National Baseball League

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“Well folks, what a way for the Friends of the Feather to kick off their defense of the World Series crown. Ballgame number one of the Division Series, and the Cleveland Indians absolutely flatten the Baltimore Orioles, 12–2. This one was over faster than last call at the Cuyahoga Tavern.
Bottom of the first, Jesus Satiago steps up, two ducks on the pond, and BOOM — see ya later, three-run shot. Before some folks even found their seats, it was 3-0 Cleveland. Then, just for fun, Miguel Saldana follows up with a two-run blast of his own. Six runs in the first inning, folks. Six. The Orioles were basically back on the bus before they’d unpacked their bags.
Satiago had himself a day: two hits, a homer, four RBIs, three runs scored, and he even took a couple of walks — probably just to give Baltimore’s pitchers a breather. Justin Laird got in on the fun later with a three-run bomb in the eighth, and by then the hot dogs were half-price.
Meanwhile, on the mound, Mike Niccolai was cooler than a Lake Erie breeze. Eight strong innings, nine punchouts, gave up just two runs. Didn’t even look like he broke a sweat.
Final score again: 12–2, Indians. Orioles commit two errors, leave six on base, and look every bit like the team that got swept out of here last October. If this is what revenge looks like, Baltimore’s got some explaining to do.
Game Two tomorrow at Jacobs Field. Bring your popcorn, folks — unless you’re an Orioles fan. Then maybe bring a blindfold.”

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John Sterling:
“Well Suzyn, you can’t win if you don’t hit, and the Yankees just didn’t show up today. One hit! One! In a playoff game at Yankee Stadium, with forty-three thousand in attendance, and the Bombers were completely baffled by Antonio Mendoza. He looked like Cy Young out there, mowing them down inning after inning. It was lifeless, Suzyn, just lifeless.”

Suzyn Waldman:
“John, this was supposed to be the start of a big October for the Yankees. They had a great regular season, so much optimism, and then… nothing. The offense was flat, there was no spark, no urgency. You could feel it in the crowd too—people were waiting for that big Yankee moment, but it never came. Mendoza was in total control, and the Yankees never put up a fight.”

John Sterling:
“And that’s the most disappointing part. You enter October with high hopes, and then you give your fans… that. No rallies, no drama, just nine innings of futility. If they want to stay alive in this series, they better wake up fast, because one more game like this and the season will be over before it ever really began.”

Suzyn Waldman:
“Exactly, John. It’s only one game, but it sure feels like a gut punch. The Yankees have to regroup quickly, or this October run is going to be very short.”

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Gary Cohen:
“Well, Keith, a brutal way to start the Division Series for the Mets. They fought back a couple of times, they tied it late, and then Rosa even gave them life in the 10th with the home run. But in the end, Cincinnati just kept coming. The Reds win it 9–6 in 10 innings, and the Mets drop Game 1 here at Citi Field.”

Keith Hernandez:
“Yeah Gary, that one stings. You get the early lead, you get some big swings from Sloan and Rosa, but the bullpen just couldn’t hold it. Too many mistakes in the zone, and when you’re giving up triples and doubles late in the game, that’s fatigue and bad location. And listen, the Reds had quality at-bats up and down their lineup. You can’t give them extra chances.”

Gary Cohen:
“You mentioned Sloan—he had the big home run in the fourth and drove in three, but Ruben Soto’s triple in the 10th was the backbreaker. That put the Reds in front for good, and then Cook followed with another double to really seal it. The Mets just couldn’t get that shutdown inning when they needed it.”

Keith Hernandez:
“And you feel for Peters, too. He battled. Seven innings, gave up those two homers in the sixth, but he kept the Mets in it. This one falls on the bullpen. Gonzalez, Morales—just couldn’t get it done. That’s how you lose playoff games, Gary.”

Gary Cohen:
“So the Mets are down 1–0 in this best-of-five. They’ll need to bounce back tomorrow here at Citi Field, otherwise they’re staring at the possibility of going to Cincinnati trailing 2–0. A tough, tough loss for the Mets tonight. Final score again in 10 innings: Reds 9, Mets 6.”

