SLCS: Miami vs Chicago

Game 1:  Chicago got off to a quick start against Jered DeMario and the 104 game winning Stars, who had the best record in baseball.  In the top of the second, Tobias Muttonly walked before Byron Jones lined one right down the right field line and into the corner.  Muttonly scored, and on the next play Jones scored on a groundout.

Danny Almonte shut the Stars down and the lead held to the 6th.  With 2 out, Brian Kaat singled.  Joe Young worked the count to 3-2 before singling to left, moving Kaat to 3rd.  Next up, Billy Bass, who hit a no doubt homer to center field.  The blast was measured at 434 feet.

Miami's bullpen held the 3-2 lead for the final four innings.  Kevin Davidson picked up the win with 2 innings of work, Jon Mexico handled the 8th and Dwight Schrute had a 1-2-3 9th.

Game 2:  Miami scored in the first 2 innings while Roman Matos pitched shutout ball for 7.  After stretching the lead to 4-0, Miami put the game away in the 7th as Devan Arceneaux hit a 3 run homer and Peter Rabbit stretched the lead out to 9-0 with a 2 run shot.

Miami went to Larry Glenn in the 9th, the last reliever in the pen with what seemed a safe lead.  Glenn walked the first 2 batters before things really got crazy.  A Steve Werden homer made it 9-4 with 2 outs.  Pat Jones came on in relief.  The next two batters singled before a Durazo walk loaded the bases for Clegane, the Mountain that rides.  The Mountain took a mighty 2 strike hack and missed, and Miami won 9-4.

Game 3: Chicago scored in the second as Donnie Donewicz walked, moved to third on a single, and scored on a groundout.  Miami tied the game in the third as Prince Ferreira doubled in Jim Gwosdz.  Arceneaux's homer in the 4th made it 2-1.  Miami added insurance runs in the 8th and 9th but Chicago could not manage another base runner off Steve Harriman.  He set down the final 23 batters to earn a complete game 4-1 win.  Harriman had a one hitter, struck out 5, and needed only 94 pitches to complete the game.

Game 4:  Joe Young struck first with a 2 run homer.  In the bottom 1st, Jason Durazo tied it with a 2 run homer off Tim Sullivan, and Chicago added another run later in the inning.  Billy Bass gave Miami the lead back with a 2 run homer in the 3rd, and Daniel Smith homered in the 4th to make it 5-3.

Big time Timmy Jimmy ran into trouble in the 4th.  After walking the first 2 batters Steve Werden singled to load the bases.  Gorin struck out, but Adam Harris worked a walk to force a run in.  That was it for Sullivan, pulled with 94 pitches in less than 4 innings.  Kevin Davidson struck out Durazo and got Clegane on a pop to first.

In the 5th, Cody Fett doubled with 2 out and scored the tying run on a Max Rosas single.  The bullpen pitched well after that.  In the bottom 6th Jesse Paulino escaped a 2 on, 1 out jam by inducing a DO grounder from Clegane.  Carlos Floyd, the Chicago starter, struck out Kaat and Young in the 7th with a runner in scoring position.

Top of the 8th, Rob Davis pitching, Billy Bass singles, steals second, and scores on an Arceneaux hit.  Later with runners at the corners, Robert Zipp strikes out 2 Miami batters to hold the score at 6-5.  Jon Mexico pitched a dominant 8th, Brady Sanchez held Miami in the top of the 9th, and Schrute came on to close things out.

Adam Harris popped up, Durazo struck out, and Clegane grounded to short.  Miami finishes the sweep and will head to the World Series.