Last ** team ** standing

[webrian]

BRACKET C QUARTERFINALS

No. 10 2001 Diamondbacks vs. No. 1 2019 ASTROS

At Houston Minute Maid Park/Daikin Field

GAME ONE: Diamondbacks 3, Astros 2 — A 2-run homer by Yordan Alvarez in the bottom of the eighth gave the top-seeded Astros some hope, but a 1-2-3 ninth-inning save by Byung-Hyun Kim locked the door. ... The 2001 Diamondbacks got a solo homer by Matt Williams in the top of the second inning, and a 2-run blast by Luis Gonzalez in the top of the fourth to grab a 3-0 lead against Gerritt Cole and the 2019 Astros. Snakes LHP Randy Johnson wasn’t in dominant form, but he held the Astros down for more than seven innings. His line: 7.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 5 W, 6 K. ... Houston’s Cole threw so hard he was hitting triple digits on the radar gun even in the sixth inning. Still, the early homers doomed him. Cole’s line: 8 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 1 W, 9 K. ... In Game Two, the Astros will send Justin Verlander to the mound against Curt Schilling.

GAME TWO: Astros 4, Diamondbacks 2 — The Astros jumped all over Arizona RHP Curt Schilling for 3 runs on 6 hits in the first two innings, then held on to even the series at a game apiece. ... Astros CF George Springer led off the bottom of the first with a solo homer. Houston added 2 more runs on sacrifice flies in the bottom of the second. Schilling didn’t have his best stuff, but he gritted his teeth and didn’t allow another baserunner until the seventh inning. Still, the Astros took advantage with an RBI single by Jose Altuve to make it 4-2. ... Diamondbacks SS Tony Womack drilled a 2-run homer off Justin Verlander in the top of the sixth, but the dependable righty prevented further damage. Verlander’s line: 7.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 1 W, 6 K. ... Schilling’s line: 6.2 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 8 H, 2 W, 3 K. ... Roberto Osuna pitched a perfect ninth to earn the save. ... Game Three will see Astros RHP Zack Greinke go against D-Backs RHP Miguel Batista.

At Bank One Ballpark/Chase Field

GAME THREE: Astros 4, Diamondbacks 1 — Some 48,000 fans piled into Chase Field to watch an entirely forgettable baseball game between two great teams. ... The Astros won it, as expected, with RHP Zack Greinke allowing 1 run on 5 hits over eight innings, with 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, lots of yawning. ... D-Backs hurler Miguel Batista didn’t embarrass himself (6.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 W, 2 K) but he’s not Walter Johnson or Sandy Koufax. Some pitchers need a little offensive support, ya know? ... The Astros got all the runs they needed in the third inning. George Springer tripled. Jose Altuve drove him in with a single. Then Alex Bregman lifted a 2-run homer over the left-field wall that got a little ripple of noise from the crowd until they realized the other team hit it. Erubiel Durazo’s RBI single in the bottom of the fifth provided Arizona’s only run. ... Game Four promises to be more stimulating, with Houston’s Gerritt Cole again doing battle with Arizona’s Randy Johnson.

GAME FOUR: Diamondbacks 2, Astros 1 — The Arizona infield committed a pair of errors behind ace Randy Johnson in the top of the first inning. The infielders probably expected a 15-strikeout game from the Big Unit, not to be scrambling after ground balls all day. Anyway, the two fielding errors caused an irritated Johnson to issue back-to-back walks, one with the bases loaded, to give Houston a 1-0 lead. The Astros were delighted. This was gonna be like taking candy from a baby! ... Fast-forward to the end of the game, and the Astros were kicking themselves for stranding 10 baserunners against the Unit. Johnson settled down after that first inning. He scattered 9 hits (all singles) across seven innings while walking 2 and striking out 7. The Diamondbacks scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, with SS Tony Womack’s RBI single in the fifth giving them a 2-1 lead. ... Astros starter Gerritt Cole struggled a bit with his command but limited the damage. His line: 7 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 7 W, 4 K. ... With the series now even, Game Five looms large, with Houston’s Justin Verlander going against Curt Schilling. If the Astros win it, they go home with a chance to clinch against a very average Miguel Batista. However, if the Diamondbacks prevail, they take a 3-games to 2 lead back to Houston, with the Big Unit set to go if Game Seven becomes necessary.

GAME FIVE: Astros 7, Diamondbacks 5 — The 2019 Astros ambushed Curt Schilling early in Game Five, as George Springer and Jose Altuve both homered in a 3-run first inning. ... Despite the rough start, Schilling regained his grit to pitch five subsequent scoreless frames, allowing Arizona to claw back. A Tony Womack two-run blast off Justin Verlander in the fifth tied the score and put new wind in the Diamondbacks’ sails. ... The deadlock held until the seventh, when manager Bob Brenly gambled on a tiring Schilling. With two on, Alex Bregman punished a hanging curve for a decisive three-run homer—Schilling's 122nd and final pitch of the night. ... Arizona refused to fold, closing the gap to 6-5 on an Erubiel Durazo two-run homer in the eighth, but a costly ninth-inning balk by Byung-Hyun Kim gifted Houston an insurance run. Roberto Osuna slammed the door with a perfect ninth, securing the 7-5 win. The Astros now return home to Houston with a 3-2 series lead and a chance to clinch in Game Six.

At Houston Minute Maid Park/Daikin Field

GAME SIX: Astros 2, Diamondbacks 0 — Zack Greinke pitched a 5-hit, complete-game shutout to send the 2019 Astros on to the Bracket C semifinals. ... The 2019 Astros got single runs in the second and sixth innings, with Carlos Correa driving in the first on a sacrifice fly and Yuli Gurriel driving in the next on a 2-out RBI double. ... Greinke didn’t allow a walk or an extra-base hit. His line: 9 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 0 W, 3 K. ... Arizona starter Miguel Batista, though he’ll go unheralded, did his best to keep the Snakes within striking distance: 5 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 4 W, 1 K. ... Astros pitching held the D-Backs to just a .187 batting average in this series. ... The 2019 ASTROS WIN the series, 4 games to 2, outscoring the 2001 Diamondbacks, 20-13.

MVP-1: Astros CF George Springer: 7-for-25, 2 HR, 1 triple, 1 double, 4 stolen bases, 2 RBI, 5 runs scored

MVP-2: Astros 3B Alex Bregman: 6-for-20, 2 HR, 1 double, 5 RBI, 4 runs scored

MV-Pitcher: Astros RHP Zack Greinke: 2-0, SO, 17 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 10 H, 2 W, 5 K.

2001 DIAMONDBACKS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.187, 34-of-182); Extra-Base Hits: 12 (6 doubles, 6 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 2-3; Double Plays-Errors: 7-7; Walks-Strikeouts: 16-33 (-17).

2019 ASTROS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.232, 46-of-198); Extra-Base Hits: 14 (1 triple, 7 doubles, 6 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 7-0; Double Plays-Errors: 5-1; Walks-Strikeouts: 23-36 (-13).

[webrian]

BRACKET C QUARTERFINALS

No. 5 1998 Braves vs. No. 4 1961 YANKEES

At New York Yankee Stadium

GAME ONE: Braves 9, Yankees 3 — The 1961 Yankees had the swagger and historical star power going for them all through the pregame ceremonies. And then Greg Maddux quietly took the mound and dismantled them. ... The Atlanta ace held the 1961 Yankees hitless for six innings as the Braves built a 5-0 lead against Yankees LHP Whitey Ford. Atlanta got two homers from 1B Andres Galarraga — including a 3-run blast in the seventh that made it 5-0 — and later clouts by Gerald Williams and Ryan Klesko while building a 9-1 lead. The Yankees got a 2-run homer by Roger Maris in the bottom of the ninth to close the scoring. ... Now that the 1961 Yanks have been busted in the mouth, how will they respond? They face RHP John Smoltz next.

