2023 AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD CARD SERIES “A”
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| SERIES PREVIEW – Southwest Detroit comes into the windy city of Chicago as a mighty underdog. As it’s been 8 long years of being an under .500 club. But these Dogs are not only fierce and loyal to their owner they are on the way up a a team to contend with in the very near future. As far as 2023, their 83-79 record got them the 8th seed. What makes it tough for them is that means they take on the big dogs out of Chicago for the Wild Card Round. Chicago won 109 games just beating out the Werewolves of Hollywood by the tie breaker and a 7-6 record during the season for the #1 seed in the American League 2023 Playoffs. Lets see how this one plays out & who will move on to the Division Series. |
| GAME #1 – Matt Manning 5-3 (4.17) vs. Alek Manoah 14-10 (2.14)
This was a playoff pitching performance if we ever saw one. Both Matt Manning & Alek Manoah were on top of their games. Manoah went 6 Innings, Manning went 5. Southwest Detroit got on the board early when Edward Olivares hit a Sacrafice Fly to score Nick Pratto in the 2nd Inning. Chicago responded in the bottom of the 3rd when a two RBI Double by Alex Bregman plated Yandy Diaz and Keibert Ruiz giving Chicago a 2-1 lead. That was it. For scoring and pretty much anything else. Both teams ended with 6 Hits & a cast of relievers for both sides kept the game scoreless the rest of the way. Edwin Diaz locked down the door in the 9th for Chicago. Chicago 2 – Southwest Detroit 1 Win: Alek Manoah 1-0 (1.50) |
| GAME #2 – Corbin Burnes 18-14 (2.74) vs. Tony Gonsolin 12-3 (1.70)
Corbin Burnes has been a mainstay for the Fighting Chihuahuas since he was drafted in the 2nd Round (29th overall) by Southwest Detroit. In 5 season he 39 – 32 with a 3.04 ERA & been the “Ace” for a while now. Today he was once again the “Ace”. 7 Innings, 5 Hits, 3 Walks, 4 Strikeouts & held the Mobsters to only 1 Run. Yordan Alvarez had an RBI Triple in the bottom of the 1st for the only run the Mobsters could muster up. Ryan McMahon had 2 RBIs, one on a solo blast in the 6th to put the Fightning Chihuahuas up 2-1. Southwest Detroits top two relievers came on to close the door with solid 1 Ining appearances themselves as Paul Seawald & Ryan Helsley locked it down. Southwest Detroit 2 – Chicago 1 Win: Corbin Burnes 1-0 (1.29 |
| GAME #3 – Julio Urias 22-7 (2.06) vs. Jon Gray 8-5 (4.40)
Yordan Alvarez has 2 Hits & Alex Bregman did as well. Bregman had 2 RBIs. Willy Adames had an RBI as well as Chicago puts up 4 Runs before the end of the 3rd Inning. They didn’t score again. Was that enough? Well John Gray pitched 6 Innings allowing only 4 Runs, 2 Earned before Seawald & Helsley locked down the 7th, 8th, & 9th without a Hit given up. However, the downside for Southwest Detroit was the offense. The scratched out a single Run off Julio Urias through 5.2 Innings. Chicago’s mighty cast of relievers locked things down from their allowing only a single Hit over the next 3.1 Innings. Chicago took this one & is now 1 win away from moving on to the Division Series. Chicago 4 – Southwest Detroit 1 Win: Julio Urias 1-0 (1.59) |
| GAME #1 – Matt Manning 5-3 (4.17) vs. Alek Manoah 14-10 (2.14)
One bad Inning can ruin a season. Southwest Detroit had it in this one. The 4th Inning was a nightmare for them. On Chicago side it was fun & exciting. Matt Manning wasn’t having fun when after 3.2 Innings he was yanked after giving up 7 Runs, all Earned. Jordan Montgomery didn’t fair much better in the 4th when he allowed 3 more Run, all Earned. Before the middle of the 4th Inning Chicago had built up a 10-0 lead. Julio Rodriguez had 2 Hits in 4 Trips & 4 RBIs. Yandy Diaz hit a Grand Slam off Manning. The #1 & #2 Hitters Luis Arraez & Starling Marte both had 3 Hits in 5 Plate Apperances, including a Run Scored & RBI each. It was over early in this one, and it was over for the Fighting Chihuahuas as their season came to an unfortunate end. Chicago 2 – Southwest Detroit 1 Win: Alek Manoah 2-0 (0.75) |
| SERIES SUMMARY – Chicago moves on to the Division Series as they await the results of some other series to find out who they will play. Southwest Detroit heads into the off season with very high hopes on the 2024 season & what should be another season in the playoffs. The future is bright for them their dogs as predictions of them going far in next years playoffs are being circulated already. When they do, you can say you heard it hear first. |