HF World Series - LAD(1) vs CLE(3)

The Dodgers shocked no one getting to the finals.  To be honest, Cleveland didn't shock anyone either.  In real life the Tribe underachieved and got shocked by a Yankee team that got hot at the right time.  On paper they were a legit #1 seed, so they earned their place in the "show".

Managers Keith MacDonald and Stan Skawinski are top notch pilots, so their presence in the finals should come as no shock to anyone reading this.

While the series was going on, Keith hit me with PBP updates.  I have to say it was nail biting, especially game 7, which had more twists and turns than a backwoods road in the French Alps (obscure cycling reference).

Here is the running commentary from Keith to me over Discord:

Game 3 hero

Game 1:

CLE up 2-0 after 2 innings, two solo homers

3-0 after 6.5, another solo homer

6-0 after 7.5

bug issue - it is mixing up game stats with replay stats

CLE wins game one 6-0

 

Game 2 

Rich Hill vs Bauer

CLE puts up 6 in the first

on 2 hits

Dodgers answer with 1: 6-1 after one

10-1 after 3.5 innings

11-1 after 7.5 innings

CLE goes up 2-0 with an 11-1 game win.

and for some reason, it claims that the Dodgers with 52 players are 21 over the limit...previously it has been 7 over the limit

 

Game 3: 

Dodgers up 1-0 after 1

CLE up 3-1 after 2

Darvish is tipping his pitches...CLE up 6-1 after 3

Dodgers score 2 in the 4th....down 6-3 after 3.5

7-3 after 4

Seager 3 run homer

7-6 after 4.5

2 run homer for CLE - 9-6 after 6

10-6 after 7

10-7 after 7.5

top of the 9th, two men on, one out - crash

time to see what I can do against Miller

2 outs, bases loaded

Eibner pinch hits and brings in 2

bases loaded - 2 outs, down 10-9

Old Man Chase Utley at bat

WALK! tied at 10!

walk...Dodgers up 11-10

Bellinger brings in 2, 13-10

Kenley in to pitch the bottom of the 9th...Dodgers up 13-10

error showed up again....Baez has to pitch to a batter (he is not tired, so it is not horrible)

Dodgers win 13-10!

CLE leads series 2-1

 

Game 4: 

Chris Taylor hit one deep in the 3rd. LAD up 1-0 after 2.5

Chisenhall ties it up int he 5th

still tied after 8

extras in game 4

to the 11th

to the 12th

Bruce hits one to the warning track...caught - to the 13th

to the 14th

2 on, no outs for the Indians in the 14th

double play,man on third, two outs

Edwin Encarnacion single...CLE wins, goes up 3-1 in the series

 

Game 5: 

Kershaw rematch with Kluber

Joc goes deep in the 2nd, LAD leads 1-0 after 1.5

Lindor ties it in the 5th.

still tied after 7

to the 9th

Joc brings in one in the 9th

(a lot of pick off on first - maybe Dave should look at that)

LAD up 2-1 going in to bottom of 9th

Kenley in to pitch (3rd game in a row)

Dodgers win 2-1. CLE leads series 3-2

had to reconnect between games three times now

it gets stuck on "Loading screen" in lower corner for me, but let's me put in lineup - but can't play game

Run Error 9 - game crashed before start again

 

Game 6: 

Hill vs Bauer

Seager leads off the game with a HR

1-0 after one

Dodgers up 3-0 after 3

Seager with an RBI double

Jackson with a 2 run HR in the 5th

Cody homers in the 5th. LAD up 4-2

Joc pinch hits in 6th and brings in 2

crash,ugh

when we reconnected, it had no one warming up (Maeda had been ready to come in before the crash)

so I had to put in an unwarm pitcher (change of inning)

Dodgers win 6-2

 

Game 7:

Darvish vs Carrasco

Zimmer 2run HR in the 2nd

Grandal ties it

Yu gets pulled after 8 outs

CLE 3-2

Utley scores on a wild pitch in the 5th to tie it at 3

Brantley just put CLE ahead 4-3

AGon ties it in the 6th

tied after 7

tied after 8

CLE has 1st and 2nd with 1 out - Kenley in to pitch

nothing across

to extras

CLE 1st and 2nd with one out

double play!

bottom of 10

Cody, JT and Puig up

Cody K's

JT K's

going to 11

nothing for CLE

Grandal walks

Joc pinch hits for pitcher

Joc fouls out

chase singles...grandal caught in a run down

Kike K's

going to 12

Santana singles

Jose Ramirez walks, 2 on, no outs

This has been a bullpen game

Chisenhall with the RBI

Watson in to pitch

Miller warming for CLE

bases loaded, no outs

DP, one scores, CLE up 5-3

sorry - CLE up 6-4....forgot the score

heading to bottom of 12

Seager, Taylor, Bellinger

Seager single

Taylor K's

Cody reaches on an error

1 and 2, 1 out

DP game over, series over, Cleveland wins

Congratulations to Stan

 

 --submitted by Keith MacDonald--

 

Semi-Finals: Tribe(2) defeats Twins(5) in 6

Thanks to Chris for a great series!  Below is a series recap.