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Don Orsillo:
“Good evening everybody, and welcome to Oracle Park in San Francisco, where the Padres take Game 1 of the Division Series, 4–2, behind a strong start from Jake Goebel and a huge seventh inning at the plate. Don Orsillo alongside Mark Grant, and Mud, that was a textbook road win for San Diego.”

Mark Grant:
“Yeah Donny, I love it. You come into a tough environment, packed house, orange towels waving, and you just play clean baseball. Goebel was outstanding—seven innings, only a couple of mistakes, and then the bullpen shuts the door. That’s how you draw it up.”

Don Orsillo:
“And the key hit came off the bat of Santiago Macario. Padres tied 2–2 at that point, bases loaded, two down, and Macario rips a single into left field to score two, give San Diego the lead, and they never looked back.”

Mark Grant:
“Money, Donny. That’s money. Two outs, pressure’s on, crowd’s going nuts, and Macario stays short, stays through the baseball, drives in two. That’s a big league at-bat. And let’s not forget Garcia—couple of knocks, drove in a run early, played a solid shortstop. All around, that was a complete effort.”

Don Orsillo:
“On the Giants’ side, J.J. Fagundes provided the only real spark with a two-run homer in the sixth, but beyond that, Goebel and then Diaz in relief really clamped down. Giants couldn’t string together much late.”

Mark Grant:
“Exactly. And Diaz—wow. Two innings, shut it down. That’s postseason stuff right there. The Padres’ bullpen has been nails so far, and if that continues, they’re gonna be tough to beat.”

Don Orsillo:
“So the Padres take Game 1 on the road, 4–2. They lead the best-of-five series one game to none. Game 2 is tomorrow afternoon, again here at Oracle Park, first pitch at 2:05. For Mark Grant, I’m Don Orsillo—Padres win it, and they’ll look to keep it rolling in Game 2.”

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Harry Doyle:
“Well folks, we’re here at Jacobs Field, the clouds overhead and a brisk wind blowing out to left—perfect October baseball weather. The Cleveland Indians take Game 2 of the Division Series from the Baltimore Orioles, 7–3, and boy did Israel Fernandez make his mark tonight!”

Colorman:
“That’s right, Harry! Fernandez is feeling it, three hits in three at-bats, two doubles, a walk, drove in two, scored a run—he’s practically carrying the team on his back!”

Harry Doyle:
“And it all started in the bottom of the first. Baltimore jumps out 2–0, but the Indians respond immediately. Willie Cobos steps in, two outs, and he crushes a three-run homer off Kevin Johnson! Just like that, Cleveland goes from down 2–0 to up 3–2. Talk about a punch in the gut!”

Colorman:
“Boom! That’s the kind of early attack you need. And Johnson just couldn’t get the ball over the plate tonight. Ten hits, seven runs, one long ball… rough outing for him, Harry.”

Harry Doyle:
“Meanwhile, the Orioles did have a few sparks—Santiago Herrera with a two-run homer in the first, some nice hits by Valdez, Reid, and McCarvill—but Cleveland’s bats just kept coming. Fernandez doubles in the first and the third, Phipps doubles in the third, Kresse in the fourth—Cleveland keeps building the lead.”

Colorman:
“Defense was solid too, Harry. Three double plays for the Indians—Fernandez, Saldana, and Phipps all involved—and the pitching settled in after Johnson struggled. Becerra gave up three, but Girard, Melanson, and Garcia shut the door after that. Smart, efficient relief work.”

Harry Doyle:
“And let’s not forget the drama—63-minute rain delay in the third inning, and the Indians didn’t skip a beat. They weathered the storm and came back stronger, taking a 2–0 lead in this best-of-five series.”

Colorman:
“That’s right, Harry. Game 3 shifts to Camden Yards on Wednesday. Baltimore’s gotta respond, but Cleveland’s got all the momentum now, and Fernandez? He’s on fire!”

Harry Doyle:
“So, Cleveland wins 7–3, moves one step closer to the League Championship Series, and folks, that is how you handle October baseball at Jacobs Field!”

