2020 AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES #1
Southbend Lynx @ Hollywood Werewolves |
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  SERIES PREVIEW – AL West rivals Hollywood and Southbend face off in the Division Series round for the second time in Southbend’s history. The last time they faced off Hollywood won the series 4 games to 2. Southbend is looking for revenge to come 7 years later
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| GAME #1 – Michael Foltynewicz (10-5 4.71) vs. Charlie Morton (21-7 2.77)
With Southbend having to run out their 2-aces, Jeff Samardzija and Jordan Yamamoto, in the Wild Card round, they turn to Mike Foltynewicz to face off against Hollywood’s Ace-A, Charlie Morton. Morton cruises through the top of the first and Freddy Galvis leads off the bottom of the first with a single. Hanser Alberto follows with a single and Hollywood has runners at first and second with Cristian Yelich coming up. He bounces into a double play as Galvis moves to third. Ketel Marte comes through with an RBI single to right and Hollywood leads 1-0. It stays that way until the costly bottom of the third. With 1-out, Galvis doubles and scores on an Alberto single. Yelich comes up and is hit by a pitch, knocking him out for 5 days. Hollywood weathers the storm by then running up the score on Southbend with 2 in the fourth, 3 in the sixth, and 3 in the eighth, blowing out Southbend 10-0. Morton goes 7.1 innings, giving up 2 hits and striking out 10. Hollywood 10, Southbend 0 W – Charlie Morton 1-0 |
| GAME #2 – Jeff Samardzija (18-4 2.96) vs. Clayton Kershaw (18-5 2.68)
With Hollywood leading the series 1 game to nothing in a blowout, they hope they can get back in it. Mark Canha helps give Southbend a shot of adrenaline when he homers off Clayton Kershaw in the second inning. It stays that way until the sixth when Eduardo Escobar doubles home Bo Bichette, giving Southbend a 2-0 lead. The game stays that way as Hollywood doesn’t mount much of a comeback. Jeff Samardzija is utterly brilliant in his 2-hitter, 2-0 victory. Southbend 2, Hollywood 0 W – Jeff Samardzija 1-0 |
| GAME #3 – Diego Castillo (5-5 3.26) vs. Jordan Yamamoto (6-3 3.36)
Southbend is riding high after taking game 2 and turn to Yamamoto to keep the momentum. Hollywood jumps on top with a Matt Olson 2-run homer in the second inning. Castillo appears to be unhittable and Hollywood looks to get that game back. He takes a no-no into the 5th inning and Hollywood can hear the announcers start talking no-hitter when Ryan Cordell singles to lead off the inning. The game stays 2-0 Hollywood into the bottom of the 7th inning when Austin Meadows leads off the inning with a triple off Joe Smith. Smith, is pulled when he walks Max Muncy. With both Brandon Kintzler and Carlos Estevez warming up in the bullpen, Hollywood contemplates the strikeout artist Estevez, but opts for Kintzler who was his bread and butter guy all season to get them out of jams. Unfortunately, the gamble did not work. Eduardo Escobar hammers a triple to deep right to drive in both and tie the game at 2! Jake Cave follows with a double (his only hit of the series) to give Southbend the improbably 3-2 lead! Estevez comes in and does what he does…getting a groundout than 2-strikeouts, but the damage was done! Southbend adds a run in the 8th on a Muncy homer and a 4-2 lead. Tyler Duffy and Osuna shut the door and Southbend holds on to win 4-2. Southbend 4, Hollywood 2 W – Marcus Walden 1-0 |
| GAME #4 – Charlie Morton (21-7 2.77) vs. Michael Foltynewicz (10-5 4.71)
. In a rematch of game 1, Hollywood is hoping for a similar result, while Southbend is looking to take a 3-1 series lead. In the top of the second, Marte leads off with a single, steals second and after 2-outs, Matt Olson hammers one down the left-field line for the 2-0 lead. Southbend cuts the lead in half in the 4th inning when Muncy hammers his second homer of the series. Hollywood receives another crushing blow when Paul Goldschmidt gets hurt reaching over the railing to catch a ball. Fortunately for Hollywood (already down Yelich) he is only injured for the rest of the day. The game stays 2-1 into the top of the 7th when Matt Chapman walks to lead off. Kyle Farmer (Goldschmidt’s replacement) then walks. With 1-out, Alex Gordon bounces into a force play, but that puts runners at the corners. With the hit-and-run on, the ball gets passed Meibrys Viloria scoring Chapman from third and a 3-1 lead. Stevie Wilkerson (Yelich’s replacement) singles to score Gordon and a 4-1 lead. Hollywood tacks on 3 more in the 8th to take a 7-1 commanding lead. They close the game out without incident and the series is tied at 2. Hollywood 7, Southbend 1 W – Charlie Morton 2-0 |