Game 1

The series opens with Kluber facing Santana at Progressive Field.  Kluber starts of strong and winds up with 14 K’s in only 6 IP, but manages to get hit for 4 runs along the way. Santana manages to go 6 plus innings pitching in and out of danger allowing only 2 runs.  Twins hold on for a 5-4 win, holding off a Tribe rally in the 9^th allowing 2 runs, leaving the tying run on first base.

Twins lead series 1-0

Game 2

Carrasco squares off against Berrios in a pitcher’s duel in the second game.  We’ll just call this the Lonnie Chisenhall game, going 3 for 3 with 2 solo homers and a Tribe 2-0 win to even the series.  Obviously both starters have strong outings, and this is just a precursor what to come later in the series.

Series tied 1-1

Game 3

The venue switches to Target Field as Bauer faces Gibson in the all-important Game 3.  Twins jump out to an early lead with a run in the first.  The Tribe answer with 3 in the second.  Gibson lasts only 3 plus innings, surrendering 5 runs, 3 earned, and Bauer goes 5 innings and turns it over to the pen to hold the lead on the way to 6-3 Tribe victory.

Indians lead series 2-1

Game 4

Twin starter Mejia and Tribe starter Clevinger lock up in a pitcher dual.  The teams trade 4^th inning homers by Encarnacion and Sano and head into the 6^th inning where the Twins push 2 across and take a 3-1 lead.  Despite being out hit 10 – 6 the Twins bullpen hold off the Tribe to tie the series at 2 games apiece.

Series tied 2-2

Game 5

Game 1 starters Kluber and Santana face off again, but with a different outcome today.  The Tribe play long ball with Santana, taking him deep 4 times in route to a 5 -2 Tribe victory.  Encarnacion goes yard twice in the win. Kluber goes 6 plus for win, picking up 8 K’s along the way.

Indians lead series 3-2

Game 6

In an epic pitcher’s duel Game 2 starters Carrasco and Berrios face-off in the potential series clincher.  The bats go cold as each team collects only 2 hit each on the day as pitching dominates.  A lead-off homer by Kipnis in the 4^th and a two out double by Ramriez later in the inning and Tribe hold off the upstart Twins to win the series 4 games to 2.

Indians win series 4-2

 

--submitted by Stan Skawinski--

Dodgers (#1) sweep IL All-Stars (#16)

Dodger Stadium
GAME 1
Hutchinson vs Kershaw
Dodgers 8, IL 1

The IL All-Stars were no match for the great Clayton Kershaw and the Dodger bats.  LA jumped out to a 3 run lead in the bottom of the 1st and ever looked back.  Afte the IL scored a solo run in the 2nd the Dodgers returned the favor with 3 more in the 4th and 2 in the 8th.  Chris Taylor (3-4) had 2 runs scored, 2 RBI's courtesy of a double and a triple.  Kershaw gave up 1 on 4 hits in 6 innings, but only fanned 4.  Ross Stripling (2IP) and Sergio Romo (1IP) put up goose eggs over the final 3 stanzas.
Dodgers lead series 1-0

 

GAME 2
Slegers vs A.Wood
Dodgers 2, IL 1

Dodger bats could not get on track, but when Alex Wood gives up 1 un-earned run on 3 hits over 7 innings, you're gonna' win a lot more games than you lose.  LA strung together 3 consecutive singles in the home half of the 1st to take a 1-0 lead, which went away in the 4th on a passed ball.  LA scored the go ahead / eventual winning run in the 7th when Kike Hernandez led off with double and scored on a Utley ground out after a botched throw by catcher Alfaro on a bunt by Alex Wood.  Brandon Morrow and Kenley Jansen fanned 4 of the 6 batters they faced to blow away the IL All-Stars in their final 2 chances to tie it.  Jansen earned the save.
Dodgers lead series 2-0

 

GAME 3
Hill vs Eshelman
Dodgers 2, IL 0

Once again the Dodger arms stymied the IL's bats.  Rich Hill fanned 11 scattered 4 hits in 7 shut out innings of work.  Josh Field and Jansen got the final 6 outs to lock down the series.  LA only had 4 hits themselves, but made them count by stringing 3 of them together in the 4th to score the only 2 runs of the game.  Justin Turner, who had 2 of the 4 hits, led off with a single.  Cody Bellinger walked and Yasmani Grandal singled home Turner.  Puig grounded into a double play, but in the process Bellinger scored the second and final run of the game.
Dodgers win series 3-0

Editor's Note:  Special thanks to Scot Gordon, who had to endure connectivity issues, then waited for me to come home from Philly to sub for Keith.  Scot did a gr8 job keep the IL AS's close in games 2 and 3, which easily could have gone the other way.

