Brett Gardner & Luke Voit have solo Home runs & Chris Bassitt twirls a Complete Game, 3-Hit, Shutout as the Crime take this one to the bank.

Detroit 2 – Mesa 0

Lightning apparently strikes twice in the forms of 2-0 wins.   Manny Machado Homers & Carlos Carrasco goes 8 Innings before Kyle Zimmer locks it down for another Detroit Shutout.

Detroit 2 – Mesa 0

The Crime put on their hitting shoes.  Luke Voit has a Home Run & 3 RBI’s.  Kyle Schwarber Homers & drives in 2 RBI’s.  Little TOmmy La Stella has 2 RBI’s himself as the crime win their 3rd in a row.

Detroit 8 – Mesa 3

Mesa wakes up!  The bottom of the Solar Sox lineup, Eugenio Suarez 2 RBI’s & Yan Gomes Home Run & 3 RBI’s help the Sox prevent a Crime (Spree) Sweep.

Mesa 6 – Detroit 3

Nail biter in the desert.  Dead locked at 4 Runs apiece the Sox scratch across a single run in the 10th to as Fred McGriff would say “Take a bite out of Crime”.

Mesa 5 – Detroit 4 (10 Innings)

Three up, Three down as the Sox take game 6 to tie the series at 3 games each.  Another 1-Run game!

Mesa 2 – Detroit 1

When Detroit wants a “W” they turn to Nola.  Little Tommy La Stella with a big 2-Run shit in the 3rd is all the Crime need (Though they do tack on 1 more) as the Crime Shutout the Solar Sox for the 3rd time in 7 games.

Detroit 3 – Mesa 0

Both teams trot out their “Aces”. Dallas turned to Dallas Keuchel, while YSS is hoping to ride Cole to an upset. A Trea Turner error in the 3rd started the downfall for the hometeam. Cole followed the error with a plunking of Gimenez. Robles sacrificed the runners up, and Harold Castro cashed in the pair with a double. Pollock added an RBI single and Dallas jumped to a 3-0 lead. Justin Smoak buried a 2 run HR in the 4th and the Cougars cruised from there. Both starters went the distance, Keuchel allowed just 2 hits and one unearned run. 

Dallas 6 – Yonge Street 1

DAL send Zach Plesac to the bump, while YSS turned to Michel Pineda to stop the bleeding. After a scoreless first, Jason “The Jay-Hey Kid” Heyward smacked a solo shot to give YSS its first lead. Aaron Hicks‘ double was plated by a Kris Bryant sac fly and YSS led 2-0. Jose Abreu launched a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the 2nd and Dallas cut the YSS lead in half 2-1. The 3rd inning stared with Nick Madrigal getting plunked. Austin Nola rocked a 2 run HR to center. Jason Heyward singled and Aaron Hicks belted his own 2 run shot. In the blink of an eye the Stalkers were up 6-1 and Plesac headed for the showers. YSS finished up the scoring in the 6th, highlighted by another Jason Heyward solo shot. The Stalkers showed a bit of spine and took game 2 behind a brilliant Michel Pineda.

Yonge Street 10 – Dallas 1

The series shifts north of the border. The visiting Cougars went with Lucas Giolito. The home team turned to Taijuan Walker. The bottom of the first saw Nick Madrigal lead off with a ringing single. The Stalkers Trea Turner executed a text-book hit and run and YSS had runners at the corners with nobody out. Austin Nola was the third hitter of the game for YSS and he singled home Madrigal before an out was recorded in the first. That was the totality of the scoring. Walker went 8.1 innings and YSS brought in their first relief pitcher with 1 out in the 9th in game 3. Cam Bedrosian got 2 outs and YSS has a 1-0 win. Pollock and Gimenez each had a single for Dallas. YSS 1 – DAL 0

Yonge Street 1 – Dallas 0

Brent Suter started game 4 for Dallas. Is it too early for the “must-win” talk? Brady Singer took the bump for the home squad. Noted lefty masher Darin Ruf started the fireworks with a 2 run shot in the 1st to stake YSS to an early 2-0 lead. As stated previously, noted lefty masher Darin Ruf tacked on another 2 run shot in the 3rd. YSS leaps out to a 4-0 margin. A Jose Abreu 7th inning RBI single gave the Cougars their lone run.

