N.L. DIVISION SERIES – TEM @ WCS G#5
GAME 5 – Tempe at West Coast – Series tied 2-2
(10.4.12) What a difference a day can make, two days ago West Coast fans were figuring they’d show up because their team was playing out the season as Tempe was turning the series into a laugher. But a tight, exciting multi lead changing victory with a 2 run 9th inning rally can really change attitudes. Now the series is tied and that crazy hope that 
existed earlier in the series is back – but Tempe still is Tempe and they will have a lot to say about it – and most likely a LOT to say. Game 5 sees new starters. Wandy Rodriguez looked decent in a relief stint and he’s been given the nod to start game 5 for the Swing. Tim Stauffer gets the ball for the Tempers.  Here we go ….
1st – Wandy gets Tempe in order. In the bottom half Utley draws a 1 out walk and steals 2nd. Victorino thens takes a Stauffer pitch up up and away for a first inning 2 run lead! Cuddyer follows with a double, but he is stranded. West Coast 2-0 after 1.
In the top of the 4th, Pence leads off and takes Rodriguez downtown blasting a long home run to cut the score to 2-1. Eat away at the lead, and then pounce. But that was all the nibbling in this inning for Tempe. In the bottom half, West Coast gets the run back when Cuddyer singles again and the steals 2b after Stauffer is replaced by Madson. Zimmerman Ks and Trumbo gets an IW. Cuddyer steals 3b, runners on the corners. Desmond then executes a perfect hit and run, scoring Cuddyer to make it 3-1 getting that 2 run lead back but that is all the action in the 4th.
Top of the 5th Molina leads off and WHAM – Home run over the left field wall, cutting the West Coast lead to 3-2. That was all the nibbling done this inning. In fact, that was all the scoring until the 8th.
Top of the 8th Cabrera (again) leads off with double, getting the tying run to 2b with no outs. West Coast pulls Huff and replaces him with Perez. Duda comes in to PH for Clippard and flies out, Cabrera holds at 2nd. Tulo (of Nemesis Trio fame) hits a shot past Utley at 2nd into RF, They waving Cabrera in, Cuddyer hurls the ball toward home, Tulo digs for 2nd on the throw and Cabrera is out by inches at the plate! Go to town home fans. Tying run is cut down at home. 2 outs, Tulo at 2nd. Beltre comes up. Perez throws, and it’s a PB by Teagarden. Tulo gets to 3rd. OK 2 outs tying run at 3rd Beltre up. The pitch, the swing, it goes toward RF, and bloops in there safely, Tulo scores, Beltre gets to 2nd the Nemesis Trio strikes again! TIE GAME 3-3 in the 8th. The trio work ends with AGon ground out to end the inning.
Bottom of the 8th provides some excitement – Peralta comes in to pitch. Young, JR. leads off with a slow roller past Peralta that Tulo charges but his throw to first is not in time. Peralta leaves, Josh Spence comes in. Utley up, and Young, JR. steals 2nd. Utley then whiffs. Victorino flies out and Cuddyer comes to the plate. And he delivers again with a single to LF, Young, JR. never hesitated and he scores easily on the play to put West Coast back up 4-3! The inning ends on a Zimmerman strike out.
Top 9 – Schindel chooses to leave Perez on the hill and he promptly fans Pedroia. Then he gets Molina to fly out to CF. But with 2 outs, he walks Ruiz. That’s it for Perez and Kenly Jansen is brought in to try and shut down the Tempers. Gutierrez is PR for Ruiz.  Granderson steps into the batter’s box – the pitch and it’s a bleeder on the right side of the infield, everyone is in motion and Utley gets to the ball, slings it to first and Granderson is out by a step. The Swing win again! And they take a 3-2 lead as they send the series back to Tempe.
FINAL LINE
TEMÂ 3 10 0
WCSÂ 4Â Â 6 0
WP Perez (1-0) S Jansen (2)
LP Peralta (0-1)
HRs: TEM – Pence (1), Molina (1); WCS – Victorino (2)
Well baseball fans, this is turning into something far more than expected. 3 1-run victories for West Coast and 2 monumental blow outs for Tempe. Game move back to West Coast – no doubt Cain will be on the mound for game 6. Stay tuned, more results in a couple of days ……