GAMES 1 & 2
American League
The Boston Bravos (92-70) of the A.L. East, travel to Fairgrove, Michigan -- to face the A.L. West Division Champs. The Fairgrove Tigers sported a 95-67 record. The Bravos took 7 of 12 from the Tigers during the season, we'll see if any of this plays out for Boston. Both teams have even splits for their home & away records, pretty balanced. Everything on paper is pointing at this series to be pretty even, maybe going the distance for all 5 games? We'll see.
Game 1 - Edwin Jackson - BOS (9-9, 5.47 ERA) vs. Madison Bumgarner - FAIR (15-8, 3.49).
The Fairgrove Tigers appeared to get contributions from everywhere in their lineup, as everyone except for two of their starters collected hits, as the team went 11-for-32. Jason Heyward, Andre Ethier & Salvador Perez each had 2 hits, while Ethier & Perez added a RBI. Boston's Edwin Jackson wasn't exactly sharp, allowing 3 runs & 8 hits in 5.1 innings, all while collecting 7 strikeouts though, without allowing a walk.
The game remained 1-0 Fairgrove, ahead on a sac fly by Adam Jones (in the bottom of the 2nd) until Fairgrove padded it's lead with two runs in the bottom of the 5th. Down 3-1, in the 7th, Boston finally got on the board with a RBI double by Omar Infante. Tigers answered back with another sac fly, this time by, Howie Kendrick, for an insurance run & lead of 4-1.
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| Madison Bumgarner was dealing in Game 1. |
That's where the score remained with an excellent performance by Fairgrove's starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner, allowing only 6 hits & one run, while massing 13 strikeouts, in only 6.2 innings. Fairgrove relievers, Craig Stammen and Robbie Ross, lock down the rest of the game, adding 3 more K's to the mix (Boston batters struck out 16 times).
Can Boston bounce back in Game 2?
Game 2 - Chris Capuano - BOS (17-9, 3.74 ERA) vs. Mat Latos - FAIR (14-10, 4.12 ERA).
Bostons' bats once again could only manage 6 hits, but so was the case for the Tigers. Fairgrove struck first with a two-run homer by Howie Kendrick (giving him 3 RBI for the series) during the bottom of the first. Boston inched closer with Chris Johnson scoring off a sac fly by Omar Infante in the second.
The big moment of the game came with Adam LaRoche hitting a clutch two-run homer in the top of the 6th for the Bravos. Alex Gordon added a RBI single in the 7th, as Boston took a 4-2 lead.
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| LaRoche delivered a blast that changed the tide of Game 2. |
Chris Capuano pitched a effective game of 6 innings, 6 hits & 2 runs, plus 3 walks allowed, while striking out 9 Tigers; while Mat Latos was not on his 'A' game. Craig Kimbrel would come in for the save as the Bravos hold onto a 4-2 victory.
Series even, 1-1.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
The wildcard Seattle Rainiers (86-76) travel south to Portland to face their division rivals, the N.L. West Division Champions - the Portland Microbrewers, who ended up with a 94-68 record. Portland definitely has the upper hand in pitching, while Seattle slightly has them with the bats.
Game 1 - Max Scherzer - SEA (10-12, 4.05 ERA) vs. Chris Tillman - POR (7-5, 3.96).
Mike Trout, the face of the franchise, kicks things off early for Portland with a solo blast to right off of Max Scherzer in the bottom of the first, with two outs.
Bottom of the 3rd, Austin Jackson (acquired from the Traverse City Panthers during the season) hits a solo HR off of his friend Scherzer, to make it 2-0 Portland. Marco Scutaro reaches base on a single, which brought up Mike Trout once again, he once again belts it out, this time to deep left -- putting an early 4-0 lead on the board.
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| Trout puts up a monster Game 1 for Portland. |
Mike Trout didn't stop there, as he knocked in two during the bottom of the 4th, to score in two on a double. Trout's line for the day: 3-for-4, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 runs on 10 total bases! Trout ended up overshadowing his teammate, starting pitcher Chris Tillman's terrific day. Tillman pitched a two-hit shutout, striking out 11 Rainiers for the night.
Seattle's bats would have to come alive in Game 2, before letting this series get away from them.
Game 2 - Bronson Arroyo - SEA (16-9, 3.62 ERA) vs. Jonathan Niese - POR (16-8, 2.61 ERA).