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Michael Kay:
“Well, it finally happened, folks. The Yankees scored a run—but it took until the eighth inning. By then, it was far too little, far too late. The Texas Rangers take Game 2 at Yankee Stadium, 6–1, and now lead this Division Series 2–0. This is a tough night for New York.”

Paul O’Neill:
“Yeah, Mike, and it’s frustrating to watch. You know you’ve got to get to the Rangers early, put pressure on them. Instead, they jumped all over S. Cantu, six runs over the first four innings… and that home run by Jimmy Schultz in the second? That pretty much set the tone.”

Michael Kay:
“Absolutely, Paul. Schultz with a two-run shot in the second, and the Rangers just kept adding on. Tucker on the mound for Texas, seven and a third innings, one run allowed. He really had command, mixing his pitches, keeping the Yankees off balance all day.”

Paul O’Neill:
“And the Yankees… well, they finally get that run in the eighth. A. Rivera with a triple, Romero drives him home… nice piece of hitting, but you’re down 6–0 at that point. Not enough time, not enough firepower.”

Michael Kay:
“This is the kind of series where the road team takes control early. Two games in, and New York’s offense has one run total at home. That’s… just not going to get it done in the playoffs.”

Paul O’Neill:
“You’ve got to put runs on the board in the first five innings, Mike. That’s playoff baseball. You can’t wait until the eighth and hope to mount a comeback. Yankees are in a tough spot, no doubt about it.”

Michael Kay:
“Game 3 shifts to Globe Life Field in Texas on Wednesday, and the Yankees need to figure something out. The Rangers have the momentum, and New York has got to snap out of this slump fast.”

Paul O’Neill:
“Yeah, if they don’t, it’s going to be a short series. Playoff baseball waits for nobody.”

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“Finally, New York, finally! About time we had something to cheer about! The Yankees, forget it—they’re still stuck in the mud—but the Mets, the Mets actually get a win. Bobby Colon, tremendous effort—7 innings, one hit, nine strikeouts! Shutout ball! The guy was untouchable today, and the Mets take Game 2 at Citi Field, 5-1, and tie this series 1-1. Unbelievable.”
“Yeah, listen, Colon was mixing pitches, changing speeds, locating—he had it all. You’re talking about a guy who gave his team confidence, gave the fans confidence. Citi Field was rocking. You could feel it, the energy, the hope coming back. It’s the playoffs, this is what you want to see!”
“Now, you look at the Reds… they just couldn’t get anything going. One run in the eighth, that’s it. Landaverde pitched well at first, then Colon just shut the door, and the Mets’ offense did their job—Grohman, Rosa, Porche—all contributing at the right time. Big hits, smart baserunning. This was a total team effort.”
“And now, the series heads to Cincinnati. Game 3 at Great American Ball Park. Momentum swings, my friends! New York baseball fans can leave Citi Field tonight with a little hope in their hearts. Finally, a night to feel good. Mets tied it up, 1-1. Colon, phenomenal.”

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“Giddy-up! The Padres! The Padres, Jerry! They storm into San Francisco—Oracle Park!—and they take it to the Giants, 9-3! Boom! Bam! Wham! Sixteen hits, Jerry, sixteen! It was like a conga line out there!”
“Ya got Sporn—Josh Sporn—bases loaded in the sixth, and crack! A single up the middle! Two runs in! Padres break it open, the crowd’s stunned, the garlic fries go cold! I mean, the Giants didn’t know what hit ‘em! One minute it’s a pitcher’s duel, next minute—POW!—Padres up 5-nothin’!”
“And Shamar Beeman! Ohhh, ho ho! That kid had the stuff, Jerry! Six innings, nine strikeouts, only four hits! He was painting corners like Picasso! A lefty with that kind of stuff? Forget about it! Giants were swingin’ like they had broomsticks!”
“Meanwhile, Giants fans… ooooh boy, they’re quiet. You could hear a churro drop in that place. Giants had a couple doubles late, sure, but too little, too late! Padres bullpen shuts the door, Giants pack it in, and now San Diego’s up two-zip in the series. Two to nothing! One more win and the Friars are marching into the National League Championship Series!”
“Thursday—Petco Park—San Diego’s got a chance to slam the door. The Friars are dancin’, the Giants are reelin’! It’s chaos, Jerry! Absolute baseball chaos!”

