The scoring in Game 7 ended early. In the second inning, Jeremy Guthrie plunked Pablo Sandoval, who went 3 for 3. Hunter Pence and Brandon Belt both singled, which loaded the bases. Michael Morse and Brandon Crawford hit sac flies to give the Giants a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second, Billy Butler singled off of Tim Hudson. Alex Gordon doubled him in. Salvador Perez was hit by a pitch. Gordon made it the third and Omar Infante his a sac fly tying the game at 2. Hudson was removed for Jeremy Affeldt, who pitched two and a third innings of scoreless ball.
In the third, the Giants went away softly, but the Royals continued to put pressure. Lorenzo Cain singled off of Affeldt. Eric Hosmer pulled a scorcher. Second baseman Joe Panik dove and started a memorable double play, which killed Kansas City's momentum.
After singled by Sandoval and Pence in the fourth, Guthrie was lifted for Kelvin Herrera with one out. Herrera pitched well, throwing two and two-thirds innings and striking out four, but a single to Michael Morse scored Sandoval in the fourth. The Giants led 3-2.
Madison Bumgarner entered for the Giants in the fifth. Most figured he'd give San Francisco about an inning or so. Instead, his performance was one of the most impressive and clutch in recent baseball history. In five innings, after a pitching a shutout in Game 5, he gave up two hits and struck out four.
Bumgarner won the World Series MVP and the Giants captured their third championship in five seasons.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Game 6: A Blowout and a Game 7
The Kansas City Royals allowed fans to cancel any non-baseball plans the for the tomorrow night with a seven run second inning. When it was all over, the Royals had won 10-0.
Lorenzo Cain knocked in three runs and Eric Hasmer added two more. The three and four hitters combined to go 4 for 8 with 2 walks. Mike Moustakas hit a two-run homer off Hunter Strickland in the seventh.
In addition to Kansas City's bats coming alive, young Yordani Ventura shut down the Giants in seven innings, only giving up three hits. The Giants were not as fortunate on the hill. Jake Peavy was credited with giving up five runs. Yusmeiro Petit gave up two and so did Jean Machi.
This will be the first Game 7 of the World Series since 2002.
Lorenzo Cain knocked in three runs and Eric Hasmer added two more. The three and four hitters combined to go 4 for 8 with 2 walks. Mike Moustakas hit a two-run homer off Hunter Strickland in the seventh.
In addition to Kansas City's bats coming alive, young Yordani Ventura shut down the Giants in seven innings, only giving up three hits. The Giants were not as fortunate on the hill. Jake Peavy was credited with giving up five runs. Yusmeiro Petit gave up two and so did Jean Machi.
This will be the first Game 7 of the World Series since 2002.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
2014-15 NBA Predictions
East
Out in first round: Toronto, Washington, Miami, Brooklyn
Out in Eastern semis: New York, Charlotte
Eastern Finals: Cleveland over Chicago 4-2
West
Out in first round: Memphis, Denver, Dallas, Houston
Out in Western semis: San Antonio, OKC
Western Finals: LA Clippers over Golden State 4-3
NBA Finals
LA Clippers over Cleveland 4-2
Out in first round: Toronto, Washington, Miami, Brooklyn
Out in Eastern semis: New York, Charlotte
Eastern Finals: Cleveland over Chicago 4-2
West
Out in first round: Memphis, Denver, Dallas, Houston
Out in Western semis: San Antonio, OKC
Western Finals: LA Clippers over Golden State 4-3
NBA Finals
LA Clippers over Cleveland 4-2
Monday, October 27, 2014
Game 5 - A Masterpiece
The Giants' Madison Bumgarner continued his incredible World Series run. He pitched nine shutout innings in Game 5. he struck out eight and only allowed four hits.
James Shields, who has had a difficult postseason, finally settled down. He gave up a couple of singles int he second inning that led to an RBI groundout by Brandon Crawford. In the fourth, a couple of singles led to a Crawford RBI hit. Shields went six innings and only gave up those two runs.
Kelvin Herrera pitched a scoreless seventh, but struggled in the eight. Wade Davis, who has a microscopic ERA, finally showed he was human in the same inning. Pinch-hitter Juan Perez doubled in two off Davis. Crawford got his third RBI of the game later in the inning.
The Giants won 5-0 and took a 302 series lead heading back to Kansas City.
James Shields, who has had a difficult postseason, finally settled down. He gave up a couple of singles int he second inning that led to an RBI groundout by Brandon Crawford. In the fourth, a couple of singles led to a Crawford RBI hit. Shields went six innings and only gave up those two runs.
