Two games in the Junior Circuit yesterday, as the AL moves toward what may be an all-Texas ALCS:
1. The defending champs, the Kansas City Royals, are on the ropes after a 4-2 loss in Houston. The Royals haven't looked very good so far, but they better improve quickly if they don't want their season to end.
2. The Blue Jays finally got the three-run homer they've been waiting for, and beat the Rangers 5-1 in Arlington, Tex. But Texas can still close out the series at home today.
National League Championship Series:
St. Louis and Chicago are tied 1-1
Los Angeles and New York are tied 1-1
American League Championship Series:
Houston leads Kansas City 2-1
Texas leads Toronto 2-1
So for Monday's holiday, we have a full slate of four games. MLB is still committed to playing day games indoors, so those of us who like to watch the shadows creep across the infield will be disappointed. But as far as I can tell, MLB really tries to avoid marketing to fans who actually like baseball.
Here are the games (all times Central):
Noon: Kansas City at Houston (Fox Sports 1)
3 P.M.: Toronto at Texas (Fox Sports 1)
5 P.M.: St. Louis at Chicago (TBS)
7:30 P.M.: Los Angeles at New York (TBS)
Down in Houston, the Royals are trying to save their season. They didn't score in the top of the first, and now the Astros are coming up to bat.
ReplyDeleteIn the top of the 2d, Salvador Perez whacks a two-run homer to give the Royals an early 2-0 lead.
ReplyDeleteI heard them talking about this series on the radio yesterday, and apparently George Brett and Craig Biggio have made a bet on the series whereby one will buy dinner for the other and his family next time they're all in Cooperstown for Hall of Fame stuff. Also, everybody was talking about how great of ribs that George Brett makes.
DeleteIn the bottom of the second, someone named Carlos Gomez who plays for the Astros crushes a home run to left to make the score 2-1 for Kansas City.
ReplyDeleteRoyals escape with no further damage, and still lead 2-1 after 2.
ReplyDeleteIn the bottom of the third, someone named Carlos Correa who plays for the Astros sends a soaring homer to left field. Now the game is tied at 2.
ReplyDeleteActually, Carlos Correa is apparently the second coming of A-Rod. He's a 21-year-old rookie who is batting third and playing shortstop for the Astros. In 99 games this season, Correa batted .279 with 22 homers and 68 RBI. That's amazing.
DeleteAfter three, we're still tied at 2.
ReplyDeleteStill 2-2 after four.
ReplyDeleteThe ESPN announcers are very impressed with A.J. Hinch, manager of the Astros.
ReplyDeleteHinch may turn out to be a big star. On the other hand, Matt Williams of the Nats was the NL Manager of the Year last year, and now he's been fired.
In the bottom of the 5th, Chris Correa -- who may be the next A-Rod -- whacked a double to drive in the leading run. Astros up 3-2.
ReplyDeleteIt's Carlos Correa. I'm not going to make that mistake again.
DeleteWe're now in the bottom of the 7th, with the Astros still leading 3-2. The Royals have 2 hits and 8 strikeouts so far. My guess is that unless someone for Kansas City hits a home run within the next two innings, the Royals' season is over.
ReplyDeleteThere goes your guy, Correa, Go Heath. Nice work.
ReplyDeleteLADIES AND GENTLEMEN, CARLOS CORREA! The 21-year-old phenom crushes a two-run homer to left to put the Houstons up 5 to 2 in the bottom of the 7th, and THIS SERIES IS OVER.
ReplyDeleteHere's Correa's line for the day: 3-3, 2 HR's, 2 runs, and 4 RBI's.
EVERYTHING'S COMING UP ASTROS!
ReplyDeleteIt's party time in Houston. Colby Rasmus hits a homer down the right field line. Stros lead 6-2 in the bottom of the 7th.
ReplyDeleteI don't like Houston, but to be honest I'm now more excited about seeing what Correa does in the next round than I am in watching the Royals trying to get to their bullpen.
2014 is so last year in baseball this year.
ReplyDeleteYou know, the Nats tried the same strategy as Houston -- they were terrible in 2009 and 2010, and stocked up on high draft choices. And it totally worked -- the Nats had the best record in the National League in 2012 and 2014. But the Nats never got this type of play in the post-season.
ReplyDeleteTHIS SERIES IS NOT OVER! The Royals -- finally eschewing efforts to hit home runs -- have scored FOUR RUNS on five singles and an error. The game is TIED AT 6, and the Royals have men on 2d and 3d with 1 out.
ReplyDeleteAlex Gordon is now batting for Kansas City with the bases loaded and one out. He grounds out to second, BUT A RUN SCORES AND THE ROYALS LEAD 7 TO 6.
ReplyDeleteWow! I tuned back out after Houston got up to the 6-2 lead. Shame on me!
DeleteThis is why George Brett is in the Hall of Fame and making ribs all the time and why I'm back here trying to find 1969 Sunrise Semester clips on YouTube.
DeleteMeanwhile, in Arlington, Tex., the Blue Jays lead Texas 4-0 after 2.
ReplyDelete#MLBMemoryBank
ReplyDeleteWOW! The Royals tack on another two runs in the 9th, and they leave Houston with a 9-6 victory. THIS SERIES IS TIED AT 2.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, in Arlington, Tex., the Blue Jays have finally gotten their offense in gear. After three innings, they have three home runs and they lead the Rangers 7-1.
ReplyDeleteStill 7-1 for Toronto after 4.
ReplyDeleteSo far, the road team has won every game in this series. If Toronto can keep that streak alive, this series will be returning to Canada.
With Go Heath presumably occupied, I will report that the Cubs are leading the Cardinals, 5-2, in the bottom of the fifth. Somebody for Chicago just hit a home run ... probably Ron Santo.
ReplyDelete