2022 – NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

 

Long Beach

Dirt Bags

vs.

Sacramento

Capitals

SERIES PREVIEW – Long time division rivals Long Beach and Sacramento meet in the NLCS. This is Long Beach’s first time in this round of the playoffs while Sacramento is her for the 11th time. Both teams have strong pitching staffs so this figures to be a low scoring series.

GAME #1 – Lance Lynn #12-10 (2.47) vs. Max Scherzer 22-4 (1.93)

Long Beach jumped on top in the first when Alcides Escobar led off the game with a HR. 3 batters later Franmil Reyes hit a 2 run shot for a 3-0 lead. Buster Posey got a run back in the bottom of the inning on a solo HR. He added another HR in the 3rd to cut the lead to 3-2. From there Lance Lynn and Max Scherzer were dominant and it was still 3-2 in the bottom of the 9th when Buster Posey led off against Liam Hendriks with a walk. Nick Gordon came in to PR for him but it didn’t matter as the next batter Giancarlo Stanton hit a 2 run HR to give Sacramento a walk off 4-3 win and a 1-0 series lead.

SAC 4 – LBD 3
Win: Casey Sadler 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Liam Hendriks 0-1 (-.–)

GAME #2 – Zack Wheeler 22-3 (2.18) vs. Collin McHugh 8-3 (2.79)

This game was all Sacramento as Collin McHugh gave up just 2 hits in 7 innings and the Capitals rolled to a 5-0 win. Buster Posey continued his hot hitting when he singled in Avisail Garcia in the 1st. They added single runs in the 2nd on a Francisco Lindor hit and 4th when Jonathan India singled in Wilmer Flores. In the 7th Posey hit his 3rd HR of the series to close the scoring at 5-0.

SAC 5 – LBD 0
Win: Collin McHugh 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Zack Wheeler 0-1 (3.00)

GAME #3 – Tyler Glasnow 12-5 (1.89) vs. Brandon Woodruff 14-8 (2.43) 

This was a close game that went to extra innings. For the second time in 3 games, Long Beach had a 3-0 lead but couldn’t hold it. They scored in the first 3 innings on a 2 HRs by Salvador Perez and Nelson ruz solo shot. It was still 3-0 and Brandon Woodruff was in command until the 6th when Corey Dickerson homered. The Capitals tied it in the 7th when A.J. Pollock hit a 2 run shot. From there both bullpens were strong until the 12 when Sacramento exploded for 5 runs and won 8-3. Pollock led off the inning with his 2nd HR of the game. With 2 outs they loaded the bases and Avisail Garcia cleared them with a grand slam as the Capitals take a 3-0 lead in the series.

SAC 8 – LBD 3 (12 Innings)
Win: Casey Sadler 2-0 (0.00)
Loss: Chad Green 0-1 (18.00)

GAME #4 – Max Scherzer 22-4 (1.93) vs. Lance Lynn #12-10 (2.47)

Long Beach and their fans are hoping for a win to keep the series going. Sacramento opened the scoring when Buster Posey again had a big hit knocking in Jonathan India for a 1-0 lead. This time Long Beach was able to rally in the 5th when Kevin Kiermaier doubled in Ronald Torreyes and Justin Turner hit a 2 run HR for a 3-1 lead. From there the Dirt Bags bullpen took over, throwing 3 2/3 shutout innings to close out the 3-1 win as Long Beach lives to fight another day.

LBD 3 – SAC 1
Win: Lance Lynn 1-0 (2.19)
Loss: Max Scherzer 0-1 (4.15)
Save: Blake Treinen #1

GAME #5 – Collin McHugh 8-3 (2.79) vs. Zack Wheeler 22-3 (2.18)

This was a classic pitchers duel with neither giving up a hit until Buster osey doubled in the 7th. He was stranded there asGiancarlo  Stanton struck out and A.J. Pollock grounded out to 3rd. Long Beach didn’t get their first hit until the 8th. Nelson Cruz led off and reached on a Garrett Cooper error. Brandon Marsh came in to run for him and was forced at second with LaMonte Wade reaching first. The next batter Nick Solak hit a 2 run HR to give Long Beach a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the 9th with Zack Wheeler still pitching, Francisco Lindor reached on an error by Justin Turner. Zack Wheeler struck out Jonathan India & Avisail Garcia. With 2 outs Liam Hendriks came in to face the hot hitting Buster Posey. He got him to fly out to CF to close out the 2-0 win. Both teams got just 1 hit, fortunately for the home fans, theirs was a HR.

LBD 2 – SAC 0
Win: Zack Wheeler 1-1(0.77)
Loss: Collin McHugh 1-1 (1.26)
Save: Liam Hendriks #1

GAME #6 – Brandon Woodruff 14-8 (2.43)  vs. Tyler Glasnow 12-5 (1.89)

The series shifts north to Sacramento with Long Beach feeling fortunate to still be playing. Brandon Woodruff was strong again and Long Beach got all the runs they needed in the 3rd and won 4-1 evening the series and forcing a game 7. Again it was the long ball as Rontald Torreyes led off the 3rd with a HR. Salvador Perez and Franmil Reyes went back to back for the 4-0 lead. In the 7th Sacramento got 2 runners on with 2 outs and Blake Treinen relieved Brandon Woodruff. He got Wilmer Flores to ground out ending the threat. The Capitals got their run in the 9th when Buster Posey hit his 4th HR of the series to make the final 4-1.

LBD 4 – SAC 1
Win: Brandon Woodruff1-0(2.02)
Loss: Tyler Glasnow 0-1 (5.25)

GAME #7 – Lance Lynn #12-10 (2.47) vs. Max Scherzer 22-4 (1.93)

Nothing is better than a game 7 with the 2 aces facing off. Long Beach took another early lead in the 4th when Reyes scored on a groundout and Robbie Grossman singled in Nelson Cruz and LaMonte Wade for a 3-0 lead. The Long Beach fans had a sense of deja vu though when Garrett Cooper hit a 2 run HR in the 5th to cut the lead to 3-2. This time the Dirt Bags got the insurance runs they needed in the 8th when Brandon arsh scored on a Garrett Cooper error and Ronyald Torreyes singled in Wade LaMonte for a 5-2 lead. Lance Lynn gave up just 2 hits over 8 innings and Liam Hendriks pitched a scoreless 9th to close out the 5-2 win and send Long Beach to their first World Series.

LBD 5 – SAC 2
Win: Lance Lynn 2-0 (2.21)
Loss: Max Scherzer 0-2 (2.70)
Save: Liam Hendriks #2

SERIES SUMMARY – This was a very close series that featured great pitching. The Long Beach staff stepped up in the last 4 games giving up just 4 runs. Congratulations to George and his Sacramento team on a great season and series!

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