2013 Major League Cy Young Award

The Major League Cy Young award was basically a 3 horse race between Portland's Justin Zoolander, Toronto's Stephen Hamburg, and Denver's Ruben Ramirez.  Zoolander led the league with a 2.14 ERA and finished with a 15-4 record.  He also had 218 IP, 165 Hits, 59 BB, and 225 K's.  Hamburg was similarly dominant, going 17-7, 2.49 ERA, 210 IP, 184 Hits, 46 BB, and 229 K's.  Ramirez led the league in wins and winning percentage, going 20-3.  He also had a 2.89 ERA, 208 IP, 176 Hits, 68 BB, and 189 K's.  In a remarkably close vote, Ruben Ramirez wins the Cy Young award by the slimmest of margins.  Zoolander actually had the more first place votes than Ramirez (3-2), but remarkably, was either listed first on 3 ballots, or not listed on the other ballots.  Complete voting results as follows:

1.    Ruben Ramirez (2) 17 points

2.    Justin Zoolander (3) 15 points

3.     Stephen Hamburg (1) 10 points

4T.  Cesar Cordero 4 points

4T.  Pedro Lewis 4 points

6.     Roscoe Savage 3 points

7.     Suzuke Mazdahonda 1 point

2013 Superior League Cy Young Award

In what should as no surprise, Las Vegas' Joe Callahan won the Cy Young award.  In a mild surprise, he did not win so unanimously.  Callahan collected 5 out of the 6 first place votes cast, and finally delivered the all around dominant season many had predicted only he could deliver.  Callahan went 20-8, with a 2.38 ERA, 238 IP, 184 hits, 61 BB, and 263 K's.  He also made all 33 starts, completed 8 of them, and threw an eye-popping 5 shutouts.  Complete voting as follows:

1.  Joe Callahan (5) 26 points
2.  Tommy Vercetti (1) 14 points
3.  Jared DeMario 6 points
4.  Steve Kepler 4 points
5.  Justin Stamler 3 points
6.  Elvis Rodriguez 1 point

2013 Superior League Rookie of the Year

In the Superior League, lefty reliever Jesus Soto from Baltimore captured top freshman honors.  Soto had an impressive debut, going 12-2 with a 2.45 ERA in 69 innings of relief.  Although Jesus only had 1 save, his performance helped Baltimore to 94 wins and a playoff spot.  Jesus edged out his teammate, Josh Adams, in a close vote.  Although Adams pitched 195 innings with a 3.31 ERA, he was only able to compile a 12-9 record.  

Complete voting (with first place votes in parentheses)

1.  Jesus Soto (3) 24 points
2.  Josh Adams (2) 18 points
3.  Roberto Villanueva (1) 9 points
4.  Ryan Edmondson 2 points
5.  Aaron Moore 1 point

2013 Major League Rookie of the Year

In the Major League, Portland shortstop Michael Schofield successfully broke out of prison and won the Rookie of the Year award.  Schofield hit .264 with 15 HR, 61 RBI, 25 2B, 5 3B, and 14 SB.  He also played above average defense at a premium position, and helped Portland to the leagues best regular season record and a spot in the World Series.

Complete voting (with first place votes in parentheses)

1.     Mike Schofield (1) 20 points
2T.  Marcos Dominguez (1) 11 points
2T.  Bryce Parkman (2) 11 points
4T.  Chris Reyes (1) 5 points
4T.  Mark Dennis (1) 5 points
6T.  Jonathan Umber 1 point
6T.  Squirrel Nutkin Jr. 1 point

First Annual King Lewis II Award

APBA baseball is pleased to announce the creation of the the King Lewis II Award for Righteous Awesomeness in Leadership.  The winner of the first award goes to none other than King Lewis II, owner of the Alaska Snow Sox and acting commissioner for life.

Congratulations King.

Damon Nkik to Manage

Boston Beaneaters owner Aruba Scott Skywalker announced the hiring of Damon Nkik as his new manager.  The announcement came at the Grand Galloping Gala, an event attended by Jawas and Ponys.