GAME TWO: Braves 7, Yankees 6 — Keith Lockhart, Javy Lopez, and Gerald Williams all launched key homers to help the Braves slip past the 1961 Yankees and take a 2 games to 0 lead in the series. ... The Yanks seemed to respond to the previous game’s ugly loss by jumping on RHP John Smoltz for 3 early runs. But Lockhart hit a 2-run bomb in the top of the fourth to put the Braves up, 4-3, and Williams followed with a 2-run shot in the top of the seventh to make it a 7-4 advantage. ... Yankees star CF Mickey Mantle crushed a 491-foot, 2-run homer to left-centerfield in the bottom of the seventh to close within 7-6, but Atlanta relievers Rudy Seanez and Kerry Lightenberg held the Bombers scoreless for the final two innings.

At Atlanta Turner Field

GAME THREE: Yankees 4, Braves 3 — Clete Boyer belted a triple into the right-center field gap in the top of the seventh inning, scoring DH Johnny Blanchard from first base to break a 3-3 tie. ... Boyer’s triple off LHP Tom Glavine helped the 1961 Yankees overcome a monster day from LF Ryan Klesko, who homered twice and hit an RBI triple to drive in all three Atlanta runs. ... The 1961 Yankees entered this contest trailing 0 games to 2 in the series and found themselves down 2-0 through five innings. But in the top of the sixth, the Bombers rallied. Roger Maris hit an RBI single to cut the Braves’ lead to 2-1. Later, Yogi Berra scooted a 2-run single up the middle to give New York a 3-2 lead. Klesko’s third hit of the game, an RBI triple in the bottom of the sixth, knotted the score. ... RHP Ralph Terry earned the victory. He went 7 innings, allowing 3 earned runs on 3 hits with 3 walks and 4 strikeouts. Lefty reliever Luis Arroyo then finished up with a two-inning save: 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 5 K.

GAME FOUR: Braves 10, Yankees 4 — Yankees RF Roger Maris jolted Greg Maddux with a 2-run homer in the top of the first inning. But Maddux simply shook it off, pitched seven subsequent scoreless innings, and let Atlanta’s hot bats do the rest. ... The 1998 Braves piled up 14 hits against LHP Whitey Ford and reliever Rollie Sheldon. They scored 2 runs in the bottom of the third inning to tie the score, then got a massive solo homer by 1B Andres Galarraga in the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. The Braves eventually scored 10 unanswered runs, with C Javy Lopez driving in 5 of them with a 3-run homer in the sixth off Ford, then a 2-run blast off Sheldon in the eighth. Walt Weiss went 4-for-5 with a double and a pair of RBI. ... The Yankees tacked on a pair of cosmetic runs against a tiring Maddux in the ninth to make the final 10-4.

GAME FIVE: Yankees 13, Braves 9 — The 1998 Braves hoped to clinch their berth into the Bracket C semifinals in this game. Instead, they got a scary glimpse of the power the 1961 Yankees were known for. ... Yankees C Elston Howard crushed a 3-run homer during a 6-run fifth inning; 1B Bill Skowron hit another 3-run shot during a 5-run seventh, and New York built a 13-3 lead. ... The Braves scored 6 runs in the bottom of the ninth, including a grand slam by Andres Galarraga off reliever Bob Turley. That was the “Big Cat’s” fourth homer of the series. Meanwhile, C Javy Lopez connected on his fourth and fifth homers of this series. ... So far, the 1998 Braves have hit 15 homers in this series. The 1961 Yankees have nine. ... Now the series heads back to New York for Game Six, where RHP Ralph Terry will take the hill for the Yankees against LHP Tom Glavine for the Braves.

At New York Yankee Stadium

GAME SIX: Braves 10, Yankees 3 — The 106-win Atlanta Braves were denied a trip to the World Series in 1998. But now they’ve won two series in this tournament — including a convincing, 6-game whipping of the 1961 Yankees — and are advancing to the Bracket C semifinals. ... Once again, the Yankees had no solution for Atlanta’s thundering bats. The Braves punished New York pitching with 16 hits and 3 more homers, including a pair by star 3B Chipper Jones, who had not homered in the previous 5 games. Braves 2B Keith Lockhart went 2-for-3 with 3 RBI to total 7 for the series, even though he played in only 4 games. All told, the 1998 Braves finished this series with **18 homers.** The previous high mark in this tournament was 12 homers in 6 games by the 1929 Athletics, in Bracket B. ... Atlanta took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second on an RBI double by Andruw Jones, followed by a 2-run single by Lockhart. Chipper Jones hit his first homer of the game in the third to make it 4-0, then a 2-run blast in the fifth to make it 6-1, and the rout was on. ... Fans hoping to see a lot of home runs got their money’s worth, but the *wrong team* was hitting most of them. Nevertheless, the 1961 Yankees managed to pile up 9 homers, including 3 by Roger Maris, who finished the series with a .429 average and 9 RBI. ... These Braves will take on the 2019 Astros in the Bracket C semifinals. ... The 1998 BRAVES WIN the series, 4 games to 2, outscoring the 1961 Yankees, 48-33.

MVP-1: Braves C Javy Lopez: 9-for-22, 5 HR, 8 RBI, 8 runs scored, .500 OBP

MVP-2: Braves 1B Andres Galarraga: 7-for-25, 5 HR, 10 RBI, 7 runs scored

MV-Pitcher: Braves RHP Greg Maddux: 2-0, 18 IP, 7 R, 7 ER, 12 H, 0 W, 10 K

1998 BRAVES TEAM STATS: Batting: (.324, 73-of-225); Extra-Base Hits: 29 (1 triple, 10 doubles, 18 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 3-2; Double Plays-Errors: 7-4; Strikeouts-Walks: 17-40 (-23).

1961 YANKEES TEAM STATS: Batting: (.274, 57-of-208); Extra-Base Hits: 13 (1 triple, 3 doubles, 9 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 0-0; Double Plays-Errors: 8-4; Walks-Strikeouts: 12-31 (-19).

[webrian]

BRACKET C QUARTERFINALS

No. 6 2011 Rangers vs. No. 3 2016 CUBS

At Chicago Wrigley Field

GAME ONE: Cubs 4, Rangers 3 (12 innings) — The 2016 Cubs didn’t invent clutch pitching, but in this game, they might have perfected it. Chicago RHP Kyle Hendricks and 4 relievers helped the 2011 Rangers strand 14 baserunners and also induced 4 double plays — 3 of them with the bases loaded — to secure this win. ... The Cubs also got a dose of clutch hitting from its biggest stars; Kris Bryant’s 2-out RBI single in the bottom of the tenth tied the game 3-3, and Anthony Rizzo’s 2-out single in the bottom of the twelfth drove in Addison Russell with the winning run. Russell had doubled off Rangers reliever Darren Oliver to start the inning and then stole third before eventually scoring. ... Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre twice gave Texas the lead. He hit a solo homer in the top of the fourth inning to make it 2-1, and he doubled in the top of the tenth to make it 3-2. ... Rangers starter C.J. Wilson allowed 2 earned runs on 5 hits through 7 innings. Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits through 7 innings, with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts. In the top of the seventh, Hendricks faced a bases-loaded, no-outs situation, but got a pair of groundouts to shortstop. The first resulted in a fielder’s choice forceout at home. The second resulted in a double play, with SS Russell throwing home for the forceout, then C Will Contreras throwing out the batter (Ian Kinsler) at first for the DP.

