Kendall Graveman (10-11 3.72) vs. Jon Lester (25-5 1.82)

 Yoenis Cespedes gets the scoring started in the bottom half of the 1st with a Grand Slam. Top of the 2nd, Patriots Trayce Thompson jacks a big fly for 2 runs, halving the deficit. Bottom of the 2nd, Tempers Joey Votto keeps the souvenirs flying, with a 2-run job of his own. Top of the 3rd sees Marwin Gonzalez, who was hot in the Wild Card series for Triple Creek, crush a Lester fastball deep into the night, folks it’s 6-5 after just 15 outs. Things are clean until the bottom of the 6th, when Tempe pinch-hitter Troy Tulowitzki deposits the games 5th, and final, homer deep to left.

Graveman would face just 12 batters (27.00 ERA), that happens when you allow 50% of them to score, as he was horrific. Lester (16.88 ERA) would only record 8 outs before getting the hook. Tempe takes game one 8-5.

W – Law (1)
L – Graveman (1)
S – Belisle (1)

 Kevin Gausman (10-11 3.72) vs. Johnny Cueto (21-8 2.10)

 Top of the 1st, Patriot’s Mitch Moreland and Trayce Thompson find holes on the infield, as they each drive in single runs. Cueto walked two to help fuel the rally. Melky Cabrera would even the score with a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 2nd. Gausman was relieved in the 5th, Cueto in the 3rd, and both bullpens would toss doughnuts until the 9th. Tony Barnette, in for Tempe, allows a lead-off walk to Headley followed by a swinging bunt single by Trayce Thompson. Tempers manager signals for Matt Belisle. Triple Creek Wild Card hero Jose Lobaton steps in, and hits a little blooper down the right field line, which drops! A no-mans-land double scores both runners!! Matt Strahm locks down the 9th for a 4-2 Triple Creek series tying W.

W – Logan (1)
L – Barnette (1)
S – Strahm (1)

 Jon Lester (25-5 1.82) vs. Clay Buchholz (13-8 4.44)

 Triple Creek hosts it’s first playoff game in MWBL history. You couldn’t fit another human being in the stadium, the buzz is LOUD, and the game hasn’t even started yet.

 Clay gets Votto out to start the game but comes up limping after covering 1st. Triple Creek’s manager is taking no chances and calls for Alex Wood. Yoenis Cespedes would end up plating Ryan Braun to give Tempe a quick 1-0 lead. Bottom of the 2nd, Marwin Gonzalez on 2nd, and Headley lofts an easy fly ball to left, Melky Cabrera drifts under it, but stumbles and DROPS it! Gonzalez puts the pedal down and scores without a play. Tie game. Bottom of the 4th, Jim Johnson on in relief after Lester allowed a Marwin Gonzalez double, facing Lonnie Chisenhall. Lonnie goes with the 1-1 pitch and just misses a home run, off the top of the wall, scoring Marwin easily. Patriots 2-1. Just an inning later the Patriots bust out a 4-spot, tagging Johnson and Layne hard, opening up a 6-1 lead. Alex Wood, holds Tempe down through the top of 6, recording 11 strikeouts. Triple Creek adds a run in the bottom half of the 6th to make it 7-1. Is this the way it would end? No, Tempe would have none of that, as they take advantage of Wood’s dealing arm icing down. Dan Jennings, Jonathan Broxton and Addison Reed form a Triage group, desperately trying to stop a Temper come back started off by a 7th inning Robinson Cano “off the foul pole!” tater tot, making it Patriots 7 Tempe 3. Top of 8, with one out, Adrian Beltre doubles bringing Reed into the game. It will clearly be Reed’s game to save. Xander Bogaerts scorches Reed’s first offering to left center, scoring Beltre, but the threat would end there. Patriots 7 Tempe 4. Triple Creek doesn’t score in the bottom half of the 8th. Votto walks to lead off the Tempe 9th and Reed gets the next two hitters out. Yoenis Cespedes tightens it up with a double to deep left center. Beltre up as the tying and he briefly hushes the Triple Creek faithful with a high fly ball to right, but Piscotty covers it easily, and the fans go nuts! Patriots lead the series 2-1. Marwin Gonzalez 4-4 w 3R and 2 RBI.

W – Wood (1)
L – Lester (1)
S – Reed (1)

 Johnny Cueto (21-8 2.10) vs. A.J. Griffin (7-11 4.07)

A.J. Griffin made the start against Cueto, but he only lasted one batter as the Patriots called on Cotton, their grade 18 Ace, after Votto had singled to start the game. Votto stole 2B but Cotton K’ed Braun and Cespedes to end the inning. In the bottom of the 1st, Seager crushed one to center to give the Patriots the early lead. Bogaerts tied it up in the 2nd with a solo shot. In the bottom of the 2nd, Cueto got Moreland in a run down at 3B, but threw the ball over Beltre’s head allowing the go ahead run to score. Cotton dealed for the next couple innings until the 5th, when Votto smacked a RBI triple to tie the game at 2-2. Votto, the heart and soul of the Tempers all season, then grabbed a massive lead while Cotton was still thinking about the last pitch and stole home to give Tempe the 3-2 lead! Law and Chamberlain pitched three scoreless innings for the Tempers in relief while Cotton continued to rack up K’s for Patriots. In the top of the 8th, Cotton started the inning by striking out Bogaerts, but then he started walking off the mound rubbing his shoulder. The stadium went completely silent as the fate of their improbable run had rested on the arms of Cotton and Wood. Cotton had to leave the game and Triple Creek received horrible news that Cotton would miss the rest of the playoffs (40 games). Tempe made the most of Cotton’s departure adding two runs in the eighth after Votto singled and stole 2B and Braun then singled in the pinch runner Lough and later also scored on a Gattis pinch hit double.