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Cleveland Indians: 3rd ALCS berth
1902 1919 1920

“Last year was a surprise, but this year? This year’s just business as usual. As expected, the Tribe is headed back to the ALCS. And just like last year — yep, you guessed it — they swept the Orioles again! The Orioles may own the Royals, but the Indians? Oh, they own the Orioles. Rent free. Mortgage free. Keys under the mat.”
“That’s Cleveland’s third trip to the ALCS in their 20-year history… not exactly Yankees numbers, but hey, when you’re hot, you’re hot. Final score today from Baltimore: Indians 7, Orioles 6. Tribe wraps it up in three straight.”
“Jesus Satiago, remember the name — MVP of the series. The kid hit .417, cracked two homers, drove in seven runs, and probably ate a crab cake or two on the side. Orioles pitchers might see him in their nightmares.”
“Now, Cleveland’s sittin’ back with their feet up, waitin’ on Texas or New York. Rangers lead that series 2-0, so it might be a cowboy showdown. But either way, the Tribe is rolling, and folks, they’ve got the look of a team that knows how to win in October.”
“Final line once again — Cleveland 7 runs on 8 hits, no errors… Baltimore 6 runs on 6 hits, and 2 big errors. Orioles pack their bags, Tribe moves on, and somewhere in Cleveland the beer taps are running dry.”
“MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL… where sweeping the Orioles is starting to feel like an annual tradition.”

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John Sterling:
“The Yankees win! Thuuuuuuuh Yankees win! Oh, Marco! It’s a Gar-cia! See ya! A two-run home run in the fourth inning, and the Yankees hold on to beat the Texas Rangers, 5–4, down at Globe Life Field in Arlington. That cuts the Rangers’ lead to two games to one in this Division Series.”

Suzyn Waldman:
“John, you could feel it from the start of the game, the Yankees were not going to let this series end without a fight. Garcia with the big blast — and how about the kids? Shackford with two hits, Ruiz with the home run early, and then Garcia delivers. That’s what you need in the postseason.”

Sterling:
“You’re absolutely right, Suzyn. It was Garcia’s first home run of the postseason, but oh, was it timely. And remember, this was after the Rangers had already built a 3–0 lead. Neidich left that fastball out over the plate, and Garcia just — whack! — deposited it into the left-field seats.”

Suzyn:
“And John, how about the bullpen? Andrade struggled, gave up four runs in less than five innings, but then de León, Schoeppen, and Nevarez slammed the door. That’s four and a third innings of shutout baseball to protect that one-run lead. That’s postseason pitching.”

Sterling:
“And so, Suzyn, the Yankees live to play another day. Tomorrow, right back here in Arlington, it’ll be Game 4. The Rangers still lead the series two games to one, but tonight… it was Marco’s moment.”

Suzyn:
“John, they needed it. They absolutely needed it. And they got it.”

Sterling (grand finale):
“So once again, the final score — the Yankees five, the Rangers four. Yankees win Game 3. And as we always say, Suzyn… that’s baseball, Suzyn.”

Suzyn (laughing):
“That is baseball, John.”

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Newman (opening):
“Keith Hernandez… oh, how I hate you. But the miscreants at the network are making me do the commentary with you anyway! And here we are, Great American Ball Park, where your precious New York Mets have bludgeoned the Cincinnati Reds, 11 to 4. Eleven runs! Fourteen hits! Ohhh, the humanity!”

Keith Hernandez (dryly):
“Well, Newman, that’s called playing good baseball. The Mets had a balanced attack today — Contreras was locked in all night. Three-for-three, a home run, three RBIs, and two walks. He reached base five times. That’s how you win playoff games.”

Newman (snarling):
“Ricardo Contreras… the man just will not go away! I suppose you’ll say his three-run homer in the third was some kind of turning point?”

Keith:
“Of course it was. Reds starter Alex Miranda left a changeup up in the zone with two outs, and Contreras crushed it. That gave the Mets a 3–2 lead, and from there, Cincinnati was chasing.”

