BoS: NLCS Games 1 & 2

PORTLAND MICROBREWERS (94-68) vs. URBANA LOCOMOTIVES (104-58). The Brewers swept the Seattle Rainiers in the opening round, while Urbana got a first round bye.

GAME 1 - Hisashi Iwakuma - PORT (9-7, 4.18 ERA) vs. David Price (23-4, 2.35 ERA)

A back-and-forth battle between the two best teams in the National League. The Microbrewers would touch up Urbana's starting pitcher David Price with a barrage of 6 extra-base hits & 5 runs as he stays in for the complete game. It's only fitting that "Big Papi" David Ortiz hits a HR in the post-season to go along with Freddie Freeman's two-run game-changing home run in the top of the 6th. N.L. MVP-candidate Adrian Beltre tried his best by momentarily tying the game 4-4 in the 4th.

Portland 5, Urbana 4

Portland's Freddie Freeman is locked in.

GAME 2 - Matt Harrison - PORT (13-13, 3.73 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (19-10, 2.78 ERA)

Freddie Freeman shows Cole Hamels the same respect he had for Price's season record, as he got the Brewers off to a 2-0 start in the top of the 2nd, with a two-run blast. It would be Freeman's first of two HR's for the night, making it 3 HR's in this young series already -- 5 HR's during these playoffs! The Boys of Summer may have its first "Mr.October" in Freeman.

Urbana's bats were quiet (collecting only 4 hits). Nick Markakis did his best for the Locomotives, smacking a solo HR in the 6th, but unfortunately he made friends with the wall in right, as he slammed into the wall going for a ball. Carlos "Chooch" Ruiz (fitting that he plays for the Locomotives) tries to keep this close by hitting a two-run HR in the bottom of the 7th, making it 4-3 Portland. Ruiz and Adrian Beltre would collide in the top of the 8th, costing Beltre the rest of the game, thank goodness for Urbana fans' sake that they at least have a day of rest, even though it's a long travel to the Pacific to play Portland.

Glen Perkins locks down his 2nd save of the series, while Matt Harrison (acquired from the lousy Traverse City Panthers) pitched an effective game, allowing only 3 ER's & 4 hits in 8 innings -- he struck out 5, while walking 3. Cole Hamels struck out 6, while allowing 7 hits, 4 runs & 2 walks in 8 innings.

Portland 4, Urbana 3

BoS: ALCS Games 1 & 2

BOSTON BRAVOS (92-70) vs SOUTH SHORE FIGHTING IMPS (110-52). The Bravos won their series 3-1, while the Fighting Imps had a first-round bye.

GAME 1 - Edwin Jackson - BOS (9-9, 5.47 ERA) vs. Jake Peavy - S.S. (18-11, 3.08 ERA)

Corey Hart got things started for the Bravos, with a two-run HR in the first, but the Imps answer back with four runs in the bottom of the first, taking a 4-2 lead. The Imps never looked back, as they score 6 runs & 11 hits off of Edwin Jackson's lousy start. Jake Peavy did better with 8 K's, but still allowed 3 runs in 6 innings.

Allen Craig lead Boston with 3 hits out of the team's 13 hits, going 3-for-4, with a RBI double & run; Each member of the South Shore's starting lineup got a hit in this one.

South Shore 7, Boston 3

GAME 2 - Chris Capuano - BOS (17-9, 3.74 ERA) vs Scott Diamond (14-6, 2.64 ERA)

David Wright and Matt Holliday each had RBI singles, during the bottom of the 4th, that would make all the difference -- as the Imps take control of the series (2-0), with a 2-0 victory. Scott Diamond pitched a three-hit shutout, while the Bravos' Chris Capuano pitched a good game, allowing only two runs in 7.1 innings, while getting no support from his lineup. Capuano & Diamond each had 7 strikeouts. Wright went 2-for-3 in the contest.

The series goes back to Boston, we'll see if Boston can fight back in this one.

South Shore 2, Boston 0

BoS - League Divisional Series (Games 3 - 4)

GAME 3

American League

The Fairgrove Tigers visit Boston to play the Boston Bravos, both teams split the first two games in Fairgrove, MI. 

Game 3 - Ryan Vogelsong - FAIR (19-8, 2.98 ERA) vs. R.A. Dickey - BOS (14-11, 3.08).

