.   Summoning shades of Tim Wakefield with the 2004 Red Sox, the knuckleballing Dickey struck out the side in the fourth, then breezed through the Eliminators lineup for a second time, retiring thirteen straight hitters, five of them by strikeout.   Dickey's line:  5.2 innings of no-hit ball, the only blemish a four-pitch walk to Jarrod Saltalamachia.
Meanwhile, the Friars got to Worcester lefty Mike Minor.   Suzuki, batting in the ninth spot of the order, singled for the second time of the game to score Aaron Hill and scored an out later on a double by Todd Frazier (getting a rare start with a southpaw on the mound).

ST. FRANCIS 4, WORCESTER 3!

In the previous two games, the Friars starters had been unable to protect leads after the sixth inning, and the Elims piled on with a bunch of late runs against an ineffective bullpen.   But Dickey's amazing long relief effort had changed the complexion of the game.   St. Francis added another pair of runs in the seventh when Carlos Beltran singled with one down and SS J.J. Hardy doubled down the left-field line to put runners at the corners.  Aaron Hill then greeted reliever Greg Holland with a ringing double over the glove of Damian Moss in right, with both Beltran and Hardy scoring:

ST. FRANCIS 6, WORCESTER 3!

In the ninth, with St. Francis's bullpen still smarting from the whipping they had received in the first game, the club turned to the 44-year-old  Rivera:

The veteran showed the coolness under fire that typified his career:  Robinson Cano hit a bullet that Ryan Sweeney leapt and caught at the CF wall, bringing a hush to the crowd.  Chase Headley split the gap in right on a cutter that stayed over the plate, crushing it, and when the dust cleared, Worcester's 3B was hugging third, a triple.  Anxiety filled the stadium, for this would bring up Moss, who had led the Eliminators in the regular season with 33 HR and 103 RBI.   A boundary belt here would not only smack down the aging Sandman, but tie the ball game.

Moss swung at the first pitch, and SMOKED it...off the glove of Frazier, who recovered in time to zip the ball sidearm over to Chris Davis at first.   Two outs, but Headley (running on the play) had easily scored.   With two down, the tying run was at the plate.   Hanley Ramirez, who hit .256 in the regular season, also swung aggressively...but Rivera's cutter came in on the handle, and Ramirez rolled the ball to Hardy....who casually flipped it underhand to Davis!   The third and final out, and the Friars, led by their veterans, had found a way to win:

ST. FRANCIS 6, WORCESTER 4!

PRICE PULLS ONE BACK

Price celebrates the shutout

October 4: The favored Yuma Firebirds, stunned twice at their home by wild-card winner Frostbite Falls, traveled to the great white north in need of two wins in enemy territory just to keep its season alive. Luckily for Chris Melkonian and company, David Price stepped up to the challenge.

Despite an 11-4 record, 3.08 ERA and three shutouts in the regular season, Price was only Yuma’s fourth-best starting pitcher. He was given the Game 3 start because Kris Medlen had fallen off toward the end of the season.  

Price was given a buffer before he threw a pitch, as the Firebird offense scored twice in the first off Frostbite starter Matt Garza.

Garza easily set down the first two hitters of the game on groundouts before Andrew McCutchen dumped a single into shallow left. Ben Zobrist followed with a four-pitch walk, and Buster Posey lashed the first pitch he saw from a clearly rattled Garza down the left field line to bring McCutchen around. Denard Span was next, and he brought in Zobrist with a seeing-eye single just past the glove of a diving Mark Ellis, and Yuma led, 2-0, after one frame.

Price walked a batter in the bottom of the first but escaped unscathed, and it wasn’t long before the Firebirds plated another. Rookie Anthony Rendon, leading off the second, put an uppercut on Garza’s 2-0 offering and BLASTED a shot way back to left field. Yuma added another in the third on a solo shot by Zobrist for a four-run lead just a third of the way through the game.

The rest of the game sailed along. Garza was gone after walking Ryan Zimmerman leading off the fourth, and Carlos Villanueva pitched five innings of scoreless long relief before allowing a Rendon RBI double in the ninth. The Firebirds added another in the final inning when Rendon scored on a Nick Markakis groundout.

The host Flying Squirrels, meanwhile, couldn’t get anything going against Price. Their first hit was a Mark Ellis single in the third, but he was promptly erased on a double play grounder. Price finally had issues in the sixth, as Kendrys Morales lined a single and Mike Trout and  Austin Jackson walked to load the bases with no outs. The big lefty dug in, however, getting Wilin Rosario to line to right (too shallow for the plodding Morales to try to score), striking out Evan Longoria and inducing a can of corn from Jose Reyes to end the threat.

The last nine Frostbite hitters went quietly, leaving Price with a dominant masterpiece: two-hits, four walks, eight strikeouts; a shutout on 128 pitches.

The 6-0 Yuma victory meant a Game Four would be in play, with the Firebirds planning to throw Kris Medlen, who had a no-hitter against Frostbite in the regular season, against either rookie Alex Cobb or erratic Tim Lincecum for the Squirrels.