Newman (gritting teeth):
“And then—ohhh, and then—as if that weren’t enough punishment for the poor Reds… in the seventh, with the game tied, who comes up but Alan Sloan, the Mets’ designated hitter. And what does he do, Keith?”

Keith (matter-of-fact):
“He does what good hitters do. He punished a mistake. A three-run homer, right into the seats in right. That made it 8–4 and completely deflated Cincinnati. It was over right there.”

Newman (mock-dramatic):
“Yes, over! Over for the Reds, who now trail two games to one in the series. The dream of a comeback slipping away like a slice of pie at Monk’s Café.”

Keith (ignoring him):
“And let’s not forget Kevin Brubaker. Two hits, four RBIs, and the sacrifice fly that broke the 4–4 tie. This Mets lineup, Newman, is relentless. They wore down Miranda, knocked around the bullpen, and just kept adding on.”

Newman (bitter sigh):
“Relentless… yes, like a rash that won’t go away. Eleven runs! The Reds fans paid to watch a playoff game, and instead, they got a Mets coronation.”

Keith (smirking):
“Bottom line, Newman: the Mets are one win away from their fourth trip to the League Championship Series. They’ve got the offense, they’ve got the pitching, and they showed it again tonight.”

Newman (groaning):
“Ohhh, curse you, Keith Hernandez… and curse your Mets! But alas, I must say it — the final score, the New York Mets eleven, the Cincinnati Reds four. Misery, thy name is baseball.”

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San Diego Padres: 2nd NLCS berth
1906 1920

The Giants—105 wins, big payroll, the history, the banners—they come strutting into San Diego like they own October. And yet… inning after inning, the Padres just hang around. No flash, no fear. Martinez throws seven scoreless like it’s nothing. The Giants? They’re pressing. Every swing looks heavier, every out feels louder.
Then comes the eighth. One run down, season on the line. The Giants bring in Jeoffrey, and suddenly the cracks show. A couple of hits here, a double there, and just like that—San Diego hangs a crooked number. Three runs. The crowd explodes. The Giants? They’re finished.
Final out. Sweep. Padres move on. All those 105 wins, all that pedigree… gone. Poof. Just like that.
And now? The Padres wait. Mets or Reds—it doesn’t matter. One’s got the firepower, the other’s got the fight. But whoever it is, they’ll have to deal with San Diego, this little team nobody believed in.
The greatest trick baseball ever pulled… was convincing us the Padres didn’t stand a chance.

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Michael Kay: “Well, Paul, how about this? The Yankees go into Texas with their season on the line, and they win two straight to force a Game 5 back in the Bronx. And the story tonight? Alejandro Rivera. Three hits, a home run, a double, two RBIs… and oh, by the way, the dagger in the ninth inning with that two-run shot.”

Paul O’Neill: “That was just a big-time swing, Michael. That ball was crushed. You could see the Rangers’ crowd just go silent. And Rivera—he’s been so consistent all series, not trying to do too much, taking what they give him, and then when he gets the pitch, boom. That was vintage postseason hitting.”

Michael Kay: “And how about the Yankees pitching staff? Luis Ortiz wasn’t perfect—gave up a couple runs—but he competed. And then the bullpen… Schoeppen comes in and strands two, and Nevarez, two perfect innings for the save. That’s as good as you can draw it up.”

Paul O’Neill: “It just shows you how dangerous this team is, Michael. You get contributions from Orosco, Pyo, Moser—all hitting big home runs tonight. And that’s how you beat a team like Texas. They’re high energy, they swing it well, but you silence the crowd early and keep adding on. That ninth inning was just the exclamation point.”

Michael Kay: “And now we go to a decisive Game 5 at Yankee Stadium. The Rangers have to be feeling the pressure—they had the Yankees on the ropes, up 2-0 in the series. Now? The Yankees are right where they want to be. A winner-take-all game in the Bronx.”

Paul O’Neill: “You can’t ask for more, Michael. October baseball. Game 5. Yankees Stadium. This is what it’s all about.”