Wild Card: Utah v Boston

 Game 1: Boston has a strong left handed lineup, so Utes give the ball to their lefty, Fernando Hernandez Jr. He was great for the first 5 innings, and thanks to a Todd Gibbs HR they led 1-0. In the 6th Boston loaded the bases and took the lead on Virgil Burden’s 2 run single.

The 2-1 score held up. Aster had 3 hits and stole 3 bases but her teammates couldn’t drive her in. Larry Moody struck out 11 over 7 innings for the win, and Jeremy Byers picked up a 2 inning save.

Game 2: Boston took a 2-0 lead in the third on Bernardo Pineda’s homer. Aster tied it with a blast over the Green Monster in the 5th. Utah was able to add more runs and win 6-4. Juan Gutierrez struck out 11 in 5 1/3 innings. Aster had 3 more hits, and at 6 for 8 in the series earned the title: “Most hated cat in Boston”.

Game 3:Utah went to a surprise starter, rookie Julio Caraballo. He gave them more than expected, 6 shutout innings of 1 hit ball. Mike Winters homered in the third, and later the same inning Derek Tufnel hooked one around the Pesky pole in right. Leo Hamilton added a solo shot in the 5th.

That’s all the offense Utah would get or need. Ray Ramey, Scott Klippenstein, and Cesar Cordero finished the shutout.

Aster was named series MVP with a .583 series average. She even earned some grudging respect from the Fenway faithful. Donnie from South End said: “This cat can play. She hits, she runs, she’s got power. She even switched from second base to right field late in the game. Not everyone can do that. Reminds me of a cat named Mookie.”