Nkik, 40, played 16 seasons in APBA, including the 2003 season in Boston.  Nkik is eligible for the hall of fame this season.  He was the first overall pick of the 1996 draft by Green Day, and collected 2456 hits and 337 homers in his career.  He was the MVP in 1998, hitting .338 with 117 RBI.  Nkik never won a World Series ring, falling short with the 2006 and 2008 Stars.

Draft 2014

Here are the first 3 picks:

1. Detroit Robb Stark, 3B
2. Green Day Roger Blackwood, RHP
3. Mars Jaime Lannister, OF

Hawaii picks next

Manager Job Openings

There are currently 5 manager openings in the Superior league, and 3 in the major league.  These teams have fired their managers:

Springfield (McBain)
Boston (Floyd)
Texas (Berman)
Cleveland (Antilles)
Toledo (Cruz)

Hollywood (McCoy)
Bay Area (Cartman)
Detroit (Hayes)

In addition, in LasVegas Boba Fett has replaced himself with Jose Canseco.  In Green Day, Slash Dixon is out, but Justin Lewis will take over.

Some candidates looking for their first shot to manage are:  Damon Nkik, Jason Gambini, Glen Porter, Del Holdsworth, Walter Lewis, Lando Calrissian Jr, Elvis Myers, Pudge Fernandez, Keith Grace, Matt McCoy, Juan Ordonez, Todd Allen, Miles O'Brien, and Skip Yoder.

2013 World Series Game 6

Justin Zoolander and Elladan Corinvar take the mound.  Without the DH, Anakin Solo trots back out to right field.  Eddie Cedeno works a walk, and Jacen Solo homers for a quick 2-0 lead.  In the second Dukakis and Chillingworth (children of 2 stars of Portland's first title in 1988) reach base for Gonk Droid, who takes Corinvar deep.  Later that inning Durazo singles to make it a 4-2 lead.

In the 3rd, Zoolander allows a lead off double to Cedeno and a walk to Solo, but works out of the jam.  In the 6th, Zoolander walks the bases loaded, but only allows a sac fly.  In the bottom of the inning pinch hitter Jim Payton, hero of game 6, launches a 2 run homer off John Barton to extend the lead to 6-3.  With 9 outs to go, Roger Lewis is getting excited about a game 7.  That feeling would soon turn to dread as he watched his bullpen try to close it out.

Mike Tarbett came on in the 7th.  Jermaine Moore gets a pinch single, Eddie Cedeno strikes out, and then Tarbett walks both Solo brothers.  Russell goes to the pen and brings out Ribaudo.  He gets Todd Lee to pop up behind the plate, but Ryan Ponder works a walk to force in Charlotte's 4th run.  Mike Conner then strikes out to end the frame.

Bobby Torres pitches the 7th without incident, and Ribaudo comes back for the 8th.  Ty Caceres, batting for Brooks, takes a walk.  Veras doubles.  After pinch hitter Marcus Dulkowski strikes out, Eddie Cedeno ties the game with a double.  With Jacen Solo at he plate, Cedeno steals 3rd, as catcher George Kird just doesn't have the arm he once did.  Cedeno takes off for home, and Solo drops down a perfect suicide squeeze bunt for a 7-6 lead.

In the bottom of the inning, the Hawks turn the ball over to Pat Jones.  After a groundout and single, he strikes out Burton and Almanzar.  Portland brings Richardson in for the 9th, and he pitches a perfect inning with 2 strikeouts.

Jones stays on for the 9th.  Brad LaRatta, strike three.  Durazo flies to center.  DJ Werden, who has 3 homers in the series, is the last hope.  He dribbles one in front of the plate but Todd Herring bobbles it.  Zandar Dukakis comes up, and swings through a 2-2 fastball.

Congratulations to the Hawks, 2013 champions.  Jacen Solo is named series MVP.

2013 World Series Game 5

A fully rested Charlie Zito takes the mound against Joel Camels, making his first series appearance.  The matchup favors Charlotte, but if Portland can pull this out they have a chance to come back from 0-3, as they will have Zoolander and Lewis pitching at home.

Werden hits a 2 run homer in the first.  Charlotte ties it in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases with nobody out and cashing in with a pair of sac flies.