Kelvin Herrera pitched a scoreless seventh, but struggled in the eight. Wade Davis, who has a microscopic ERA, finally showed he was human in the same inning. Pinch-hitter Juan Perez doubled in two off Davis. Crawford got his third RBI of the game later in the inning.
The Giants won 5-0 and took a 302 series lead heading back to Kansas City.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Game 4 - Momentum Swings
The Giants manufactured a run in the first when Gregor Blanco walked and later scored on a Hunter Pence forceout. Kansas City came back in the third with a vengeance.
The Royals sent ten men to the plate in the inning. Pitcher Jason Vargas made two of the Royals' outs. Eric Hosmer, Omar Infante, and Salvador Perez all had RBI knocks in the inning. Infante's hit brought in two. KC ousted the Giants' starter, Ryan Vogelsong, from the game. And yet, in retrospect, the Royals lost the game right here.
With the bases loaded, Vargas strode to the plate for the second time int he inning. He worked the count to 2-2 and took a close pitch that was called a ball. He thought it had been ball four and trotted down towards first base. He was called back and struck out on the next pitch, one that seemed out of the strike zone.
Buster Posey drove pinch-hitter Matt Duffy home int he bottom of the third. Vargas was taken out in the fifth inning Joe Panik led that inning off with a double. He scored when Hunter Pence smacked a single. Pence scored on a sac fly tying the game.
Brandon Finnegan pitched the sixth and gave up three more runs. The Giants did it with small ball, constantly moving the line.Finnegan allowed the first two Giants to reach in the seventh. Then, the bottom fell out. He was replaced by Tim Collins. Blanco bunted and Collins threw the ball away. One scored on the play. Panik doubled in two and Pence doubled in Panik. By the time the Giants' onslaught was over, the score was 11-4.
Meanwhile, Yusmeiro Petit was San Francisco's unsung hero again. He had earned wins int he Division Series and in the NLCS. Earlier in the year, Petit quietly set the MLB record for most consecutive batters retired. While that record should have brought him heaps of praise, it took an outstanding playoff performance to bring him the appropriate notoriety. As the Giants fought back to get into the game, take the lead, and ultimately run away with it, Petit threw three scoreless innings just when the Royals' attack was at its most confident.
The Giants' 11-4 victory tied the series at two games a piece.
The Royals sent ten men to the plate in the inning. Pitcher Jason Vargas made two of the Royals' outs. Eric Hosmer, Omar Infante, and Salvador Perez all had RBI knocks in the inning. Infante's hit brought in two. KC ousted the Giants' starter, Ryan Vogelsong, from the game. And yet, in retrospect, the Royals lost the game right here.
With the bases loaded, Vargas strode to the plate for the second time int he inning. He worked the count to 2-2 and took a close pitch that was called a ball. He thought it had been ball four and trotted down towards first base. He was called back and struck out on the next pitch, one that seemed out of the strike zone.
Buster Posey drove pinch-hitter Matt Duffy home int he bottom of the third. Vargas was taken out in the fifth inning Joe Panik led that inning off with a double. He scored when Hunter Pence smacked a single. Pence scored on a sac fly tying the game.
Brandon Finnegan pitched the sixth and gave up three more runs. The Giants did it with small ball, constantly moving the line.Finnegan allowed the first two Giants to reach in the seventh. Then, the bottom fell out. He was replaced by Tim Collins. Blanco bunted and Collins threw the ball away. One scored on the play. Panik doubled in two and Pence doubled in Panik. By the time the Giants' onslaught was over, the score was 11-4.
Meanwhile, Yusmeiro Petit was San Francisco's unsung hero again. He had earned wins int he Division Series and in the NLCS. Earlier in the year, Petit quietly set the MLB record for most consecutive batters retired. While that record should have brought him heaps of praise, it took an outstanding playoff performance to bring him the appropriate notoriety. As the Giants fought back to get into the game, take the lead, and ultimately run away with it, Petit threw three scoreless innings just when the Royals' attack was at its most confident.
The Giants' 11-4 victory tied the series at two games a piece.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Game 3 - NL Baseball
Game 3 was a relatively quick game and the only close contest thus far int he World Series. Alcides Escobar, who has played a great shortstop, doubled to open the game. He was moved over to third. Then Lorenzo Cain grounded him in.
Tim Hudson of the Giants and Jeremy Guthrie of the Royals shut down opposing bats until both ran into trouble in the 6th. Escobar singled before Alex Gordon doubled him in. Eric Hosmer knocked in Gordon and Kansas City took a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, Brandon Crawford got on with a basehit before pinch-hitter Michael Morse doubled him home. Kelvin Herrera replaced Gutherie and got out of the inning giving up only one more run on a Buster Posey groundout.
