2014 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

National League Division Series – Camarillo Quest vs Tempe Tempers

Series Preview :  The NL West Champion Camarillo Quest (100-62) matched up against the NL Central champion Tempe Tempers (129-33) in the 2014 NLCS. The teams faced each other last year in the Division series and a rivalry is definitely brewing. Both teams have explosive lineups finishing first and second in the NL in home-runs and both teams have the top Cy Young candidates. The series was played head to head online.

Game #1:  Wilson vs. Iwakuma – The aces for both Camarillo and Tempe squared off in game one. C.J. Wilson was 25-7 over 36 starts and Iwakuma was 31-3 in 37 starts. The game started off with a major setback for Tempe when potential NL MVP Tulowitzki took a pitch off his wrist with one on and two out. Tulo was lost for the series and seldom used .930 backup Janish started all of the remaining games. Molina did put a silver lining on the HB by doubling in two runs. Quest responded with a Baustista solo shot in the 2nd. In the top of the 6th, Brown and Votto walked to bring up Bautista with no outs. Tempe feeling this could be a make or break inning went directly to their closer to get them out of the jam. Holland promptly retired Bautista and the next two hitters to preserve the one run lead. In the bottom of the 7th, Tempe added a run on Molina’s second rbi double. In the 8th, Granderson pinch ran, after a Bautista error allowed a runner
to reach, and stole 2b. He then scored on a Beltre single. Holland and Crain pitched the last four innings to preserve the win. Tempe 4-1

Game #2:  Burnett vs. Buchholz – The rain started just as the game was about to get underway and both starters looked fatigued when the game finally started. Buchholz’s grade dropped from 21 to 15 and Burnett (who recorded 17 SO against the Tempers earlier in the year) went from an 11 to a 3. Neither starter made it past the 2nd inning. Burnett’s fatigue caused him to pull something in his shoulder and he was injured for 15 days. In the bottom of the 4th Tempe scored two runs on a Cargo double and a Braun sac fly. In the 5th, Cano singled, stole 2B, and then scored on Cuddyer’s rbi single. Tempe’s pen didn’t allow a hit from the 3rd until the 9th when Holland faltered a little and loaded the bases with two outs. However, Crain bailed him out getting Valencia to pop up for the final out and his second save. Tempe 3-0

Game #3:  Iwakuma vs. Fister – Cano led off the first against Doug Fister with a single, a stolen base and then scored the games first run on single from Cargo. The Quest quickly responded in the bottom of the inning when Votto took Iwakuma deep with one runner on base. In the 2nd, Quest management rolled the dice and put on the squeeze with Doug Fister and the move paid off scoring pinch runner Aviles. Votto got to Iwakuma again in the 3rd with an RBI single to make 4-1 Quest. The score remained 4-1 until the 9th. Casilla came on to close it out with the three run lead. Molina led off the inning with a single and was pitch run for by Granderson. Gutierrez pinch hit and singled on a hit and run. Janish grouned out but moved the runners over. Kendry Morales then pinch hit and doubled to make 4-3. Braun came in to run for Morales and Parra came in to try and bail out Casilla. Cano singled off Parra and Braun came around to tie the game 4-4. Cano then s tole 2B and moved to 3B on a fielders choice. Mujica replaced Parra and recorded the final out. Howell pitched a perfect 9th for Tempe. In the 10th, Chris Davis took Machi deep who came in for Mujica to put Tempe up 5-4. In the bottom of 10th, the Quest got a walk by Hairston and then a game tying rbi triple off Holland by Aybar. The next batter, Crawford tried to get the squeeze down with the infield in but it rolled foul. He then lined the next pitch to Cano who quickly doubled up Aybar on third to send the game to the 11th. Cano singled with one out in the 11th and then stole 2B. Cargo then doubled off Veras who replaced Machi to put Tempe back up 6-5. Crain came on and got Votto, Bautista, and Moss for his 3rd save of the series. Tempe 6-5 11th.

Game #4:  Buchholz vs. Wilson – In the 1st, Nava doubled and Beltre singled him home. In the bottom of the 4th, Navarro doubled with two outs and Moss found a way to make it all the way from 1B to score. In the 6th, Braun doubled but was thrown out at home trying to score on a single to right field by Jones. The next batter singled so the run would have easily scored if Tempe had been more cautious. Both starters pitched well and the score remained tied until the 9th. With two out and out and a runner 2nd, Cano doubled in the go ahead run. Janish then recorded his only hit of the series. Cano scored and Janish took second on the throw. Chris Davis pinch hit and walked. Fielder then pinch hit for Braun and slugged a double to make it 4-1. Gutierrez then singled to make 5-1. Cuddyer then took the 3rd pitcher of the inning (Mujica) deep for a three run homerun to make it 8-1. Holland came on and pitched a perfect 9th to finish the sweep. Tempe 8-1

Series Summary:  Tempe Sweeps the Series! – Camarillo had an outstanding season and the series could have easily been 2-2 after four games. Ultimately, the Quest bullpen and bench weren’t deep enough to keep up with Tempe. Three of the wins went to Tempe’s pen and Tempe’s pinch runners and hitters were involved in half the runs scored. Series MVP went to Robinson Cano who made the game saving defensive play in game three, scored the winning run in G3 and drove in the winning run in G4.  Cano hit .412 with 5 runs, 2 rbi, and 5 SB. An image of the splits is attached, but here are the basic stats.
AVG – TEM .275 vs. CAM .144
ERA – TEM .1.66 vs. CAM .5.00
DEF – TEM .993 vs. CAM .979