Tempe won it 5-2 and guaranteed a trip back to Tempe.
W – Law (2-0)
L – Cotton (0-1)
S – Belisle (2)

  Jon Lester (25-5 1.82) vs. Kendall Graveman (10-11 3.72)

Lester 9.53 ERA and Graveman 27.00 ERA faced off again in game 5 and you’d think it would be nearly impossible to get any worse for either of them. Graveman showed a little improvement in the 1st by only giving up a two run homerun to Cespedes instead of another grandslam. Tempe added six more runs in the 2nd and 3rd innings to take a commanding 8-0 lead as errors undid Graveman. With the 8-0 lead and the recent memory of Cotton’s arm falling off, Tempe decided to bring in the some of the backups to insure they didn’t have any fluke injuries since no one comes back from an 8 run deficit. Lester then quickly decided to fall apart. He gave up a two run homerun to Seager and three run homerun to Thompson in the 4th. In the fifth Lester gave up a single to Graveman and Tempe couldn’t let him continue. Law came on in relief and got two quick outs before he surrendered a two run homer to Seager which put the Patriots within only one freaking run! The score remained 8-7 for the next couple of innings. In the 8th, Tempe loaded the bases with two outs, but they ran out of pinch hitters due to the earlier subbing…So, they called on recent pickup Jason Hammel. Hammel’s bat had been wasted in the AL the last couple of years and he showed why he needs to be in the NL with a clutch two run rbi single. The Tempe backups then got hot and put up a total of 7 runs off Feliz and Reed in the final two innings.

Tempe wins 15-7 with Lester’s era climbing to 11.17 and Graveman’s era dropping to 11.74 due to four unearned runs.
W – Law (3-0)
L – Graveman (0-2)

  Kevin Gausman (10-11 3.72) vs. Johnny Cueto (21-8 2.10)

The momentum continued to stay with the Tempers and they returned home. In the 1st, Votto singled, stole 2B and scored when Cespedes launched his third homerun of the series. In the 3rd , Votto singled again, stole 2B, and then scored on an infield error. Votto singled again in the 5th to raise his average to .500, but wasn’t able to score this time. Gausman pitched a solid four innings, but he couldn’t keep up with Cueto who was un-hittable. Cueto pitched six innings of no hit ball and only left the game when Melky pinch hit for him with runners on 3B and 2B. Cabrera ended up striking out, but Chamberlain, Law and Barnette pitched three scoreless innings to preserve the win, but not the No-Hitter.

Tempe won 4-0 and rallied back to take final three games of the series
W – Cueto (1-0)
L – Gausman (0-1)

Hollywood went into a rebuilding mode at the trade deadline where they sent both Ian Kinsler and David Ortiz to rival AL Central Champion Chicago Mobsters. This will hurt Hollywood in the playoffs as Motor City looks to oust them in the first round.

 Kyle Hendricks (12-5 2.50) vs. Clayton Kershaw (16-2 2.05)

With 1-out in the top of the first, David Freese rocks a double to straight away center. That’s followed by a Nick Castellanos double in the same place to give the Muscle the early 1-0 lead. Hollywood gets a leadoff single from Christian Yelich to start the bottom half. With one out, Miguel Cabrera squibs one to the left side that leads to 2 on with 1-out for Paul Goldschmidt. Goldy rips a double down the third base line to tie the game and place runners at 2B & 3B for Carlos Gonzalez. They’re pulled in around the infield … here he comes … Carlos Gonzalez turns on it and cranks it but good … deep to right … you can forget about that ball hi-yo baseball, away! Hollywood leads 4-1! The game stays that way until the bottom of the 7th. With 1-out, Yelich doubles to right. With 2-outs, Miguel Cabrera is walked. Goldschmidt once again comes in with a runner in scoring position. Tommy Kahnle is on the mound. He delivers … clubbed to deepest center … Mike Trouth sprints for the fence..but the ball wins this race … Goldschmidt will touch all the bases … a three-run homer giving Hollywood a 7-1 lead. Mychal Givens comes on for Hollywood in mopup duty. After getting the first 2-outs easily, Paulo Orlando singles. That’s followed by a Freese walk. Castellanos follows with an RBI single, cutting the lead to 7-2. Givens is pulled for Kyle Ryan facing Victor Martinez. The pitch … a shot to left field … it’s hit deep … way back … it’s long gone!…a three-run homer for Victor Martinez and the lead is cut to 7-5! Well that’s as close as it got as Hollywood turned to Joe Blanton for the 4-out save and holds on to win game (1) 7-5.