| GAME #5 – Clayton Kershaw (18-5 2.68) vs. Jeff Samardzija (18-4 2.96)
In a rematch of game 2, this is the pivotal game as someone will take a 3-2 series lead back to Hollywood. In Game 4, Hollywood made the unconventional move of batting their backup catcher, Tom Murphy leadoff, hoping to jumpstart the offense. After that win, they didn’t want to mess with the success, so they have him leading off game 5, and boy does it pay off. Let’s listen to the call…… MURPHY facing SAMARDZIJA. SAMARDZIJA winds up … there’s a fly ball to left … Chris OWINGS drifts back … still back-peddling….hey, this ball may carry … at the fence … OWINGS jumps for it … does he have it? … no! a home run for MURPHY and Hollywood leads 1-0! Kershaw has a lead before ever taking the mound. The crafty veteran uses his pitches to limit Southbend to 1-hit over 7 innings. Chapman is hit by a pitch to lead off the 7th inning, and with 2-outs, Olson delivers his 3rd home run of the series to make it 3-0. He follows with another in the 9th (his 4th) to give Hollywood a 4-0 lead. They really only needed the Murphy homer that led off the game as the bullpen was brilliant. Sam Tuivailala and Will Harris close it out and Hollywood takes the lead in the series 3-2. Hollywood 4, Southbend 0 W – Clayton Kershaw 1-1 |
| GAME #6 – Jordan Yamamoto (6-3 3.36) vs. Diego Castillo (5-5 3.26)
This was by the best game of the series, no matter what the outcome would have been. A re-match of game 3. Each side trades ‘ZEROES’ into the 5th inning. Looking to tie the series, Cordell leads off with a double. With Russell Martin coming up, Hollywood’s pitching coach walks to the mound. Apparently whatever he said didn’t work, so let’s listen to the call. MARTIN facing CASTILLO…CASTILLO turns and fakes the throw to second … CORDELL hits the dirt! he’ll have to brush off a bit … CASTILLO’s back on the rubber … CASTILLO rocks and fires a towering fly ball to left-center … it’s back … way back … gone! … home run for MARTIN. CASTILLO kicks the rubber … not happy with that pitch … Russell MARTIN will circle the bases and he’s sure taking his time … he’s greeted at the plate Southbend is up 2-0. Castillo is then pulled for Dustin “Gingergaard” May. He promptly gets out of the inning trailing only 2-0. With 2-outs in the 5th, Galvis steps in. Something to know about Galvis was that he lost the leadoff spot recently cause he hadn’t been hitting and was moved down in the order, as was Matt Chapman. Galvis singles with 2-outs and Chapman steps in. The pitch … CHAPMAN lines one deep to right … MEADOWS got a long way to go … still after it…he’s on the track … and it clears the fence! … Matt ties the game! … home run for CHAPMAN…he seems to like base runners! Hollywood ties the game at 2! The game stays that way into the bottom of the 9th. Tyler Duffy on the mound and Paul Goldschmidt leading off the 9th. The pitch … and GOLDSCHMIDT takes DUFFEY for a ride … going back is CORDELL … he’ll look but he won’t touch it … it’s all over … it’s long gone! … Paul trots around the bases…he loves a trip downtown … he claps his hands. Hollywood wins the walk off 3-2! Hollywood 3, Southbend 2 W – Adam Kolarek (1-0) |
| SERIES SUMMARY – Hollywood wins the series 4 games to 2. |
2020 NATIONAL LEAGUE WILD CARD SERIES
Triple Creek Patriots @ Tempe Tempers |
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  SERIES PREVIEW – NL Wild Card features a couple of opposite world squads. Perennial powerhouse Tempe receives the relative newcomers from Triple Creek. Home field advantage came down to the wire and was decided by the slimmest of margins, one game. These same teams dueled via WebEx just a couple weeks ago and Tempe took 4 of 6.
