The NL Division Series' both went 5 with favored Montreal squeezing pat the Braves, and San Francisco taking the Mets in perhaps a mild upset.
Montreal over Atlanta, 3-2: The teams split the first two, with Atlanta taking Game 1 in 10 on a Jude Snow sac fly and Montreal countering 7-1 in Game 2 behind 8 innings of J.P. Taveras 4-hit ball.
In the pivotal Game 3, the Expos got 2-run homers from Miguel Pena and Bernard Springer, and Diego Ibarra held the Braves to 4 hits over 7 for a 4-2 win and match point. Then Atlanta snapped back behind Matt Wilkerson to take Game 4, 3-1.
In the deciding game, Atlanta opened with a run in the first, but Montreal jumped ahead on another Springer 2-run bomb. Leading 3-2 with 2 out in the 4th, the Expos started the winning rally. Marte doubled and scored on Springer's single. Consecutive doubles by Freeman and Jose plated 2 more, and that was about it. Atlanta would get just one more, and Montreal took Game 5, 6-3. The Expos get their first trip to the NLCS since Season 6 (also against the Giants).
San Francisco over New York, 3-2: Things started well for the Giants, as the beat Walt Hernandez 3-1 in the opener. Then they dug a hole by dropping the next 2 - strong outings by the Mets' Cedeno and Spooneybarger.
Game 4 started with the Mets grabbing the advantage, thanks to a 1st-inning, Hiram Abbott 3-run homer. The Giants scrapped back to tie it 4-4 in the 7th, then in the 8th Phil Chang doubled home pinch-runner Matt McBride for the game-winner.
Game 5 was a pitchers' duel featuring the Mets' Cedeno and the Giants' Max Ferrer. The Giants went ahead 2-1 in the 7th on Jesus Figureoa's bloop single, and Schafer and Manning held the Mets scoreless over the last 2. San Francisco had the win and its 2nd trip to the NLCS.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
AL Division Championship Recaps
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Yankees over Tigers, 3-1: The Yankee pitching staff held Detroit to a .194 batting average and 8 runs, as New York cruised into the LCS for the 4th year in the last 5.
Game 1 was the only close game and the best chance Detroit had to get into the series. With ace Carson Graves on the hill, the Tigers led 1-0 in the 4th. But the Yanks got (all with 2 out) a single, 3 walks and a single to score 3. Detroit got one back in the 5th on a Bing Miles solo homer, but Rivera and Jacobsen went a perfect 12-up, 12-down the rest of the way.
After a New York blowout win in Game 2, the Tigers held off elimination behind a Diaz/Simmons/Yang 5-hit shutout. But the Yanks started fast in Game 4 (6-run 2nd, highlighted by a Jefferson slam) and held the Tiger bats to 6 hits and 2 runs for a 9-2 series clincher.
Rays over Rangers, 3-1: It was the Santos Lorenzo show, as the 21 year-old Cuban fired 2 complete-game shutouts.
Following the first Lorenzo gem in Game 1, Game 2 turned into the crucial contest in the series. Trailing 4-1 in the 7th, the Rangers chased Rays starter Blaine Lowry on a Brett Ross 2-run single, and closed the gap to 2 again on a Fonville solo in the 8th. Rays closer Houston Webb finally settled matters with a 1-2-3 ninth, and Tampa Bay took a commanding 2-game lead.
Texas came back with a 5-4 win in Game 3, as Sherry Pierre and 2 relievers worked around 15 hits. But Lorenzo and the Rays were dominant in Game 4, 7-0, and Tampa Bay earned its first trip to the LCS since Season 2.
Yankees over Tigers, 3-1: The Yankee pitching staff held Detroit to a .194 batting average and 8 runs, as New York cruised into the LCS for the 4th year in the last 5.
Game 1 was the only close game and the best chance Detroit had to get into the series. With ace Carson Graves on the hill, the Tigers led 1-0 in the 4th. But the Yanks got (all with 2 out) a single, 3 walks and a single to score 3. Detroit got one back in the 5th on a Bing Miles solo homer, but Rivera and Jacobsen went a perfect 12-up, 12-down the rest of the way.
After a New York blowout win in Game 2, the Tigers held off elimination behind a Diaz/Simmons/Yang 5-hit shutout. But the Yanks started fast in Game 4 (6-run 2nd, highlighted by a Jefferson slam) and held the Tiger bats to 6 hits and 2 runs for a 9-2 series clincher.