Herrera went an inning and a third, rookie Brandon Finnegan got two outs, and Wade Davis pitched a scoreless eighth. Greg Holland got hte save int he ninth. Kansas City won 3-2 and take a 2-1 series lead.
Tim Hudson of the Giants and Jeremy Guthrie of the Royals shut down opposing bats until both ran into trouble in the 6th. Escobar singled before Alex Gordon doubled him in. Eric Hosmer knocked in Gordon and Kansas City took a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, Brandon Crawford got on with a basehit before pinch-hitter Michael Morse doubled him home. Kelvin Herrera replaced Gutherie and got out of the inning giving up only one more run on a Buster Posey groundout.
Herrera went an inning and a third, rookie Brandon Finnegan got two outs, and Wade Davis pitched a scoreless eighth. Greg Holland got hte save int he ninth. Kansas City won 3-2 and take a 2-1 series lead.
Friday, October 24, 2014
Game 2 - Homerun Fury
Both teams scored in the first. Gregor Blanco led off with a homerun to lead off the game for the Giants. Billy Butler singled in Lorenzo Cain in the bottom of the inning. Flame throwing Yordano Ventura then settled down for Kansas City.
Alcides Escobar doubled in Omar Infante in the second. Jake Peavy then threw three scoreless innings. In the fourth, Pablo Sandoval doubled before Brandon Belt knocked him in with a double of his own. The game stayed knotted at two a piece until the sixth inning.
The Giants had two on in the top of the inning, but Belt and Michael Morse got out. In the bottom of the sixth, all hell broke loose. Peavy left after giving up a single to Cain and a walk to Eric Hosmer. Jean Machi came in and promptly was knocked out by a Butler single that scored a run.
Javier Lopez got Alex Gordon to fly out. Then Bruce Bochy made a fateful decision. He brought in Hunter Strickland, a hard-throwing young pitcher with a killer curveball. Strickland didn't give up a run in nine regular season appearances.
Strickland threw a wild pitch allowing Hosmer and Terrance Gore, who had pinch run for Butler, to advance. Salvador Perez then doubled them both in. Next up, Infante smacked a homer. Strickland, who had just given up his fifth four-bagger of the postseason began screaming. Perez was confused, because it seemed as if Strickland was yelling at him. Strickland then yelled at Perez some more and threatened him. Strickland showed a lack of class in the face of his poor performance.
By then, the game was 7-2, which is how it ended. Kansas City tied up the series as it heads west to San Francisco for Game 3.
Alcides Escobar doubled in Omar Infante in the second. Jake Peavy then threw three scoreless innings. In the fourth, Pablo Sandoval doubled before Brandon Belt knocked him in with a double of his own. The game stayed knotted at two a piece until the sixth inning.
The Giants had two on in the top of the inning, but Belt and Michael Morse got out. In the bottom of the sixth, all hell broke loose. Peavy left after giving up a single to Cain and a walk to Eric Hosmer. Jean Machi came in and promptly was knocked out by a Butler single that scored a run.
Javier Lopez got Alex Gordon to fly out. Then Bruce Bochy made a fateful decision. He brought in Hunter Strickland, a hard-throwing young pitcher with a killer curveball. Strickland didn't give up a run in nine regular season appearances.
Strickland threw a wild pitch allowing Hosmer and Terrance Gore, who had pinch run for Butler, to advance. Salvador Perez then doubled them both in. Next up, Infante smacked a homer. Strickland, who had just given up his fifth four-bagger of the postseason began screaming. Perez was confused, because it seemed as if Strickland was yelling at him. Strickland then yelled at Perez some more and threatened him. Strickland showed a lack of class in the face of his poor performance.
By then, the game was 7-2, which is how it ended. Kansas City tied up the series as it heads west to San Francisco for Game 3.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Game 1 - Rude Visitors
Both teams made the World Series after playing in the Wild Card game. This series is the first time a fourth seed has faced a fifth seed in the series. The 162 game regular season is rapidly losing importance.
The Giants wasted no time in roughing up Kansas City's starter James Shields. Hunter Pence slammed a two-run homer after Pablo Sandoval doubled in a run. The Giants were up 3-0 before Madison Bumgarner took the hill.
Once Bumgartner was on the mound, the game was effectively over. He befuddled the Royals' hitters. Kansas City had a chance in the bottom of the third when Omar Infante reached on shortstop Brandon Crawford's error. Mike Moustakas doubled. But the top of the order failed the Royals. With two outs, Lorenzo Cain walked to load the bases, but cleanup hitter Eric Hosner weakly grounded to second base, uncharacteristically failing in the clutch.