W-Kershaw 1-0
L-Hendricks 0-1
S-Blanton (1)

Hollywood turns to Maeda after holding on to win while the Muscle is looking to Verlander to steal a win on the road. Yelich once again leads off the game with a hit, this time with a double to center. After Jarrod Dyson lays down a beautiful bunt, Miguel Cabrera steps in. Muscle playing for the double play … Christian Yelich into a little shuffle at third … Justin Verlander brings it..base hit right field … Yelich trots home … Jayson Werth‘s after it … now he has it..he comes up throwing … Jarrod Dyson is well around second..the coach is waving him to third and he gets over to third … as the throw comes in to Ahmed. Hollywood leads 1-0. Goldschmidt loads the bases with a walk. That brings up Cargo. They’re playing him in … the runners take their lead … Verlander comes to the plate…it’s grounded into the hole … Nick Ahmed‘s ranging … he dives for it … and he’s got it! but he’ll have no play … everyone’s safe … and a run scores … base hit for Carlos Gonzalez and the bases are still loaded, Hollywood up 2-0. Billy Butler (Ortiz’s replacement at DH) comes up. Infield deep … the runners take their lead … the pitch … hard bouncer to Joe Panik..he scoops it … this could be two … Panik fields it … shovels to Ahmed … back to first yes!…double play … but the run scores … and Paul Goldschmidt moves to third. Hollywood leads 3-0 in the first inning. The game stays that way till the bottom of the 3rd. Goldy comes to the plate. Verlander winds up … it’s hit deep to Mike Trout … over his head say good-bye to this one…it’s gone! … home run for Goldschmidt and Hollywood now leads 4-0. The Muscles’ heads begin to drop. Will nothing go their way? We head to the top of the 4th. Maeda walks Trout to lead off the inning. After a steal of second and a wild pitch, he’s on 3rd with 1 out and Salvador Perez up. He hammers a SF to right and the lead is cut to 4-1. The top of the 5th, Freese leads off with a homer to cut the lead to 4-2. The Muscle continue to chip away at the lead. Onto the top of the 6th. With 1-out Trout walks again. Perez reaches with a scratch hit on 2-outs which brings up Joe Panik. It’s a shot down the line to right … near the foul pole … and it’s … long gone! a three-run homer for PANIK … Joe Panik will circle the bases … and he’s sure taking his time…..he’s greeted at home plate … congratulations all around as the Muscle now lead 5-4!! Hollywood doesn’t know what just happened, they look stunned! We head to the bottom of the 6th. Migule Cabrera reaches on an error, after a wild pitch, Goldschmidt once again step in with a runner in scoring position. This time the Muscle get him out but Miggy moves to 3B. After Carlos Gonzalez is intentionally walked, Billy Butler is walked to load the bases for Kolten Wong. Infielders in … the pitch … Wong drives one down the left field line…it’s in there for a base hit … Kole Calhoun is over quickly … Cabrera scores … tie game…Gonzalez is around third … Butler is well around second…they’re waving Carlos Gonzalez in…here comes the throw home..here’s the play at the plate … and he’s … in standing … and Butler holds at second as Wong holds at first with a 2-RBI single giving Hollywood the 6-5 lead! Hollywod holds the lead until the 8th. With 2-outs and George Kontos on the mount, V-Mart steps in for Motor City. The pitch … that’s high in the air to right center … Alex Gordon goes back for it up against the wall … Gordon times his leap … and comes down with a glove full of air a round tripper for Victor Martinez … Victor ties it up! With the game tied, we head to the 9th. With 1-out Hollywood’s Sam Dyson, after a Freese single, walks former Werewolf teammate, Jayson Werth. After uncorking a wild pitch, he is pulled in favor of Blanton. Blanton gets a force play for the 2nd out, but the run scores and the Muscle lead 7-6! Looking at stealing the win in Hollywood, Motor City turns to Will T Harris to close the game out. With 1-out, Wong steps in. The pitch … it’s deep to center … over Trout’s head … bounces at the base of the wall…that’s good for extra bases … Trout’s up with it … Wong hits second under full steam…the coach is waving him to third … here comes the throw … the relay … and he’s…safe easily … triple for WONG … the chance paid off … so the Werewolves have an opening…the tying run is now at third base for Wellington Castillo. Infielders in … Wong into a little shuffle at third … he lets one go … lofted to left field…not deep … Calhoun playing him just right … and he puts it away … Wong’s tagging..they’re waving him home … here comes the throw … and he’s … SAFE!…slid around the tag! Wellington Castillo picks up a sac fly and an RBI and the game is once again tied in the 9th. The game stays tied till the 11th. With 2-outs David Freese steps in against Pat Neshek. The pitch … and it’s pulled hard to left … it’s deep enough if it’s fair … fair ball! home run for Freese and Motor City once again leads…this time 8-7! With their closer Harris on the mound, Motor City takes the field in the 11th. After getting the first 2-outs easily, Harris walks Butler and is pulled in favor of AJ Ramos. Phil Gosselin comes in to run for Butler so they have some speed in the game in case there is a double. Kolton Wong steps in. Big hole on the right side … Phil Gosselin takes a good lead … the runner’s going..it’s roped hard to right … into the corner … Werth’s after it … Gosselin’s digging…he’s around third … coming down the line … he’ll score … tie game! the throw in to second … not in time! … and Wong’s in standing with a double! Now it’s all up to Castillo who tied the game in the 9th. Here’s the call. Wong moves another step away from second … now A.J. Ramos comes home with it…it’s a shot to left center … way back … Trout jumps…it’s … off the wall … it’s all over…Trout doesn’t even bother … Wong scores and Hollywood completes the comeback win 9-8!!