FINAL: YUMA 6, FROSTBITE FALLS 0

THE MARK ELLIS SHOW

Ellis shows his home run form.

October 2: Mark Ellis, nearly signed by Yuma during free agency, crushes his near-employer to pull his current team within one victory of the World Series.

In the 2013 free agency period, a few teams had second baseman Mark Ellis on their wish lists. The veteran decided to return to the Frostbite Falls Flying Squirrels, with whom he was an important role player on their 2011 championship team.

Despite having to split time with talented youngster Jason Kipnis, Ellis made his decision and helped the Flying Squirrels to the wild card with a .335 average and 42 runs in 215 at bats. He also helped Frostbite extend its lead to 2-0 in their first-round playoff series with the Yuma Firebirds with an RBI single and a crushing three-run homer to back up Cole Hamels’ 8.1-inning, 3-run, 10-strikeout performance in the 6-4 victory.

Neither team scored in the first despite putting runners in scoring position. The host Firebirds had runners on first and third with just one out, but Andrew McCutchen grounded sharply to Ellis to start an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.

Jose Reyes drew a four-pitch walk to begin the second and stole second base with Drew Stubbs at the plate. Stubbs then hit a squibber down the third-base line and beat out Ryan Zimmerman’s throw. Ellis stepped up and worked the count to 2-2 before lining a single just past a diving Andrelton Simmons to allow Reyes to walk home. Kendrys Morales           was next, and he pulled a one-hopper inside the third-base bag for two bases and another RBI as Stubbs scored. Chris Sale didn’t rebound immediately, issuing a walk to Austin Jackson, but he struck out Mike Trout and induced his own double play grounder, this off the bat of Evan Longoria, to limit the damage.

The Frostbite half of the third inning started as inconspicuously as possible, as four Sale pitches produced a strikeout and fly out. Reyes, behind in the count, 1-2, got enough of the bat on the ball to flip it into center for a base hit. Stubbs, went the other way to reach with his second hit and move Reyes to third for Ellis. Sale showed his youth and Ellis read the frustration and expected a fastball down the middle. Sure enough, the lefty slung it at 96, but Ellis’ bat was waiting. Left fielder Nick Swisher chased to the wall, thinking that an old second baseman surely couldn’t put that much of a charge into a pitch, but he had no chance as the ball cleared the home bullpen in a hurry! Just like that, Frostbite Falls had quieted the Yuma crowd with a 5-0 lead!

The Firebirds, though, still had seven times at bat remaining. They nearly got on the board in the fourth inning when Joey Votto doubled to lead off. One out later, McCutchen lined a single to center. The Yuma third base coach waved his arms for Votto, but Austin Jackson’s throw was on the money and waiting for the lumbering first baseman at the plate.

It ended up being just a matter of time before Yuma scrapped their goose eggs. Hamels would and threw the first pitch to Nick Swisher in the home half of the fifth, and in just a few seconds the ball was in the bleachers and the fans were on their feet. Later in the inning, Nick Markakis and Votto notched back-to-back doubles to pull their team within three at 5-2.

Frostbite centerfielder Jackson provided more excitement in his next trip to the plate. With one out and the bases empty in the top of the sixth, Jackson laced a drive over his counterpart, McCutchen. As the outfielders chased the ball to the wall, Jackson blazed around the bases. He rounded third and got the signal to try for home, where he dove in easily ahead of the throw for an inside-the-park home run (believed to be the first in BARB playoff history)! Yuma was running out of outs and now trailing 6-2.

Hamels pitched into the ninth before walking Ben Zobrist with one out (at 130 pitches), prompting Manager Mike Noakes to send in long man Carlos Villanueva. Yuma sent up a pinch-hitter, Jurickson Profar, and he greeted the righty with a blast down the left field line. The shot, Villanueva’s sixth pitch of the playoffs, brought the home squad within two, but Swisher and Ryan Zimmerman both flailed on two-strike pitches to end the ballgame.

In a series most prognosticators expected to go five games (or a Yuma four-game victory), the home field advantage had flopped in the direction of the Frostbite Falls Flying Squirrels. They were heading home to northern Minnesota for two games, but they only needed one to advance to the BARB World Series.

FINAL: FROSBITE FALLS 6, YUMA 4

EAST IS BEAST

October 1: Gonzalez and Hernandez shine as Eastern division teams strike the first blow in their respective playoff series.

Worcester, Mass—Johnny Cueto shook off his tough regular season  to keep the Central Division champion St. Francis Friars from taking the lead long enough for the Eliminator bats to wake up.

Cueto, who had a 5.86 and 4-4 record for the East Division champs and BARB single-season wins record holders, allowed two singles in the first inning but also induced a double play grounder. He was perfect the next three frames before Salvador Perez hit a single, stole second, moved to third on a fly out (yes, a CATCHER) and scored on J.J. Hardy’s base hit.

By that time, Worcester had already gone ahead. Robinson Cano led off the bottom of the second with a rope over the centerfielder’s head and scored two batters later on a Brandon Moss single.

