2021 NATIONAL LEAGUE WILD CARD SERIES “B”
Bethesda Bandicoots @ Columbus Explorers |
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SERIES PREVIEW – Lot of interesting blood and frustration between these owners so it’s fitting to have them meet up in Round 1. Several players are looking at their former teams – notably the shortstops. Bandicoots have worked the rules and have a killer rotation in store for Columbus. Explorers hanging their hopes on Steven Brault – late pickup who was less than stellar down the stretch. |
GAME #1 – Mitch Keller (3-1 1.97) vs. Steven Brault (1-1 4.72)
Mitch Keller (20) vs. Steven Brault (15) Aledmys Diaz leads off the 2nd with double but Brault buckles down and gets a fly out followed by 2 groundouts. The next 9 batters go down in order and top of the 4th Enrique Hernandez enters the game in RF, Dyson moving to 3rd. And the 4th sees 6 more straight outs. Brault again sets down Bethesda in the top of the 5th – nothing since the leadoff double in the 2nd. Bottom of the 5th, the Explorers get some excitement going when former ‘Coot Trevor Story leads off with a double (crowd awakens and cheers!). He then steals 2nd, and that rattled Keller who then gives up a big gopher ball to Giovanny Urshela (1) and the Columbus grabs a big 2-0 lead. Keller quickly regroups and gets the next three. So we move to the 6th and there’s the former Explorer Paul DeJong leading off with a walk. After a fielder’s choice, Brault hits Jeff McNeil to put runners on 1st and 2nd – that Brault control is starting get lost. So Homer Bailey comes in. Carlos Santana, swinging a guitar, pops up and Juan Soto flies out to RF. Keller gets 2 in the 6th but walks Blackmon and that brings in Mike Mayers and he starts his K parade fanning Perez to end the 6th. Then Bailey and Evan Marshall pitched perfect 7th and 8th innings while Mayers did the same. So – it’s the 9th and Liam Hendriks is called to close the door. With 1 out, Santana comes up – with bat in hand this time – and doubles off Hendriks. And then, so does Soto scoring Santana and it’s 2-1 with 1 down in the 9th. Schindel is going bonkers. Diaz then up, and he grounds to Story for the 2nd out. That brings up Kyle Seager to extend the game, and he connects on a hard liner that D.J. LeMahieu snags and ends the game. Columbus 2 – Bethesda 1 |
GAME #2 – Merrill Kelly (3-3 1.51) vs. Matt Shoemaker (5-1 2.45)
Merrill Kelly (15) vs. Matt Shoemaker (10) Then with 1 out in the bottom of the 7th, Giovanny Urshela hits a solo homer (2) and Columbus grabs a 2-1 lead. Top of the 8th that Paul DeJong guy attempts to haunt his former mates and draws a leadoff walk off Tony Watson. So J.B. Wendelken comes on to hold it. Apparently he didn’t listen when told that’s was his job. Jonathan Arauz is called to PH and he lashes one to right that ends up a double with DeJong holding at 3rd, no outs! Jeff McNeil then steps in, infield deep, and he lines to Asdrubal Cabrera at 1st, caught, spins, fires to 2nd – DP and DeJong holds 3rd! Next, with a chance to get out of the jam, J.B faces Kevin Pillar – and he kills a quail (wouldn’t that be a correct way of saying “a dying quail”) and DeJong scores to tie the game!! But that’s all the ‘Coots get and it’s tied 1-1 after 7 ½. Bottom of the 8th, Jarrod Dyson draws the 1 out walk, Tyler Heineman (and his killer arm) is now catching and Mike Mayers is called to keep Dyson from scoring. LaMahieu up and he grounds to 3rd – only play is at first, Dyson to 2nd – 2 outs. Charlie Blackmon up and he grounds to DeJong at short to end the inning – EXCEPT Paul throws it right by Santana and Dyson comes all the way around to score the go ahead run!! Maybe DeJong was thinking of the fun times he had with the Explorer. So, Liam Hendriks is coming in for the 9th – will he give up a run again? In a word – NOPE! He gets the 3 guys and locks down game 2, 3-2 for Columbus and a 2 games to none advantage heading to Bethesda. Columbus 3 – Bethesda 2 |
GAME #3 – J.A. Happ (6-2 3.10) vs. Austin Gomber (3-1 3.19)
Series shifts to Bethesda where the Explorers hope to close it out, but the hometown Bandicoots are seeking a different result. J.A. Happ vs. Austin Gomber Columbus 4 – Bethesda 1 |
GAME #4 – Josh Tomlin (3-2 4.15) vs. Tejay Antone (3-0 2.61)
With their backs to the wall – Bethesda will pull out all the stops to stay in this thing. Josh Tomlin vs. Tejay Antone Bethesda 4 – Columbus 2 |
GAME #5 – Steven Brault (1-1 4.72) vs. Mitch Keller (3-1 1.97)
Game 5 sees Columbus still with a chance to close it out on the road and the Bandicoots needing to keep winning to stay alive. Steven Brault vs. Mitch Keller Columbus 2 – Bethesda 1 |
SERIES SUMMARY – So the Explorers move on to the next round, but will have some shuffling to do with Salvador Perez and Asdrubal Cabrera slated to miss some serious time in the next round – series time. Glad we closed it out in 5 games, reduces the number of games they will miss.
Congratulations to Bethesda for a fine (“odd”) season. Good luck next year. |