George Kird drives in Dante Henderson in the 4th for a 3-2 lead.  In the 6th with 2 outs and a runner on second, shortstop Michael Schofield throws the ball away, allowing Todd Lee to tie the game.  Zito would pitch 10 innings, not allowing a base runner past first after the 4th inning.  He faced 40 batters, throwing 151 pitches.  In the 11th, Portland scores 2 runs off Bobby Torres as Dukakis singles, Jim Payton doubles him in, and later scores on a wild pitch.

Jake Richardson had shut down the Hawks in the 9th and 10th, allowing only a walk to Anakin Solo. He came back out for the 11th but was out of gas.  Ryan Ponder homers to make it 5-4.  2 more batters reach with one out, and Portland goes to the pen for Bill Drummond to face Orlando Veras.  With the tying and winning runs on base, Veras hits into a game ending 6-4-3.

So close, as Charlotte had 3 innings where a run could have given them a walk off series win.  Instead, everyone gets on the plane back to Portland.

2013 World Series Games 3 and 4

Jacen Solo gives Charlotte a 1-0 lead in the first with a solo homer off Bill Drummond.  Portland scores 3 in the 3rd with doubles by LaRatta and Durazo.  Charlotte would not stay down for long, getting a run in the bottom 3rd, 4 in the 4th, and 5 in the 5th.  Joseph Smith Langford didn't last long enough for the win, but Baker and Barton combine for 5 shutout innings to bring them to the verge of a sweep.

Game 4

Roger Lewis returns on 3 days rest, while Dave Fitzgerald goes for the Hawks.  Portland gets takes the lead in the 2nd as Gonk Droid singles in Dukakis, and Dante Henderson follows with a 3 run homer.  Those were all the runs Portland would get, and all Roger Lewis would need.

Fitzgerald settled down and pitched into the 9th.  He faced 39 batters and threw 148 pitches.  No worries though, as his next start won't be until Spring training next year.  Lewis struck out 11 in 7 2/3 innings, allowing 2 runs including a Ray Brooks homer.  Jake Richardson pitched a perfect 9th to avoid the sweep.

2013 World Series Game 2

Justin Zoolander, the 2013 ERA leader takes the hill for game 2 against Elladan Corinvar.  Charlotte takes a 1-0 lead in the 2nd on a bases loaded walk to Orlando Veras, and stretches it to 3-0 in the 4th. DJ Werden brings Portland back to 3-2 with a 2 run homer in the bottom 4th.  They would not score again.  In the 7th, Jacen Solo singles, steals second, and scores on an Anakin single.

John Barton came on for the 8th and pitched around a pair of singles.  With 2 out in the 9th he allows a double to Zandar Dukakis, bringing the tying run to the plate.  Roberts goes to the bullpen for Baker, who gets pinch hitter Chris Burton to ground out.  Game over, 4-2.

2013 World Series Game 1

Portland hosts Charlotte, a rematch of the 2005 series where Charlotte took a four game sweep.  There aren't many players left from that 2005 series, but a few stand out and remain in key roles.  Mark Roberts still managers the Hawks, and 40 year old Jacen Solo remains one of the best second basemen in the league.  For the Decepticons Sonic Russell played left field in 2005, now he manages the team.  Roger Lewis remains one of the best pitchers in the game, George Kird at 40 is still a fine catcher, an Jetstorm is still in the bullpen in a reduced role.

Game 1 starts with a pitcher's duel between aces Lewis and Charlie Zito.  Zito loads the bases with one out in the first, but escapes when Todd Lee snares a line drive off th bat of Zandar Dukakis and Kal Chillingworth strikes out.  The Solo brothers hit back to back doubles in th 4th to give Zito a lead.  It's the only run Lewis will allow in. 7 inning 3 hitter.  Zito is scoreless into the 8th, when DJ Werden ties the game on a solo homer.  In the top of the 9th Charlotte scores a pair of hard throwing rookie Kevin Ribaudo.  Anakin Solo doubles, Ryan Ponder plates the go ahead run with a double, and Ray Brooks adds an insurance run with a single.