GAME TWO: Rangers 10, Cubs 6 (12 innings) — This is shaping up to be a war. The 2011 Rangers took a 6-1 lead to the bottom of the eighth inning and lost it. However, they made up for it with a 4-run rally in the top of the twelfth. Mike Young hit an RBI triple, followed one out later by a 2-run homer from Mike Napoli. Later, an RBI single by Endy Chavez completed the scoring. Reliever Mike Lowe pitched around a 1-out walk in the bottom of the twelfth to secure the win. ... Texas ambushed Cubs starter Jon Lester with 5 runs in the first 3 innings, keyed by a pair of Ian Kinsler homers. Kinsler homered to lead off the game, then added a 2-run opposite-field blast in the second to make it 4-0. Adrian Beltre led off the top of the third with a solo homer, on what was already Lester’s 83rd (and final) pitch of the day. ... Cubs reliever John Lackey came in and allowed just 1 run over the next five innings. Meanwhile, Rangers LHP Matt Harrison finished up a tidy start: 7 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 2 W, 5 K. ... But in the bottom of the eighth, the Cubs started to rally. Will Contreras hit a 3-run homer off Scott Feldman to make it 6-4. In the ninth, Jason Heyward pulled the Cubs to within 6-5 on a line-drive double past first base. Later, with bases loaded and one out, Anthony Rizzo lined a single into left field. The tying run easily scored, but Rangers LF Josh Hamilton threw out Jason Heyward as he rounded third and slid into home. Stopping that potential winning run sent the teams back to extra innings, where the Rangers eventually prevailed.

At the Ballpark in Arlington

GAME THREE: Cubs 13, Rangers 2 — Rangers starter Alexi Ogando, as they say, “didn’t have it” when he took the mound to start Game Three. Unfortunately for Texas, neither did the first guy who relieved him. ... The 2016 Cubs scored 1 run in the top of the first inning, then erupted for 8 more in the second on their way to a romp. ... Ogando gave up 5 singles and a 2-run double in the top of the second inning while the Rangers committed 2 errors behind him. Then LHP Derek Holland replaced Ogando and gave up 4 more runs on 7 hits, and the rest of the game was played in a half-empty park. ... Every batter in the Cubs’ lineup contributed to the 17-hit barrage. Ben Zobrist led the way, going 3-for-4 with a double, 4 RBI, and 3 runs scored. Chris Coghlan and Javier Baez homered in the blowout. ... Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta had an easy day: 9 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 3 W, 7 K.

GAME FOUR: Cubs 4, Rangers 2 — The 2016 Cubs got sharp pitching from RHP Kyle Hendricks and hit 3 homers to move to a 3 games to 1 lead in the series. Hendricks yielded just 2 earned runs on 5 hits over 7.1 innings, then turned it over to his bullpen to lock it down. ... Chicago led 2-0 after a solo homer by Addison Russell in the top of the second. The Rangers tied the score on a 2-run double by Elvis Andrus in the fifth. The Cubs went back on top, 3-2, on a blast by Jorge Soler in the top of the seventh. Kris Bryant added one more homer off reliever Mark Lowe in the eighth. ... Rangers ace Colby Lewis pitched well aside from the three longballs he surrendered: 7 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 W, 8 K. ... The Rangers will send LHP Matt Harrison to the mound to try and stave off elimination in Game Five.

GAME FIVE: Rangers 4, Cubs 1 — Matt Harrison came through once again for his 2011 Rangers. Facing elimination, the Rangers got excellent pitching from Harrison and a pair of big homers from two of their biggest bats to send the series back to Wrigley. ... It didn’t look promising for Texas early, as the Cubs got 3 singles, a walk, and reached on an error in the first pair of innings. But Chicago could muster just 1 unearned run out of all that, and thanks to Harrison, it was all they’d get. Harrison went 7.2 innings, allowing just 1 unearned run on 7 hits with 1 walk and 6 strikeouts. ... The Cubs maintained their 1-0 lead until Mike Napoli took Jon Lester deep in the bottom of the fifth to tie it 1-1. Then in the sixth inning, with 2 on and 2 out, Adrian Beltre launched a 3-run blast to left-center to put Texas up for good. ... Neftali Feliz pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to get the save.

At Chicago Wrigley Field

GAME SIX: Rangers 4, Cubs 3 — This time, Rangers RHP Alexi Ogando *did* have it and has helped send this series to a seventh game. ... Ogando allowed just 1 hit over 6 innings of work and was backed by a big game from LF Joey Hamilton, who went 3-for-5 with a double, a triple, an RBI, and 2 runs scored. Michael Young, batting behind Hamilton, also had a pair of hits and drove in 3 runs as Texas built a 4-1 lead and then hung on. ... Hamilton doubled off starter Jake Arrieta in the first inning to put runners at second and third. Young followed with a 2-run single up the middle to give the Rangers an early 2-0 edge. The Cubs got a run in the bottom of the first when Kris Bryant reached second on a throwing error by 3B Adrian Beltre. Bryant stole third, then scored on a wild pitch. ... Texas upped its lead to 4-1 with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh, including an RBI triple from Hamilton, followed by another run-scoring single by Young. However, Chicago struck back in the bottom of the seventh off reliever Mark Lowe, on a 418-foot, 2-run homer by Addison Russell. That forced manager Ron Washington to call for setup ace Mike Adams, who got the last out of the seventh, then pitched a clean eighth using only 13 pitches. ... Neftali Feliz worked around a 2-out walk in the ninth to pick up his second save of the series. ... For Game Seven, Rangers ace C.J. Wilson (16-7, 2.94 ERA // 0-1 with a 3.21 in this series) will square off against Chicago RHP Kyle Hendricks (16-8, 2.13 ERA // 1-0, 1.88 this series) with *everything* on the line.

GAME SEVEN: Cubs 8, Rangers 3 — Under ominous gray skies and the rumble of distant thunder, the 2016 Cubs appeared to be washing away early. Texas ambushed starter Kyle Hendricks for a 3-0 lead through three innings, punctuated by an Adrian Beltre home run and a Josh Hamilton triple off the centerfield ivy. With the Cubs’ momentum evaporating, a fourth-inning bullpen call seemed inevitable. ... Then, the clouds broke—for the hitters. After clawing back to 3-2 via bases-loaded walks in the fourth, Chicago ignited a fifth-inning firestorm. Dexter Fowler tripled and Kris Bryant singled to knot the game at 3-3, chasing Texas starter C.J. Wilson. The move to the bullpen backfired instantly: Willson Contreras greeted Colby Lewis by obliterating a three-run, stadium-shaking home run over the left-field wall. Moments later, Jorge Soler added a solo shot to cap a five-run outburst. ... Contreras wasn't finished, crushing a second home run in the seventh to extend the lead to 8-3. Even a 47-minute rain delay in the eighth couldn't dampen the spirits of the Wrigley faithful. While sputtering rain fell, the Cubs' bullpen—Carl Edwards Jr. and Pedro Strop—remained ice-cold, surrendering no hits over the final three frames. When the skies finally cleared, the celebration began, as the Cubs secured their place in the Bracket C semifinals. ... The 2016 CUBS WIN the series, 4 games to 3, outscoring the 2011 Rangers, 39-28.

MVP-1: Cubs C Willson Contreras: 9-for-32, 3 HR, 1 double, 10 RBI, 6 runs scored

MVP-2: Rangers LF Josh Hamilton: 10-for-28, 2 triples, 1 double, 2 RBI, 5 runs scored

MV-Pitcher: Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks: 2-0, 20.1 IP, 7 R, 6 ER, 17 H, 8 W, 12 K

2011 RANGERS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.236, 60-of-254); Extra-Base Hits: 18 (4 triples, 6 doubles, 8 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 8-5; Double Plays-Errors: 7-8; Walks-Strikeouts: 34-37 (-3).

2016 CUBS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.258, 67-of-260); Extra-Base Hits: 19 (1 triple, 8 doubles, 10 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 3-2; Double Plays-Errors: 6-8; Walks-Strikeouts: 23-51 (-28).

[webrian]

BRACKET C QUARTERFINALS

No. 8 1971 Pirates vs. No. 2 1970 ORIOLES

At Baltimore Memorial Stadium

GAME ONE: Pirates 7, Orioles 3 — Roberto Clemente jacked a 3-run home run to dead center field in the top of the first inning. That set the tone as the 1971 Pirates built a 7-0 lead and held on late. ... Orioles starter Jim Palmer never got comfortable. As soon as the home plate umpire cried “Play Ball!” Palmer gave up back-to-back singles to Dave Cash and Richie Hebner. Then Clemente belted a towering, 448-foot longball to deep center. The Orioles were down 3 runs before they recorded an out. Palmer’s first-inning struggles continued. He walked Willie Stargell and Bob Robertson on eight straight balls and eventually gave up an RBI single to Gene Clines. ... Palmer remained in the game until the fourth inning, when he gave up a 2-run homer to light-hitting shortstop Gene Alley. Manny Sanguillen homered in the sixth off Tom Phoebus to make it a 7-0 lead. ... Bucs starter Steve Blass went the distance, though he got knocked around a bit in the later innings. His line: 9 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 1 W, 4 K.