The Giants tacked on two more in the next inning to take a 5-0 lead. Michael Morse knocked in Hunter Pence with a single. Later, when Shields was lifted, Danny Duffy walked Gregor Blanco with the bases loaded.
In the seventh, rookie second baseman Joe Panik tripled home Blanco, who had walked. Duffy was lifted after three plus innings. Sandoval later singled home Panik for the Giants seventh run.
In the bottom of the inning, catcher Salvador Perez nailed a homer off of Bumgarner, who gave up three hits and finished the seventh. Javier Lopez and Hunter Strickland shut the door the rest of the way for a 7-1 Giants victory.
The Giants wasted no time in roughing up Kansas City's starter James Shields. Hunter Pence slammed a two-run homer after Pablo Sandoval doubled in a run. The Giants were up 3-0 before Madison Bumgarner took the hill.
Once Bumgartner was on the mound, the game was effectively over. He befuddled the Royals' hitters. Kansas City had a chance in the bottom of the third when Omar Infante reached on shortstop Brandon Crawford's error. Mike Moustakas doubled. But the top of the order failed the Royals. With two outs, Lorenzo Cain walked to load the bases, but cleanup hitter Eric Hosner weakly grounded to second base, uncharacteristically failing in the clutch.
The Giants tacked on two more in the next inning to take a 5-0 lead. Michael Morse knocked in Hunter Pence with a single. Later, when Shields was lifted, Danny Duffy walked Gregor Blanco with the bases loaded.
In the seventh, rookie second baseman Joe Panik tripled home Blanco, who had walked. Duffy was lifted after three plus innings. Sandoval later singled home Panik for the Giants seventh run.
In the bottom of the inning, catcher Salvador Perez nailed a homer off of Bumgarner, who gave up three hits and finished the seventh. Javier Lopez and Hunter Strickland shut the door the rest of the way for a 7-1 Giants victory.
Friday, October 03, 2014
Nats Fall in Game 1
It's undeniable that the rust that accumulates with five days off hurt the Nats in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Giants. If you can win the Wild Card Game, then having played in it is a huge advantage. Both Wild Card teams won Game 1 of the Division Series this year and it was pretty clear that the Nats' and Angels' timing was off offensively. MLB has to reorganize the playoffs.
The Nats' offense succeeds when Denard Span and Anthony Rendon get on base. They were a combined 1-9 in Game 1. The 3-2 loss was frustrating because it seemed so fluky.
Wilson Ramos made a few great blocks of the ball, but the one he missed was huge. Ramos almost never misses a pitch like that. It allowed two runners to move up and a run eventually scored. One of those two runners were on base because Adam LaRoche was uncharacteristically aggressive defensively. He's usually such a cool customer, but he tried to do too much.
Ramos is also great at throwing out potential base stealers. He threw one out in Game 1. But he didn't get Hunter Pence and the Giants scored a run only because Pence stole that base.
It was also frustrating because Steven Strasburg pitched well, but the batted balls kept finding holes. And Ian Desmond struckout with the bases loaded, but the very next batter, Bryce Harper, launched a monster homerun. Unfortunately, Harper's homer took place in the following inning.
The Nats' defense has been the one area that has shown inconsistency. The Nats can be very good defensively, but they have a tendency to implode every now and again. Still, the machinations of the postseason bit them. The long wait and the torturous four hour 9-inning 3-2 game are two things that are very different than the regular season. Laz Diaz's miserably erratic strike zone didn't help either.
The Nats' offense succeeds when Denard Span and Anthony Rendon get on base. They were a combined 1-9 in Game 1. The 3-2 loss was frustrating because it seemed so fluky.
Wilson Ramos made a few great blocks of the ball, but the one he missed was huge. Ramos almost never misses a pitch like that. It allowed two runners to move up and a run eventually scored. One of those two runners were on base because Adam LaRoche was uncharacteristically aggressive defensively. He's usually such a cool customer, but he tried to do too much.
Ramos is also great at throwing out potential base stealers. He threw one out in Game 1. But he didn't get Hunter Pence and the Giants scored a run only because Pence stole that base.
It was also frustrating because Steven Strasburg pitched well, but the batted balls kept finding holes. And Ian Desmond struckout with the bases loaded, but the very next batter, Bryce Harper, launched a monster homerun. Unfortunately, Harper's homer took place in the following inning.
The Nats' defense has been the one area that has shown inconsistency. The Nats can be very good defensively, but they have a tendency to implode every now and again. Still, the machinations of the postseason bit them. The long wait and the torturous four hour 9-inning 3-2 game are two things that are very different than the regular season. Laz Diaz's miserably erratic strike zone didn't help either.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)