In the 9th Jim York replaces Solo in right field.  Anakin is playing the first game of his life in right field, as there is no DH in the game.  He manages to play the position without screwing up.  Rafael Baker gets 2 out around a walk to Richie Almanzar.  With lefty Jason Durazo due up, Roberts goes to the pen for Bobby Torres.  The lefty reliever induces a groundout to short to end game one with a 3-1 victory.

2013 Major League Playoffs – Championship Series

New York Cobra (97-65) vs. Portland Decepticons (98-64)

Game 1

Buddy Dervish vs. Roger Lewis.  Chad White will be able to return in Game 3.  For this game, Juan Alou decides to play Juan Biras in centerfield.  In the top of the 2^nd, New York scores the games first 2 runs, highlighted by a Buddy Dervish 2-out double.  In the bottom of the inning, Portland gets 3 runs off Dervish, highlighted by a Michael Schofield 2 run double.  In the 3^rd, Juan Biras hits a solo HR to tie the game at 3.  In the 6^th, DJ Werden hits a 2-run HR to chase Buddy Dervish, and give Portland a 5-3 lead.  Dervish goes 5.1-4-5-2-1-5.  In the 7^th, Juan Biras connects for his 2^nd HR of the game to tie the game at 5.  In the bottom of the 7^th, Michael Schofield hits a solo HR to give Portland a 6-5 lead.  In the 8^th, Portland expands the lead to 9-5 on a Zandar Dukakis 2-run HR.  Portland wins Game 1 9-5, with Roger Lewis getting the win (7-7-5-5-3-10).  Juan Biras goes 2-3, 2 BB, 2 HR, 3 RBI.

Game 2

Roscoe Savage vs. Mark Axelson.  New York gets the first 2 runs when Brett Solo singles home Juan Biras (who had doubled) and Ricky Buckley hits into a throwing error by the pitcher.  In the 2^nd, Portland ties it up at 2 apiece with when Gonk Droid delivers a single after they had loaded up the bases with a DJ Werden single and walks to Zandar Dukakis and Kal Chillingworth.  Each team then scores 2 in the 5^th, and 1 in the 7^th to make it a 5-5 game.  New York’s runs were scored on a Manfred Mueller 2-run HR and then a solo HR from Mueller in the 7^th, while Portland’s runs came in on a DJ Werden 2-run double and a Jason Durazo solo HR. 

In the 8^th, New York takes a 6-5 lead after Juan Biras gets a leadoff single and scores on a groundout later in the inning.  In the bottom of the 8^th, Portland loads the bases with 1-out, prompting New York to bring in Rudiger Rocker.  Rocker gets Brad LaRatta and Jason Durazo to strike out to end the threat.  After Jake Richardson shuts New York down 1-2-3 in the top of the 9^th, New York turns to Jonathan Papelbrad for the save.  DJ Werden leads off with a double off the right-centerfield wall and Zandar Dukakis follows with a single to left.  Portland holds Werden at 3^rd, trying to play for the 2 run inning rather than the tie.  Kal Chillingworth then grounds to Ricky Buckley who throws home for the out.  George Kird and Michael Schofield strike out to end the game.  New York wins Game 2 by the score of 6-5.  Savage 4.1-5-4-4-5-3, Axelson 6-7-4-3-4-5.  Juan Biras 2-4, 2B, 2 runs.

Game 3

We head to New York where Chad White will rejoin the team in a matchup of Bill Drummond and Pedro Lewis.  Bill Drummond has a dominant game as this one isn’t close.  Portland wins 8-2 (and led in the game 8-0 in the 7^th).  Drummond gets the win, 7-2-1-0-2-5.   Pedro takes the loss 4-6-6-4-3-6.  Chad goes 1-4, and the scorching Juan Biras plays 3B and also goes 1-4, with Brett Solo replacing a slumping Luciano Cedeno at shortstop.

