Richard Shipp was super sharp in Game 2 of the Adams League Championship Series as he held the division leading Seattle Monarchs to five hits and no runs over eight innings. Shipp walked only one batter while whiffing eight to earn the victory.
There was far more excitement in the Cleveland-River Cities game. The Sternwheelers took the lead in the first with a three run homer by Timothy Palacio. After that, both starters settled down and no one scored until Cleveland managed to push across a run with two singles and a sac fly.
In the top of the ninth inning, however, the Steamers came back with a vengance. With starter Juan Villatoro out of the game, Cleveland feasted on the River Cities bullpen. With two outs, the Steamers Charles Salee walked. That was followed by three hits, a hit batter, another walk and a passed ball. When all was said and done, the Steamers held a 5-3 lead going to the bottom of the ninth.
To pitch the bottom of the ninth, the Steamers turned to 18 year old rookie Gregg Faila, who had 11 saves this season. Unfortuantely, Faila could not find the plate. After giving up a single to lead off hitter Ronald Quijada, he then proceeded to walk the next three batters to force in a run, making the score 5-4 with the winning run at second base and no one out. Palacio, who hit the home run in the first inning came up to the plate and struck out swinging. CF Anton Suarez hit the next ball to second base. Unable to make the play at home, the Steamers took the out at second. That allowed the tying run to score.
That brought up light hitting CF Richard Hudock (who it .083 this season and has a lifetime average of .189). After fouling off the first pitch, Hudock hit a single, driving in the winning run and giving River Cities a 6-5 victory.
In other league news, we have an opening as Mike, the Walla Walla owner has bowed out due to personal obligations. I've posted a recruitment thread on the SDMB here. Please feel free to answer any questions that any potential owners may have.
Game three of each series will be on Monday night.
Zev
Well, I like the sound of that a lot better than the last one, I'll tell you that. The bullpen, which was pretty good all year, didn't get it done but at least we picked up the win.
ReplyDeleteTough break on McCrea for Jeremy. Who'll take his spot?
And Fila, who had walked 8 in his first 40.1 innings of pro ball decides now would be a good time to walk 3 in a game. He had also not allowed more than 1 ER in any game all season in AAA or the ML.
ReplyDeleteAs for McCrea, I feel confident with Midkiff taking his place, it is just going to suck being one down on the bench. Last game in the 9th, my manager had Fay catching (which maybe why Fila walked so many, a young P needs a good C) and one of my pitchers Herreros at SS. Nothing like setting up the defense for a good bottom of the 9th.
Also with that it probably ends McCrea's career with the Steamers. It sucks he does not get to play in a complete playoff series after being the best player for years on a really bad team. He deserves more. I wish him the best in what ever he decided to do after this season.
ReplyDeleteSo who's gonna start game three, Jeremy? I'm thinking Okane the lefty but could go with Scull the righty. Wooster will probably take game four one way or the other.
ReplyDeleteDidn't I have Midkiff at some point? I could have sworn.
Yep Midkiff was in the Franklin trade last season. He is my SS of the future, and I guess the future is now. You will find out which of my starters starts game 3 after the next sim :)
ReplyDeleteEither way I'm confident I have the advantage with Scull or Okane. That should leave me up with Wooster in 4 and the other in 5. Then Villatoro in 6 if needed.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt you have the pitching advantage, I just hope I can get a run or two more
ReplyDeleteFor what it's worth, the odds of both favorites advancing, using season winning percentage as an estimate of the odds of winning each game, has dropped from about 70% to 64%.
ReplyDeleteHopefully, the Seattle offense will get to ex-Monarch Allen Rueter in Game 3, as opposed to him getting revenge for being traded away.
Looks like a lot of teams will have some interesting decisions for Game Four, as the owners decide whether to send the aces back out on short rest or go with their #4 starters. Well, except for River Cities who cleverly avoided the conundrum by having a reliever start Game One.
I will give you this, these games have been much more competative than I thought. I think it did help that Nate started a MR in game one though :)
ReplyDeleteGO ahead. MAKE fun of me.
ReplyDeleteWell, at least Miller had an endurance above 50. That's something, anyway.
Best of five to the series, now! Go Hickory!
Agreed...Go Hickory!!! (and Cleveland)
ReplyDeleteHeck, something like 40% of me says go Hickory too!
ReplyDeleteFrank, you're obviously very lovable.
The next two games will be big. I do like my situation for Game Four: because I started Morales in Game One, my Game Four starter will be Dennis Hunnicutt, second in the entire league in strikeouts. My real decision will be Game Five: start Shipp on short rest, or go back to Morales? I think Morales pitches unless I lose both games three and four, in which case we'll bring Shipp back out to try to salvage the series.
ReplyDeleteFun stuff, though. And I'm obviously rooting for the underdogs, too, on both sides!
Mack, that's what most of my parents told me.
ReplyDeleteMack, I'll even give it to you like 20% of me is saying Go Monarchs!!!! Then I could say I had to go through River Cities and Seattle to win my first ever championship :)
ReplyDeleteWell, I apologize to Nate in advance, but I'm not sure even 1% of me is rooting for River Cities.
ReplyDeleteSorry, old friend.
He's really not as old as he seems.
ReplyDeleteI just feel that way sometimes.
ReplyDelete