2012 Major League Playoffs - Denver (86-76) vs. New York (116-46)

Game 1

New York’s defense is extremely sloppy in the first inning, allowing Denver to take a 2-0 lead on Pedro Lewis.  But that would be all that Denver would get off Pedro.  New York rallies in the middle innings to take a 5-2 lead.  Papelbrad finishes out the 9^th to give New York the win.  Pedro goes 8-6-2-0-3-9 for the win.

Game 2

Buddy Dervish’s first career post-season start is a memorable one.  He dominates the Rabbits, going 8-5-0-0-2-8, and New York wins 5-0.  So far, this is looking like a lop-sided matchup, between two big market franchises that were separated by 30 wins this year (116-86).  We will see if Denver has any life left as the series shifts to Denver for game 3.

Game 3

This is a matchup between the ancient Roscoe Savage and the obese Bartolo Fatone.  New York takes a 4-0 lead into the 8^th, with help from a Keith Lee HR.  In the bottom of the 8^th, Denver gets a 2-out double from Joey Renseller, followed by a Marc Crawford triple to make it 4-1.  New York goes to the lefty Rudiger Rocker to face Alex Maldonado who walks.  Stan Marsh then walks to load the bases for George Rivera.  Juan Alou shows confidence in Rudiger and allows him to pitch to the righty Rivera, even with Papelbrad ready to go.  Rudiger rewards the manager’s trust by flying out to Chad White. 

In the 9^th, New York hands the ball to a rested (and dominant) Jonathan Papelbrad to protect a 3-run lead, which would give New York the 3-0 series lead.  Otto Tingley pops up for the first out.  Ozzie Gaedell follows with a double to right.  Pinch hitter Denny Berroa then works the walk.  Butters then hits a single right to make it 4-2.  Joey Renseller then takes the first pitch he sees from Papelbrad on a long drive to deep left.  This is a no doubt about it shot, and just like that, Denver wins game 3 by the score of 5-4.  This is not the first time that Joey Renseller has done this to New York (2004 Portland Decepticons).

Game 4

The veteran Derek Howe makes the start and dominates the Cobra, pitching a complete game 10-0 shutout.  Denver started fast and never let up.  New York seemed to be in a state of shock after the way they lost game 3.  Howe goes 9-5-0-0-3-6 and gets HRs from Stan Marsh and Alex Maldonado.

Game 5

This is a rematch of the game 1 starters, Pedro Lewis vs. Ruben Ramirez.  In the 3^rd, Keith Lee drives home Manfred Mueller with a two out double to make it 1-0.  That’s the way the score stayed until the 6^th, when Denver ties it on a Joey Renseller HR.  In the bottom of the 8^th, Alex Hamilton gets a pinch hit broken bat single off Pedro Lewis.  Denver then pinch Runs Trevino for Hamilton, and he steals 2^nd base.  With 2 outs, Joey Renseller comes up to the plate again.  Renseller delivers a clean single to LF, and Denver takes the 2-1 lead going into the 9^th.

With normal closer Paul Williamson injured, Denver goes to Jeff Beck to try to save the game.  The first batter he faces, Keith Lee, ties the game with a HR over the centerfield wall.  After getting W. Gehrig Bear and Brett Solo to strike out, Chad White connects for a HR to centerfield to give New York the 3-2 lead. 

After the shaky performance in game 3, New York decides to remain with Pedro Lewis for the 9^th, since he has been dominant and has been able to get through the game so far on a low pitch count.  Alex Maldonado leads off with a triple, and later scores on a sacrifice fly.  Lewis gets out of the 9^th, but the game is tied at 3.  Lewis finishes the game 9-7-3-3-1-11. 

In the 10^th, Jeff Beck gets a 1-2-3 inning against New York.  To the bottom of the 10^th, Juan Alou summons Papelbrad to keep the game going.  Ozzie Gaedell strikes out.  Big Cheese then pinch hits for his pitcher with Clyde Frogg.  Frogg works a walk and then, to the surprise of everyone, steals 2^nd base off strong armed Paul Hagan.  Butters Stotch then crushes a ball down the left field line for the game winning double.  Denver comes back to win the game 4-3, and now leads the series 3 games to 2.

Game 6

Denver elects to go with Clint Meyers, who was bypassed the first time through the rotation to face Buddy Dervish.  This one is a pitchers duel, as each pitcher keeps it scoreless through 3 innings.  In the 4^th, Alex Maldonado hits a solo HR to give Denver the 1-0 lead.  In the 6^th, Clint Meyers bats for himself and works a walk against Dervish.  Butters then hits one back to Dervish, who throws wild to allow the runners to get to 1^st and 3^rd.  After a Joey Renseller pop-up, Marc Crawford connects for a huge 3 run HR.

That would be the final scoring for the game, and Denver wins the game 4-0, and wins the series 4 games to 2.  Meyers completely baffles the New York offense, throwing a complete game 1 hit shutout with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts.  The only hit came in the 4^th inning from W. Gehrig Bear, who led off the inning with a grounder to second base that was ruled an infield hit after bouncing off Butter’s glove on a close play.   That was the last New York baserunner of the game, as Meyers retired the final18 batters of the game.  Dervish can’t blame anyone but himself, since all runs came on homeruns, and the key error was his.  He also went the distance, going 9-4-4-3-2-13.