N.L. CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES – SAC @ TEM G#6

Game #6 –  Cliff Lee vs. Brandon McCarthy

Tempe Through the first five games of the NLCS, both teams have benefited relatively consistent pitching (with the exception of Tempe in Game 4).  Each game, in the end, came down to clutch hitting.  Tempe’s success thus far has largely come from the bat of Adrian GONZALEZ.  Through the first three games, GONZALEZ had batted .545 with 3 runs, 4 RBI, 3 doubles, and 2 home runs; simply put, GONZALEZ had been killing the Capitals; but in Games 4 and 5, GONALEZ was shut down, went 0 for 7 with 4 strikeouts.  In contrast, Sacramento’s strength in its three-game winning streak has not come at the hands of any single bat.  In game 3, J.J. HARDY made up for his 3-error Game 1 performance with a stellar Game 3 performance, batting 2-4 with a home run and 4 RBI.  In Game 4, it was Robinson CANO’s 2-3 performance, with a double, home run, and 5 RBI that put Sacramento over the top.  In Game 5, it was Josh WILLINGHAM’s 3-4, 1 home run, and 3 RBI performance that was the difference maker in Sacramento’s 5-2 victory.  So, with consistently strong pitching (considering the powerful offences each is facing), the question for Game 6 is, will GONZALEZ reappear for Tempe or will another Sacramento bat turn out to be the difference maker? 

Sacramento So much for pitching … the bats got going for each team rather quickly.  Sacramento jumped off to a quick start, scoring all of its runs in the first two innings.  In the top of the 1st, Brandon McCARTHY took care of Daniel MURPHY in quick fashion, with a  simple grounder to second.  With one out, Kevin Youkilis drew a walk. With one out and one on, CANO stepped up to the plate; let’s listen to the announcer: “McCARTHY … lets it go … swung on … it’s a long fly ball to left field … going … going … gone! Home run for CANO … he seems to like base runners.”  Yes, he does seem to.  But, Sacramento didn’t seem quite content with a two-run lead. Albert PUJOLS up to the plate … low … ball four … here we go again.  Wait, are you kidding me?  Here comes TEMPERS manager … he’s asking McCARTHY for the ball.  Now, that’s a short hook.  But, when the season is on the line, a short hook is all Tempe could afford.  In from the bullpen is Jim JOHNSON to face HARDY … he’ll be looking for the double play. But, the Capitals eliminate the force in quick time … The pitch… PUJOLS is running … RUIZ comes up throwing … and PUJOLS sneaks in.  But that would be all Sacramento could come up with in the first.  HARDY, facing JOHNSON, fails to deliver this time around, lining out to short for out number two, while JOHNSON rings up WILLINGHAM without much struggle at all.  Sacramento would continue its threat in the top of the 2nd, however.  Yadier MOLINA now facing JOHNSON reaches first on a rare Dustin PEDROIA error.  Next up, Torii Hunter, and … it’s off his elbow … they’re taking him out of the game, injured for 1 day; Mitch MAIER would come in to run for HUNTER and would replace him in centerfield for the time being.  Two on, no outs, and who’s walking up to the plate? Cliff LEE.  Obviously he’ll try to move the runners up … and he does with a perfect bunt down the first base line.  Runners on 2nd and 3rd, one out. And here comes TEMPERS manager … again.  It turns out he’s not all that patient with his arms.  He’s asking JOHNSON for the ball, and he’s calling on Tyler CLIPPARD … for his 4th appearance in 6 games.  MURPHY up to the plate, gets set, and wallops this one to center field … it might be out of here … Melky CABRERA is to the wall … he has no more room … he’s looking up … leaps … and grabs it!  That one was over the wall … but CABRERA brought it back in, stealing a three-run shot from MURPHY!  It would be enough, however, to send the lumbering Molina home and MAIER to third.  YOUKILIS up, this time to face CLIPPARD; let’s listen to the announcers: “CLIPPARD with the offering … checked swing, and a roller back to the mound … CLIPPARD is up with it … goes to first … it’s in the dirt and away from GONZALEZ … MAIER’s trying for home … and he scores!  YOUKILIS has to hold first … he probably could have gone on but he hesitated rounding the bag.  That’ll be an error on CLIPPARD … the TEMPERS have now committed 2 errors.”  And those two errors cost Tempe two more runs.  But, the 4 runs would be all Sacramento could muster for the remainder of the game.

