2011 LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES HIGHLIGHTS
For Immediate Release
October 15, 2011
Severn vs. Chicago
League Championship series to be hosted by Chicago via join me.
Game 1 Hudson vs. Wainwright
Severn gets things started with a leadoff walk by Pagan and a Konerko single that makes it 1st and 3rd with 1 out. Cabrera proceeds to carom one off the wall to make it 1-0 Severn with runners on 2nd and 3rd. Werth would line to right and ARod to 1st to end the top half of
the 1st. The score would remain 1-0 until the bottom of the 3rd
when Delmon Young would leave the yard to tie the game at 1-1. In the top of the 5th Angel Pagan would leadoff with an infield hit. With the hit and run on, Matt Holliday would push one through the right side of the infield to make it 1st and 3rd and no outs. Konerko would hit a sac fly to give Severn a 2-1 advantage, but that is all they would get in the inning. The top of the 6th saw ARod smack a double with one out. Brian McCann would draw a walk to make it 1st and 2nd with 1 out. Scutaro would pop out for the 2nd out. Ryan Raburn would hit a little blooper that allowed ARod to score and give the Express a
3-1 lead. This was plenty for Tim Hudson as he would throw a complete game and limit the Mobsters to 2 hits.
Game 2 Garland vs Sabathia
The game is scoreless until the bottom of the 3rd when BJ Upton draws a leadoff walk. Jeter would advance him to 2nd with 1 out. McCutchen would draw a walk a Polanco would strike out to make it 1st and 2nd with 2 outs. Mobster veteran Chipper Jones would blast a double to right allowing both runners to score but would get thrown out trying to take the extra base, 2-0 Mobsters. The Mobsters would score another run on an double play ground out by Ordonez in the 4th to increase their lead to 3-0. Mags would lead off the 7th with a double and get replaced by pinch runner Denard Span. BJ Upton would draw a walk to make it 1st and 2nd and no outs. With Jeter at the plate, the Mobsters executed a perfect double steal to have 2 runners in scoring position and no outs. Jeter tries the squeeze, but Garland goes home for the first out. Jeter would steal 2nd to put both runners in scoring position again with 1 out. McCuthcen would strike out, but Polanco would single to score both runners and advance to 2nd on the throw home, 5-0 Mobsters. And that is how it would end as CC goes the distance for a complete game, 4 hit shutout. Series tied at 1 game apiece.
Game 3 Halladay vs Hernandez
The series shift to Severn as King Felix takes the mound against Roy Halladay. With 1 out in the 3rd McCutchen would hit a homer to put Chicago up 1-0. The Express would answer in the 3rd as an unlikely source, Marco Scutaro ties it up with the long ball, 1-1.
Halladay would start the 7th with a strike out of Jim Thome. Posey would follow that up with a double and then a single by Barton would allow him to score and make it 2-1 Mobsters. Ordonez would walk and then get replaced by pinch runner Span. The Mobsters execute the double steal again and make it 2nd/3rd with 1 out. Upton would execute the squeeze perfectly and allow Barton to score and make the score 3-1. Hernandez would get pulled after 8 innings in favor of Daniel Bard. Bard promptly gets the 1st 2 outs in the 9th and is replaced by Billy Wagner. Konerko would greet Wagner with a double and that would be followed up with a double by Miguel Cabrera to cut the Mobster lead to 3-2. Pinch runner Marlon Byrd would enter the game for Cabrera. Donnie Murphy would enter the game as a pinch hitter, but would end it with a strike out. Mobsters lead the series 2-1.
Game 4 Liriano vs Hudson
Trailing the series 2-1, Severn gets off to a quick start in game 4 on the strength of a Holliday solo homer, 1-0 Severn. Severn would strike again in the 3rd on a leadoff single by Pagan and an RBI double by Holliday, 2-0. Polanco would lead off the 4th with a single and advance to 2nd on a fielder’s choice. Thome would then smack a double to cut the Express lead to 2-1. The 5th inning would see Neil Walker draw a leadoff walk. Young would single to make it 1st and 2nd.
Jeter bunts it back to the pitcher who would get the out at 2nd, but then an error to the dugout would allow the lead runner to score and tie the game, 2-2. With Jeter on 2nd, McCutchen would draw a walk.
For the 3rd time in the series, the Mobsters would execute a double steal making it 2nd and 3rd. Polanco would deliver a sac fly to give the Mobsters a 3-2 lead. The Express did have a chance in the bottom of the 9th to tie it, but Scutaro got thrown out at the plate as the result of an over-aggressive call by Manager Roberts. Liriano would get the win and Wagner the save as Chicago takes a commanding 3-1 series lead.
