MLDS: Hollywood vs NY

 Game 1: Hollywood got the first run off Tonka on a 2nd inning RBI single by Victor Baker. Tonka went 6 innings and allowed no more runs. Jason Richardson pitched 5 scoreless innings, but ran into trouble in the 6th. He loaded the bases with no outs. Jek Lewis drew a walk to force in a run, and Jeff McCullough followed with an rbi single. After getting one out, Richardson left and Jason Curling got out of the inning with no more runs scored, including a forceout by Gene Garcia, who had hit for Tonka.

3 New York relievers pitched a scoreless inning each, and they came away with game 1, 2 to 1.

Game 2: Rangel took a no hitter into the 7th, and Jon Umber matched him with scoreless baseball through 7. In the 8th, Hollywood put together a 4 run rally, with Will Daugherty have a key 2 run single.

In the bottom of the inning, McCullough homered off Rangel, ending his day. Ben Hunter followed with a homer off Joe Pinches, but Joe was able to get the next 6 outs to preserve the game 4 to 2.

Game 3: Hollywood tagged Stephen Hamburg for 5 runs, knocking him out in the 3rd. Eddie Del Toro had a 3 run homer. Fozzy Wacha pitched 6 scoreless innings as Hollywood won 5 to 1.

Game 4: With their backs to the wall, New York had a very short leash on Barry Vasquez. In the third inning, down 1-0 and runner on first, Chad White went to a lefty, Pat Haynes, to get Cesar Corona. 

Gene Garcia singled home a run in the 4th, and Byron Jones scored on a wild pitch in the 7th. Despite pitched 7 innings with two runs, Hollywood starter Brad Hayes was down 2-1. Hollywood tied the game in the 8th with 3 straight two out singles. Neither team could score in the 9th or 10th.

In the 11th, Rickey Buckley led off with a double. Jek Lewis grounded to short, but Daugherty threw the ball away, allowing Buckley to score and moving up to second. New York added two runs before the inning was over.

In the bottom of the inning, Jon Papelbrad came out for his second inning. He got 2 quick outs, the Eddie Del Toro hit a routine grounder to third, which Steven Stephens booted. Victor Baker singled, putting runners at the corners and bringing the tying run to the plate. Chad Richardson was due up, but opting for the platoon advantage Keith Grace send Jason May up to hit. He apparently forgot that 1) the pitcher was up next and 2) May was the last hitter on his bench. Chad White did not overlook this however, he ordered an intentional walk, and the Papelbrad struck out the pitcher to send it to game 5.

Game 5: The matchup was Tonka vs Rangel. Tonka was shaky early, walking 3 before his first strikeout and pitching out of trouble. In the 4th, Victor Baker doubled in the first run, and scored the second run on a 2 out single by Rangel.

Rangel was on his game and never gave New York a chance. He pitched 7 scoreless innings, allowed 4 hits and struck out 8. Joe Pinches was perfect in relief, striking out 5 of the 6 he faced to advance to the next round. With 2 wins, Rangel was named series MVP.