Tempe offense will be led by Bogaerts (.320/.388/.571), Brantley (.289/.345/.471), Albies (.271/.337/.475), JD Martinez (47 HRs), Freeman (39 HRs) and Ozuna (39 HRs). Patriot impact bats were Bellinger (.300/.402/.672), Gurriel (.283/.325/.511), Seager (.281/.344/.474), and Villar (.273/.332/.454 52 SB). Strahm helped himself a bit this year with a solid .697 OPS, scoring 12 runs, and driving in 5. Pitching-wise, Tempe had one starter with more than 10 wins, Wade Miley (14 3.46 ERA). Triple Creek had three (Strahm 15 3.68 / Bieber 13 2.72 / Montas 11 2.44) and a *sometimes* shutdown closer in Workman (38 saves 2.05). Team totals were close in pitching with Triple Creek with the advantage (3.39 ERA) to Tempe’s (3.58) while offensively Tempe has the edge (.247 AVG 291 HRs) to Triple’s (.237 225 HRs). Neither team has a dominant rotation, so this series could come down to who lands the most punches, as well as Patriot arms keeping the souvenirs to a minimum. (Series played via TeamViewer) |
| GAME #1 – Frank Montas (11-3 2.44) vs. Wade Miley (14-6 3.46)
Patriots’ Montas and Tempers’ Miley get the ball. And it takes all of 3 batters before Tempe makes a deposit in the seats, solo-shot courtesy of Tempe Army Major (“What kind of training? Ball thumping, sir”) JD Martinez. Tempe 1-0. The thunderclap seems to settle Montas down and he cruises the next 4 innings, allowing just one other base runner. Meanwhile, Miley was as cool as the other side of the pillow, allowing NO hits through five full. Leading off the 6th, Piscotty finds some green in left-center, and the no-no is spoiled. Montas is then removed for pinch hitter Almora. Two quick outs would bring Bellinger up. Cody was red hot on the previous series vs. Tempe which prompts a meeting at the mound to decide just how they want to approach the at-bat. Mathis squats down after the conference, they are going right at him. Miley brings it in and it’s laced to right field, base hit, OZUNA’s over and it’s off his glove! Taking a big hop away, he’s after it, while PISCOTTY’s digging for third and headed for home. The throw is not in time and cut off. Tie game 1-1. Hiura then walks which spells the end of the night for Miley. Crichton trots in the face Gurriel. CRICHTON deals and it’s swung on, fly ball to the gap in right, OZUNA’s racing over, but he won’t get it. To the wall BELLINGER scores and HIURA’s around third, they’re waving HIURA in, BOGAERTS will relay, here comes the throw home, the play at the plate…and he’s safe! Creek up 3-1. Bottom of the 7th and 2 out, Soria pitching well in relief, walks Ozuna. Thaiss called upon to pinch-hit for Mathis, which is countered by lefty Miller to climb the hill. Tempe doesn’t like that match up so righty Riley grabs some lumber. The pitch … this one is hit … it may carry … it’s way back … say good-bye Austin ties the game! The top of the 8th brings left Ramirez in for Tempe to face leadoff hitter Bellinger. The pitch … belted to right … near the foul pole … and it’s … long gone! home run for BELLINGER. That was all the Tempe skipper need to see and Ramirez gets the one pitch hook. Bowman then promptly walks Hiura and grooves on to Gurriel, who drills a double over 3rd, two runners on and nobody out. Willie Calhoun gets the call which is countered by lefty Hamels to toss the orb. Calhoun pops out. Munoz in for Hamels and he walks Gonzalez, bases juiced. Tempe stomachs are churning and Yu Darvish gets the call to face Bennie “Biceps” Benintendi. DARVISH comes home with