Game 5 Wainwright vs Gallardo
Desperation has set in for the Express as they trail the series 3-1 and have to potentially face Chicago’s 3 20 (regular season) game winners. McCutchen leads off the 1st with a single and promptly steals 2nd. He would advance to 3rd on a ground out. Barton would deliver a sac fly to give the Mobsters a 1-0 advantage. Pagan would draw a leadoff walk. With the hit and run on Holliday would line one over first and Pagan would score to tie the game at 1. Holliday would move to 3rd on a ground out by Konerko. On a grounder by Cabrera, Holliday would get caught in a run down, but would score on an error by Wainwright, 2-1 Severn. Holliday leads off the 3rd with a double.
Konerko then singles to make it 1st and 3rd, no outs. Cabrera draws a walk to load the bases. Werth lines a double down the right field line allowing 2 runs to score, 2nd and 3rd no out, 4-1 Severn. ARod would walk to load the bases again. The next batter McCann would like a triple down the left field line giving the Express a 7-1 lead.
McCann would later score on a ground out by Raburn, 8-1 Express. That would be the final as Gallardo pitches 7 strong innings for the win.
Game 6 Halladay vs Sabathia
Headed back to Chicago down 3 games to 2, the Express sense a glimmer of hope as they have their best 2 pitchers going the next 2 games and the appearance that their offense is finally starting to hit the ball.
With 1 out in the first, Holliday draws a walk. Konerko would pop up and Cabrera would hit a double to give the Express 2nd/3rd with 2 outs. Werth would launch a 2 run double to give the Express a 2-0 lead. ARod would follow with another double to increase the lead to 3-0. Hernandez would deliver an RBI single as the Express score 4 runs with 2 outs in the 1st. Polanco would cut the deficit to 4-1 with a solo homer in the 4th. The score would remain the same until the 7th when Holliday would lead off with a single and Konerko would follow with a 2 run homer. Halladay would end up pitching a complete game 5 hitter for the victory. Series tied 3-3.
Game 7 Hudson vs Hernandez
As in their previous 2 games, with their backs against the wall, the Express manage to put up runs int he 1st inning to put pressure on the Demolition staff and take pressure off the Express staff. Pagan would lead off with a walk, but get forced out at 2nd. Konerko would then launch a 2 run homer to give Severn a 2-0 lead. The score would remain that way until the 7th when the Express would explode for 5 more runs to take a 7-0 lead on the strength of a Ryan Raburn 3 run homer. Hudson would pitch 8 innings of 1 hit shutout ball for the win.
Mike Roberts: – Stray – congratulations on a great season. I am not sure if I am more dumbfounded by the fact that we beat your 3 best pitchers the last 3 games or that your offense only scored 2 runs the last 3 games. Regardless it was an improbable comeback and I was very surprised to do so against a phenomenal team like yours. Looking forward to playing the National league representative.
Jersey vs. Sacramento –
Sacramento Capitals and Jersey Nor’Easters met face to face (via join me) in what has consistently been a very competitive National League Championship Series. This marks the SEVENTH time Sacramento (or Los Angeles) has reached the NLCS; Sacramento has never advanced beyond this point, but isn’t looking toward the World Series just yet. Jersey has proven to be a formidable opponent, both during the regular season and by beating the best-of-the-best (Tempe) in the 2011 Division Series.
The NLCS proved to be far more intense and games far more competitive than the stats showed in the end. Series stats showed that Sacramento dominated offensively, outscoring Jersey 25-17 with a superior batting line (Sacramento .232, .346, .404; and Jersey .191, .257, .325). Defensively, while both teams suffered 5 errors, Sacramento bested Jersey in ERA (3.17 to 3.86). Game-by-game, however, the series was give both managers cause to call the cardiologist.
Game 1: Game 1 started with a punch, with both teams scoring one run in the 1st—Jersey scores on a leadoff Torres double off Verlander and subsequent sac fly from Choo, while Sacramento saw Youkilis reach on an infield error and score on a Pujols single that resulted in an untimely error. Tied 1-1, both clubs wouldn’t score again until the 10th inning. With a runner on second, Jersey brings in Posada to pinch hit—a decision he would not regret. Posada launched a 2-run home run off Arroyo to put the Nor-Easters up 3-1. They would add one more in the 10th, for a 4-1 lead, and that’s the way it would end. Saito gets the win, Meek the save, and Oliver the loss.
Game 2: Game 2 saw Sacramento score first in the bottom of the 2nd—a solo shot by Yadier Molina to lead off the inning. Up 1-0, Sacramento would shortly give up the lead with runs in both the 3rd and 4th innings. In the 3rd, Torres leads off with a walk, is advanced to 2nd on a come-backer to the mound, and a single by Teixeira. In the 4th, with Montero on 1st and two outs, Lowe (of all people) launched a double to left-center scoring Montero and giving Jersey the 2-1 lead. That would be it for Jersey, however. Sacramento immediately followed up with a 2-spot in the bottom of the 4th with three straight singles by Pujols, Cano, and Edmonds to tie the game, while Cano would score on a double play by Molina. Up 3-2, Sacramento put the game out of reach in the bottom of the 7th with a 2-run pinch-hit home run by Marcus Thames for a 5-2 lead. Duensing gets the win, Rivera the save, and Lowe the loss.
