After blowing a 3-0 lead, the Devil Rays held off the Cheating Astros yesterday, scoring a 4-2 victory thanks in large part to a spectacular pitching performance by Charlie Morton, who dominated the Astros for 5 2/3 innings, allowing the Rays to grab a lead that they never lost. It was Tampa Bay's second pennant in team history, and now the Rays have a chance to set up a Stanley Cup/World Series double for whatever Tampa's city nickname is.
Meanwhile, in the National League, the Dodgers beat Atlanta in a 3-1 nailbiter. The Dodgers scored three runs in the bottom of the first, and held on for the rest of the way. L.A. had been down three games to one, but they have forced a Game Seven. This is the first time both of the League Championship Series have gone the full seven games since 2004.
This is the first Game Seven in the NLCS since the Dodgers beat Milwaukee in seven games in 2018.
ReplyDeleteLineups for Tonight. Here are the Braves:
ReplyDeleteRonald Acuna, Jr., RF (.250, 14 HR's, 29 RBI's)
Freddie Freeman, 1B (.341, 13, 53)
Marcell Ozuna, DH (.338, 18, 56)
Travis d'Arnaud, C (.321, 9, 34)
Ozzie Albies, 2B (.271, 6, 19)
Dansby Swanson, SS (.274, 10, 35)
Austin Riley, 3B (.239, 8, 27)
Nick Markakis, LF (.254, 1, 15)
Christian Pache, CF (.250, 0, 0)
Ian Anderson, P (3-2, 1.95 ERA)
Gosh, it is fantastic to have you back at the HP.
DeleteAnd here are the Dodgers:
ReplyDeleteMookie Betts, RF (.292, 16, 39)
Corey Seager, SS (.307, 15, 41)
Justin Turner, 3B (.307, 4, 23)
Max Muncy, 1B (.192, 12, 27)
Will Smich, C (.289, 8, 25)
Cody Bellinger, CF (.239, 12, 30)
A.J. Pollock, LF (.276, 16, 34)
Joc Pederson, DH (.190, 7, 16)
Chris Taylor, 2B (.270, 8, 32)
Dustin May, P (3-1, 2.57)
Braves score one in the first, as Ozuna drives in Acuna. Swanson whacks a solo homer in the second, and Atlanta leads 2-0 after two.
ReplyDeleteWith two out and Justin Turner on first, Max Muncy laces a double into the right field corner. But Turner cannot score and holds up at third.
ReplyDeleteBut Will Smith pokes a single into the hole that would have been covered by a second baseman if the Braves had not been in a shift. Two runs score and the game is tied at 2.
ReplyDeleteI know we all believe in the shift these days, but in a playoff game where there are two out and men on second and third, conceding a single seems like a strange decision.
DeleteHear, hear.
DeleteI really think this was a huge mistake by the Braves.
DeleteCody Bellinger walks and the Dodgers have men on first and second. This is now potentially dangerous for Atlanta. The Dodgers send up A.J. Pollock to face Ian Anderson, the Braves' starter.
ReplyDeleteAnderson v. Pollock:
Pitch one: Swinging strike (0-1)
Pitch two: Ball (1-1)
Pitch three: Ball high (2-1)
Pitch four: Pollock flies out to center. The inning is over and we are tied 2-2 after three innings.
Ozzie Albies leads off the top of the fourth with a walk, and then steals second base. Both teams are going for everything now.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised to find that you live-blogged this one.
DeleteSwanson draws a walk, and the Braves have men on first and second with nobody out.
ReplyDeleteAustin Riley singles to center, Albies scoots home, and the Braves lead 3-2 with runners on first and second and nobody out. The Braves could blow the game open right here.
ReplyDeleteIn an effort to put out the fire, the Dodgers turn to Blake Treinen, who was effective last night, but ineffective in Game One.
ReplyDeleteBlake Treinen is an old friend to us Kornheiser listeners.
DeleteTreinen throws a wild pitch and the runners move to second and third. The Braves could effectively win the pennant in this inning.
ReplyDeleteMarkakis raps a sharp grounder to third, and Swanson tries to score. He's caught in a rundown, and tagged out by Justin Turner. While that's going on, Riley tries to reach third base. Turner flips to Seager, who's covering third, and Riley is out. Double play. Then Pache grounds out to short and suddenly the inning is over. L.A. was very lucky to get out of that with giving up only one run. After 3 1/2, the Braves lead 3-2.
ReplyDeleteWow. Huge.
DeleteAs it turned out, the Braves never got another hit after this inning. So yeah, this was a really big play.
DeleteThe Braves turn to Tyler Metzek to pitch the bottom of the fourth. He retires Pederson, but Taylor singles to bring up Betts with a runner on first.
ReplyDeleteBetts walks to put runners on first and second, but then Seager lines out to right. Now it's up to Turner.
ReplyDeleteTurner walks and the bases are loaded for Max Muncy.
ReplyDeleteMatzek v. Muncy (two out, bases loaded):
Pitch one: Ball low (1-0)
Pitch two: Called strike (1-1)
Pitch three: Ball outside (2-1)
Pitch four: Called strike (2-2) (Muncy thought it was outside)
Pitch five: Swinging strike three. The side is retired and the Braves still lead 3-2. Huge strikeout by Metzek.
I remember rooting for the Nats against the Dodgers last year, and, every time Max Muncy came to the plate, I figured he was going to hit a grand slam, even if no one was on base. "Max Muncy" is a terrific name for a big hitter.
DeleteWith one out in the fifth, Freeman crushes a ball to right -- but Betts makes another spectacular leaping catch at the wall. He has really put on a show in the field.
ReplyDeleteMookie Betts is an offensive stud, too, but it's neat how defensive stars, even if they're not nutso hitters, become a very big deal in the in-the-moment heat of the baseball postseason. I just got done following the 1974 World Series in the San Francisco Examiner, and Dick Green is about as much of a star as Reggie Jackson or Rollie Fingers in its in-the-moment coverage.
DeleteIf Betts had made the plays that he made this week in the 1977 NLCS for the Dodgers against the Phillies, he would still be a legend. I've watched the Dodgers my whole life, I'm 54 years old, and Betts now has three of the top five catches I've ever seen the Dodgers make.
DeleteWith Betts's help, Treinen retires the Braves in order. They still lead 3-2 after 4 1/2 innings.
ReplyDeleteThe Braves will use Shane Greene to pitch the fifth.
ReplyDeleteThis is a spectacular game between two of the best franchises in baseball, playing under conditions of enormous pressure. The tension on both clubs -- given their recent playoff failures -- is almost painful to watch. And yet everyone is playing at a very high level. Unfortunately, it is now 10:30 PM on the East Coast, and we are still in the bottom of the fifth. So my blogging is going to stop here, as I have to work in the morning.
ReplyDelete#Spoiler Alert: You're going to be happy when you find out who won!
ReplyDelete