Rays over Rangers, 3-1: It was the Santos Lorenzo show, as the 21 year-old Cuban fired 2 complete-game shutouts.
Following the first Lorenzo gem in Game 1, Game 2 turned into the crucial contest in the series. Trailing 4-1 in the 7th, the Rangers chased Rays starter Blaine Lowry on a Brett Ross 2-run single, and closed the gap to 2 again on a Fonville solo in the 8th. Rays closer Houston Webb finally settled matters with a 1-2-3 ninth, and Tampa Bay took a commanding 2-game lead.
Texas came back with a 5-4 win in Game 3, as Sherry Pierre and 2 relievers worked around 15 hits. But Lorenzo and the Rays were dominant in Game 4, 7-0, and Tampa Bay earned its first trip to the LCS since Season 2.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Division Play-In Round Recaps
Nothing you could call an upset in the Division Round, although the upstart White Sox pressed Detroit and had a chance in Game 5:
AMERICAN LEAGUE
(3) Detroit vs (6) Chicago: Defense, or lack of it, was the name of the game for Chicago, as the Sox allowed 11 unearned runs in Game 3 and Game 5 losses.
The teams split in Detroit, with starting pitchers - Carson Graves for Detroit in Game 1, and Randall Pearson for Chicago in Game 2 - dominating the action. The Tigers got 4 unearned runs to win Game 3, but Chicago bounced back to beat Graves in Game 4.
Game 5 started out smelling like an upset, with Chicago taking a 5-1 lead through 3. But 4 errors led to 7 unearned Detroit runs, and the Tigers cruised 10-5 in the decisive game.
Detroit now moves on the face the #2 Yankees; Chicago celebrates a fine season by a very young team, and sends a number of said youngsters to Winter Ball for extra fielding practice.
(4) Oakland vs. (5) Texas: The Rangers' pitching was just too much for the A's, allowing just 8 runs in the series.
Still, the A's had a chance in Game 4 to tie the series. With the game tied at 2 after 8, Oakland's Tony Rivera took one off the leg and stole second with 1 out. He got to third on a flyball to CF, but Texas reliever Ajax Patel got Douglas Cummings to ground to short, ending the threat. Then in the 10th, the Rangers got a single, a HBP and 2 walks to plate the winner.
Texas moves on to division rival Tampa Bay; Oakland heads home but looks forward to the promotion of another serious rookie crop in Season 10.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
(4) Atlanta vs. (5) Washington, D.C.: The first 2 games were the crucial ones in this series, as the Braves took 2 squeakers for what turned out to be an insurnountable lead.
Freddie Long's single decide Game 1 in the bottom of the 10th. Game 2 saw the Braves rally from 2 down with a Hutton solo shot in the 8th and an Eric Roosevelt 2-run single in the 9th to take a 2-0 lead. D.C. broke out for 10 runs in Game 3 (HR's from Shuey and Jackson) to get back into the series, but Alejandro Vazquez tossed a complete game for Atlanta in Game 4; Roosevelt knocked in 3 for a 6-1 win and a trip to the second round.
The Braves take on Montreal in Round 2.
(3) San Francisco vs. (6) Philadelphia: Santiago Molina smacked a 3-run HR in the 4th, and Banjo Shafer and Virgil Manning shut down the Phillies over the last 3 as the Giants won Game 5, 3-2.
The teams split the first two before Philly gained the advantage, blowing out San Fran 9-2 in Game 3 (2 HR's for Jorgenson). The Giants countered with a 16-5 blowout of their own in Game 4 (Chang and Figureoa HR's) to even up the series and set up Molina's Game 5 heroics.
The Giants now advance to a Round 2 date with the Mets.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
(3) Detroit vs (6) Chicago: Defense, or lack of it, was the name of the game for Chicago, as the Sox allowed 11 unearned runs in Game 3 and Game 5 losses.
The teams split in Detroit, with starting pitchers - Carson Graves for Detroit in Game 1, and Randall Pearson for Chicago in Game 2 - dominating the action. The Tigers got 4 unearned runs to win Game 3, but Chicago bounced back to beat Graves in Game 4.