GAME TWO: Pirates 8, Orioles 3 — It happened again. Not just another home loss for the 1970 Orioles, but in almost the exact same way it happened in Game One. This time, LHP Dave McNally (24-9) took the mound for the O’s. He gave up two straight singles, and then up stepped Roberto Clemente, and YES, he hit another 3-run bomb. This one only went 326 feet and barely cleared the wall in left field, but it still counted. Two innings later, McNally gave up another 3-run blast to Manny Sanguillen, making it 6-0. An RBI single by Al Oliver in the top of the fourth gave the 1971 Bucs their second 7-0 lead in as many games. They cruised from there. ... Pittsburgh RHP Doc Ellis earned the win, despite an inconsistent performance. In 7.1 innings he gave up 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits with 5 walks and 6 strikeouts. The Pirates committed 4 errors in this game, but the mighty 1970 Orioles couldn’t take advantage. Now the No. 2 seeds are headed to Pittsburgh in a 2 games to 0 hole.

At Pittsburgh Three Rivers Stadium

GAME THREE: Pirates 3, Orioles 0 — The 1970 Orioles needed a travel day to regroup, but all the meetings and downtime went for naught—and so did Baltimore. ... Pittsburgh LHP Luke Walker gave up a single to Don Buford and a double to Paul Blair to lead off the top of the first. It looked like the O’s were on the verge of grabbing their first lead of the series. But then Boog Powell hit a tapper to the mound, and then Frank Robinson and Merv Rettenmund both struck out swinging. The Birds never got close to scoring again. ... Orioles LHP Mike Cuellar at least avoided falling into a hole in the first inning. In fact, this game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth, when Roberto Clemente crossed the plate on Willie Stargell’s 2-out double. Gene Alley’s RBI double in the seventh, and Gene Clines’ RBI single in the eighth gave the Bucs their second and third runs. Meanwhile, Walker and reliever Bob Miller combined on a 4-hit shutout, allowing only 2 singles after the first inning. ... The 1971 Pirates entered this series as underdogs but now stand on the threshold of not just eliminating the No. 2-seeded Orioles, but *sweeping* them.

GAME FOUR: Orioles 6, Pirates 4 — Jim Palmer returned to Cy Young form for 7 strong innings, allowing the Orioles to build a 4-run lead. That was just enough cushion for Baltimore to prevent a humiliating sweep and drag the series into a fifth game. ... Orioles C Elrod Hendricks went 3-for-3 with a double, 2 RBI, and a run scored, and both Boog Powell and Paul Blair drove in their first runs of the series. The Orioles took a 1-0 lead (their first of the series) on a Powell RBI double in the top of the first inning, then increased it to 2-0 on Mark Belanger’s RBI double in the top of the second. After seven innings, the Orioles led 5-1, but Palmer faltered in the eighth. With 1 out, Palmer yielded back-to-back singles to Dave Cash and Richie Hebner. Next came Roberto Clemente, and he delivered a high drive over CF Paul Blair’s head for a 2-run double. Baltimore skipper Earl Weaver then replaced Palmer with closer Pete Richert. He got Willie Stargell to ground out, but Bob Robertson and Manny Sanguillen followed with back-to-back singles, the first one plating Clemente to close the gap to 5-4. Finally, with runners at the corners and 2 out, Richert struck out Al Oliver to end the uprising. ... Baltimore got some insurance on Blair’s solo homer off Dave Giusti in the top of the ninth. Richert pitched a 1-2-3 bottom ninth to get the save.

GAME FIVE: Orioles 2, Pirates 1 — Once thou hast sinned, then shalt thou atone. Jim Palmer and Dave McNally helped dig the 1970 Orioles into their 3-game hole with poor outings in Games One and Two. Now it was McNally’s turn to redeem himself. The left-hander allowed just 1 run over seven innings, and the Orioles squeaked past the Pirates to stay alive for yet another game. ... The Pirates scored a run off McNally with 3 straight singles in the first inning, and it looked dire with only one out. But then McNally coaxed Manny Sanguillen into an inning-ending double play. After that, McNally pitched like a man born again. He kept the Pirates to a single run until his Orioles could get their bats going. They got just enough: Merv Rettenmund tied the game with a solo homer off Doc Ellis in the top of the sixth. Davey Johnson put the Birds in the lead, 2-1, with another solo shot in the seventh. ... The Pirates threatened in the late innings, but reliever Eddie Watt held them down. He pitched around a leadoff double in the eighth, then struck out Jose Pagan with the bases loaded in the ninth to slam the door. ... The Pirates squandered a golden opportunity to clinch at home. Now they must return to Baltimore for Game Six.

At Baltimore Memorial Stadium

GAME SIX: Orioles 10, Pirates 0 — Is it all coming together for the 1970 Orioles? Or is it all falling apart for the 1971 Pirates? The truth probably exists somewhere between those extremes, but here’s one fact: This is the last situation the Pirates wanted to find themselves in after gaining a 3 games to 0 lead. ... Baltimore scored early and often, and LHP Mike Cuellar had total command from the mound, pitching a complete-game, 4-hit shutout. The Orioles scored single runs in the first and second innings off LHP Luke Walker, then erupted for 4 more runs in the third, when Andy Etchebarren barreled a bases-loaded double into the right-centerfield gap. Paul Blair went 3-for-4 for the O’s, including a solo homer in the eighth that made it 10-0, delighting the home fans. ... The Bucs could have kept the score a bit closer, but with the game out of hand, there was no point wasting good pitchers on a bad outcome. ... The Orioles had their big day for the home fans. They smiled, patted each other on the back, waved to the crowd, certain that they had all the momentum back. The Pirates quietly stewed in the dugout, stoically going through the motions for the final few innings, looking forward to Game Seven in their own way.

GAME SEVEN: Orioles 5, Pirates 3 (10 innings) — Two hitters kept mostly in check throughout this series broke out in dramatic fashion to give this series an unforgettable conclusion. ... In the top of the ninth inning, the 1970 Orioles led 3-1 when Pittsburgh RF Roberto Clemente hit a leadoff single. Up stepped Willie Stargell, who had been held to 4-for-23 in the series with just 1 RBI. He watched 3 pitches go by and then swatted one 442 feet to the upper deck in right field. The 2-run homer tied the game and stunned the Baltimore crowd into silence as Pops jogged around the bases. Fortunately for the O’s, reliever Pete Richert struck out 3 of the next four batters. The Birds got a leadoff double from Elrod Hendricks in the bottom of the ninth, but Bucs reliever Nelson Briles retired the side after that, sending Game Seven to extra innings. ... Nothing happened until the bottom of the tenth. Orioles 1B Boog Powell singled after an 8-pitch battle with Briles. Next came RF Frank Robinson, just 6-for-29 in the series with 2 RBI. He crushed a series-ending, 2-run homer 398 feet to deep left field. A crowd of celebrating teammates awaited Robinson at home plate. The Orioles had just come back from a 3 games to 0 deficit to walk off the series and reach the Bracket C semifinals. ... Game Seven was scoreless through four innings, with Baltimore’s Jim Palmer and Pittsburgh’s Steve Blass matching each other pitch for pitch. Hendricks snapped the deadlock with a solo homer in the bottom of the fifth. The O’s went up 3-0 on Davey Johnson’s 2-run homer in the seventh. It seemed then that Baltimore had things well in hand. But no. Dave Cash singled to score Gene Clines in the top of the eighth to make it 3-1, setting up Stargell’s game-tying blast in the ninth. ... Palmer pitched well for eight innings before departing in the top of the ninth. His line: 8 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 2 W, 4 K. Blass surrendered 3 runs on 6 hits in 6.1 innings. ... The 1970 Orioles will take on the 2016 Cubs in the Bracket C semifinals. ... The 1970 ORIOLES WIN the series, 4 games to 3, outscoring the 1971 Pirates, 29-26.