W-Pat Neshek (1-0)
L-A.J. Ramos (0-1)

 David Price (13-12 3.98) vs. Jacob deGrom (12-8 3.15) 

  Down 2-0 the Muscle head home to try and win some games. Trout walks in the bottom of the first to lead off. He then promptly steals 2B. With 2-outs V-mart comes up big with an RBI double to center field. Motor City leads 1-0. Hollywood ties it up with a Miguel Cabrera homer in the top of the 3rd. In the top of the 4th, Carlos Gonzalez leads off. deGrom brings it to the plate … smashed hard at David Freese … he leaps … just out of reach..that’s good for extra bases … Jayson Werth‘s after it … he’s there … the throw..he’ll hold Gonzalez to a double. With 1-out Muscle killer Wong steps in.  deGrom comes to the plate … poked to left center … base hit … that could be trouble… Paulo Orlando and Mike Trout converge … and it’s through … Gonzalez scores … Werewolves have the lead! and Wong’s in to second standing … as the throw comes in. Hollywood leads 2-1. Castillo is up with Wong on base once again. Wong moves quietly toward third … the pitch … it’s a shot to left center … way back..TROUT jumps…it’s … off the wall … Paulo Orlando grabs the ball … throws it in … Wong scores..and Castillo will make second easily … back-to-back doubles by the Werewolves and a 3-1 lead. Hollywood continues to cruise as they head into the top of the 6th with Wong leading off. The pitch … Wong bruises it … heading for the gap in left center…but Orlando flags it down on the first bounce … and Wong decides not to stretch it…he hugs first with a single … 2nd safety for Wong. Kahle comes in to settle Hollywood down until with 2 outs, Yelich stands in. The pitch … Yelich strokes this one … oh, forget about it … good-bye…home run for Christian … and two runs score. Hollywood now leads 5-1. Hollywood adds a run in the 9th and cruises 6-1 behind Price.

W-David Price (1-0)
L-Jake deGrom (0-1)

 Clayton Kershaw (16-2 2.05) vs. Jose Quintana (18-6 2.39) 

 Hollywood trying to close out the series, sends Kershaw out on 3-days rest. The game remains scoreless until the top of the 3rd. Castillo leads off with a single and is forced on a Ketel Marte goundout. Marte hustled to reach first, which brings up Christian Yelich with 1-out. Marte bluffs going … to the plate … and a long drive to right … oh, man, he buried it.. two-run dinger and Hollywood leads 2-0. In the bottom of the 4th, Paulo Orlando singles and steals 2B. With 1-out, Trout steps in. Oralndo extending his lead … he delivers … base hit right field … it drops in front of Dyson…he has to play the long bounce … Orlando rounds third..they’re waving Orlando in and he scores … as the throw comes in to second … Mike Trout holds at first with a single. Hollywood’s lead is cut to 2-1. With 1-out in the top of the 5th, Marte records his first hit of the series. And with 2-outs, Dyson steps in and parachutes one to the outfield to put runners on the corners. Dyson steals 2B then Marte scores on a passed ball by Perez to make it 3-1 Hollywood. The game stays that way until 2-outs in the 7th and Yelich once again stepping in. The pitch … Christian Yelich gets plenty of wood on this ball … headed for the gap in right center…it may carry … go crazy, folks, go crazy! … it’s a home run! Yelich hits his second of the game and Hollywood leads 4-1! We head to the bottom of the 9th with the same score.  Mike Trout facing Pat Neshek. The pitch … Trout hits a frozen rope … to straightaway center … right there is Yelich….and he gloves it for the putout … one away. Nick Castellanos facing Neshek. He lets one go … Castellano shatters his bat … and the ball rolls toward Miguel Cabrera..he guns it to first … and nails Castellano by a step … for out number two. Victor Martinez facing Neshek. Neshek comes home … lofted down the line to right … Alex Gordon racing over … he won’t get it..he cuts it off … Victor Martinez wisely holds first … he’s on with a single..And here comes Werewolves manager … he’s asking Neshek for the ball; coming in to relieve Neshek is Joe Blanton … for Blanton … his 4th appearance in the series..the right-hander Blanton has worked four innings … he has a 0.00 ERA … one save..he’s looking for one out … it’s his game to save. David Freese facing Joe Blanto. Space on the right … Victor Martinez a stride off the bag … to the plate … easy bouncer to Wong….he’s up with it … over to Eric Aybar covering second … in time and that’s out number three and the game. HOLLYWOOD SWEEPS….HOLLYWOOD SWEEPS!!!!

W-Clayton Kershaw (2-0)
L- Jose Quintana (0-1)
S- Joe Blanton (2)

Both teams match up very closely with a very slight edge going to the ‘Coots with its rotation of Rich Hill,  John Lackey, Jake Arrieta & Miguel Gonzalez versus Sacramento’s Max Scherzer, Chris Sale, Danny Duffy & Steven Matz, but the Capitals bullpen easily outclasses Bethesda’s with Mark Melancon, Tyler Thornburg and Nate Jones.

The key to success in this series will be in scoring more runs in each game than the opponent.

After a bit of a flirtation with using TeamViewer, the GM’s of both teams decided to go the JoinMe route which proved to be much simpler.