Yonge Street 4 – Dallas 1

Following a sub-par game 1 performance, Gerrit Cole had a chance to redeem himself and close out the upset for the Stalkers. The game was scoreless through 4. Keuchel and Cole both showing well. Harold Castro broke the ice with a clutch 2 out RBI single to put DAL on the board. A.J. Pollock and Josh Harrison added solo shots in the 6th and 9th innings and Dallas took game 5 and regained momentum as they head home to Dallas.

Dallas 3 – Yonge Street 0

It’s Michel Pineda vs Zach Plesac. YSS opened the scoring with a scratch run in the first. Nick Madrigal scored on a DAL error. 1-0 YSS after 1. The home half of the 4th saw A.J. Pollock get DAL first hit of the game, a fluke 2 out double. Jose Abreu made it count, driving home Pollock with a single. Another Trea Turner error allowed another DAL run to score. After 4, DAL led 2-1. Mike Zunino blasted a solo shot in the 6th to knot the game a 2-2. Top of the 8th, after a Joc Pederson K started the inning, Mike Zunino flicked a double into the corner. That spelled the end for Plesac, he was replaced by Chris Martin (not of Coldplay).Nick Madrigal greeted Martin with a single that plated Zunino. YSS takes the lead back 3-2. A Trea Turner single scored the games (and series) final run.

Yonge Street 4 – Dallas 2

Anderson was on only allowed 1 hit but 2 runs in 7 innings. But selkirk got 3 homers Winker, Semien, and Longoria as Selkirk and Williams hold on to win

Selkirk 3 – Triple Creek 2

Selkirk shockingly hammer Bieber as Winker Semien and Hedges homer as Selkirk scores 6 in 3.2 innings. But Triple did not give up and hit (Piscotty homer) Fried hard 5 in 6.2 innings but Rosenthal and Williams locked it down. 

Selkirk feels lucky to be up 2-0. The team does not have a great offence but hitting 3 homers a game with A starting is a fine plan to win. Selkirk ready for games 3 4 and 5 as Keller our third grade A, Senzatela and Anderson get the call.

Selkirk 7 – Triple Creek 5

Semein homers again winker goes 5 for 5 and Keller was solid 1 earned in 6. 

Selkirk 7 – Triple Creek 3

Selkirk completes the sweep as Profar homers.

Selkirk 4 – Triple Creek 2

Mitch Keller (20) vs. Steven Brault (15)
So after 3 up and down in the top of the 1st, Jarrod Dyson leads off against the ace of the Coots and grounds to Paul DeJong and beats the low throw to first to get things going for Columbus. Keller then unloads one over Stephen Vogt’s head and Dyson trots to 2nd. A 1 out Charlie Blackmon groundout moves him to 3rd but Keller gets Salvador Perez to groundout 1 to 3 to end the threat.

Aledmys Diaz leads off the 2nd with double but Brault buckles down and gets a fly out followed by 2 groundouts. The next 9 batters go down in order and top of the 4th Enrique Hernandez enters the game in RF, Dyson moving to 3rd. And the 4th sees 6 more straight outs. Brault again sets down Bethesda in the top of the 5th – nothing since the leadoff double in the 2nd. Bottom of the 5th, the Explorers get some excitement going when former ‘Coot Trevor Story leads off with a double (crowd awakens and cheers!). He then steals 2nd, and that rattled Keller who then gives up a big gopher ball to Giovanny Urshela (1) and the Columbus grabs a big 2-0 lead. Keller quickly regroups and gets the next three.

So we move to the 6th and there’s the former Explorer Paul DeJong leading off with a walk. After a fielder’s choice, Brault hits Jeff McNeil to put runners on 1st and 2nd – that Brault control is starting get lost. So Homer Bailey comes in. Carlos Santana, swinging a guitar, pops up and Juan Soto flies out to RF.

Keller gets 2 in the 6th but walks Blackmon and that brings in Mike Mayers and he starts his K parade fanning Perez to end the 6th. Then Bailey and Evan Marshall pitched perfect 7th and 8th innings while Mayers did the same.