During the top of the third, Seattle strikes first as Jose Altuve hits a double, after a single by Rob Brantly, Derek Jeter scores in Altuve off of a single. Prince Fielder pulls off a rare triple to score both base runners in, as Josh Willingham hits a solo HR for the Seattle Rainiers. Exactly the inning & start to a game that Seattle was hoping for.
Portland answers back in the bottom of the third. Mark Ellis draws a walk, Austin Jackson follows that with a double. With runners on 2nd & 3rd, Marco Scutaro singles in Ellis, making it 4-1 Seattle. Mike Trout (4-for-5 for the series) hits a sacrifice fly, scoring in Jackson from third.
Down 4-2, in the bottom of the 4th, Jason Kipnis singles, steals second & is batted in by Freddie Freeman. Portland would end up tying the ball game, 4-4, in the bottom of the 5th, on another sacrifice fly by Mike Trout (his 8th RBI of the series). During the inning Portland knocked out Seattle's starter Bronson Arroyo (bringing in reliever David Robertson) & Scutaro collected his second hit.
Seattle strikes back with a solo HR by Yoenis Cespedes in the top of the 6th, knocking Portland's starter Jonathan Niese out of the game, taking back a 5-4 Seattle lead. Portland doesn't stay down for long, the Brewers pinch-run Coco Crisp for Mark Ellis, after Ellis drew a walk, Crisp would end up stealing second; Austin Jackson drives Crisp in on a single, tied 5-5.
Bottom of the 8th, David Ortiz draws a walk, Portland pinch-runs A.J. Ellis for Ortiz, Jason Kipnis gets walked, runners on 1st & 2nd. Seattle calls on Charlie Furbush, as he comes in and shuts Portland down.
Seattle fails to score in the top of the ninth against Portland reliever Matt Albers. During the bottom, Portland's Russell Martin leads off with a double off Furbush. Austin Jackson strikes out. Marco Scutaro hits a deep fly to left center into the gap, Mickey Brantley in center doesn't even offer going after it, as Portland's dugout pours onto the field in a celebration walk-off! Down early 4-0, the Microbrewers come storming back in this one.
Seattle fans will come out for sure in Game 3, but they will be hoping it's not their last game. We'll see... what a comeback for Portland. Marco Scutaro had 3 hits & 2 RBI in this one -- including the all important walk-off hit.
During the top of the third, Seattle strikes first as Jose Altuve hits a double, after a single by Rob Brantly, Derek Jeter scores in Altuve off of a single. Prince Fielder pulls off a rare triple to score both base runners in, as Josh Willingham hits a solo HR for the Seattle Rainiers. Exactly the inning & start to a game that Seattle was hoping for.
Portland answers back in the bottom of the third. Mark Ellis draws a walk, Austin Jackson follows that with a double. With runners on 2nd & 3rd, Marco Scutaro singles in Ellis, making it 4-1 Seattle. Mike Trout (4-for-5 for the series) hits a sacrifice fly, scoring in Jackson from third.
Down 4-2, in the bottom of the 4th, Jason Kipnis singles, steals second & is batted in by Freddie Freeman. Portland would end up tying the ball game, 4-4, in the bottom of the 5th, on another sacrifice fly by Mike Trout (his 8th RBI of the series). During the inning Portland knocked out Seattle's starter Bronson Arroyo (bringing in reliever David Robertson) & Scutaro collected his second hit.
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| Big game for Marco Scutaro of Portland. |
Bottom of the 8th, David Ortiz draws a walk, Portland pinch-runs A.J. Ellis for Ortiz, Jason Kipnis gets walked, runners on 1st & 2nd. Seattle calls on Charlie Furbush, as he comes in and shuts Portland down.
Seattle fails to score in the top of the ninth against Portland reliever Matt Albers. During the bottom, Portland's Russell Martin leads off with a double off Furbush. Austin Jackson strikes out. Marco Scutaro hits a deep fly to left center into the gap, Mickey Brantley in center doesn't even offer going after it, as Portland's dugout pours onto the field in a celebration walk-off! Down early 4-0, the Microbrewers come storming back in this one.
Seattle fans will come out for sure in Game 3, but they will be hoping it's not their last game. We'll see... what a comeback for Portland. Marco Scutaro had 3 hits & 2 RBI in this one -- including the all important walk-off hit.
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