 Game #1: John Lackey (14-5  2.21) vs. Max Scherzer (24-8 2.49)

Shockingly this game proved to be a pitching duel …
After an uneventful 1st inning the Bandicoots Adrian Gonzalez (i his last gasp potentially at being good) reach on a pitch that just missed the strike zone. Scherzer didn’t miss with the next batter as he mowed down Trevor Story. Brad Miller then came to the plate and reliving the glory days of the first few weeks of the season in which power came easy blasted the pitch deep and over Hunter Pence‘s head to put Bethesda ahead 2-0.
The next few innings featured a whole lot of good pitching with nothing much going on until the 6th.
Aledmys Diaz led things off for Bethesda against Scherzer with a line drive single to right field. Tyler Naquin followed with another liner to right that Giancarlo was a little dozy on and not only did Diaz race over to 3rd, but Naquin was allowed to advance to 2nd base on the throw. Up next was Gonzalez again and once again he reached base by virtue of the base on balls. Trevor Story then came to the plate and with all the power he could muster connected on a ball … probably one of the faster grounders ever hit in Sacremento … which in turn made it for an easy double play, but Diaz was allowed to float in from 3rd to make it 3-0.
Lackey was brilliant the rest of the way pitching through the 8th and allowed just a couple of hits and a couple of walks, but that was it. Chris Withrow tossed a scoreless 9th to nail down the 4-0 series opener win with Miller smacking a solo shot off Pedro Strop in the top of the 9th for his 2nd tater of the game.

  Game #2: Rich Hill (16-0  1.57) vs. Chris Sale (25-6 2.82)

 Rich Hill (BET) vs Chris Sale (SAC)
Not exactly the kind of start expected from Hill who was perfect in the regular season with a 16-0 record. Hill started things off by getting Mr. Lindor to strike out swinging, but then went a little “berserk” walking Giancarlo Stanton and then Albert Pujols. Evan Longoria struck out, but then the big W came around again and Yadier Molina took a leisurely stroll to 1st base to fill the bases for the ever-dangerous Danny Valencia. Valencia made great contact, smashing the ball down the first base line but Adrian Gonzalez was up to the task and underhanded the ball to Hill covering 1st to end the threat.
The Capitals opened the next inning with Hunter Pence jumping on a Hill pitch and sending into the gap for a stand-up double. Wilmer Flores struck out and then Chris Sale put a scare into everyone with a deep flyball to right field. Berserkitude crept in once again and Hill walked his 4th batter of the game in Lindor and then followed it up with a literal crowning touch nailing Giancarlo in the skull and putting him out of commission for the next five days. A really lousy blow to the Caps and another bases loaded situation for Hill to climb out of … which they did as Albert Pujols popped out harmlessly to Aledmys Diaz just behind 2nd base.
Buoyed by the near decapitation of Sacramento’s scariest hitter, veteran backstop Carlos Ruiz opened the 3rd when he got jammed on Sale’s pitch but hit it hard enough to take it over the infield for a cheap single – Bethesda’s first hit of the game. Sale mowed down Anthony Rendon and got Hill to bounce out advancing Ruiz to 2nd base. Plucky slap hitter Jon Jay then did what he does best and put one over the heads of the infielders just weakly enough so that Valencia couldn’t nail Ruiz at the plate as he scored on a nice slide around Molina’s tag. Bethesda leads 1-0. Jay advanced to 2nd on the throw which turned out to be pretty lucky as Diaz hit a seeing-eye single into right field allowing Jay to race home and make it 2-0.
Mr. Pence brought the Capitals right back into the thick of things with a long, long blast into the upper deck in left field with the only saving grace for Bethesda being that no one was on base. 2-1 Bethesda after four.
Emotions got a little high the next inning when Sale did a little bit of payback nailing Jay in the noggin’ … fortunately not a vital area for the outfielder and he was able to take 1st base without assistance.
Sale stuck until the 7th inning when with two outs and Rendon on 2nd base, the ball was handed to Nate Jones. Jones made it all ho-hum by striking out Jay to end the inning.
Hill lasted about an inning longer when he and his 12 strikeouts went packing after Longoria golfed a ball down the left field line for an easy double. Ryan Madson came in with Bethesda fans cringing remembering how in the latter half of the season the Nationals’ reliever turned into a homer factory and had his ERA pretty much triple within a few months. No need to worry of course … Molina hit the ball pretty deep but it was caught easily by Jay to end the 8th and preserve at least temporarily the one-run lead.
The injury bug again came into play and bit the Capitals with reliever Tyler Thornburg going down to injury in the top of the 9th with a minor shoulder problem that only had him out of action the rest of the game.
Steve Cishek was called upon to nail down the win for Bethesda and he did just that ending things with a very deep fly ball by Chris Dickerson to David Peralta. Sacramento’s offense improved only slightly in this game with three hits but Bethesda was lucky clumping most of its six hits in the one inning to score the pair of runs.

