Dodgers sweep Rox...head to Fall Classic

GAME 4 - Dodgers 9, Rockies 3

Chad Billingsley only went 5 innings, but he did fan 10 Rox. By the time he left he had a 6-0 lead and LA's pen held firm. Troncoso gave up 2 meaningless runs in the 9th to inch the score closer to respectability, but the Rox totally mailed this one in. Todd Helton went 2-4 with a walk in a losing effort as he played with the pride that most of his teammates were devoid of. Matt Kemp again went 3 for 5 and has begun to emerge as "the man" in this post season. Blake was 4 for 5 as the Dodgers banged out 18 hits in this contest to secure the series sweep and head to the Fall Classic.

Pad-ing his stats

Coors Field - Denver, CO

GAME 3 - Dodgers 10, Rockies 3

Vicente Padilla continued his outstanding tenure with the Dodgers by yielding only 1 run in 7 stellar innings of work. Colorado's starter, Cook, gave up 5 in 6+ innings, but that doesn't truly tell the story. Cook went into the 7th down 1-0 when the wheels literally came off his wagon. 4 runs later Cook was gone. Morales his replacement was worse, as he gave up 4 runs in the 8th to make this a laugher. Matt Kemp was the hitting star, going 3 for 5 with 3 RBI's on a big 3 run shot. With this win LA was now on the brink of a series sweep.

Juan, two punch !

GAME 2 - 10/16/09 - Dodgers 9, Rockies 8

Clayton Kershaw was dealing for 5 innings then ran out of gas. Kershaw fanned 8 batters for the 16 outs he recorded. Curiously Jeff Weaver was tapped to relieve and that spelt disaster. Then again the next 2 LA relievers were dreadful as well. Sherrill and Belisario each gave up runs to add to the 4 that Weaver yielded to give Colorado a 7-6 lead after 7 1/2 innings of play. The Dodgers rallied back for 2 in the bottom of the frame to go up 8-7. Pinch hitter Doug Mientkiewicz delivered the big 2 out 2 run single to put LA on top for good...or so everyone thought. The Rox looked to go quietly as the first 2 batters wend down easily in the 9th. Troncoso came on to get the final out and managed to hit Hawpe with a pitch. Blake made an error at third and Torrealba singled home the tying run. Broxton was brought in earlier than expected (the 8th) and was lifted for Mientkiewicz could only sit and watch as his penmates (Elbert and Troncoso) mucked up the 9th. In the bottom of the 9th Betancourt quickly struck out the first 2 batters (Hudson/Kemp), but allowed a 2 out double to Ethier. Juan Pierre, who pinch ran for Manny in the 8th, was now asked to win the game with his bat. Huston Street was called on to get Pierre, but he was unable to do the job. Pierre singled sharply to center to plate Ethier with the winning run as the Dodgers headed to Denver with a 2-0 series lead.

Hungry Like R Wolf

Dodger Stadium - Los Angeles, CA

GAME 1 - 10/15/09 - Dodgers 9, Rockies 4

LA jumped on Jason Marquis for 2 quick runs in the first to set the pace, when Blake singled with the bases loaded to score Furcal and Kemp. LA struck again in the 6th for 4 this time as Jason Marquis was sent to the showers. Randy Wolf cruised for 6 innings before tiring in the LA heat. Mota came on and gave up 4 in the top of the 8th to make the game interesting, but LA scored 2 key insurance runs off of Betancourt to put it away. Jonathan Broxton threw a scoreless 9th in a non save situation. The Dodgers stole 3 bases off of Torrealba. Andre Ethier walked 3 times after hitting over .450 in the LDS.

Bombers sweep Twinkies...just like in real life !

10/7/2009 - LDS Game 1 - Yankee Stadium - Bronx, NY - Yanks 8, Twins 3
Nervous times in the Bronx when a $210 million payroll is losing to a $40 million payroll after 7 innings. Add to that the fact that their new "rent a ace" (C.C. Sabathia) was being outdueled by a guy working for the minimum (Duensing). The crowd was definitely quiet. Some might blame it on the new building, not having the same aura and mystique of the place across the street. Flat out it was the uninspired play of the Bronx Bombers...that is until the 7th inning when the alarm clock went off and New dropped a 5 spot on Minnesota's inexperienced pen. In fact it all happened with 2 outs. A-rod singled home Jeter and Damon to tie it. Matsui doubled home 2 more and Posada singled home the 5th run. Just like that New York's offense can strike, and most teams have no answer for it. The Bombers added 2 insurance runs in the 8th and Joba pitched a scoreless ninth in a non-save opportunity.