Game 5 started out smelling like an upset, with Chicago taking a 5-1 lead through 3. But 4 errors led to 7 unearned Detroit runs, and the Tigers cruised 10-5 in the decisive game.
Detroit now moves on the face the #2 Yankees; Chicago celebrates a fine season by a very young team, and sends a number of said youngsters to Winter Ball for extra fielding practice.
(4) Oakland vs. (5) Texas: The Rangers' pitching was just too much for the A's, allowing just 8 runs in the series.
Still, the A's had a chance in Game 4 to tie the series. With the game tied at 2 after 8, Oakland's Tony Rivera took one off the leg and stole second with 1 out. He got to third on a flyball to CF, but Texas reliever Ajax Patel got Douglas Cummings to ground to short, ending the threat. Then in the 10th, the Rangers got a single, a HBP and 2 walks to plate the winner.
Texas moves on to division rival Tampa Bay; Oakland heads home but looks forward to the promotion of another serious rookie crop in Season 10.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
(4) Atlanta vs. (5) Washington, D.C.: The first 2 games were the crucial ones in this series, as the Braves took 2 squeakers for what turned out to be an insurnountable lead.
Freddie Long's single decide Game 1 in the bottom of the 10th. Game 2 saw the Braves rally from 2 down with a Hutton solo shot in the 8th and an Eric Roosevelt 2-run single in the 9th to take a 2-0 lead. D.C. broke out for 10 runs in Game 3 (HR's from Shuey and Jackson) to get back into the series, but Alejandro Vazquez tossed a complete game for Atlanta in Game 4; Roosevelt knocked in 3 for a 6-1 win and a trip to the second round.
The Braves take on Montreal in Round 2.
(3) San Francisco vs. (6) Philadelphia: Santiago Molina smacked a 3-run HR in the 4th, and Banjo Shafer and Virgil Manning shut down the Phillies over the last 3 as the Giants won Game 5, 3-2.
The teams split the first two before Philly gained the advantage, blowing out San Fran 9-2 in Game 3 (2 HR's for Jorgenson). The Giants countered with a 16-5 blowout of their own in Game 4 (Chang and Figureoa HR's) to even up the series and set up Molina's Game 5 heroics.
The Giants now advance to a Round 2 date with the Mets.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
AL Stretch Run
The AL picture is pretty clear, save for the Texas - Tampa Bay battle for the #1 seed. Here's the rundown with 6 games to go:
Detroit leads Chicago by 4 in the North, but the Sox have been slowly creeping up for awhile. It'll be interesting to see if the lead shrinks to 3 or less by the last series, when the two teams meet for a 3-game set. The division winner will get the #3 seed; runner-up takes the 6th seed (1 White Sox win or 1 Red Sox loss eliminates Boston from wild-card contention).
In the East, the Yankees have won the division for the 6th straight year and are set as the #2 seed.
In the South, the Rays take a 1-game lead over Texas into the last 6 games. Both teams have series with division rivals Kansas City and Charlotte, so there's no schedule advantage. Winner gets the #1 seed and a bye, runner-up will be the #5 seed.
Oakland has a 4-game lead on Anaheim out West; both teams play Seattle and Portland, so the Angels need at least 2 Athletics losses to keep hope alive. They tied the season series, and they're milimeters apart in the second and third tiebreakers. Either way, the winner has the #4 seed, and the runner-up starts working on next season.
Playoff Pairings
#3 Detroit or Chicago plays #6 Detroit or Chicago (although Boston could still get in); winner of that series plays # 2 New York.
#4 Oakland or Anaheim plays #5 Texas or Tampa Bay; winner of that series plays #1 Texas or Tampa Bay.
Detroit leads Chicago by 4 in the North, but the Sox have been slowly creeping up for awhile. It'll be interesting to see if the lead shrinks to 3 or less by the last series, when the two teams meet for a 3-game set. The division winner will get the #3 seed; runner-up takes the 6th seed (1 White Sox win or 1 Red Sox loss eliminates Boston from wild-card contention).
In the East, the Yankees have won the division for the 6th straight year and are set as the #2 seed.
In the South, the Rays take a 1-game lead over Texas into the last 6 games. Both teams have series with division rivals Kansas City and Charlotte, so there's no schedule advantage. Winner gets the #1 seed and a bye, runner-up will be the #5 seed.