Gio Gonzalez' No-Hitter

#14 Phightin's upset #3 Nats in 4 games

Game #1  Phillies 5 Nationals 3

Nationals Park

Nola vs Scherzer

Baseball is known by its long season and the Phillies and Nationals started out on the journey by opening the season with a 14-inning marathon.  The Nationals took off like a hare in the bottom of the first inning scoring three times against Nola on a Daniel Murphy shot to right centerfield.   The lead would hold up as both starters shut down the offenses for the next 4 innings.  In the top of the 6^th the tortoise, in the form of the Phillies offense, caught back up to the tiring Nats with 3 runs of their own off of Scherzer on a walk, two singles, a double and a sacrifice fly. For the next 7 innings, no team could push anyone over the plate as both teams went to the pen many times with both team narrowly escaping scoring threats multiple times between the 9^th and 14^th innings.  Using their 11^th pitcher of the day (good thing we had 40 man rosters), in the top of the 14^th Joe Blanton yielded the game winner in the form of a two run shot by Rhys Hoskins to put this one on ice for the Phils.

Game #2  Nationals 7 Phillies 0  (Near Perfect Game for Gio Conzalez)

Nationals Park

Hellickson vs Gonzalez

The story of game 2….Gio Gonzalez comes within 1 walk of a perfect game and the Nationals offense finds it swagger.  Gonzalez was untouchable on this day and except for a walk to Phillies catcher Rupp in the top of the 3rd inning no other Phillies reached base.  (Note: This is my second no-hitter in DKS!).  The national scored all the runs they would need on Michael Taylors RBI double in the bottom of the inning as Trea Turner scored all the way from first, narrowly beating the throw home by Phillies leftfielder Hoskins. Over the next two innings the Nationals would get to Hellickson for 5 more runs before adding another in the 7^th.  A tired Gonzalez struggled a bit in the 9^th, but held the Phillies in check for the no-hitter, giving the Nationals pen a breather after the 14 inning game the night before.

Game #3  Phillies 4 Nationals 2

Citizens Bank Park

Strasburg vs Eickoff

With the series tied at 1 each another nail biter was on tap for the Philly Phans.  The nationals broke out with a 2-1 lead after three.  IN the middle three innings, the pitching on both sides shut the offenses down and heading into the bottom of the 8^th the game was still 2-1 Nationals.  A tiring Strasburg was pulled by Manager Nixon in the 7^th as Matt Albers continued the pitching dominance in the 7^th.  In the 8^th  Madson came in to get the first out before yielding 2 singles.  Manager Nixon went to the pen again calling on lefty Sammy Solis…demonstrating the wisdom of the move for all, firstbaseman Tommy Joseph slammed a Solis pitch deep down the left filed line for a  three one homer and all the runs the Phils would need to put this one on ice and take a 2-1 lead in the series.

Game #4  Phillies 6 Nationals 2

Citizens Bank Park

Roark vs Velasquez

Wishing to wrap up the series without needing to go back to the nation’s capital, the Phillies wasted no time getting to Nationals starter Tanner Roark.  Hitting 4 homeruns on the day, the Nationals were never in this one as their noted pitching was slammed by the Phillie sluggers.  In the meantime, the Phils pitching could do no wrong.  The Nationals  wouldn’t get a hit of their own until the 5^th (by then tailing 5-0) and would only score their two runs on Michael Taylors second home run of the series in the top of the 6^th before they were shut out the rest of the way. For the most part this was a great and exciting series.  Most of the games were close and competitive all the way.  Dave, in his rookie KOD season, managed the Phils masterfully and kept the Nationals off balance for all but the one game Gonzalez pitched.  Phillie pitchers would made noted Nationals artillery
Bryce Harper (.063), and Michael Taylor (.167) look like popguns throughout.

Good luck to Dave and the Phils in the next round!

--submitted by Mark Nixon--

#5 Twins sweep #12 O's

I can’t thank Chris enough for making things so easy to get these games scheduled and then played.

Game 1 – BAL 1 MIN 2

Game 1 of the set matched up Dylan Bundy and Ervin Santana.  They did not disappoint.  Trey Mancini got the Orioles started with a solo home run in the 3rd inning.  Dylan Bundy was effective shutting out the Twins through six.  Unfortunately, he went out to the mound for the 7th inning.  After a walk and a couple of singles, Bundy got touched up for a sacrifice fly.  Mychal Givens was summoned from the bullpen to keep the score tied with just one out……and he delivered a strike out!  Only it got past the catcher and Jorge Polanco scampered (a word only used in sports) home for the go ahead run.  The Twins got good work from their bullpen to lock down the final two innings, with Kintzler earning a save.  This was a tightly contested, well-pitched game which seemed to foreshadow a close series. 