MVP-1: Orioles 2B Davey Johnson: 6-for-22, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 4 runs scored

MVP-2: Pirates RF Roberto Clemente: 11-for-31, 2 HR, 1 double, 9 RBI, 6 runs scored

MV-Pitcher: Orioles LHP Mike Cuellar: 1-1, SO, 15.2 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 12 H, 0 W, 7 K.

1971 PIRATES TEAM STATS: Batting: (.260, 62-of-238); Extra-Base Hits: 16 (10 doubles, 6 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 4-3; Double Plays-Errors: 9-8; Walks-Strikeouts: 14-46 (-32).

1970 ORIOLES TEAM STATS: Batting: (.247, 58-of-235); Extra-Base Hits: 22 (1 triple, 12 doubles, 9 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 0-2; Double Plays-Errors: 7-1; Walks-Strikeouts: 28-27 (+1).

[webrian]

BRACKET D QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS

No. 12 2012 Giants (141) vs. No. 1 1998 YANKEES (187)

No. 9 1982 Brewers (147) vs. No. 4 1968 TIGERS (162)

No. 10 2023 Rangers (145) vs. No. 3 1986 METS (169)

No. 11 1980 Phillies (142) vs. No. 2 1944 CARDINALS (171)



BRACKET D QUARTERFINAL PREVIEWS

No. 12 2012 Giants at No. 1 1998 YANKEES

NOTES: The 1998 New York Yankees are largely recognized as the greatest Major League team of the modern era. Their power score of 187 — second only to the 1927 Yankees’ 189 — reflects their staggering overall prowess. These Yankees were a combustible mix of young superstars just entering their prime and grizzled veterans still in theirs. Most of these players had already won a World Series in 1996 but had the hunger and the energy to reach four more Fall Classics in a row, winning three of them. ... It goes almost unmentioned that the 1998 Yankees led the American League in pitching that year (3.82 ERA/4.0 runs allowed per game) because their lineup was so effective (6.0 runs per game). And yet, during that halcyon season, even this Yankees lineup barely received attention due to the Great Home Run Chase that year between juiced-up bro-huggers Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. ... The 1998 Yanks’ regular lineup didn’t have a single batter with an on-base-percentage (OBP) under .350. So, rather than concentrating the danger in 4 or 5 massive sluggers like past Yankee teams, these Yanks spread it out. In a lineup where every batter got on base 35 to 42 percent of the time, eight of the nine hitters had between 17 and 28 homers. Four batters had between 97 and 123 RBI — and none of them were Derek Jeter, whose team-high 203 hits produced just 84 RBI, while he scored a league-high 127 runs. Meanwhile, CF Bernie Williams led the AL with a .339 average to go with 30 doubles, 5 triples, 26 homers, and 97 RBI. ... If these Yankees didn’t overwhelm pitchers with their hitting, they grinded them down with patience. They took counts deep. They drew walks. They waited their opponents out, often erupting in the middle and late innings of close games. ... There was no race in the AL East in 1998. Though the Yankees lost 4 of their first 5 games on a West Coast swing to start the season, they rebounded by winning 22 of their next 24, never looking back. They cleared the division by a 22-game margin. In the postseason, the Yankees went 11-2 while outscoring Texas, Cleveland, and San Diego by a margin of 62-34. ... Do they have a weakness? In 1998, these Yankees had no weakness. However, in OOTP against top competition from different eras, a couple of vulnerabilities do show up. One, their pitching can be inconsistent. While the Yankees had the AL’s top overall staff in 1998, it still was 1998 — a big year for sluggers, not so great for pitchers. This puts them only slightly above average when competing across eras. Also, because 1998 was a year for hitters, Yankees batters suffer a slight penalty competing across eras. All of this is to say that, as strong as the 1998 Yankees are, they’re not unbeatable in OOTP.

2012 Giants Odds: I give the 2012 Giants a 25 percent chance to knock off the 1998 Yankees in a seven-game series. In real life? I wouldn’t give these Giants any chance at all. But OOTP’s algorithms hurt the 1998 Yankees, and actually boost the 2012 Giants, who typically overperform against competition from other years or eras. ... The 2012 Giants have stellar pitching in both their starting rotation (Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner) and bullpen (Sergio Romo, Jeremy Affeldt, etc). They almost never lack for a quality arm. ... As far as hitting goes, the 2012 Giants have a couple of decent hitters (Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval) but rely more on blind man’s luck. There’s a cohesive confidence in the lineup that, should Posey and Sandoval struggle, anyone else can pick up the slack. After all, in the Wild Card round, it was CF Angel Pagan and DH Joaquin Arias who helped San Francisco take some revenge on the 2002 Angels.

**

No. 9 1982 Brewers vs. No. 4 1968 TIGERS

NOTES: In the Year of the Pitcher, the 1968 Tigers seemed to have plenty of the pitching, and *all* of the hitting. They were the only American League team to score more than 4 runs per game (4.1). Meanwhile, the Tigers allowed the fewest runs (3.0) with the league’s third-best overall pitching staff (2.71 team ERA). ... Though 1968 was a remarkably tough year for hitters, Detroit had four batters with WAR above 5: C Bill Freehan (6.9), 2B Dick McAuliffe (5.6), LF Willie Horton (5.4), and CF Jim Northrup (5.8). That’s not even counting stalwarts like Norm Cash (3.5) at 1B, and Al Kaline (3.3) in RF. Four Tiger hitters had more than 20 homers, led by Horton’s 36. In a year when other teams starved for runs, the 103-win Tigers were eating just fine. ... Of course, they also had the pitching, led by Cy Young Award winner Denny McClain (31-6, 1.96 ERA, 154 ERA+) and left-handed World Series MVP Mickey Lolich (17-9, 3.19) ERA. They had a third strong starter in RHP Earl Wilson (13-12, 2.85 ERA), and a solid bullpen that spread 28 saves among seven different hurlers. ... Natually, with all that pitching and timely hitting, the 1968 Tigers thrived in close games, going 10-5 in extra-inning contests and 35-23 in one-run games.

1982 Brewers Odds: As strong as the 1968 Tigers undoubtedly are, they’ve never faced a group of hitters as formidable as “Harvey’s Wallbangers,” aka the 1982 Brewers. Let’s not forget, the Brewers are in these quarterfinals because they already upset the 2019 Nationals, another team with excellent starting pitchers. Why? Because these Milwaukee hitters just don’t care how good the pitching is. They’re going to take their cuts. They’re gonna swing their bats, drink their beer, dive for fly balls, grow their hair, and play the game with unbridled abandon. Yeah, they might lose a game 13-1, but then they might win another one 10-0. As long as there’s cold suds waiting afterward, these guys aren't going to overthink it. That’s what makes them dangerous. ... However, because they like their beer nice and cold after the game, these Brewers really hate extra-inning contests. In 1982, they were 5-14 when games went beyond nine innings. Only the Twins (1-13) were worse, but they were worse at everything. ... I give the 1982 Brewers a 15 percent chance to upset the 1968 Detroit Tigers. In other words, it’s probably not gonna happen.

