Sunday, November 29, 2015

World Series Game 6

Miami had a threat going against Larry Reynolds in the first but Joe Young bounced into a double play to end it.  In the bottom of the inning Bay Area scored 3 times on Roman Matos, first on a Miguel Cruz double and later on a pair of bases loaded walks.  In the bottom 3rd back to back 2 out doubles stretched the lead to 4-0.


Prince Ferreira made it close with a 2 run triple in the 5th.  In the bottom of the inning, Corey McGarvey tripled and came home on an error by Joe Young, one of 2 errors on Young and 4 by Miami on the day.  Bay Area stretched the lead to 8-2 with a 3 run 6th, capped by a Miguel Cruz homer.

They scored once more in the 8th, as Larry Reynolds pitched 7 strong innings, allowing 2 runs, no walks, and 6 strikeouts.  In the top of the 9th Miami had a bit of fight left in them.  With 2 out and a runner on first, Oswipe Cabrera singled, and Jim Gwosdz walked to load the bases.  Omar Gomez pinch hit a single to bring in 2.  Justin Warriax came on in relief, and Miami was hoping for just 2 more base runners - if they had done that Joe Young would come up representing the tying run.

Prince Ferreira hit a routing grounder to second, Leon Mercado threw to Miguel Cruz, and the Bandits celebrate their first ever championship.  Skip Yoder relaxes next to the championship trophy.

World Series Game 5

George White made his second start of the series, and Tim Sullivan took the mound for Miami in what would turn into a fine pitcher's duel.

Bay Area scored in the first on a Jared Fulton single, and again in the 6th as McGarvey reached on an error and scored on a Ryan Harris double.  That's all Sullivan would allow, as he struck out 4 through 5.1 innings, with an efficient count of 67 pitches.

Oswipe Cabrera homered in the 6th off White, but that's all he would give up, pitching 8 innings of 5 hit ball and one run.  With 2 out in the 6th, Brian Kaat tripled but was stranded on third

In the 9th Payro shut down the heart of Miami's order, Kaat, Young, and Bass, to complete the 2-1 win and go up 3-2 in the series.

World Series Game 4

Bay Area lit up Jered DeMario, who allowed 8 hits and 5 runs in 3.1 innings.    Miami managed 10 hits off Delvis Winchester but only one run in 5 innings, and Bay Area went on to an 11-2 blowout win.

Josh Austin had four hits including a homer, and Corey McGarvey knocked in 3.  Bay Area played without Robert Zoffinger, who was injured in game 3.  His oblique strain would knock him out of the rest of the series.

World Series Game 3

Bay Area took a 1-0 lead in the second on a Jason Rosario homer, and went up 2-0 an inning later as Ryan Harris drove in Miguel Cruz.

Miami got one back in the bottom 3rd as Brian Kaat scored on an Arceneaux double.  Oswipe Cabrera and Peter Rabbitt scored in a 6th inning rally.  Miguel Cruz tied it in the 7th with a sac fly.

In the bottom 8th Miami loaded the bases with no out against Justin Warriax, but Cabrera and Gwosdz struck out, and Ferreira flew out to end the inning with the game still tied.  Dwight Schrute came on in the top of the 9th, striking out Miguel Cruz to end the inning.  

Brian Kaat singled to start the bottom 9th.  Joe Young reached on catcher's intereference.  Billy Bass then grounded into a double play, leaving Kaat at third with 2 down.  Kaat tried to get in the head of closer Rafael Payro, creeping down the line and looking like he was preparing to steal home.  Devan Arceneaux hit a dribbler up the 3rd base line, catcher Rosario went to grab it as Kaat sped past him for the plate.  He tried an off balance throw to first, but Arceneaux beat it out for a game winning infield single.

Miami leads the series 2-1

Thursday, November 26, 2015

World Series Game 2

Miami scored in the 3rd as Brian Kaat singled, moved up on a wild pitch, and scored on a Joe Young single.  Bay Area tied the game in the fourth on a Ryan Harris sac fly.  In the 5th, Billy Bass hit a 2 run single, giving him 20 postseason RBI, and scored on an Arceneaux single.  Each team added one more run and Miami held on for a 5-2 victory.

Joe Young had a four hit game, Roman Matos went 6.1 innings, allowing 2 runs, no walks, and 5 strikeouts for the save.  Miami avoided using Schrute, who had pitched 3 innings the day before.  Pat Jones pitched the 9th to pick up the save.