Oakland has a 4-game lead on Anaheim out West; both teams play Seattle and Portland, so the Angels need at least 2 Athletics losses to keep hope alive. They tied the season series, and they're milimeters apart in the second and third tiebreakers. Either way, the winner has the #4 seed, and the runner-up starts working on next season.
Playoff Pairings
#3 Detroit or Chicago plays #6 Detroit or Chicago (although Boston could still get in); winner of that series plays # 2 New York.
#4 Oakland or Anaheim plays #5 Texas or Tampa Bay; winner of that series plays #1 Texas or Tampa Bay.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
NL Stretch Run Report
The NL Division Titles are all but set, but that doesn't mean the playoff picture is clear by any means. 4 teams are within 2 games of each other for the 2 wildcards, and the Cubs and Padres are a winning streak from getting into it. Here's the rundown:
In the North, Montreal leads the league in scoring by a wide margin, with Kevin Marte (.321/27/91) making his annual MVP bid. They're also dominating the Cy Young ballot, with Pedro Mercado (17-5, 2.63), J.P. Taveras (18-4, 2.88) and John McCall (43 saves, 3.02) all up for the top pitching trophy. They'll be the #1 seed.
Barring an epic collapse, the Mets will celebrate their first East Divison crown. Walt Hernandez has been, well, Walt Hernandez (19-4, 1.45), and Andres Cedeno has been at least Hernandez-like (16-5, 2.81). They haven't been an offensive juggernaut, but with a team ERA of 3.01, they don't have to be. They're tied with the Giants for the #2 seed at the moment (and own the first tie-break).
Atlanta has wrapped up its 6th straight title in the South. Dee Dee Hutton's having his usual monster year (.304/38/122), and even though the pitching staff has fallen off a bit from last year, it's still 4th in the league with a 3.80 ERA. They're headed for the #4 seed.
Out West, the Giants are cruising to their 5th straight crown. They're not the best at anything, but they're pretty good at everything - 8th in runs, 7th in ERA, and tied for 3rd in fielding. Virgil Manning (41 saves, 3.06) has a shot at a rare double - ROY and FOY. They're in a dead heat with the Mets for the #2 seed.
The wildcards are a 4-team dogfight. Currently, the Phillies and Nationals are 2 games up on the Reds and Diamondbacks, with the Cubs and Padres 6 and 8 back. With 6 series's to go , here's how many each wc contender has with winning teams:
Philly - 4
D.C. - 4
Cincy - 2
Ariz - 3
Chi - 2
SD - 4
The schedule seems to like Cincy and the Cubbies, which could make things pretty interesting!
In the North, Montreal leads the league in scoring by a wide margin, with Kevin Marte (.321/27/91) making his annual MVP bid. They're also dominating the Cy Young ballot, with Pedro Mercado (17-5, 2.63), J.P. Taveras (18-4, 2.88) and John McCall (43 saves, 3.02) all up for the top pitching trophy. They'll be the #1 seed.
Barring an epic collapse, the Mets will celebrate their first East Divison crown. Walt Hernandez has been, well, Walt Hernandez (19-4, 1.45), and Andres Cedeno has been at least Hernandez-like (16-5, 2.81). They haven't been an offensive juggernaut, but with a team ERA of 3.01, they don't have to be. They're tied with the Giants for the #2 seed at the moment (and own the first tie-break).
Atlanta has wrapped up its 6th straight title in the South. Dee Dee Hutton's having his usual monster year (.304/38/122), and even though the pitching staff has fallen off a bit from last year, it's still 4th in the league with a 3.80 ERA. They're headed for the #4 seed.
Out West, the Giants are cruising to their 5th straight crown. They're not the best at anything, but they're pretty good at everything - 8th in runs, 7th in ERA, and tied for 3rd in fielding. Virgil Manning (41 saves, 3.06) has a shot at a rare double - ROY and FOY. They're in a dead heat with the Mets for the #2 seed.
The wildcards are a 4-team dogfight. Currently, the Phillies and Nationals are 2 games up on the Reds and Diamondbacks, with the Cubs and Padres 6 and 8 back. With 6 series's to go , here's how many each wc contender has with winning teams:
Philly - 4
D.C. - 4
Cincy - 2
Ariz - 3
Chi - 2
SD - 4
The schedule seems to like Cincy and the Cubbies, which could make things pretty interesting!
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