**

No. 10 2023 Rangers vs. No. 3 1986 METS

NOTES: Here’s the good news, Mets fans. The players on the 1986 team have already guaranteed they will win this series. They haven’t played a game yet, but they’ve already had the t-shirts made: “1986 Mets! Bracket D Champions!” ... Laugh if you want, but a team can only be this confident when it’s *this good* and, yeah, the 1986 Mets really are that good. ... Incredibly, the 1986 Mets don’t boast any big offensive performers. Guys like slugging RF Darryl Strawberry (27 HR, 93 RBI), 1B Keith Hernandez (.310, 83 RBI) and C Gary Carter (24 HR, 105 RBI) seemed like big bats in 1986 but look smaller against the canvas of great historical hitters in this tournament. ... On the other hand, their pitching totally holds up, even though this 108-win team didn’t have a single 20-game winner on the staff. Though this was RHP Dwight Gooden’s third-best season in three years, he still went 17-6 with a 2.84 ERA and 200 strikeouts. That made him the third-best pitcher in the Mets’ loaded rotation, as LHP Bob Ojeda (18-5, 2.57) and RHP Ron Darling (15-6, 2.81), with LHP Sid Fernandez (16-6, 3.52, 200 Ks) almost as good. For this tournament, the Mets will start Gooden, Ojeda, and Fernandez and leave Darling in the bullpen for key mid-to-late inning situations. That will shore up the only potential weakness these Mets have: the bullpen. Outside of alternating closers Roger McDowell (22 saves) and Jesse Orosco (21 saves), the 1986 Mets didn’t have much need of a bullpen, so it’s a potential vulnerability if any of the starters struggle. ... Two things drove the 1986 Mets: one, their pitching, and two, their incredible team chemistry. No, they weren’t all snorting cocaine, getting in bar fights, or raw-dogging groupies between innings, but the “bad boys” and “straight arrows” had each other’s backs on the field. They got into a lot of brawls with other teams. The Mets’ arrogance and aggressive style of play rubbed a lot of opponents wrong. But when all was said and done, they were the champions. They dominated the National League in the regular season, then passed through the fire of a difficult NLCS and an excruciating World Series to be the last team standing. On top of all that talent and swaggering confidence, the Mets turned out to be pretty clutch as well. So yeah, they are *that good.*

2023 Rangers Odds: Not good. And that’s not saying the 2023 Rangers have never beaten an overconfident team. They shocked the dynastic Astros in the 2023 ALCS and needed only four games to take down the 2024 Dodgers in the Wild Card round. You could even say the 2023 Rangers thrive on being overlooked—and the 1986 Mets absolutely will overlook these guys. 108 wins compared to, what? 90 wins? Come on! But these Rangers have some dangerous tricks up their sleeve: One, they have two batters in their lineup who are better than anyone on the 1986 Mets. That starts at the top with Marcus Semien (7.7 WAR, 40 doubles, 4 triples, 29 HR, 100 RBI) and Corey Seager (7.2 WAR, 42 doubles, 33 HR, 96 RBI) with added pop coming from Adolis Garcia (39 HR, 107 RBI), Jonah Heim (18 HR, 95 RBI), and Nathaniel Lowe (38 doubles, 17 HR, 82 RBI). Two, these Rangers have one of the best managers of the past 20 years handling them, Bruce Bochy, who is a wizard at navigating postseason play. ... The 2023 Rangers really fall short when it comes to pitching, though RHPs Max Scherzer and Nathan Eovaldi should keep them in games they start. However, they’re just not as talented or as deep as the 1986 Mets, and that’s gonna tell on these Rangers in a seven-game series. So ... I give the 2023 Rangers a 20 percent chance to upset the 1986 Mets.

**

No. 11 1980 Phillies vs. No. 2 1944 CARDINALS

NOTES: The St. Louis Cardinals organization has not had much success in this tournament. Both the 1967 and 1985 teams lost in the Wild Card round, despite having been favored. But now, out of the foggy depths of the deep past comes a team powerful enough to erase all that disappointment: The 1944 Cardinals. Sure, they might look like a bunch of old-time grinning country boys to you, but they’ll rip your heart out. ... In 1944, the Cardinals logged their *third straight* season with at least 105 wins. That October, they defeated the crosstown Browns in six games to claim their second World Series title in three years. They honestly could have swept those Browns, but they kept it close so that both teams and the city of St. Louis could reap the benefits. ... The 1944 Redbirds weren’t so sparing with anyone else. Just as the summer swelter arrived, the Cards turned on their own heat, going 16-3 over a three-week span in June and then 26-4 through most of July and then 21-3 over the first three weeks of August. You’d have to spend a summer in St. Louis to understand the crazed relentlessness of all that winning. ... How did they do it? The 1944 Cardinals had, far and away, the best pitching in all of baseball. Their team ERA of 2.67 was almost a full run better than the league average. The highest ERA on their entire staff (3.40) belonged to reliever Bud Byerly, who only pitched 42 innings that year. The five-man starting rotation piled up 74 complete games and 21 shutouts, led by ace RHP Mort Cooper, who was 22-7 with a 2.46 ERA and a 145 ERA+. Cooper pitched 7 complete-game shutouts. The 1944 Cardinals only need three starters for this tournament, so they’ll use LHP Max Lanier (17-12, 2.65 ERA), RHP Mort Cooper (22-7, 2.46 ERA) and LHP Harry Brecheen (16-5, 2.85), saving a couple of their best pitchers for the bullpen: RHP Ted Wilks (17-4, 2.64 ERA) and RHP Red Munger (11-3, 1.34 ERA). The 1944 Cardinals can do this because they have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to pitching. ... Of course, these Cardinals have the bats too. In 1944, Stan Musial hit .347 with 51 doubles, 14 triples, 12 homers, and 94 RBI with a .440 on-base percentage. Musial’s normal wingman Enos Slaughter was off fighting in the war in 1944, so Johnny Hopp stepped up, batting .336 with 35 doubles, 9 triples, 11 HR, 72 RBI, and 106 runs scored while mostly batting leadoff. They also had league MVP Marty Marion, who had a competent bat but won the award for his scintillating defense. He was the Ozzie Smith of the 1940s. St. Louis also had 1B Ray Sanders (.295, 34 doubles, 9 triples, 12 HR, 105 RBI), C Walker Cooper (.317, 25 doubles, 5 triples, 13 HR, 72 RBI), and 3B Whitey Kurowski, who led the team with 20 homers. ... The 1944 Cardinals led the NL in both scoring (4.9 runs per game) and preventing runs (3.1 allowed per game).

1980 Phillies Chances: I can only give the Phils a 15 to 20 percent chance to upset the 1944 Cardinals. ... Still, these Phillies are way better than their 91-71 record, as 1980 saw a lot of parity in baseball, especially in the National League. This is a talented, gritty 1980 Phillies squad full of no-nonsense veteran HOF’ers (LHP Steve Carlton, CL Tug McGraw, C Bob Boone, 3B Mike Schmidt, 1B Pete Rose) who know how to win. ... Carlton, in fact, might be more talented than any one pitcher on the 1944 Cardinals’ staff — but he’s only one guy, and he can only go every three games. The Phillies will *need* these veterans to hold their own, plus either Dick Ruthven or Bob Walk to also pitch well to give them any real shot.

[webrian]

BRACKET D QUARTERFINALS

No. 12 2012 Giants vs. No. 1 1998 YANKEES

At New York Yankees Stadium

GAME ONE: Yankees 2, Giants 1 (10 innings) — Giants RHP Matt Cain pitched beautifully for most of eight innings, but all in vain. In the bottom of the eighth, with San Francisco clinging to a 1-0 lead and Cain protecting a 2-hit shutout, Yankees LF Shane Spencer homered to left on a low, twisting liner just inside the foul pole. That tied the score. In the bottom of the tenth, RF Paul O’Neill bounced a single up the middle to score C Jorge Posada with the winning run. ... Cain had the Yankees off their game for seven-plus innings. Through six, he’d thrown just 70 pitches. The game remained scoreless until the top of the eighth, when Hunter Pence blooped a 2-out single to left, scoring Angel Pagan from second. Cain’s line: 8 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 W, 6 K. ... Yankees starter David Cone also pitched well, but departed after Pence’s RBI single in the eighth. Cone’s line: 7.2 IP, 1 ER, 7 H, 3 W, 4 K. ... Sergio Romo took the loss even though it was Jose Mijares who gave up the walk-off single to O’Neill. ... Mariano Rivera pitched a 1-2-3 top of the tenth to earn the win.