The tie in the fifth didn’t last long. The first hitter in the Eliminator half of the inning was Jason Heyward, and he got a hold of one DEEP to right. The only question was whether it would curl foul, but it cleared the foul pole with room to spare to put the hosts back up by one.

Worcester struck again in the seventh, and this time in a big way. St. Francis stuck with starter Bronson Arroyo a few batters too long, as he walked Jarrod Saltalamacchia and caught the fat part of the plate to Martin Prado, who lashed a double to left center. Enter Craig Breslow. The lefty, acquired from Brooklyn in midseason, had a 2.19 in 74 innings between the two teams. He also struck out nearly four batters for every walk.

Jonathan Lucroy was sent up as a pinch hitter for Heyward, and Breslow immediately walked him to load the bases for Adrian Gonzalez. The lefty-lefty matchup seemed to favor the hurler, but Gonzalez liked what he saw in the 1-0 pitch. A-Gon lifted a SOARING drive to right field…and GONE! A GRAND SLAM for Worcester sent the fans into a frenzy.

One inning later, Billy Butler grounded a seeing-eye single through the middle to score two more. St. Francis plated a run in the top of the ninth, but it was much too little and much too late. The 8-2 victory behind a starter from the bottom of their rotation seemed to further assert Worcester’s dominance and put St. Francis in a hole that even the Sabermetricians couldn’t find a silver lining to.

FINAL: WORCESTER 8, ST. FRANCIS 2

MEANWHILE, 2800 MILES AWAY…

Justin Verlander and Felix Hernandez, two top contenders for the BARB Cy Young award, geared up for the first game of the series between the West Division champion Yuma Firebirds and wild card-winning Frostbite Falls Flying Squirrels.

Both teams came in after winning more than 100 games and producing run differentials over 200. The Squirrels had a league-leading 908 runs scored (the first time since 2005 that a BARB team plated that many), while the Firebirds allowed a league-best 585. One of the two had to give.

From the start it seemed more cracks would fell the Frostbite armor.

In the bottom of the second, Denard Span lined a single with one out to bring up Ryan Zimmerman. Hernandez fell behind, 2-1, and then Zimmerman barreled the next pitch up: a drive to left, 10 rows up in the Safeco Field bleachers! Just like that, Yuma had a 2-0 advantage for one of the best pitchers in the game.

Through six, Verlander didn’t disappoint. He scattered a few walks and two doubles in keeping the visitors off the board. Hernandez settled down after the rough start and kept his Squirrels in it, and in the seventh he was rewarded.

Jason Kipnis led off with a single and Yonder Alonso doubled down the line. Wilson Ramos lifted a ball to right that carried…back…but caught at the edge of the warning track. It was, however, deep enough to score Kipnis and move Alonso to third. Frostbite’s Mr. Clutch, Evan Longoria, stepped in and fell behind, 1-2, before pulling a line drive JUST over the leaping Andrelton Simmons at short to tie the score! Verlander stayed in but walked Kendrys Morales on a full count, and Tyler Clippard was brought in.

The ace reliever didn’t endear himself to his home fans with a wild pitch on his first offering. He then proceeded to walk Mike Trout, loading the bases for Austin Jackson. Jackson took advantage of Clippard’s control issues by lashing a first-pitch single to left to score Longoria for a 3-2 Frostbite lead. Bryce Harper made an out, but it was just a groundout to first with Morales scoring as baseball pundits everywhere wondered why Joey Votto didn’t throw home to try and force the plodding designated hitter.

With newfound life, Hernandez came back out for the bottom half of the seventh. Zimmerman greeted him with a double, but “King Felix” sandwiched three strikeouts around a subsequent single to finish the shutdown inning.

Hernandez got into trouble again in the eighth, however, and this time he didn’t make it out. After a hard-hit groundout, Ben Zobrist dribbled an infield single down the third base line. At 123 pitches and with Buster Posey, Span and Zimmerman approaching, Mike Noakes decided to pull his ace for righty Al Alburquerque. Two walks and a strikeout later, Anthony Rendon stepped up and hit a slow chop past the mound. Jose Reyes couldn’t whip the ball to first in time, so Zobrist came across the plate to bring Yuma within a run and close the book on Hernandez (7.1 IP, 8 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk and 11 strikeouts). Antonio Bastardo was next to try to shut the door, and he was able to sling a slider past Jurickson Profar and end the inning.

Frostbite’s lead was safe for the moment, but they knew the top of the Firebird order was due up for the ninth and the names Markakis, Votto and McCutchen wouldn’t make it easy. So the offense went out and scratched out an insurance run, with two walks and the fleet Jackson beating out the back end of a double play. Runners on first and third with just one out allowed Harper to get under one for a sac fly and 5-3 advantage into the bottom of the ninth.

Frostbite Falls, which worked with a “closer by committee” system all season, left Bastardo in for the ninth. He closed it out rather uneventfully with a groundout, walk and two strikeouts. The visiting team had struck the first blow in what promised, from the start, to be a series played to the full five games.

FINAL: FROSTBITE FALLS 5, YUMA 3