Game 4

Joel Camels vs. Buddy Dervish.  This one is a good pitching duel with the game tied at 1 going into the bottom of the 6^th.  New York then rallies to score 3 runs with the big hit being a Manfred Mueller broken bat 2 run single.  Camels leaves the game going 6-10-4-4-1-4.  In the top of the 7^th, Portland puts together a big rally.  Gonk Droid singles, Schofield doubles, Rich Almanzar singles home 2 runs, LaRatta doubles, Durazo singles home Almanzar, and then DJ Werden singles home LaRatta to make it 5-4 Portland.  After relieving Dervish with Brad Chadbourne, Zandar Dukakis singles to load the bases.  Luckily for New York, the next batter (Kal Chillingworth) hits into an inning ending 4-6-3 double play. 

Kevin Ribaudo holds New York scoreless in the 7^th, and Chadbourne does the same to Portland in the 8^th.  In the bottom of the 8^th, Chad White makes the first out but then the Portland defenses suffer a meltdown.  Manfred Mueller reaches first on a Schofield throwing error and Rich Almanzar boots an inning ending double-play grounder to give New York runners at 1^st and 3^rd with one out.  Alan Jarrett ties the game with a single, and Keith Vasbinder follows with a double to give New York the lead.  Jake Richardson then comes in to get the final 2 outs but New York takes a 6-5 lead into the 9^th, with Jonathan Papelbrad set to pitch.  In the 9^th, Rich Almanzar leads off with a double.  LaRatta lines out to short and Jason Durazo pops out.  Down to their last out, DJ Werden works a walk.  Zandar Dukakis then hits a hard line drive towards the hole, but Ricky Buckley makes a game saving catch.  New York wins Game 4 by the final score of 6-5.  Dervish 6.1-9-5-5-3-7.

Game 5

Roger Lewis vs. Johnny DeMario.  Roger pitches a strong game, going 7.2-7-2-2-5-10 and Portland wins 7-2.  Highlights include 2 HRs by DJ Werden, and one each by Jason Durazo and Kal Chillingworth.  DeMario takes the loss going 5.1-6-5-5-2-5.  Ricky Buckley is benched in this game in favor of Juan Biras who goes 1-4 with a walk and a run.

Game 6

We head back to Portland for Game 6 where it will be Pedro Lewis vs. Mark Axelson.  In the first, Brett Solo hits a huge 2 out 3 run HR to give New York an early 3-0 lead.  In the 3^rd, Portland gets a sacrifice fly from DJ Werden to get on the board.  In the 5^th, Alan Jarrett hits a solo HR to make it 4-1 New York.  In the 7^th, Portland gets 1 more run after pinch-hitter Chris Burton hits a sacrifice fly to score Michael Schofield who had tripled.  Jetstorm relieves Axelson and holds New York scoreless for the 8^th and 9^th innings.  In the bottom of the 8^th, Pedro Lewis strikes out DJ Werden, Zandar Dukakis, and Kal Chillingworth for his 12^th strikeout of the game, as his dominance seems to be peaking.  In the bottom of the 9^th, New York decides to leave Pedro Lewis in the game to close out a 4-2 victory.

Gonk Droid leads off with a single and is lifted for a pinch runner (Wes Hoover).  Michael Schofield strikes out.  Jim Payton then gets a pinch hit single to move Hoover to second base and represent the tying run at first base.  Juan Alou then pulls Pedro Lewis in favor of Papelbrad.  Rich Almanzar singles to left to load the bases.  Portland pinch runs for Jim Payton at 2^nd base with Maleke Sopunu.  Brad LaRatta delivers a 2 run single to rightfield to tie the game, but is thrown out at 2^nd base on a baserunning miscue.  Jason Durazo flies out to Chad White to send the game to extra innings.  In the top of the 10^th, Portland goes to Jake Richardson who delivers a 1-2-3 inning.  The final out is Ted Trosky pinch-hitting for Papelbrad and popping out to George Kird.

In the bottom of the 10^th, Brad Chadbourne comes in to pitch for New York.  DJ Werden pops out to the catcher, but then Zandar Dukakis doubles to the gap in right.  Chadbourne then faces Kal Chillingworth:  Chadbourne with the pitch…Chillingworth drives it ... hooked down the left field line…I think it can ... I think it can! ... it can! ... home run for Chillingworth ... it's all over!...Kal trots around the bases ... he loves a trip downtown ... he's greeted at the plate.  Portland wins the game 6-4 and wins the series 4-2.  They will take on the Charlotte Hawks in a rematch of the 2005 World Series which was won by Charlotte.