GAME TWO: Yankees 9, Giants 0 — Yankees LHP David Wells pitched a 1-hit shutout using just 98 pitches. Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner started off strong but began to unravel after Jorge Posada hit his *second* home run of the game in the sixth inning. ... Posada’s first homer, in the bottom of the third, sailed 400 feet over the wall in left-centerfield, giving the Yankees a 1-0 lead. His second, leading off the sixth, went 415 feet to right-centerfield and made it a 2-0 lead. But then Bumgarner fell apart, giving up singles to 3 of the next 4 batters, including an RBI hit to Paul O’Neill making it 3-0. Left-handed reliever Jeremy Affeldt then took over for Bummy, but he wasn’t the answer. By the time the inning was over, the Yankees had a commanding 6-0 lead. ... Wells’ line for the game: 9 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 4 K.

At San Francisco Oracle Park

GAME THREE: Yankees 14, Giants 3 — Eight of the nine batters in the 1998 Yankees’ lineup had multiple hits in New York’s 19-hit assault. The one with only one hit was Jorge Posada, but his hit was a 3-run homer, his third round-tripper of the series. ... This was another cake walk for the bracket’s No. 1 seed. The Yankees pounced on RHP Ryan Vogelsong with 4 runs on 5 hits and a walk in the first inning. Vogelsong stayed in the game and repaid his manager’s faith with four subsequent solid innings, in which he allowed just 1 run while the Giants clawed their way to within 5-2. But then in the sixth, the Yanks got busy again, scoring 4 more runs to put the contest well out of reach. In the eighth, New York tacked on another 4 runs, 3 of them on Posada’s homer. ... Yankees LHP Andy Pettitte went the whole way. His line: 9 IP, 3 ER, 9 H, 2 W, 5 K. ... The Giants will have Matt Cain back on the mound for Game Four, hoping he can help them turn things around.

GAME FOUR: Yankees 8, Giants 5 — The 2012 Giants overcame an early 3-0 deficit and took a 4-3 lead to the eighth — but they couldn’t hold it. The 1998 Yankees erupted for 5 runs in the eighth and rolled to a four-game sweep, the first one in this tournament. ... RHP Matt Cain carried the possibility of a turnaround to the mound in the first inning but was greeted rudely. Yankees SS Derek Jeter launched a 463-foot solo home run to centerfield. Three batters later, 1B Tino Martinez crushed a 2-run shot to make it 3-0. ... The Giants got 2 runs back in the bottom of the first on a 2-run double by Hunter Pence, who was thrown out at third trying to stretch his hit into a triple. They tied it in the third inning, when C Buster Posey doubled to score Pablo Sandoval. The Giants took a 4-3 lead in the fourth on an RBI single by Joaquin Arias. That almost chased Yankees starter David Cone, but he got the next batter to hit into a double play, limiting the damage. ... Cain shook off his poor first inning and seemed to get stronger with each inning — until the eighth. With one out, Chuck Knoblauch singled, and then Derek Jeter doubled, putting runners at second and third. Giants skipper Bruce Bochy signaled to his bullpen for closer Sergio Romo, who got Paul O’Neill to hit into a fielder’s choice out at home. But next came Bernie Williams, who lined a double into the right field corner, scoring 2 runs and putting the Yankees back on top 5-4. After an intentional walk to Tino Martinez, DH Tim Raines ripped a 3-run homer into the RF bleachers. 8-4 Yanks. ... Yankees reliever Ramiro Mendoza gave up a meaningless run in the bottom of the ninth, but then Marco Scutaro grounded out to shortstop, and the Yankees’ celebration began. ... The 1998 YANKEES SWEEP the series, 4 games to 0, outscoring the 2012 Giants, 33-9.

MVP-1: Yankees RF Paul O’Neill: 8-for-19, 2 doubles, 5 RBI, 5 runs scored, .500 OBP

MVP-2: Yankees CF Bernie Williams: 6-for-15, 3 doubles, 3 RBI, 6 runs scored, .500 OBP

MV-Pitcher: Yankees LHP David Wells: 1-0, SO, 9 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 4 K.

2012 GIANTS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.220, 29-of-132); Extra-Base Hits: 4 (3 doubles, 1 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 2-1; Double Plays-Errors: 2-2; Walks-Strikeouts: 10-18 (-8).

1998 YANKEES TEAM STATS: Batting: (.316, 48-of-152); Extra-Base Hits: 17 (9 doubles, 8 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 4-2; Double Plays-Errors: 3-0; Walks-Strikeouts: 9-22 (-13).

[webrian]

BRACKET D QUARTERFINALS

No. 9 1982 Brewers vs. No. 4 1968 TIGERS

At Detroit Tiger Stadium

GAME ONE: Brewers 6, Tigers 4 — The 1982 Brewers jumped out to a 4-0 lead and then added a pair of insurance runs in the ninth to take Game One. ... Detroit starter Denny McLain decided his best approach was to challenge Milwaukee’s aggressive hitters, and he paid for it. Robin Yount rocked him for a solo homer in the first inning. Ben Ogilvie tagged him for a 2-run shot in the third, and suddenly, the favored Tigers were down 4-0. ... Brewers starter Don Sutton, meanwhile, limited Detroit to just 2 hits through the first six innings, though one of them was a 2-run homer by Al Kaline. A solo blast by Norm Cash brought the Tigers within 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh, but Sutton remained poised. He didn’t give up another hit until Jim Northrup tripled with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Cecil Cooper booted a ground ball allowing Northrup to score Detroit’s fourth run, but closer Rollie Fingers got Gates Brown to hit an easy groundout to first. ... Sutton’s line: 8.2 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 5 H, 0 W, 5 K.

GAME TWO: Brewers 5, Tigers 3 — Holy smokes; the 1982 Brewers are doing it again. This time, they showed they can also play from behind. Norm Cash clobbered a Pete Vuckovich slider for a 3-run homer in the first inning to give the 1968 Tigers a 3-0 lead. This is the first time Milwaukee has trailed in the entire tournament. No sweat! The Brewers chipped away at LHP Mickey Lolich until they tied the score, then in the top of the seventh, with 2 on and 1 out, pinch-hitter Ned Yost tripled to the left-centerfield gap to put the Brewers on top, 5-3. ... Vuckovich recovered from that first-inning homer and pitched into the seventh inning, allowing only 3 more singles and no more runs. Vuck’s assortment of fluttery breaking pitches and sliders confounded the Tigers. LHP Mike Caldwell and closer Rollie Fingers finished up the game, allowing just 2 singles over the final 2.1 innings. ... The 1968 Tigers trail 0 games to 2 and now must go on the road.

At Milwaukee County Stadium

GAME THREE: Tigers 8, Brewers 4 — Gates Brown’s 3-run homer in the top of the eighth inning snapped a 3-3 tie and turned this game around. The 1968 Tigers are hoping it turns the series around too. ... An overjoyed crowd greeted the 1982 Brewers as they took the field, and the Crew acknowledged the enthusiasm with consecutive singles by Paul Molitor, Robin Yount, and Cecil Cooper to open the bottom of the first. A pair of sacrifice flies gave the Brewers an early 2-0 lead. It expanded to 3-0 in the fifth when Molitor scored on a triple by Yount. ... But this time, the Tigers clawed all the way back. They got single tallies on sacrifice flies in the sixth and seventh innings off LHP Bob McClure, then struck for three straight singles in the top of the eighth off reliever Dwight Bernard. The third, an RBI hit by C Bill Freehan, tied the score with runners at first and third. The lefty Mike Caldwell relieved Bernard to face left-handed hitter Gates Brown, but Brown drilled him 388 feet over the right field wall to make it a 6-3 Tigers lead. ... In the ninth, Norm Cash ripped a 2-run double down the RF line to make it 8-3. ... Milwaukee loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth but mustered just a run on a wild pitch against reliever Don McMahon. ... RHP Earl Wilson earned the win. His line: 7 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 W, 5 K. ... Milwaukee’s Bob McClure also pitched well (6.1 IP, 2 ER, 8 H, 0 W, 5 K) but was let down by his bullpen.