10/9/2009 - LDS Game 2 - Yankee Stadium - Bronx, NY - Yanks 10, Twins 9
New York jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead with a big 2nd inning. Most in the house felt the game was over. They forgot to tell the Twins and A.J. Burnett. The former brought their hitting shoes. The latter lapsed into complacency and was gone before he could even give 5 innings worth of work. The Twins kept chipping away and by the end of the 8th the Yanks were clinging to a 10-9 lead. Most teams have to sweat out those 1 run games, New York doesn't, because they have the ultimate weapon: Mariano Rivera. No one has done it better or longer than Mo, who tossed a scoreless 9th to notch the save and put his team up 2-0 in the series. Again captain clutch, Derek Jeet'ah, came through in the post season. Jeet went 3 for 4 with 4 RBI's. The bigger the game, the bigger his performance.

10/11/2009 - LDS Game 3 - Metrodome - Minneapolis, MN - Yanks 10, Twins 3
A-Rod flat out dominated the series clincher. Unlike his past October failures, A-Rod was up for the task of domination this series, where he batted .400. After a season marred by steroid use and surgery, A-Rod took out his frustrations on Carl Pavano (who they despise for obvious reasons) and the Twins with 2 homers and 3 RBI's and flawless play in the field. Andy Pettitte turned back father time and had a shutout going until the 7th when he tired. By that point the Yankees were up 6-2 and on cruise control. The demoralized Twins gave up 4 more insurance runs in the 9th as the Bombers took care of business and easily dispatched the upstart Twins.

Rox win LDS in blowout

Game 5 - Citizens Bank Park - Colorado 14, Phillies 0
In the most unreal game of the series, the Rockies could almost do no wrong. In the 5th inning, the Rockies make 5 straight hits, one of them Brad Hawpe's 2nd homer of the series, and score 4 runs. In the 7th inning, a benched Clint Barmes is called on to pinch hit after Pedro Martinez walks the bases loaded. What does he do? Hit a grand slam! Aaron Cook stymied the Phillie bats again, allowed only 6 hits as he goes the distance for his 2nd win. Cook was named series MVP at game's end. --submitted by Edwin Sineath--

Mr. Lee to the rescue...again !

Game 4 - Coors Field - Philadelphia 9, Colorado 1
Facing elimination, the Phillies were fortunate that Cliff Lee was ready for another turn at the Rockies. Lee was again a mystery to the Rockie bats, scattering 9 hits over 8 innings to such an effect that the Rockies only scored once. His opposite number, Ubaldo Jimenez, was not such a mystery to the Philly bats. Philadelphia scored in the first inning and again in innings 3 through 7. Jimmy Rollins and Pedro Feliz were the offensive stars, each knocking in 3. --submitted by Edwin Sineath--

BAD Lidge

Game 3 - Coors Field - Colorado 8, Philadelphia 7
With home field advantage now with the Rockies the Phillies sent out J.A. Happ to counter Jason Hammel. The Phillies struck first, scoring 3 runs in the 2nd inning when Ibanez tripled home Werth, Ruiz plated Ibanez with a single and Rollins doubled home Ruiz. The Rockies got back a run in the 4th when Happ issued a bases-loaded walk to Garret Atkins. Ibanez added another run to the Philly lead in the 6th on a sac fly that sent Chase Utley home. With Clint Barmes on first in the 7th inning, Hammel was lifted for pinch-hitter Brad Hawpe and Hawpe delivered big, putting Happ's last pitch of the game into the right field seats. The game was tied three batters later on Todd Helton's sac fly. The Phillies replied in their next atbat with a 3-run homer by Raul Ibanez, giving them a lead of 7-4 in the bottom of the 9th with Brad Lidge on the mound. "Lights Out" Lidge didn't find the off switch on this night though. Brad Hawpe started the inning off with a double. Gonzalez was hit by a pitch, Dexter Fowler's single loaded the bases, no outs. Todd Helton's good eye got a walk out of Lidge, scoring Hawpe. Tulowitzki came through with a single, scoring Gonzalez. Torrealba was up next and hit a grounder to Ruiz at third and Helton made it home as the only play Ruiz had was to first. Tulowitzki made it to third and came home easily on Atkins single. Brad Lidge got the blown save and loss, Franklin Morales got the win. --submitted by Edwin Sineath--

Cook-in'

Game 2 - Citizens Bank Park - Colorado 2, Philadelphia 1
Philadelphia manufactured a run on three singles off Aaron Cook in the first inning and were shutdown the rest of the way as he held them to just three more hits and no more runs. The Rockies tied it in the 5th with 2 walks followed by a run-scoring single by Gonzalez. Eyre was on the mound for the Phillies in the 9th and he started the inning off with a walk to Yorvit Torrealba. A wild pitch got him to second and Spilboroughs advanced him to third on a grounder to Utley. Clint Barmes then lofted one deep to left and Torrealba came home with what proved to be the winning run. Aaron Cook got the win, Eyre the loss. --submitted by Edwin Sineath--