Pedro goes 8.1-8-4-4-3-13, Axelson 7-6-4-4-1-3.  In the playoffs, Juan Biras goes .440-.517-.880 with 25 at bats, 3 HR, 6 RBI, while playing games at 3B, 2B, and CF.  He may have earned a more substantial role for next year.

2014 Draft Lottery

The Detroit Devils win the #1 pick in the draft, followed by Green Day ( the number one pick each of the last 2 years) and Mars.  Hawaii, who had the worst record, picks 4th.

The next picks round out the top 10:
5. Hollywood
6. Chicago
7. Louisville
8. Texas
9. Toledo
10. Las Vegas

2013 Major League Playoffs – Division Series

Florida Penguins (92-70) vs. Portland Decepticons (98-64)

Game 1

Bart Riley gets the start for Florida, and in a surprise move, Portland opts to go with Justin Zoolander ahead of Roger Lewis.  The decision turns out to be a major mistake for Portland as Zoolander departs before the end of the second inning and yielding 7 runs to Florida (1.2-6-7-7-1-4).  Bart Riley dominates the Decepticons, going 7-2-1-1-2-4 for the 9-1 win.  Conn the Barbarian goes 3-5 and falls a single short of the cycle.  Reggie Stocker also homers for the Penguins.  One sour note, Florida centerfielder Gerald White Jr. gets injured in the bottom of the first on great catch to rob Zander Dukakis of extra bases, and to end the inning.  White will miss the rest of the playoffs unless Florida makes it to the World Series.

Game 2:

Chris Reyes (filling in for George White) gets the start for Florida opposing Roger Lewis.  The game is tied at 1 in the 4^th, when Gonk Droid and Rich Almanzar hit doubles off Reyes to give Portland a 2-1 lead.  The lead expands to 4-1 in the 5^th when Kal Chillingworth drives home DJ Werden and Zandar Dukakis with an RBI double.  Roger Lewis then continues to plow down the Penguin lineup and the score remains 4-1 in the 9^th.  Lewis exits the game for ace closer Jake Richardson, going 8-3-1-1-4-10.  The Penguins score 1 run off Richardson, but lose the game 4-2.  The series is now tied as we travel to Florida for Game 3.

Game 3:

Bill Drummond for Portland gets the call to face Doug Guzman.  Drummond is on his top form today, and dominates the Penguins over 8 shutout innings (8-5-0-0-3-8).  Jason Durazo does the damage for Portland with a double and homerun.  Florida allows Guzman to throw a complete game, going 9-7-5-5-2-10, throwing 148 pitches.  Portland wins game 3 by the final score of 5-0.

Game 4:

Portland decides to bring back Justin Zoolander on short rest after his game 1 flameout where he did not throw many pitches.  Peter Buchanon who pitched well against Toronto in the last series opposes him.  Before throwing his first pitch, Zoolander complains of shoulder soreness in his pitching arm, and has to leave the game.  He will be available to return should Portland make the World Series.  After Florida stacked their lineup with left-handed batters, Portland relieves Zoolander with lefty pitcher Joel Camels.  Camels allows one run in the first but seems to settle in.  In the top of the 2^nd, Portland explodes for 6 runs off Buchanon, highlighted by solo HRs by DJ Werden and Zandar Dukakis, and a 2-run 2-out double from Jason Durazo.  Buchanon leaves the game going 2-7-6-6-0-1.  In the bottom of the 2^nd, Florida gets right back into the game, scoring 3 runs off Camels, highlighted by a Reggie Stocker 2-run HR.  In the 6^th, Florida gets 1 more run to make it a 6-5 game and chase Joel Camels from the game (5.2-8-5-5-4-1).  In the bottom of the 7^th, Florida gets a rally to put runners on 1^st and 3^rd with 2 outs off reliever Kevin Ribaudo.  Portland decides the situation is too important and brings in Jake Richardson on a double switch for what they hope could be a 2+ inning save.  Richardson gets the dwarf Mitch Oakenshield to ground out to first to end the inning.  In the top of the 8^th, Portland loads up the bases against Grant Hansen.  Chris Burton gets a pinch hit single to score 1 run, and then Wes Hoover pinch runs for George Kird and scores on a Rich Almanzar sacrifice fly to make it 8-5.  Richardson then shuts down the Penguins in the 8^th, and gives up 1 baserunner in the 9^th.  Faced with a pinch-hit situation and down to their last out, Florida sends in the old man Gerald White, for what may be his final appearance in the Major Leagues.  White ground into a force play to end the game.  Portland wins 8-5, and wins the series 3-1.