Game 3: The Nor-Easters jumped to an early lead in the bottom of the 2nd on a Youkilis error scoring Posada and giving Jersey a 1-0 lead. Sacramento would tie it up in the 4th with Manny Ramirez scoring on a Cueto wild pitch—tying the game 1-1. However, Jersey will put the game out of reach in the 7th, with Gross reaching on an error, Torres reaching on an infield single, a sac bunt by Vizquel, and a sacrifice hit by Choo, giving Jersey a 2-1 lead. The Nor’easters add another run in the 8th, and Sacramento can’t do anything about it. Rhodes gets the win, Meek earns his second save, and Gee the loss.
Game 4: Sacramento pitching dominated Game 4, shutting out Jersey for the first time in the series. But, it came at a HUGE cost, a 7-game injury to Justin Verlander after only 3 innings. Despite the unfortunate injury, Willingham and Pujols put together nice offensive showings, with Willingham going 1 for 2, with 2 BB, 2 R, and 1 RBI and Pujols going 2 for 5 with 2 2B and 3 RBI. That would be sufficient for a 4-0 lead to tie up the series at 2 games. Gee gets the win, Rivera earns his second save, and Hunter the loss.
Game 5: Jersey jumped to an early lead, posting 2-runs in each of the 1st and 4th innings to give the Nor’easters a 4-0 lead to start the 5th. But, Sacramento was just warming up. With one out, Sacramento’s Thames rips a single to left-center, Molina walks to put two on, and Uribe rips a triple down the first base line scoring two. In the 6th, Youkilis walks and Pujols launches Clippard’s pitch deep to left—tying the game 4-4. In the top of the 7th, Molina singles with no outs, though subsequent outs by Uribe and Cust put the inning in doubt; but, Willingham walks, Ramirez doubles in Molina and Willingham; Youkilis doubles in Ramirez; and Pujols launches another home run to put the finishing touches on a 5-run inning in the 7th. Up 9-4, the game was out of reach for Jersey. Happ gets the win, and Clippard earns the blown save and the loss.
Game 6: Perhaps the most stressful game of the series, this one went back and forth nearly the entire game. Jersey started it off in the 1st with a Teixeira solo shot. Sacramento came back with a vengeance, scoring in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th. In the 2nd, a single by Pujols, double by Cano, sac fly by Edmonds, and single by Uribe give Sacramento a 2-1 lead. In the 3rd, a double by Willingham and triple by Youkilis extend Sacramento’s lead to 3-1. In the 4th, Edmonds starts things off with a double, who was replaced by pinch-runner Golson; Golson moves to third and Molina reach on a Teixeira error, and Uribe scores Golson on a single, bringing Sacramento’s lead to 4-1. Jersey fired right back, scoring one run in the 5th (on Reed Johnson and Andres Torres doubles) and two more in the 6th to tie it up at 4 runs. The 6th inning hurt in particular—Torri Hunter reaches on a Youkilis error; Escobar then pops it up in foul territory causing Pujols and Molina to collide, with Pujols out for the remainder of the game and Molina out for the remainder of the season; then, if that weren’t enough, Escobar rips the next pitch over the leftfield wall, tying the game at 4 apiece. The score would remain tied until the bottom of the 9th, when Uribe opend the inning against Jersey closer Meek with a walk; Meek then struck out Ibanez, hit Willingham, and struck out Manny Ramirez. With two on, two out, and Youkilis at bat, Meek pitches and Montero misses—a wild pitch that moves Uribe and Willingham up a base. Now with runners on 3rd and 2nd, to quote the announcer: “The runners take their lead … the pitch … and it gets by MONTERO! The ball goes to the backstop … he scrambles for the ball … URIBE races home. It’s all over … he scores”. A walk, a hit batter, a wild pitch, and a passed ball … and that’s all she wrote. Sacramento wins the game 5-4. Dessens gets the win, and Meek the loss.
Sacramento takes the NLCS 4-2.
Jersey’s pitcher of the series was Romero, who did not register a decision, but held the Capitals to a 1.69 ERA in 10.2 IP. Jersey’s MVP was Torres; with a .348, .423, .522 batting line, he wreaked havoc in the leadoff hole for the Nor’easters.
Sacramento’s pitcher of the series was once again Cliff Lee, who also did not register a decision but pitched a solid 12 IP in two starts, holding Jersey to a 2.25 ERA. Sacramento’s MVP was none other than Albert Pujols, with a .261, .346, .609 batting line and a team leading 4 R, 7 RBI, and 2 HR in the six-game series.
Congrats to Wally on a fantastic and stressful series. Best of luck next year.