Welcome back to Izzy Productions Panthers Park!
We return for the second game of this series between the Traverse City Panthers and the visiting N.L. Champs, the Portland Microbrewers. Game 1 was a pitchers' duel that was eventually settled by the Panthers with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th by Alejandro De Aza.
Portland sends old veteran starting pitcher Bartolo Colon (age 40), whose numbers have returned to his youth of late, while battling the young ace in the making in Mr. Matt Harvey. Should be another great game.
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| Matt Harvey was dialed in, in Game 2. |
GAME 2
Bottom of the 1st -- Back-to-back singles by Jean Segura and Matt Carpenter to start the inning. Last night's hero Alejandro De Aza hears the home crowd's appreciation, as he gently waves to the crowd, while stepping into the box. De Aza smacks a hard grounder to Adam Lind at first, Lind scoops it up, fires to second for one out, back over to first, not in time! Segura and De Aza on the corners, one out for the Panthers. Bartolo Colon to face clean-up hitter Josh Donaldson, Brewers are playing in for the play at the plate, the pitch, it's hit towards Eric Chavez, he muffs it, as it rolls away... Segura scores easily, De Aza makes it all the way to third, the Panthers had the hit & run in motion, while Donaldson reaches on a E-5. Hunter Pence would hit into a double play, but not before the Panthers could scratch up a run. Traverse City 1, Portland 0
Top of the 3rd -- Matt Harvey had a scare as Jhonny Peralta put a charge into a ball to deep left, as Giancarlo Stanton snags the fly with his back to the wall. Otherwise, he got out of the inning unscathed.
Top of the 5th -- Matt Harvey allows his 3rd walk of the game, to lead-off man Scooter Gennett. Gennett moves up to second with ground out by Eric Chavez. Harvey to face Jhonny Peralta, the pitch, he strikes out, Harvey's 4th K of the game -- two away. It's up to Adam Lind to do something for Portland here, Harvey rocks & fires, hit to the mound, Harvey knocks it down, over to first, three down.
Top of the 6th -- Russell Martin breaks up Matt Harvey's bid for a no-hitter, with no outs, tying run at first. Jason Kipnis lays down a nice sacrifice bunt down the first base line, to move the runner Martin up to second. Mike Trout in search for his first hit this season, comes to the plate to face Harvey, the Panthers want nothing to do with it, intentional walk. First & second, one out, playing for the double play as the switch-hitting Coco Crisp comes to the plate. Portland's manager Brad Stark goes to the bench to have the dangerous lefty Freddie Freeman bat. Harvey sets & delivers, Freeman pops it up to Brian Dozier playing second, two away. Harvey wheels & deals, upstairs with a fast one, Colby Rasmus doesn't offer, and Harvey gets the call, his 5th K. Portland leaves them stranded.
Bottom of the 6th -- Charlie Blackmon comes in for Portland to play left for Coco Crisp.
Top of the 7th -- Jhonny Peralta smacks a two-out double into left-center gap, only the Brewers' second hit of the game; Panthers are doing no better up to this point with three hits off of Bartolo Colon. Matt Harvey is intentionally walking Adam Lind, to take his chances against Portland's catcher Russell Martin. Portland's Brad Stark counters with Alfonso Soriano to pinch-hit for Martin -- T.C.'s skipper Shawn Baier is now wishing he just had Harvey pitch to Lind. Runners on 1st & 2nd, 2 outs, Harvey gets ready to pitch to Soriano, fires, smacks it towards short, Jean Segura is up with it, flips it to Brian Dozier at second, third out! Plenty of strategy in this series up to this point, you got to love it.
Bottom of the 7th -- A.J. Ellis comes in as a defensive replacement for Russell Martin behind the plate for Portland, it is tough to steal on either catcher with their arms. After Bartolo Colon retired the first two batters, Traverse City's manager Shawn Baier decided it's time to unveil their prize for a horrible season in 2013, with the debut of Yasiel Puig. Puig will come in to pinch-hit for Giancarlo Stanton, who has failed to get a hit up to this point. Colon with the pitch, just catches the plate, and Yasiel goes down on strikes, side retired. Traverse City 1, Portland 0
Top of the 8th -- Alejandro De Aza moves to left, as Yasiel Puig takes over in center. With one out in the 8th, Mike Trout sends one to left, all De Aza can do is look up, Adios! Trout's first hit of the season is a big one, tying the game. Mike Harvey will have to shake it off, he now faces the lefty Charlie Blackmon at the plate, the pitch, strike three, two down. Harvey to face Colby Rasmus, he's goes down swinging. Traverse City 1, Portland 1
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| Mike Trout makes his first hit of the season, a HR to left. |
Bottom of the 8th -- Brandon Belt puts a charge into this one, it could be trouble, it's off the wall, Mike Trout picks it up & fires it in, as Belt holds at second with a double. Brian Dozier lays down a successful sacrifice bunt, as the first baseman Adam Lind tags Dozier, and Belt reaches third. One out as Devin Mesoraco steps to the plate, Portland has the infield playing in. The Panthers' Mesoraco steps out of the box, looks at the dugout, he's coming out for pinch-hitter Wilson Ramos. Portland's manager wants nothing to do with Ramos, and has Portland starter Bartolo Colon intentionally walk him, to face Jean Segura. The Panther's manager Shawn Baier counters, sending Ryan Raburn to bat for Segura. Colon picks up a big strike out, striking out Raburn! Two down, runners on the corners, and it comes down to the DH - Matt Carpenter to try and come up big. Colon facing Carpenter, the pitch, it's a liner to deep center, it bounces off the wall, Belt scores, Ramos holds third as the center fielder Mike Trout gets the ball in, Carpenter claps his hands at second -- big hit for the Panthers!
Portland goes to the pen for Tony Watson, as Bartolo Colon pitched a fine performance for the Microbrewers; Colon went 7.2 innings, allowing 5 hits, a walk, 2 ER's so far, while striking out seven. The Panthers decide to have the righty Juan Lagares to challenge the southpaw Watson. Needing an out to get out of this, Watson sets & delivers, and it's popped up, Watson does it.
Traverse City 2, Portland 1
Top of the 9th -- Wilson Ramos stays in to catch behind the plate, Jordy Mercer will come in to play shortstop in place of Segura, while Juan Lagares will stay in left. The Panthers will send their closer Cody Allen to close things out. Scooter Gennett grounds to second for one out. Another smacked towards second baseman Brian Dozier, but this one gets by into right, a single by Eric Chavez. Portland's manager looks at his score sheet, he will have Brad Miller pinch-run for the slow vet Chavez. Allen will face Jhonny Peralta, he sets & fires, a deep fly to center, but he won't advance the runner, two down. The Panthers decide to intentionally walk lefty Adam Lind, to face righty A.J. Ellis, putting the runner in scoring position. Allen's pitch to Ellis, and it just catches the plate, strike three, the game is over!
FINAL: Traverse City 2, Portland 1
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