The Boston Bravos struck first with a RBI double by Adam LaRoche during the bottom of the 4th. Ichiro Suzuki added a solo HR to right in the bottom of the 5th, to make it 2-0.

The Fairgrove Tigers cut the lead in half, with an RBI double by Jason Heyward, driving in Michael Morse -- but R.A. Dickey was too much for the Tigers, as he goes the distance, allowing 6 hits & a run, as Fairgrove stranded 6 runners. Dickey also had 9 K's. Ryan Vogelsong was ineffective, allowing 5  hits & 4 runs in 5.1 innings, earning the loss.

Boston wins 5-1 & takes a 2-1 series lead.

National League
The Seattle Rainiers are looking for some help from their hardcore fans, to help them bounce back hopefully against the Portland Microbrewers. The Brewers stormed back, and shocked the Rainiers in Game 2. Can Seattle make this a series?

Game 3 - Cliff Lee - PORT (11-9, 3.93 ERA) vs. Wei-Yin Chen (11-8, 4.13 ERA)

Yoenis Cespedes gets things going for the Rainiers with a solo HR off of Lee to deep left center. Josh Willingham adds another solo HR in the bottom of the 4th.

Seattle would take their 2-0 lead into the top of the 7th, when Freddie Freeman gets started by hitting a solo HR off of Chen. Seattle holding onto a 2-1 lead in the 9th, calls on Jonathan Broxton to close things out, as Freeman strikes again with another solo shot, tying it up 2-2. Seattle would walk Alfonso Soriano, and would pay the price allowing another long ball, this time by veteran Eric Chavez.

Freeman: Just getting started?

With Seattle fans in shock, Glen Perkins of Portland, comes in and closes things out, as the Portland Microbrewers are advancing to the National League Championship to play the Urbana Locomotives. Austin Jackson and Mike Trout each went 2-for-4 in Game 3, as Jackson batted .545 for the series, with Trout batting .600. Trout smacked in 8 RBI the first two games of the series.

GAME 4

American League

Boston has now won two straight to take 2-1 lead, as Fairgrove will try to even the series 2-2 in Boston, and hopefully send it back to Fairgrove.

Gordon was all smiles for Boston.

Game 4 - Rick Porcello (7-5, 3.77 ERA) vs. Brandon Beachy (8-5, 3.38 ERA)

Entering the bottom of the 5th, with a 1-0 lead, Boston would score three key runs. Alex Gordon would get his 2nd ribbie of the day (RBI single in the 3rd), with a sac fly, scoring in Omar Infante, making it two outs. Adam LaRoche would come up big again, with a two-run double, giving him 6 RBI's for the series. Boston now leads 4-0.

Adam Jones gets the Fairgrove Tigers on the board with a solo HR off Beachy, in the 6th. The Bravos' Alex Gordon answered back with a RBI double in the 7th, making it 5-1. Gordon had 3 RBI for the day, 2-for-3 performance.

Boston turns to Johnny Cueto to close out the last 3 innings for the Bravos, with 3 K's.



Brandon Beachy ended the day with 9 K's, Boston wins the series on three consecutive victories, and now look forward to heading to New York to play the South Shore Fighting Imps.

2013 BoS - Gold Glove Winners

AMERICAN LEAGUE

C - Yadier Molina (Washington)

1B - Adrian Gonzalez (Buffalo)

2B - Brandon Phillips (Washington)

3B - Miguel Cabrera (Buffalo)

SS - J.J. Hardy (South Shore)

LF - Andre Ethier (Fairgrove)

CF - Adam Jones (Fairgrove)

RF - Jay Bruce (Buffalo)

P - Matt Cain (Carolina)

NATIONAL LEAGUE

C - Buster Posey (Hannibal)

1B - Freddie Freeman (Portland)

2B - Aaron Hill (Urbana)

3B - Adrian Beltre (Urbana)

SS - Yunel Escobar (King Road)

LF - Curtis Granderson (King Road)

CF - Andrew McCutchen (Sacramento)

RF - Justin Upton (Hannibal)

P - Clayton Kershaw (King Road)

League Divisional Series - Boys of Summer

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.

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.

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.

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.

Big game for Marco Scutaro of Portland.

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.