Amazing-Lee

Game 1- Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia 4, Colorado 1
Cliff Lee was on form in this series opener, holding the visiting Rockies to 3 hits while striking out 8. The Phillies scored first on a 2-run homer by Raul Ibanez in the 2nd inning. The Rockies lone run came in the 4th inning when Dexter Fowler led off the inning with a single, stole second and scored on a Todd Helton single. The Phillies scored twice more on RBI singles by Feliz and Ruiz. Ubaldo Jimenez lasted for 7 innings and picked up the loss. --submitted by Edwin Sineath--

Hanging Chad

GAME 4 - Busch Stadium - LA 3, STL 1
Down 2 games to 1 the Cards needed this game to force a deciding game 5 in LA. Dodger starter Chad Billingsley was virtually unhitable, going 7 1/3 innings, fanning 9 and yielding only 1 hit. Mota came on for the final 2 outs in the 8th. LA scored an insurance run in the 9th and it was definitely needed as Broxton again had a shaky final inning. After striking Holliday out, Broxton yielded a long double to Skip Schumaker. Rasmus had an infield single to put runners on the corners. Pujols ripped a single to right to score Schumaker. Pinch hitter Rick Ankiel worked out a walk to load the bases with 1 out and LA was in deep trouble. Ludwick stepped to the plate and hit a bullet to Casey Blake at third, who started a 5-4-3 around the horn DP to end the game and clinch the series for the Dodgers. Broxton was again lucky to escape disaster as he walked that tightrope act that most closers not named Mariano walk. The Dodgers will host the Rockies in the LCS next week.

Andre the Giant

GAME 3 - Busch Stadium - LA 6, STL 3
After 9 innings and a 1 hour rain delay in the 5th the game was tied at 1 apiece. Both starters were gone early due to the rain. Both pens looked good, until the Dodgers busted it open with 5 runs in the top of the 10th. Blake, Belliard and Martin each singled home runs in the inning. Broxton came on board to close it out and almost gave the game back to the Cards, who belted 2 homers (Pujols & Rasmus) but fell short. Andre Either's solo shot in the 6th was the only run Cardinal starer Joel Piniero yielded. Padilla fanned 7 in 4 and a third innings of work, before the rain did him in.

Too-Manny opportunities

GAME 2 - Dodger Stadium - LA 9, STL 6
Both teams combined to use 12 pitchers and score 15 runs in this unusual post season shootout. Adam Wainwright barely qualified for a "quality" start. Clayton Kershaw did not fare as well. After scoring 4 in the 6th the Cardinals had a nice 5-1 lead and all looked good for Wainwright. Unfortunately for the Cards their Cy Young candidate ran out of gas and gave up 2 runs before he could even get an out. St. Louis called on 4 relievers that inning, but when it was all said and done the Dodgers posted 8 runs and saved their season. LA sent 11 batters to the plate, including Manny Ramirez, who walked and hit a 2 run shot. Broxton came on board for a 1 out save. Jeff Weaver came on board in the 7th to stop the bleeding after Kershaw lost it. Game 2 was the turning point in the series. Up 5-1 the Cards would have been able to head home to St. Louis up 2-0. Instead all they could muster was a series split.

Franklin mints one for the Cards

GAME 1 - Dodger Stadium - STL 4, LA 3
Chris Carpenter and Randy Wolf engaged in a scoreless duel for 5 1/2 innings until LA broke the ice in the home half of the 6th when Casey Blake singled home Manny Ramirez. Wolf couldn't protect the lead and yielded 3 runs in the top of the 7th when the Cards banged out 5 consecutive hits. Molina's 2 run double capped off the scoring. LA tied it up at 3 in the bottom of the 8th when Manny hit a 2 run shot off of McClellan. "Prince" Albert Pujols led off the top of the 9th and got beaned by Dodger reliever Ron Belisario, who then uncorked a wild pitch and walked Matt Holliday to put runners on 1st and 2nd. Jonathan Broxton was called on to keep St. Louis at bay. He couldn't find his release point and walked Ludwick on 4 pitches to load the bases with nobody out. Broxton rallied to fan Molina, but a 6-4 force out by DeRosa scored Pujols to make it 4-3. LA could only manage a harmless single by pinch hitter Doug Mientkiewicz as Ryan Franklin closed the door and gave the Cards a 1-0 series lead.

1st pitch - October 13, 2009

Now that the "real life" LDS has been completed we can get started playing the online Action PC Baseball version ! 8 teams/8 managers and a whole load of good baseball is ahead of us. Good luck to all !!!