Tempe got off to a quick start as well.  In the bottom of the 1st, Lee started with a lack of control, walking Curtis GRANDERSON to start things off.  CABRERA flew out to left field, preventing any opportunity for GRANDERSON to advance.  Hunter PENCE up next, and he was all business this time.  The announcers: “The pitch … this one is hit … it may carry … it’s way back … say good-bye; a two-run dinger!”  With one out, Troy TULOWITZKI smashes a hard double past PUJOLS, forcing the less-than-agile Josh WILLINGHAM to chase after it.  TULOWITZKI holds to a double, hoping Adrian BELTRE can bring him home.  But, no dice; a soft liner to center would be all for BELTRE, and the 2nd out of the inning.  Here comes GONZALEZ.  Can he do it?  TULO on 2nd and two outs … Lee’s pitch … swing and a miss … and GONZALEZ is out … that’s three away.  And that would be it, with the Capitals holding the Tempers scoreless in the bottom of the 2nd, the score after two was CAPITALS 4, TEMPERS 2.

The Tempers were not finished, though.  Tempe would bring it on starting in the bottom of the 4th.  Cliff LEE, still in the game and pitching effectively, faces BELTRE … looped to left … toward the gap … and it drops for a hit … and BELTRE’s on at first.  With no outs, GONZALEZ steps up to the plate, grounds it back to HARDY for the out, but advances BELTRE to second.  PEDROIA up to the plate, but is he up to the task?  The play: “Lee’s pitch … he swings … it’s smashed deep to left center … that’s good for extra bases, Nyger MORGAN’s chasing it down … BELTRE scores … PEDROIA hits second under full steam

but puts on the brakes … as the throw comes in … double for PEDROIA.  CAPITALS 4, TEMPERS 3, and there it would stand until the 5th, where Tempe would shut out the Capitals in the top of the inning and try to tie it up in the bottom half. Lee still on the mound, facing Vladimir GUERRERO, who promptly flicks it to right, just out of reach of CANO, and GUERRERO is aboard with a single … the tying run is on.  Despite GUERERO’s wheels, Tempers’ skipper decides to bring in a pinch runner, Franklin GUTIERREZ.  GRANDERSON up to the plate, and Lee’s hoping for the double play.  GUTIERREZ had something else in mind; … the steal is on, MOLINA throws … the slide … the tag … the ump signals … safe! The tying run is now at second base, GRANDERSON still up, and he smashes it deep to left center, and that’s good for a double, scoring GUTIERREZ, tying the game in the process.  That’ll be it for Lee; Mariano RIVERA has been called in early to put out the fire.  GRANDERSON’s still on 2nd with no outs.

CABRERA, facing RIVERA, bunts it down the first base line, moving GRANDERSON to third, giving up the out in the process.  And, here comes PENCE, who’s looking for nothing more than to see GRANDERSON cross home plate as the go-ahead run.  With one out, PENCE lays it down, bunted beautifully down the third base line!  Sacramento wasn’t expecting that.  YOUKILIS fields it, looks to the plate … and takes the sure out at first … and the run scores. CAPITALS 4, TEMPERS 5.  While innings 6-9 would bring mild drama, this would be how the game ended. Tempe wins, and ties the series at 3 games apiece.

Cliff LEE loses his second game of the series, increasing his ERA to a stunning 9.26.  CANO was the only real bright spot offensively for the Capitals, going 1-4 with a home run and 2 RBI.  Remarkably, Sacramento made the most of its hits; in fact, these 4 runs came off only ONE hit, a two-run shot by CANO.  Tempe’s pitching proved too much for Sacramento’s offense tonight.  For Tempe, however, it was all about the bullpen and Hunter PENCE.  PENCE went 1-2, with a home run, a sacrifice hit, and 3 RBI, while Tempe’s bullpen would pitch 8.2 innings giving up only 2 unearned runs.  Simply unbelievable.  Game 7 should be a good one.

TRADE DEADLINE
WEDNESDAY 07/24/2024
AT 11:59 PM - ET!

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