Game 2 - BAL 2 MIN 3

Looking to even up the series, Baltimore got out of the gates fast, scoring 2-out runs in each of the first 2 innings.  Adams Jones drove home Seth Smith with a single to get the scoring started.  Mark Trumbo hit a solo HR in the 2nd.  The Twins picked up a run in the 4th with a 2-out run of their own.  Byron Buxton doubled home Eddie Rosario.  Kevin Gausman pitched well for the Orioles but was lifted in the 6th inning, having thrown 95 pitches.  For the Twins, Jose Berrios was effective after those early hiccups, striking out 9 in 6.1 innings.  The Orioles took their one-run lead all the way to the 9th inning where they saw the Twins get to their bullpen.  Four singles plated two runs to give the Twins the home victory.  Buxton drove in the tying run, while Dozier singled home the winner.    Eddie Rosario was the standout offensive performer for the victorious Twins, going 3 for 4 and scoring 2 runs.

Game 3 - MIN 7 BAL 5

The series shifted to Baltimore as the Orioles, and started Wade Miley, hoped to push the series to a fourth game.  The Twins countered with Kyle Gibson.  The Orioles looked up to the challenge, getting 2 runs in the first.  They added solo runs in the 3rd and 4th to build a 4-0 lead.  The Twins bounced back with 3 runs in the 6th inning, sending 8 men to the plate.  This put the ball in the hands of the shaky Orioles bullpen to get nine outs and hold onto the 1-run lead.   Danny Santana (don’t the Twins always have a Santana?) drove in 2 runs in the 7th and Orioles never caught up.  The Twins tacked on solo home runs in the 8th by Polanco and in the 9th by Miguel Sano.  The Twins advance to take on the Red Sox in the AL half of the bracket.  Polanco was 3 for 4 with 3 RBIs in game 3, giving him a .625 batting average for the three-game series.

--Report by Steve Roman--

Seattle (#9) Defeats LAA (#8) in 4

Game 1: Paxton vs Ramirez

Seattle drew first blood as Mike Zunino hit a home run in the top of the first. Neither team got much offense after that until Mike Trout hit a solo blast to tie the game in the bottom of the 4^th (spoiler alert: Mr Trout will be heard from again). In the top of the 6^th, the Mariners strung together three straight singles to ultimately plate 2 runs, giving them a 3-1 lead that held up until the bottom of the 9^th. With Mariners’ closer Edwin Diaz on the mound, Mike Trout hit his 2^nd home run of the game to make it 3-2 before Diaz struck out Eric Young Jr. to ice the win.

Game 2: E. Ramirez vs Bridwell

Mariners got on the board early in this game as well, as a Mitch Haniger solo home run as well as two singles and a walk in the top of the second gave Seattle a 3-0 lead. This lead wasn’t threatened until the bottom of the 5^th when Angels’ Kole Calhoun and Caleb Cowart both singled to start the inning. Seattle brought in reliever Nick Vincent to quench the fire, and the score remained 3-0 until the bottom of the 9^th. The first four Mariners reached base in the 9^th, requiring Edwin Diaz to make another appearance. With the bases loaded, Diaz induced Martin Maldonado into a double play and the Mariners held on to win 3-1.

Game 3: F. Hernandez vs Shoemaker

Angels plated 2 runs in the top of the first, as Trout hit his third homer of the series. No more scoring until the fourth, when Albert Pujols hit a two run blast to put the Angels up 4-0. Zunino got the Mariners within two with a homer in the bottom of the inning, but the Angels would go on to score two runs in each of the 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th to put the game out of reach. Pujols contributed his second homer of the game in the 7^th as part of the barrage, as the Mariners went on to win 10-4.

Game 4: Leake vs Skaggs

In a well-pitched game, runs were once again hard to come by. Andrellton Simmons drove home Camerin Maybin in the op of the 3^rd, but Seattle’s Kyle Seager hit a two run shot in the bottom of the 4^th to give the Mariners a 2-1 lead. The lead didn’t hold up for long, as the Angels tied the game in the top  of the 5^th. Game remained knotted at 2-2 until the bottom of the 8^th, when Mitch Haniger hit a sac fly to plate Tyler Motter with the go ahead run for the Mariners. Trusty closer Edwin Diaz again trotted in from the bullpen. Kole Calhoun singled and after an error advanced to 2^nd base with no outs. Ben Revere grounded out, but Calhoun advanced to 3^rd on the play. With only one out and the tying run 90 feet away, tension was high. However, Cliff Pennington and Justin Upton both grounded out and the Mariners won the game and the series.

--submitted by Bill Schneider--