World Series game 1

For the first time in team history Bay Area is playing in the world series, and they open in their home ballpark.  Prince Ferreira opened the game with a single off George White, but was cut down trying to steal on a busted hit and run.  Miguel Cruz started the scoring with a solo homer off Jered DeMario in the bottom of the first.  The two aces then cruised until the 6th inning, with White striking out 10 through 5 innings.

Trailing 1-0, Miami pinch hit for DeMario to start the 6th.  The pinch hitter didn't get on, but Brian Kaat started a 2 out rally, Joe Young followed with a single, and Billy Bass crushed a 3 run homer, his 6th of the postseason, to give Miami a 3-1 lead.

Bay Area rallied in the 7th as Kevin Davidson failed to record an out, allowing 2 doubles and a single to 3 batters.  All three would come around to score.  Joe Young led off the 8th with a homer to tie the game back up.

Strong bullpen work on both sides sent the game into extras.  In the tenth, Billy Bass led off with a double and moved to 3rd on a sacrifice, but was left standing on third. Dwight Schrute pitched 3 scoreless innings for Miami.  In the 12th, Bass reached again with one out, and tried to advance to third on an Arceneaux single.  Ryan Harris unleashed a perfect throw to cut Bass down.  Miami had another chance next inning as Lou Sacamano, in his first postseason at bat, doubled with 2 out.  After a Ferreira walk, Brian Kaat flew out to left.

In the bottom 13th, with Pat Jones pitching for Miami, Mike Gaston led off with a single.  Cruz and McGarvey struck out.  Ryan Harris walked, bringing up the pitcher's spot and Ryan Gutierrez.  Bay Area had already used all of their pinch hitters.  Gutierrez, 0 for 2 in the regular season, lined a first pitch single into left field for the game winner.  This is most likely the first time in league history a pitcher has won a world series game with a walk off hit.

Saturday, November 21, 2015

MLCS: New York vs Bay Area

Game 1: Chad White had 3 hits and 2 runs, David Jackson drove in two, and Silvanos Tonka shut down the Bandits.  Tonka finished with 7 innings, 2 hits, and 11 strikeouts.  Rudiger Rocker and Nolan Stephens pitched scoreless relief to finish the 4-0 win.

Game 2: Wellington Bear hit a 2 run homer in the first.  Bay Area scratched a run out in the bottom of the inning.  In the 3rd, Bear drove in Lee to make it 3-1.  In the bottom 3rd Pedro Lewis lost his command.  He walked pitcher Kent Cromer and Zoffinger to start the inning.  Josh Austin doubled in one, and a walk later McGarvey brought home the tying run while hitting into a double play.

Jay Bourn made it 4-3 in the 4th with a single.  In the bottom 5th, Leon Mercado tied the game with a pinch hit homer.  In the bottom 6th, Ozzie Gaedel's 2 out single brought home the go ahead run.  Bay Area used 3 relievers to escape the 7th.  Jorge Gallardo pitched a scoreless 8th, and Rafael Payro struck out the side in the 9th.

Game 3:  Buddy Dervish struck out 8 over 7 innings and won the game 4-2.  New York got to Larry Reynolds with a 3 run 5th, and Jon Papelbrad earned the save by getting the last 4 outs.

Game 4:  George White and Rafael Hernandez had an epic pitcher's duel.  The only run scored in the 5th when White singled with 2 outs and a runner on second.  White went 7 scoreless, Bay Area used 5 pitchers for a batter each in the 8th.  In the 9th Manfred drew a one out walk.  Jay Bourn pinch ran and stole second, but Payro was able to strike out Bowman and Jackson to end the game.

Game 5:  Tonka pitch another strong game but did not figure in the decision.  New York broke a scoreless tie in the 6th as Chad White doubled home Lee with 2 out, and came around score on a Stotch double.  Jason Rosario homered to lead off the 7th.  Gaedel doubled, moved to second on a grounder, and scored on a Zoffinger fly ball.

Bay Area made a number of moves, and wound up having to play outfielder Mike Gaston at third.  In the bottom 7th Leopold Stotch led off with a single to left but was thrown out trying to stretch a double.  In the 10th, Bay Area was out of pinch hitters and let Payro hit against Papelbrad.  He struck out, Miguel Cruz grounded out.  Papelbrad then walked Polanco, Ryan Harris doubled, and Jared Fulton singled to give a 4-2 lead.

In the bottom of the inning New York finally hit towards third and hit 2 singles past the clueless Gaston.  Bourn bunted the runners over.  Keith Lee struck out, and Bear flew out to left.  Bay Area heads home leading the series 3-2.