So – it’s the 9th and Liam Hendriks is called to close the door. With 1 out, Santana comes up – with bat in hand this time – and doubles off Hendriks. And then, so does Soto scoring Santana and it’s 2-1 with 1 down in the 9th. Schindel is going bonkers. Diaz then up, and he grounds to Story for the 2nd out. That brings up Kyle Seager to extend the game, and he connects on a hard liner that D.J. LeMahieu snags and ends the game.
BET 1-3-0 LP Keller (0-1)
COL 2-3-0 WP Brault (1-0) S Hendriks (1)

Columbus 2 – Bethesda 1

Merrill Kelly (15) vs. Matt Shoemaker (10)
After the non-slugfest of game 1 – the fans were hoping to see a bat breakout for the 2nd game. No such luck – combined 10 hits and 5 runs for this one. Explorers had a big chance in the 1st with D.J. LaMahieu hitting a 1 out double and Charlie Blackmon walking. But LaMahieu is thrown out at 3rd on a double steal attempt when Kyle Seager puts a lovely sweeping tag on him. In the 2nd, Brad Miller draws a 1 out walk and Carlos Santana singles him to 3rd. Former Explorer Victor Reyes then drvies one to wall for double driving in Miler with Santana stopping at 3rd. So in the 2nd the ‘Coots take a 1-0 lead. Then as noted, it stays a low scoring event and the Explorers start mining their bullpen in the 4th! It’s not until the bottom of the 6th that the score changes when Enrique Hernandez (Kiki) leads off with homer (1).

Then with 1 out in the bottom of the 7th, Giovanny Urshela hits a solo homer (2) and Columbus grabs a 2-1 lead. Top of the 8th that Paul DeJong guy attempts to haunt his former mates and draws a leadoff walk off Tony Watson. So J.B. Wendelken comes on to hold it. Apparently he didn’t listen when told that’s was his job. Jonathan Arauz is called to PH and he lashes one to right that ends up a double with DeJong holding at 3rd, no outs! Jeff McNeil then steps in, infield deep, and he lines to Asdrubal Cabrera at 1st, caught, spins, fires to 2nd – DP and DeJong holds 3rd! Next, with a chance to get out of the jam, J.B faces Kevin Pillar – and he kills a quail (wouldn’t that be a correct way of saying “a dying quail”) and DeJong scores to tie the game!! But that’s all the ‘Coots get and it’s tied 1-1 after 7 ½. Bottom of the 8th, Jarrod Dyson draws the 1 out walk, Tyler Heineman (and his killer arm) is now catching and Mike Mayers is called to keep Dyson from scoring. LaMahieu up and he grounds to 3rd – only play is at first, Dyson to 2nd – 2 outs. Charlie Blackmon up and he grounds to DeJong at short to end the inning – EXCEPT Paul throws it right by Santana and Dyson comes all the way around to score the go ahead run!! Maybe DeJong was thinking of the fun times he had with the Explorer.

So, Liam Hendriks is coming in for the 9th – will he give up a run again? In a word – NOPE! He gets the 3 guys and locks down game 2, 3-2 for Columbus and a 2 games to none advantage heading to Bethesda.
BET 2-6-1 LP Kelly (0-1)
COL 3-4-0 WP Wendelken (1-0) BS (1) S Hendriks (2)

Columbus 3 – Bethesda 2

Series shifts to Bethesda where the Explorers hope to close it out, but the hometown Bandicoots are seeking a different result.

J.A. Happ vs. Austin Gomber
Gomber gets a big start in hopes of turning it around and the Coots get off to a 1-0 lead when Carlos Santana wallops a solo homer (1). But Columbus gets a 3 run homer by Enrique Hernandez (2) in the 4th and a solo shot from Asdrubal Cabrera (1) in the 6th. Happ goes 5, the bullpen goes 4 and holds off the Coots as Liam Hendriks gets his 3rd save in 3 games. However, the game wasn’t without mishap! And it’s a big one. Salvador Perez and Asdrubal Cabrera miscommunicated on a pop foul and collided – Perez to the tune of a 10 day injury and Cabrera will miss 12 days! Not good for the Explorers.
COL 4-7-0 WP Happ (1-0) S Hendriks (3)
BET 1-5-0 LP Gomber (0-1)

Columbus 4 – Bethesda 1

With their backs to the wall – Bethesda will pull out all the stops to stay in this thing.