it, BENINTENDI whacks it into right field, OZUNA races over and takes it on the bounce. HIURA scores, GURRIEL’s rounding third while GONZALEZ’s around second, they’re waving GURRIEL in and sending GONZALEZ to third, After a slow first half, this game has turned into a crooked number fest, and vomit bags are aplenty in the owner boxes. Creeks’ Buttrey will attempt to hold the 4-run cushion. Difo pinch hits for Castillo and slaps a seeing-eye single through the right side. Freeman takes the first offering and hits a long drive to right … he buried it! … he buried it! home run for Freddie … and two runs score. Just like that the lead is cut in half. Triple Creek calls on the other half of the 8 (XY) doppelganger, Jimenez, who records 2 quick outs. Bogaerts delivers a base hit to center which summons Hunter Wood from the pen to face ex-Patriot Brantley. The pitch … it’s a shot down the line to right … into the corner … BENINTENDI’s chasing it down BOGAERTS is around third … he will slow-boat it home … BRANTLEY hits second under full steam he’s headed for third … here comes BENINTENDI’s throw … the slide … and he’s SAFE!…on a close play … triple and an RBI for BRANTLEY. Sounds of hurling and bag crinkling ensue on the visitor side. And the lead is a single tick. Workman, who was hoping for a day off, is leaned on again. Can the ex-Temper hold the fire line? WORKMAN to the wind … big swing The answer to is “8 Is Enough”, is NO!, it is not. The 9th leaves the cupboards pretty bare on both sides so Difo is the Tempe backstop (yikes!). Floro looks to give the home team a chance for the walk-off. Seager quickly doubles and now must face Bellinger. SEAGER at second takes a big lead … he’s on with a lead-off double … the delivery from FLORO hot smash to ALBIES … and it’s by him! SEAGER rounds third … headed home… he’ll have to hurry … he’ll score as it’s cut off. HIURA digs in…here’s the delivery … it’s hit hard over third base hit … MARTINEZ’s racing to the line … still running … he picks it up BELLINGER rounds third… they’re waving him in.. here comes the throw home… the play at the plate … and BELLINGER’s … out!…just missed getting in. MARTINEZ threw a perfect strike. All Tempe roads lead through Creek closer Workman and the bottom of the order is up. Workman makes quick work of Longoria with a K and gets Difo to ground out. Hopes lie with dangerous Freddie Freeman and Workman takes him down on strikes. 19 pitchers used in this game. W – Workman (1) Triple Creek Patriots 8, Tempe Tempers 7 |
| GAME #2 – Shane Bieber (13-9 2.72) vs. Yu Darvish (9-9 4.05)
Bieber trying to close it out vs. Darvish Bieb’s takes his old team to task with a 14 strikeout performance over 8 1/3 innings. Darvish pitched a great 7 innings as well allowing only 3 hits. Tempe took the lead in the 2nd off a 1-run double by Brantley and Longoria. Seager matched that total on a 2-run homer in the 5th. All square after 8 complete. This seems all too familiar. Crichton handles Triple Creek easily in the 9th. With Workman now spent, Hunter Wood is called upon as Bieber allows a 1-out double to Brantley and is gassed. WOOD, his 2nd appearance in the series … his ERA at, Ummm, infinity. He was knocked out before getting an out … no record yet… he inherits a runner in scoring position. The pitch comes in … an infield roller by OZUNA … SEAGER charges … the flip to first for the second out … BRANTLEY holds. LONGORIA facing WOOD, B 9th, 2 Outs, Runner on 2nd, Tied 2-2. WOOD brings it home… it’s grounded into the hole … goes by SEAGER and into left … BRANTLEY’s well around third… they’re waving BRANTLEY in… here comes the throw home… here’s the play at the plate … and he’s … in standing. Long-O delivers the walk-off! W – Crichton (1) Tempe Tempers 3, Triple Creek Patriots 2 |