Game 6: a fine pitcher's duel between Pedro Lewis and Kent Cromer.  Jackson drives in Chad in the second.  In the 5th Bay Area ties the game.  Corey McGarvey hits a sac fly with the bases loaded, but Pedro escapes further damage.  No more scoring in regulation.  In the top of the 10th Juan Biras reaches 3rd with one away.  Keith Lee is unable to get a grounder past the drawn in infield, and Bear grounds out to end it.

In the bottom 10th, Papelbrad allows a lead off single but ends the inning with a double play.  With one out in the 11th, Reggie Moye bats for Papelbrad and singles.  Manfred ends the inning by hitting a double play ball.

Bottom of the 11th, and NY has used their best relievers.  Bernard Cheng comes in.  With one out Gaedel singles.  Bay Area again has no pinch hitters, and Payro bunts him over.  Vince Everts come in to face Zoffinger.  After a 9 pitch battle, Zoffinger singles up the middle to send Bay Area to the first World Series in team history.

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.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Vercetti out

Miami's Tommy Vercetti, a 17 game winner, was not listed on the team's playoff roster for round 2.  Vercetti last pitched game 2 against Texas.  No injury has been reported.  At this point it is uncertain what's going on, but Vercetti will not be with the team.

MLDS Bay Area vs Green Day

Game 1: Green Day knocked around George White for 5 runs in only 1.1 innings.  Roger Blackwood threw 8 shutout innings, final score was 7-0.

Game 2:  Green Day goes up 2-0 with an 8-2 win.  Squirrel Nutkin Jr. knocks in 2 more after 3 RBI in game 1.

Game 3: Jason Rosario homers and Josh Austin knocks in 3 as Bay Area stays alive with a 5-2 win.

Game 4: George White redeems himself with a 7 inning, 8 strikeout, 2 hitter.  Jason Rosario's 2 run single in the 4th gave Bay Area a 2-1 victory.

Game 5: A great pitcher's duel between Larry Reynolds (7.1 innings, 4 hits, 10 strikeouts) and Clayton Lewis (6.1 innings, 3 hits, 9 strikeouts).  Green Day scored in the 4th as Jek Lewis reached on an error, stole third, and came home on a wild pitch.

Bay Area tied it up the next inning as Miguel Cruz drew a 2 out, bases loaded walk.  It was still 1-1 in the 9th.  With one out Roger Strade singled, Josh Austin walked, and Mike Gaston singled off Green Day closer Kepler.  Jose Harris struck out, but Robert Zoffinger worked another bases loaded walk before Cruz struck out.

In the bottom 9th, Jek Lewis drew a one out walk, but Ezekiel Duke and Nutkin struck out to leave him on the bases.

Bay Area pulls off the epic comeback and will take on NYC next.

MLDS. New York vs Toronto

Game 1:  Toronto knocks out Buddy Dervish early.  Hamburg pitches 7.1 innings with 8 strikeouts, but runs into some trouble in the 8th, giving up 2 runs.  Toronto takes a 6-3 lead to the 9th but closer Jeff Cabrera makes it close.  He loads the bases with nobody out, but gets Jay Bourn to hit into a 4-6-3 double play (scoring a run) and Keith Lee to fly out.

Game 2: Keith Lee has 4 hits, New York knocks out Zach Bundy to take a 7-0 lead.  Toronto scores 4 in the 5th off Tonka and another in the 6th, but Rudiger and Papelbrad close out the game without allowing another hit.

Game 3:  Jay Bourn singles in the first, steals second, moves to 3rd on a groundout, and scores on a sac fly by Bear.  That would be it for run scoring.  Eric Rodriguez settled in to pitch a 3 hitter, but Pedro Lewis showed no signs of his earlier injury, giving NY fans vintage Pedro.  He struck out 9, allowed 3 hits and 2 walks over 7.1 innings.  Papelbrad came in for the last 5 outs of perfect relief.

Game 4:  a rematch of Dervish and Hamburg started out as a pitchers duel.  NY was up 2-1 in the 6th, when they busted the game open with 8 runs.  Manfred Mueller delivered the big blow with a grand slam, his second homer of the game.  New York went on to win 10-2 and advance to the next round.

SLDS Utah vs Chicago

Game 1:  Earl Hickey is dominant, striking out 10 in 6 shutout innings.  Utah's bullpen gives up only one as the Utes take game one 4-1.  Even a triple play started by center fielder Byron Jones isn't enough.

Game 2:  Kyle Bonderman allows one run in 6.1 innings, Byron Jones homers and drives in 2 as Chicago wins 7-2.