  Game #3: Danny Duffy (21-5 2.54) vs. Jake Arrieta (15-7 2.83) 

Arrieta started the game like he meant business while Duffy was more like he had stepped into someone’s business and gotten it all over his shoes.
The Capitals went down in the first two innings one-two-three while Bethesda made some noise in the 1st with a single and a stolen base by Aledmys Diaz and then a little more noise in the 2nd when the Bandicoots loaded the bases on an error by Yadier Molina that allowed the speedy Carlos Ruiz to reach 1st and then singles by Anthony Rendon and Arrieta. The sight of Jon Jay at the plate apparently terrified more than Bandicoot fans as Duffy lobbed a pitch back to the screen that allowed Ruiz to race home and give the home team the early 1-0 lead.
Arrieta followed with a perfect 3rd inning – Duffy did not. Diaz opened the inning with a single – his 5th hit of the series – and then scored easily on Trevor Story‘s triple into the right field corner. Story then scored on Lorenzo Cain‘s one-out grounder to make it 3-0.
Duffy lasted until the top of the 5th when he was yanked in favor of pinch hitter Danny Valencia after Brandon Phillips was walked with Molina on 2nd base. Molina had doubled to open the inning. Valencia popped out to Diaz though to end the inning.
Duffy gave up seven hits in the short time he was on the mound, but the bullpen was downright stingy with only harmless hit for Bethesda the rest of the way. With Arrieta in command though Bethesdans were confident (ha!) no more hits would be needed.
Uh … fast forward to the 9th inning.
Pence started things off with a shot down the right field line that David Peralta was lucky to keep to a single. Pujols then gets jammed on the pitch but the rolling ball bamboozled the Bandicoots’ infield and that made it 1st and 2nd with none out and Longoria coming up. As often had been the case to this point, the Bethesda pitchers were somehow able to get a good hitter to hit a harmless popup. Molina was up next and not so harmless … his grounder through short loaded up the bases for Mr. Dickerson. Dickerson grounded out to Story for a fielder’s choice at 2nd but it brought in Pence to make it 3-1.
Josh Reddick decided to make things uncomfortably interesting by bopping the ball into right field allowing grampy Pujols to score easily with Dickerson chomping at the bit at 2nd base and the score down to 3-2.
Sorry Jake … no complete game. Manager Skiles subbed in speedy Terence Gore for Dickerson at 2nd base leaving things up to Brandon Phillips as he faced closer Steve Cishek. Cishek’s offering just caught the plate and Bethesda inched closer to advancing to the division final with a 3-2 win.
Kudos to Cravy in this one allowing just one hit while striking out four in three innings of relief for Sacramento.

Sacramento’s Scherzer had his started moved up to create a wee bit of a pitching mismatch as he faced junkballer Miggy Gonzalez.
The Capitals began hitting early with Longoria lacing one into the gap for a two-out standup double, but that’s all that they would get in the first inning.
Aledmys Diaz started things going for Bethesda with a one-out single and then stopped things when he was nailed trying to steal. Tyler Naquin kept the inning alive with a double into the right field alley. Adrian Gonzalez took Scherzer’s first pitch and lined it up the middle over 2nd base setting the stage for a big collision at home plate as Naquin just beat the ball to the plate and knocked Yadier Molina out of action for a day. Bethesda up 1-0.
Cameron Rupp replaced Molina behind the plate and singled in his first at bat the next inning only to be erased on Brandon Phillips‘ ground out into an inning ending double play.
Scherzer started the 2nd inning by striking out Brad Miller, but then walked Anthony Rendon who advanced to 3rd base on a nice hit and run single by Eric Fryer. Miguel Gonzalez then got to play early hero by laying down a perfect suicide squeeze bunt that allowed Rendon to extend the Bandicoots’ lead to 2-0.
The Capitals wasted no time in getting back the run though when in the next inning with one out Francisco Lindor singled, stole 2nd base and scored on Hunter Pence‘s double to the wall.
With Gonzalez clinging to life in the 5th inning, Phillips doubled and advanced to 3rd base on Josh Reddick‘s groundout leaving the tying run only 90 feet away. Up next was Scherzer who decided to don his “Be Like Miguel” t-shirt and try the old squeezeroo. You need to hit the ball though Max … Scherzer missed the high fastball and Phillips was a dead duck at home. Scherzer then grounded out to short to end the inning.
The 6th inning’s excitement came when Adrian Gonzalez opened the Pandora’s Swearbox after being called out on a strike and was ejected from the game.
Dickerson opened the 7th with a solid single to left field off Gonzalez. That was it for Gonzalez, enter Chris Withrow. Withrow jammed Pujols into a second base ground out and Dickerson advanced. Rupp came within a few inches of his second hit of the game then bouncing a ball up the middle that Diaz was just able to reach and then nail the plodding catcher at 1st. Phillips always seemed to be in the middle of the action so of course he was the next hitter and he made no mistake this time with a single between short and 3rd that allowed Dickerson to score easily and tie the game.
With one out in the 8th and Fernando Salas pitching for Bethesda, Lindor smashed the ball off the wall in centre field for a standup double. Tempting fate once more, Bethesda’s manager handed the ball to Ryan Madson with Hunter Pence waiting his turn to hit. Of course … the dreaded pop out to 3rd base to leave it up to Longoria. Longoria was not up to the task though and struck out swinging on three pitches. Points for being keen though!
Pujols gave the home team a scare in the top of the 9th when his fly ball just missed leaving the park in fair territory, but neither team could bring a runner around and it was 2-2 heading into extra innings.
Top of the 10th – Steve Cishek on the mound for Bethesda gets Reddick, Ramiro Pena and Lindor 1-2-3.
Bottom of the 10th – Mark Melancon doing the job for Sacramento strikes out Peralta, but allows Carlos Ruiz to reach on a single through the infield. Diaz and Naquin had no interest in making waves however and the hit was wasted. On to the 11th.
Cishek struck out Pence and then got bailed out big time by Rendon who made two sweet plays on grounders to 3rd base to keep the Capitals off the bases in an eventful 3 up, 3 down 11th.
Jitters got to Melancon as he opened the bottom of the 11th walking Trevor Story. Game one hero Brad Miller was the next hitter up and he ripped a ball to right centre that went to the wall sending Reddick in hot pursuit, but it was not to be as Story raced around 3rd base to score and give Bethesda the 3-2 extra inning win and the berth in the division final.