| GAME #3 – Matt Strahm (15-11 3.68) vs. Cole Hamels (10-4 3.85)
Well baseball fans, it will be decided today no matter what. The series is shaping up to be as predicted, “nail-biter special”. Strahm for the visitors and Hamels for the homers to start on what will in all likelihood be short leashes. Patriots ambush Hamels with back-to-back doubles for a don’t blink 1-0 lead. Seager then hits a laser, but right at Albies, and they double off Bellinger. Tempe gets a gift and breath a bit of relief. It will be short-lived as Gurriel drills the next pitch deep to left to bump the lead to 2. Tempe gets one back in B 1 off a Martinez double, scoring Freeman. B 2, Holland on to relieve Strahm, 2 outs, and Longoria on 2nd. and Freeman scorches a run-scoring single, all tied up 2-2. We pick it up B 4: C. CASALI facing A. MILLER, 2 Outs, Bases Empty, Tied 2-2. MILLER now … this one is hit … it may carry … it’s way back … bye-bye over the left-field wall. 3-2 Tempers. Top of 7, Gonzalez on first via a single, with 1 out and Willie Calhoun coming up, lefty Nick Ramirez is called to face his 2nd batter of the series. His first batter in-game 1went poorly as Bellinger belted it out. The pitch … hit hard to right center BRANTLEY scampering back … at the track … he leaps … gone … a two-run dinger. Ding-dong the pitch is dead! Ramirez now 2-2 in the worst way. Patriots lead 4-3. And that is the score in the top of the 9th. Munoz on for Tempe with Calhoun leading off. Willie walks and Daza comes into pinch-run. With anemic Joseph up, Hiura takes his spot in the lineup, hoping to be a hero. MUNOZ kicks and delivers…pulled sharply to LONGORIA … just out of reach … MARTINEZ’s racing to the line…still after it … still running … he’s there … picks it up … speedy DAZA rounds… they’re waving him in… Martinez cut down Bellinger at the plate earlier this series…here comes the throw home… HIURA’s going for third… here’s the play at the plate … and DAZA’s … out!…just missed getting in… go to town, TEMPERS! … they cut off the run! and the aggressive baserunning does not pay off. L. GURRIEL facing D. FLORO, T 9th, 1 Out, Bases Loaded, Ahead 5-3. Infield deep … the runners take their lead … here’s the pitch from FLORO it’s a high fly to center … BRANTLEY is over … moves under it … and makes the catch… the runners are tagging…VILLAR coming down the line here comes the throw home…here’s the play at the plate … and he’s … in standing. Patriots 6-3. Tempe down 3 in the 9th with their backs against the wall. Soria on the hill for Triple Creek. And Soria locks it down on three straight outs. W – Newcomb (1) Triple Creek Patriots 6, Tempe Tempers 3 |
| SERIES SUMMARY – It was a tight and fun series which is all both teams hoped for. With Triple Creek moving on to face a stout opponent in Pittsburgh. |
2020 AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD CARD SERIES
Detroit Crimeroit Crime @ Southbend Lynx |
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 SERIES PREVIEW – Detroit Crimeroit (94-68) travels to Southbend (102-60) for the 2020 AL Wild Card Round. Its a rematch of last season’s AL Championship Series. Detroit Crimeroit looking to repeat it winning ways and Southbend wanting a little revenge.