Josh Tomlin vs. Tejay Antone
The Bandicoots start early and often getting a 2 run homer from Kyle Seager (1) in the first and a solo shot from Paul DeJong (1) in the 2nd for a quick 3-0 lead. Antone is making it stand up as he pitches 7 innings of 3 hit shutout ball – fanning 11 Explorers (4 of those were by the replacements for the injured Salvador Perez and Asdrubal Cabrera. In the 8th, Kevin Pillar adds to the long ball parade with a solo shot (1). Trevor Cahill started the 9th (his 2nd inning) but couldn’t get anyone out – he even hit a guy – no injury. Cody Heuer comes in, faces 2, walks 2, and then Mike Mayers comes in and he walks one. All those walks and hit batsmen result in 2 runs for the Explorers, but Mayers does get the job done and Bethesda lives to play another day.
COL 2-4-0 LP Tomlin (0-1)
BET 4-7-1 WP Antone (1-0) S Mayers (1)

Bethesda 4 – Columbus 2

Game 5 sees Columbus still with a chance to close it out on the road and the Bandicoots needing to keep winning to stay alive.

Steven Brault vs. Mitch Keller
Game 1 all over again and Brault has definitely saved his best for round 1 of the playoffs. He goes 6.1 innings of 1 hit ball, 9 ks, 2 walk and no runs. Mitch Keller is almost as good – 6 hits in 7.2 innings but one of those hits was 2nd inning solo homer from Enrique Hernandez, his 3rd, and an rbi double from D.J. LeMahieu in the 5th. So the Columbus bullpen takes over in the 7th and hold it to 2-0 until the bottom of the 9th. Then Liam Hendriks is called on and he gives up a single to Juan Soto and then an rbi double to Kyle Seager. Hendriks seems to like to use up all the cushion he’s been given. But then he strands Seager to save the game and Columbus wins the series 4 games to 1!
COL 2-6-0 WP Brault (2-0) S Hendriks (4)
BET 1-5-0 LP Keller (0-2)

Columbus 2 – Bethesda 1

Congratulations to Bethesda for a fine (“odd”) season. Good luck next year.

Tempe started quickly with a two run homerun by Ozuna in the first. Jeffers sac fly in the 4th briefly cut the lead in half. Tempe responded for three runs in the bottom of the 5th capped by a Peralta two rbi double that knocked Buehler out of the game. Homeruns by Freeman and Brantly later in the 6th and 7th allowed Tempe to relax. Darvish gave up one unearned run over six innings.
W – Darvish, L – Buehler

Tempe 9 – Portland 1

Valaka led off the game with solo homerun for Portland. Conforto added an rbi single in 3rd to put the Lumber Jax up 2-0. Tempe chipped away with a Peralta rbi sac fly in the 3rd and a Plawecki rbi single in the 4th. In the fifth they jumped ahead when Rendon doubled and Peralta singled him home. A Vlad solo shot tied it at 3-3 in the top of the 6th. In the bottom of the 8th with two out, Plawecki hit a huge double to drive two runs in. O’day closed out the 9th for the win.
W – Hahn, L – Peralta, S – O’day

Tempe 5 – Portland 3

Bogaerts hit a solo homerun for Tempe in top of the 2nd, but Arroyo answered with a two run homer in the bottom half. Tempe then fired back with an Ozuna two run rbi in the 3rd and a Freeman one run rbi double in the 4th. Ozuna and Dickerson solo shots in the 5th made a 6-2. Kim went 5 innings and then Ramirez pitched four no hit innings for the long save.
W – Kim, L – Marquez, S – Ramirez

Tempe 6 –  Portland 2

Portland started hot. Riddle rbi double and then a Valaika three run homerun in the 2nd gave the Lumber Jax their first significant lead. Torres solo shot in the 3rd made it 5-0 and forced Wainwright to leave early for the first time all year. Taveras solo in 6th made it 7-0 Portland. Mahle pitched six scoreless innings. In the seventh, Tempe woke up and scored four runs capped by a three run homer by Freeman. Conforto hit an insurance solo in the bottom of 7th to make a 8-4 game. Bogaerts two run homer in the 8th cut the lead to only two. In the 9th Ona hit a rbi double to make a one run game, but Hernandez was able to strand the runner on 2B and record the final out on a strikeout. Portland needed all eight runs to get the win and avoid the sweep.
W – Mahle, L – Wainwright, S – Hernandez

Portland 8 – Tempe 7

Torres solo and Taveras rbi double put Portland up 2-0 in the 2nd. Albies rbi single in 3rd put Tempe on the board. Peralta solo and Dickerson three run homer put Tempe back in charge 5-2 in the 4th. Darvish gave up just the two runs in six innings and the pen tossed three shutout innings to finish the series.
 W – Darvish, L – Buehler, S – O’Day

Tempe 5 –  Portland 2