Chicago looking to revenge last years ousting by the Crime head into the series as the favorite, but always know that Detroit is their arch rival. 
In the bottom of the first Josh Donaldson connects on a Scott Kazmir slow curveball that hangs a little too much & gets deposited over the center field wall for a 2-0 Chicago lead.
Bottom 2nd, this time its long time Chicago Mobster Andrew McCutchen‘s turn to go yard  over the right field wall, putting Chicago into driver seat with a 4-0 lead.  
Scott Kazmir in the 3rd tries to sneak a fastball past Josh Donaldson but it doesn’t happen as Donaldson was sitting dead red and drives just over center fielder Bryce Harper‘s head & Chicago is now up 6-0 after 3 Innings.  
In the mean time Noah Syndergaard has set down 9 out of 10 batters through the first 3 Innings with his only blemish is a 1 out walk to Daniel Descalso in the 3rd.   
Chicago puts up a single run in the 4th as Syndergaard walks the leadoff batter Cameron Maybin, but Manny Machado takes a 3rd Strike looking, followed by a Double Play off the bat of Ben Zobrist.  Buster Posey picks up a Sacrifice Fly scoring Dexter Fowler in the 4th, giving the Mobsters a 7-0 lead, but all eyes turn toward Syndergaard who is dealing.  A 1-2-3 5th for Syndergaard.  
A throwing error  on the infield by Justin Turner in the 6th leads to Bryce Harper ending up on 2nd with 2 outs.  Cameron Maybin hits a hard liner but right at Ian Kinsler for the 3rd out.   With Andrelton SImmons at 3rd, Josh Donaldson hits a Sacrifice Fly making it 8-0 Chicago.  Syndergaard dealing in the 7th, 1-2-3, in the 8th, 1-2-3 with his 10th Strikeout of the game.  
The 9th inning was another part of the drama of this game.   Chicago was well ahead (8-0) going into the 9th, but Noah Syndergaard had the No-hitter going & only had faced 26 batters.   Yasmani Grandal lead it off & was Struckout on 4 pitches.  Bryce Harper stepped up & took a heater at the knees for his 12th Strikeout of the game.   One out away from a No-Hitter & Detroit manager Sergio Ivone called back Cameron Maybin to bring on left handed hitter Ichiro, _ who’s 2nd all-time in Mid-West Baseball League history with 2868 Hits.   Ichiro, _ flicks one towards left, over the head of Andrelton Simmons, but coming on hard & saying I want it is Dexter Fowler.    The Mobsters rush the mound, congratulations all around as David Ortiz picks up Noah Syndergaard on his shoulders & they head off into the clubhouse to celebrate this stunning accomplishment.  

Final Score: Chicago 8 – Detroit 0
Win: Noah Syndergaard 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Scott Kazmir 0-1  (18.00)

Chicago had bases loaded in the 4th with one out when J.D. Martinez hits a fly ball to straight away center that Cameron Maybin tracks down for out number two,  Posey tags up & heads home, but the throw is cut off & the Crime cut down David Ortiz trying to advance.  The run scores ahead of the 3rd out & the Mobsters take a 1-0 lead.
With one out in the 5th Yasmani Grandal comes to the plate for Detroit & lunches one to deep straight away center where it clears Dexter Fowler & the fence for a Grand Slam for the Crime.   Detroit takes a 4-1 lead after 4 &1/2 Innings of play.   
The Mobsters get on the board again in the 5th Andrelton Simmons plates Justin Turner.   Manager Ivone takes Carrasco out & sends Kevin Seigrist to the hill looking for a Double Play.  Chicago Manager Stray Corrado starts Simmons in motion trying to stay out of the Double Play, & Dexter Fowler lines a shot to right, but the quick Ichiro, _ comes sprinting makes the catch & fires to first for the unconventional Double Play that Detroit was looking for.
Yasmani Grandal lunches his 2nd Home Run of the game in the 7th with a solo shot off Andrew Miller.   Detroit takes a solid 5-2 lead heading into the bottom of the 7th.
It’s here were the flood gates opened up & the Detroit season went downhill.  Nelson Cruz hits a 2-Run Home Run off Matt Bush with no one out.  Justin Turner walks & the Crime manager takes ball from Bush, replacing him with Ryan Dull.  Turner Steals 2nd before Devon Travis Strikes Out for the 1st out of the inning.  A ground ball to Danny Espinosa holds Turner at 2nd for the 2nd out.   Dexter Fowler hits a hot smash up the middle to the left of Ben Zobrist who takes it on one hop & throws to Sean Rodriguez, but Fowler busts it down the line & is safe in the throw.   Justin Turner rounded 3rd, went straight through the stop sign by the Chicago 3rd base coach Shannon Stewart & caught Rodriguez looking at the 1B Umpire thinking he missed the play at 1B.   Rodriguez throws to the plate, & Turners safe.  He’s safe.  He went 2nd to Home on a ground ball up the middle.  Fowler takes 2nd on the throw home. Tie Score.  After a Buster Posey walk David Ortiz then hits a pea inside the bag at first, scoring Fowler & Posey the Mobsters now have the lead.   Josh Donaldson steps in facing Ryan Dull & drives one down the line in left staying just fair and inside the pole for a 2-Run Home Run.    Mobsters score 7 in the 7th & now have a 9-5 lead.
Chicago’s combination of using it’s bullpen was solid for the 8th as Wade Davis pitches a 1-2-3 inning, followed up by 3 Chicago relievers for the 9th.  Julio Urias a rookie who made the Post Season Roster gets a Strikeout for his only batter in the 9th.  Aroldis Chapman is brought in to face Pinch Hitter Dae-Ho Lee who replaces  Ichiro, _.  Lee foul tips the ball into Roberto Perez glove for the 2nd Strikeout of the Inning.  Seung-hwan Oh replaces Chapman looking to face Danny Espinoza for the last out of the game, but Franklin Gutierrez pinch hits & walks.   Bringing the tying Run to the plate in Martin Maldonado.   Oh throws a 1-2 curveball that Maldonado takes a healthy cut at, but comes up empty.   Oh Strikes out Maldonado for the 3rd K of the Inning & gives the Mobsters a 2-0 lead in the series.