2013 Major League Playoffs – Division Series

New York Cobra (97-65) vs. Denver Rabbits (98-64)

Game 1

Both teams are fairly healthy coming into the series, Denver will be missing catcher Otto Tingley for the first 4 games, while New York will be without Brett Solo for the first 4 games.  Game 1 is a matchup of each team’s respective aces, Pedro Lewis and Ruben Ramirez. 

Ricky Buckley takes the first pitch of the series and goes deep for a leadoff HR to give New York the 1-0 lead.  Denver ties it in the 4^th on a single, New York goes up 1 in the 5^th on a Marcus Redmon HR, and Denver ties it again in the 6^th on an Alex Maldonado HR.  In the bottom of the 7^th, Alex Hamilton hits a ball to the centerfield wall – Chad White slams into the wall and can’t make the catch.  It’s a triple, and White will be out for the rest of the series and possibly longer.  Pedro Lewis then bears down and gets a groundout that is not deep enough to score the runner from 3^rd.  Denver then elects to keep Ruben Ramirez in the game, and he strikes out.  Pedro then gets Butters Stotch to fly out to end the inning. 

In the top of the 8^th, Ramirez gets the first out, then New York pinch hits Ted Trosky for Pedro Lewis.  Trosky makes an out, but Ricky Buckley draws a two-out walk.  After stealing second, Buckley scores on Keith Lee’s single.  W. Gehrig Bear works a walk and Keith Vasbinder singles home Keith Lee to make it 4-2, and knock Ruben Ramirez out of the game.  Denver’s bullpen shuts down New York the rest of the way, but New York brings in ace closer Jonathan Papelbrad to close out the game. 

After getting the first out, Alex Hamilton reaches first on a Manfred Mueller throwing error, throwing wide of the late to arrive Papelbrad.  Hamilton then steals second and scores when a comebacker fielded by Papelbrad is thrown wide of third base (not taking the safe out at first).  Now, the score is 4-3 with 1 out, and the tying run in scoring position.  Denver pinch hits with Clyde Frogg who grounds to Papelbrad.  This time, Papelbrad learns his lesson and takes the sure out at first.  Butters Stotch comes up with the tying run on 3B.  He scorches a line drive right back through the box, but Papelbrad catches the ball behind his back on a split second reaction.  New York takes Game 1 by the final score of 4-3.  Pedro gets the win, going 7-4-2-2-3-9.  Ruben Ramirez takes the loss going 7.2-4-4-4-4-5.

Game 2

This one matches the big Elf, Buddy Dervish against Denver’s Clint Meyers.  Denver gets off to a quick 4-0 lead after 2 innings highlighted by a Joey Renseller triple.  The score would hold up as Clint Meyers was dominant, going 8-3-0-0-2-7, beating Dervish 7-9-4-4-3-7.

Game 3

Bartolo Fatone vs. Roscoe Savage.  Neither pitcher has their best stuff as the game is tied at 4 after 6 innings with Savage being removed after 3.2 innings.  In the bottom of the 7^th, W. Gehrig Bear hits a 2-run HR to give New York a 6-4 lead.  Papelbrad then comes in for the 2 inning power save, shutting down the Rabbits with two 1-2-3 innings.  New York wins game 3 6-4, and lead the series 2-1.

