Playoff Round 1 - October 2
Game 1: ACL's at Chicago Rum Runners at Ankeny
Getting off to another good start, the Rum Runners took an early first inning lead on Freeman HR out to right center but as has been the ACL's way in this series, they kept plugging away scoring 1 in the 3rd. 1 in the 5th and 2 in the 6th all off HR's from Encarnacion, Santana, and Contreras. Who else would you have expected to from the ACL's lineup?
Down 4-1 heading into the bottom of the 6th with the season on the line, the power bats kicked in again. Freeman led the charge smacking his second HR of the night and following an Inciarte base hit, Garver powered one out to tie the game. The Rum Runners season would not be over just yet.
And then the Runners constant push for bullpen stalwarts payed off. They brought it trusty Rogers and he payed them dividends by controlling the mighty ACL's lineup for 4 innings allowing 1 hit and striking out 5 setting up a dramatic bottom half where Hicks powered a ball out to the left for the win. Runners stave off elimination and live to fight another day.
Fun Fact: All runs came off HR's.
Runners win 5-4 (11) but the ACL's lead the series 3-1
Game 2: Grant's Pass Brewers at Phoenix Miners
Faced with a second potential playoff sweep by a team with a dramatically inferior record, the Miners tweaked the rotation bringing in Aaron Nola (who had underperformed a bit during the regular season). But talent is talent and the Miners organization wanted their most talented pitcher on the mound facing elimination.
Nola took the confidence the organization showed, and ran with it, throwing 7.1 masterful innings of 2 run ball. And even more importantly it appears the struggling bats of Bryant and Chapman may be awakening with each hitting their first HR of the season. And the Miners live on.
Miners win 4-2 but the Brewers lead the Series 3-1.
Game 3: Bako Bums at Scurvy Dogs
You wouldn't expect the pitching duel of the night to come out of the series with these two offensive lineups, but the playoffs are full of surprises. In fact the first run of the night did not come until the top of the 8th with the Bums striking first with a Arenado sac fly scoring pinch hitter Reyes.
With Hader in to close things out the game looked to be over, but Ohtani stepped up with 2 on and 2 out and delivered a run scoring single to right center to score Arraez.
But relievers proved to be the weakness in this game, with the Dogs Scott allowing a double, infield single, and a deep double by Alonso to score 2 for a Bums late inning comeback win. Scurvy dogs face elimination with #Scruvyin7 still alive.
Bums win 3-1 (10) and the Bums lead the Series 3-1
Game 4: Brooklyn Kraken at Detroit Maniax
One of the key's to last nights Kraken win was to the keep the top of the Maniax lineup quiet. It's hard enough to do that once, but to pull it off twice is a near impossibility and as would be expected; Trout, Ramirez, Tatis and Abreu got theirs and the bottom of the lineup didn't disappoint either. Combined with a lights out performance by Giolito, who went 7 allowing 3 hits and no runs, and you have the recipe for a dominant win. The Maniax bring the Kraken to elimination with game 5 scheduled for Saturday night.
Maniax win 9-1 and lead the Series 3-1
Topic: Playoff Round 1 - October 2 (Read 498 times)
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