Game 3:  a wild high scoring game.  Frank Lewis had 4 RBI, including a go ahead 2 run homer in the 7th.  In the bottom 9th Utah had an 8-7 lead.  The first 2 batters reached, and with one out Adam Harris became a hero, driving a double into the left field corner.  Donnie Donewicz, the Bear Jew, comes around from first to score the winning run.

Game 4: Carlos Floyd pitched the game of his life, 8 innings with 4 hits and only one run.  Chicago took a 4-1 lead to the 9th.  Brady Sanchez comes on for the save, strikes out the first 2 batters, and gets Frank Lewis on a grounder to first.

Chicago will play Miami next.

SLDS Miami vs Texas

Game 1:  Miami takes a 3-0 lead and Jered DeMario has a shutout into the 7th.  Manny Ortez hits a 2 run homer to make it close, but Jon Mexico strikes out 4 of the 5 batters he faces to hold Texas, and Dwight Schrute pitches a scoreless 9th for the save.

Game 2: Texas scores 5 off Tom Vercetti in the 3rd to take a 5-1 lead, but Miami gets 4 back in the bottom of the inning and 3 in the 4th.  Texas scores 2 in the 6th, Miami gets one back, and in the 7th Justin Headley crushes his second homer of the game to tie the game at 9.  In the 9th, Manny Ortez homers to give Texas the lead.  Miami gets nothing in the bottom of the inning off Jared Pollard, and the series is tied at one.

Game 3: Texas takes a 6-2 lead to the 7th.  Miami scores 2 in the 7th on a wild pitch and a 2 out infield single.  In the 8th, Joe Young doubles and Billy Bass homers to tie things up, his second of the game.  One out later, rookie Devan Arceneaux crushes a 406 feet bomb to take the lead.  Schrute strands Manny Ortez to collect another save.

Game 4: A balanced Miami attack gives Steve Harriman room to work, and the young pitcher allows only one run in 5.1 innings.  The bullpen avoids trouble, and Schrute is able to hold on for a 5-2 win.

Superior league wild card

Game 1: Boston wins 5-3 over Texas.  Clay Buttholz goes 7 innings with 10 strikeouts.  Alex Williams homers, scores 2, and knocks in 2.

Game 2: Boston takes a 4-3 lead to the 9th.  R.D. Phillips goes 8 innings, allowing 3 runs while striking out 7, Williams homers again, and Mark Johnson homers and knocks in 3.  In the bottom 9th John Gross walks Chad Horlacher, and then walks Justin Headley after an 8 pitch battle.  Angel Rodriguez moves the runners up with a groundout, and Zeke Sanchez ties it up with a sac fly.

The game goes into extra innings.  In the 12th Rickey Buckley hits a 2 out triple, and Darnell "Crabman" Turner ends it with a walk off hit.

Game 3:  Boston was so close in game 2, but never in game 3.  The final score is 11-1 as 5 Texas players have multi hit games.  Mike McConnell gets the win with 5.1 innings, allowing only an unearned run.

Texas will play Miami next.

Wild card series - Major League

Game 1 New York scores 5 early runs off Peter Buchanon, Wellington G. Bear has 4 hits and an RBI. Silvanos Tonka goes 6 innings for the win, and Papelbrad collects the save in a 5-3 victory.

Game 2:  Pedro Lewis pitches scoreless baseball for the first 2 innings, and NY takes the lead on a Butters single.  In the third Pedro allows a double to pitcher Chris Reyes, and after a David Baron walk is forced to leave the game with a stiff shoulder.  Bryan Avila comes in wild.  Two wild pitches scores a run and puts Baron on third.  Kawasaki singles, another wild pitch and a balk puts him on third.  Oakenshield singles to make it 3-1.

In the bottom 3rd New York scores 4 to retake the lead.  The key hits are doubles by Chad White and Stotch.  Florida's bullpen comes in to shut NY down, and the score remains 5-3 to the 8th.  With 2 out and a runner on, Rudiger Rocker serves up a game tying homer to Joey Howell.

In the bottom 8th, Chad White leads off against Florida closer David Tejada with a ground ball to third.  Oakenshield bobbles it and White reaches.  After a steal of second, Tejada balks him to third.  Pinch hitter Alan Jarrett is able to get a deep enough fly to take the lead.  Tejada gets out of the inning with no further trouble.

Papelbrad comes in for the 9th.  Oakenshield strikes out.  Gromit strikes out.  Clyde Frogg drives one deep to center, but Chad White runs it down and makes a spectacular over the shoulder catch.  New York sweeps the series and will advance to play Toronto.