Game 4

Matt Bridges vs. Johnny DeMario.  Marc Crawford hits a solo HR in the first inning and Denver takes a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the 9^th.  Bridges goes 8-5-0-0-2-9, while DeMario goes 8-5-2-2-4-7.  Big Cheese then brings in his ace closer Troy Lewis to try to force a game 5.  Keith Lee hits a triple and then Eric Hollins works a walk to put the tying run on base.  Lewis settles down, getting Manfred Mueller to fly out and Marcus Redmon to strike out.  Luciano Cedeno hits a deep fly ball to left, but it stays in the park and Denver forces Game 5 with a 2-0 victory.

Game 5

This is a rematch of the Game 1 starters.  With Brett Solo back in the lineup, Juan Alou decides to keep the hot hitting Juan Biras in the lineup by playing him in centerfield in lieu of Keith Vasbinder.  In the top of the 2^nd, Juan Biras hits a 2-out, 2-run single and then scores on a W. Gehrig Bear double to make it 3-0 New York.  In the bottom of the third, Denver ties it up on a rally keyed by a Clyde Frogg pinch hit hit by the pitch (he took one for the team in the head like a true frog).  Marc Crawford hits a double and a sacrifice fly from Maldonado make it a tie game. 

In the top of the 4^th, Denver goes to the bullpen in the form of Jerry Greenwell.  Greenwell coughs up 3 solo HRs to Redmon, Biras, and Bear to make it 6-3 New York.  In the 5^th, Denver goes to Clint Meyers and he surrenders a HR to Manfred Mueller to make it 7-3.  Denver gets a run back in the bottom of the 5^th on a Leopold Stotch solo HR, but Pedro Lewis settles in after that.  New York takes an 8-4 lead going into the bottom of the 9^th.  Lewis goes 8-7-4-2-2-10.  Papelbrad comes in to close out the series and allows 1 hit and gets 2 outs before striking out Joey Renseller to end the series.  New York wins the game 8-4 and wins the series 3-2.

2013 Major League Playoffs – Wild Card Round

Toronto Seagulls (85-77) vs. Florida Penguins (92-70)

Game 1

In the first ever best of three Wild Card Round, an exhausted Toronto team faces Florida.  Toronto will be without ace starter Stephen Hamburg unless they can force a game 3 (he pitched a crucial shutout in his last start of the regular season and is not rested).  Toronto is also without stud catcher Jesus Valdez for the series.  In the top of the first, Toronto takes a 2-0 lead on a homerun from Jack Collins.  George White then settles in and Florida scores 4 runs in the middle innings to take a 4-2 lead into the 7^th.  After getting through one batter, Florida ace George White injured his shoulder and had to be removed from the game.  His line is 6.1-4-2-1-0-9.  He will most the rest of the postseason unless Florida advances to the World Series.  After Florida’s bullpen gets through the 7^th and 8^th innings, the offense erupts for 5 runs in the 8^th to blow the game wide open.  Florida wins game 1 by a score of 10-3.

Game 2

Doug Guzman vs. Lee Harvey Oswalt from Toronto.  Florida takes a 1-0 lead in the first, but that is all they would muster off Oswalt.  Toronto gets key HRs from Rob Jensen and backup catcher Vince Phillips to avoid elimination and win 5-1.  Oswalt is dominant, going 8-2-1-1-1-12.

Game 3

Toronto has momentum and ace pitcher Stephen Hamburg working for them today.  Hamburg is opposed by Florida pitcher Peter Buchanon.  In the 3^rd, Toronto takes a 1-0 lead on another HR for backup catcher Vince Philips.  Both pitchers are dominating, and this is the only run of the game for awhile.  Buchanon settles in, going 7-3-1-1-0-7.  Ace reliever Grant Hansen pitches 2 scoreless innings as well.  Going into the bottom of the 9^th, Toronto elects to stay with Stephen Hamburg, who has pitched 8 scoreless innings.

To the 9^th:

Conn Barbarian strikes out.

Casey Lebron works a walk.  He is then pinch run for with the 50+ year old Gerald White.

Mitch Oakenshield then delivers the biggest hit of his life, blasting a 2-run, game-winning, walk-off homerun to left field.

Hamburg takes the loss going 8.1-4-2-2-3-7.

Florida wins the game 2-1, and wins the series 2-1.