2013 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

The 2013 National League Championship Series marked the fifth time the Sacramento Capitals (109-53) and the Tempe Tempers (121-41) have faced each other in the NLCS and the sixth time overall that the two teams have met in the playoffs.  Tempe holds a slight overall 3-2 advantage in playoff play, but the Capitals have been the winner of late and are the defending 2012 and 2011 World Series Champions.

Game #1 @ Tempe – Justin Verlander (19-11 1.99 ERA) vs. Matt Cain (28-5  1.86 ERA)
Two quick singles by Tori Hunter and Yadier Molina in the first inning resulted in 1-0 lead after a Robinson Cano sacrifice fly.  Dustin Pedrioa bailed out Cain in the 2nd getting Nelson at home when he tried to score on an infield grounder.  In the 3rd, Albert Pujols took Cain deep with one runner on. 3-0 SAC.  In the 5th,  Robinson Cano crushed a homerun to make it 4-0 SAC.  Tempe finally got on the board in the 6th after Verlander had left the game when Adrian Beltre went deep off Vincent with one run on. 4-2 SAC.  Sacramento got one back in the 7th on an RBI single by Yadier Molina.  5-2 SAC.  In the bottom of the 9th,  Jake McGee recorded two quick outs and then ran into trouble.  Pedroia doubled, Curtis Granderson walked, and Yoenis Cespedes singled to load the bases.  Troy Tulowitzki stepped to the plate and hit a screamer to towards 1B, but Albert Pujols made a diving catch to preserve the win.

Final Score: Sacramento 5 – Tempe 2
WP: Justin Verlander (1-0, 5 INN, 0 Runs)
LP: Matt Cain (0-1, 3 INN, 3 Runs)
Save: Jake McGee (1)
HR: Robinson Cano (1), Albert Pujols (1),  Adrian Beltre (1)

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