Final Score: Chicago 9 – Detroit 5
Win: Andrew Miller (1-0  9.00)
Loss: Ryan Dull (0-1  0.00)

 Game #3: Felix Hernandez (17-4  3.20) vs. Madison Bumgarner (17-9  2.85)

The King (Felix Hernandez) & Madison Bumgarner are both on their “A” games in this one.   Both pitchers hold the opposition  scoreless though 4 Innings.   Chicago gets on the board when Andrew McCutchen blasts one to right for an opposite field solo Home Run.  Hernandez takes the ball in the bottom of the 5th & gives his manager a 1-2-3 5th.  
Chicago hands the ball over to Alexander Reyes for the 6th & he doesn’t disappoint.   Reyes gives Chicago a 1-2-3 6th & says he feels strong, giving Chicago Manager Stray Corrado a thought about running him out there for the 7th.  In the top of the 7th Justin Turner mashes one that goes all the way for a solo Home Run of Bumgarner giving Chicago a 2-0 lead after 6 & 1/2.
Reyes does get the ball in the 7th & the 8th for the Mobsters & besides a base on balls & a stolen base he walks away unscathed & Chicago holds a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the 9th.  
Zach Duke who was a late season pick up just to face Bryce Harper starts the 9th facing him.   Harper flies out to right for the first out of the inning. The Loogy did his job.   Seung-hwan Oh replaces Duke, looking for 2 outs.  Cameron Maybin flies out for the second out of the Inning.  Manny Machado the heart & sole of this Detroit Franchise grounds in the hole, but Andrelton Simmons makes a nice back handed play, fires to first base where Justin Turner scoops it up for the third & final out of the Inning.  
Chicago now takes a 3-0 lead in the series into game 4.n

Final Score: Chicago 2 – Detroit 0
Win: Felix Hernandez (1-0  0.00)
Loss: Madison Bumgarner (0-1  2.35)

Game #4: Carlos Matias Martinez (16-4  3.25) vs. Stephen Strasburg (15-4  2.37)

Chicago looking to close the series out & Detroit just looking to take it one game at a time.   Carlos Matias Martinez Pitches 5 Inning of 3 Hit, 1 Walk ball, Striking Out 7 along the way.  Stephen Stashburg goes 6 Innings for the Crime, allowing 2 Runs, a RBI ground out to Andrelton Simmons scoring Buster Posey in the 3rd & solo Home Run to Nelson Cruz in the 5th.  

David Ortiz takes Kevin Siegrist who was brought in to face Ortiz deep to right field for a Home Run in the 7th.   Siegrist is promptly pulled from the game & seen headed down the tunnel to pack his bags out of town.  

In the bottom of the 8th after a walk to Danny Descalso from Julio Urias, Bryce Harper is due up & Chicago manager selects Andrew Miller the lefty to face him.  Detroit manager Sergio Ivone pulls a George Costanza & does the opposite of what is right & replaces Harper with Franklin Gutierrez who connects high & far, deep to center field over the head of Billy Hamilton for a 2-Run Home Run.   The Costanza logic worked & Detroit is back in this game trailing by only one run as we head to the 9th

Detroit closer Zach Britton comes on to hold this tight.  Britton gets David Ortiz on a slow roller for out number one, Josh Donaldson bounces to Ben Zobrist for out number two & gets Billy Hamilton on a very close play to close out the top of the 9th.  Crime down 1 Run.  Chicago hands the ball over to Wade Davis who will be looking for three Outs to close out this game & the series.   Davis gets Kendrys Morales on a 2-2 change up for out number one.  Ichiro, _ pinch hits for Sean Rodriguez.  Fly ball center field, Billy Hamilton makes the catch for out number two.  Long time Crime player Adam Jones represents the tying run steps up with Detroit’s hopes on the line.  Jones hits a fly ball, no trouble, Hamilton is there, makes the catch & the Chicago Mobsters have defeated the Crime in a 4 games to 0 Sweep.

Final Score: Chicago 3 – Detroit 2
Win: Carlos Matias Martinez (1-0  0.00)
Loss: Stephen Strasburg (0-1  3.00)