(Series played via TeamViewer)
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| GAME #1 – Stephen Strasburg (19-7 2.59) vs. Jeff Samardzija (18-4 2.96)
Detroit Crime sends out staff ace S.Strasburg to face Southbend’s ace J. Samardzija. Detroit Crime is out of the gate quick in the T1 when Gardner 2bs, 1 out later he steals 3rd and then scores when Altuve throws away Grandal’s grounder. But Grandal is himself nailed as he makes a wide turn at 1st. Detroit Crime A.Jones adds to the lead in the T2 with a solo-HR. Strasburg retires the first 6 Lynx he faces and faces Mayfield to lead off the B3. Mayfield swats a solo-HR to cut the lead to 2-1 Detroit Crime. In the B4 Strasburg gives ups a lead-off 2b to Altuve, who then scores when Crawford throws away Meadows grounder. After Muncy files out to deep RF, Escobar rips a rbi-3b but is nailed at the plate trying to stretch it into an inside-the-park HR. Southbend Lynx is now ahead 3-2. Samardzija has settled in after the 2nd and is keeping Detroit Crime off the board through the 6th. In the B6 Southbend Lynx Forsythe 2bs, but Strasburg bears down and gets Altuve to F8, and Meadows to groundout 5-3. Detroit Crime Manager. Ivone thinks about walking Muncy, decides to pitch to him, and regrets not walking him as Muncy blasts a 2-run HR over the RF wall! Samardzija pitches a scoreless 7th, Duffy a scoreless 8th, and Osuna a scoreless 9th for the save and a Southbend Lynx win. Southbend Lynx leads the series 1-0. Southbend Lynx 5, Detroit Crime 2 |
| GAME #2 – Madison Bumgarner (19-6 3.08) vs. Jordan Yamamoto (6-3 3.36)
Detroit Crime puts its hopes on the shoulders of M.Bumgarner and Southbend counters with J.Yamamoto. Once again Detroit Crime takes the early lead in the T1 when Gardner reaches on Bichette’s error, LaStella 1bs, Harper is HBP, and Grandal gets an FC-rbi as he stays out of the DP. But to no avail, as Southbend Lynx Yamamoto bears down and fans Voit and Belt to get out of the inning. The missed opportunity for more runs would come back to haunt Detroit Crime. The Southbend Lynx strike back in the B1 when Altuve 1bs, Meadows gets an inf-1b and Bichette plates them both with a 2-run 2b. In the Southbend Lynx B2 with 2 outs Viloria bbs, Altuve 2bs, which sends Detroit Crime Bumgarner to the showers as Britton comes on in relief. Britton gets Escobar to hit the grounder to 2nd, albeit a hard grounder, that LaStella can’t handle and both runners score on the error for a 4-1 Southbend Lynx lead. Southbend Lynx Yamamoto looks good through the 2nd and 3rd but in the T4, after getting the first two outs, he gives up an A. Jones 1b, followed by a Machado 2-run HR to LF. Just like that Detroit Crime is back within a run at 4-3. Southbend Lynx brings in Walden who Ks Crawford to end the inning. Detroit Crime T.May and Southbend Lynx Walden throw scoreless 5th and 6th innings. Southbend Lynx brings in R.Moronta in the T7 and after he gets the first two outs he faces Detroit Crime B.Crawford, who unloads a solo-HR to RF to tie the game at 4-4! Detroit Crime T. May tosses a scoreless B7 and Southbend Lynx R.Moronta matches him with a scoreless T8. In the B8 Detroit Crime calls on D.Hudson to keep the game tied and starts the inning getting Escobar to F7, but Meadows follows with a 1b. Detroit Crime killer Muncy strides to the plate but D.Hudson fans him with a change-up bringing up B.Bichette. B. Bichette then doubles to LF and Meadows is waved home and scores on the close play at the plate for a 5-4 Southbend Lynx lead! Southbend Lynx Osuna takes the mound in the T9 and Ks PH DJ Stewart, gets Belt to F8, and then fans A.Jones to end the game. Southbend Lynx wins and takes the series 2-0! Southbend Lynx 5, Detroit Crime 4 |
| SERIES SUMMARY – Southbend gets a small measure of revenge over Detroit Crime with the 2 game sweep. Fielding was a major factor in the two games as both teams got some “free” runs due to shoddy fielding. But Southbend benefited a little more than Detroit Crime in that regard. Not a lot of hits by either team in the series as Detroit Crime only had 9 hits in two games and Southbend only 11 hits. But the difference, along with the fielding, was that Southbend got some timely hitting and that 9 of their 11 hits were for extra bases (including all 5 in the 1st game). |