GAME FOUR: Tigers 5, Brewers 1 — Denny McLain returned to form and Gates Brown hit another decisive 3-run bomb as the Tigers evened the series at 2 games apiece. ... Detroit’s Al Kaline went 3-for-5 with a homer and 2 runs scored. He scored on a Willie Horton sacrifice fly to break a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth. Later in the same inning, Brown hit a 2-out, 3-run homer 386 feet to right to make it a 4-0 Tigers lead. Kaline’s homer in the top of the fifth made it 5-0. ... Meanwhile, McLain pitched in and out of jams. He gave up a solo homer to Robin Yount in the bottom of the fifth but otherwise kept the Brew Crew in check. His line: 8 IP, 1 R, 7 H, 2 W, 6 K. The Brewers made McLain work for it, though, costing him 146 pitches over those 8 innings. Don Sutton took the loss, though he only struggled in that 4-run fourth.

GAME FIVE: Tigers 9, Brewers 7 — You’d never guess it from the final score, but Mickey Lolich took a 1-hit shutout to the bottom of the ninth inning. That’s right. The Tigers were up 9-0 and cruising when the 1982 Brewers exploded for 7 runs in their last at-bat. The outburst forced the 1968 Tigers to use their stopper, Pat Dobson, just to survive. Dobson put out the fire, and now the series swings back to Detroit with the favored Tigers now leading 3 games to 2. ... The 1982 Brewers are finding the 1968 Tigers to be much tougher opponents the second time around. In Game Two, Milwaukee starter Pete Vuckovich had Detroit’s hitters off balance with his salvage-yard assortment of slow changeups, slower sliders, and dirty fastballs. Not this time. The Tigers used patience and strategy to chase Vuckovich with a 6-run third inning that included a 2-run triple by Jim Northrup and a 2-run double by Gates Brown, who now has 9 RBI in the series. Al Kaline’s third homer of the series made it 9-0 in the top of the ninth. ... Lolich hoped to put the finishing touches on his pitching gem in the ninth, but the Crew had other ideas. The first 3 batters reached, including red-hot Robin Yount on a 2-run triple. That was the end of Lolich’s day. Not wanting to waste a precious arm, the Tigers sent in mop-up guy Fred Lasher. The Crew pounced all over him with two walks, a flyout, a single, and then *another* triple, this one by Don Money, cutting the margin to 9-6. So then Dobson had to come in. He gave up a sacrifice fly but then retired Jim Ganter on a game-ending groundout to first. ... Lolich’s final line: 8 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 H, 1 W, 6 K.

At Detroit Tigers Stadium

GAME SIX: Tigers 5, Brewers 1 — Earl Wilson understood the assignment. The No. 3 man in the 1968 Tigers tournament rotation took the mound determined to keep Milwaukee’s hitters quiet. And he did. Wilson yielded just 1 run on 4 hits and 4 walks over 9 innings as the Tigers ended the 1982 Brewers’ upset dreams. ... Meanwhile, Detroit’s Dick McAuliffe provided all the necessary offense, going 3-for-4 with a triple, a double, 2 RBI, and a run scored. McAuliffe’s 2-out, 2-run double in the bottom of the sixth turned a narrow 2-1 lead to a commanding 4-1 advantage. His first-inning triple helped Detroit take a 1-0 lead, which grew to 2-0 on Willie Horton’s solo homer in the fourth. The Brewers cut that lead in half on Mark Brouhard’s RBI single in the top of the fifth. ... The series loss is a bummer for Brewers SS Robin Yount, who performed heroically, going 9-for-24 with 2 homers and 5 RBI. But the 1968 Tigers had three players with at least 6 RBI, in Al Kaline, Norm Cash, and Gates Brown, who drove in 9 runs. ... The 1968 Tigers will meet the 1998 Yankees in the Bracket D semifinals. ... The 1968 TIGERS WIN the series, 4 games to 2, outscoring the 1982 Brewers, 34-34.

MVP-1: Tigers RF Al Kaline: 9-for-26, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 8 runs scored

MVP-2: Tigers OF/DH Gates Brown: 7-for-21, 2 HR, 1 double, 9 RBI, 5 runs scored

MV-Pitcher: Tigers RHP Earl Wilson: 2-0, 16 IP, 4 R, 4 ER, 10 H, 6 W, 9 K.

1982 BREWERS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.226, 44-of-195); Extra-Base Hits: 13 (4 triples, 4 doubles, 5 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 3-0; Double Plays-Errors: 4-8; Walks-Strikeouts: 20-31 (-11).

1968 TIGERS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.266, 53-of-207); Extra-Base Hits: 17 (3 triples, 5 doubles, 9 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 2-1; Double Plays-Errors: 5-4; Walks-Strikeouts: 21-34 (-13).

[webrian]

BRACKET D QUARTERFINALS

No. 10 2023 Rangers vs. No. 3 1986 METS

At New York Shea Stadium

GAME ONE: Rangers 10, Mets 7 (10 innings) — A cramp in Rick Aguilera’s leg has put a crimp in the 1986 Mets’ plans. Called on to relieve Roger McDowell in the tenth inning of a 5-5 tie, Aguilera struck out one batter, then left the mound, wincing in pain. New York skipper Davey Johnson had to go to his third reliever of the night, lefty Jesse Orosco, who soon had all of New York wincing in pain as he gave up 5 runs on 4 singles and 1 walk. Rangers 2B Marcus Semien’s bases-loaded, 2-run single up the middle snapped the tie and gave Texas a 7-5 lead. The Rangers added 3 more insurance runs, then held off a Mets rally in the bottom of the tenth to snag the victory. ... Evan Carter went 4-for-5 with a run scored for the Rangers, while Adolos Garcia had 3 hits including a 2-run homer. ... Ray Knight’s 2-run homer in the bottom of the second inning gave the 1986 Mets a 2-0 lead before Garcia’s homer tied it. Knight also had an RBI double in the tenth inning, as the Mets got within 10-7, but no closer.

GAME TWO: Mets 8, Rangers 4 — An Adolis Garcia 2-run bomb in the top of the first inning but the 1986 Mets on notice right away — but, wow, how they responded. Every hitter in the Mets lineup had at least one hit and seven different guys drove in runs. A 2-run homer by C Gary Carter in the bottom of the fifth gave the hosts some breathing room. However, the Rangers chased LHP Bob Ojeda with 2 runs in the top of the eighth, with Corey Seager’s RBI single cutting the margin to 5-4. The Mets responded again with 3 runs in the bottom of the eighth, on 3 singles and 3 walks. ... Roger McDowell earned the save for the 1986 Mets.

At Texas Globe Life Field

GAME THREE: Rangers 7, Mets 4 — Just when the Mets thought they had their swagger back, the Rangers blitzed them with 6 unanswered runs to take a 2 games to 1 lead. ... Early homers by Gary Carter (in the first inning) and Darryl Strawberry (in the fourth) had the 1986 Mets on top 4-1 after four and a half innings. Rangers starter Max Scherzer was wobbling, and Mets LHP Sid Fernandez was on track. ... Then in the bottom of the fifth, the tables turned. Fernandez hit a rough patch with a pair of Rangers on base with 2 outs. Then DH Mitch Garver hammered a 3-run homer to left field to knot the score at 4-4. ... In the sixth, Fernandez continued to struggle. Leody Taveras singled with one out, then stole second, and then scored on Josh Jung’s line-drive single past shortstop. Ron Darling came in to provide relief, but the Rangers knocked him around too, with Corey Seager’s 2-run double making it 7-4. Seager finished the game 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and a run scored. ... Scherzer’s line: 7 IP, 4 R, 4 ER, 8 H, 0 W, 4 K. ... Jose LeClerc picked up the save with 2 innings of hitless relief.

GAME FOUR: Mets 2, Rangers 0 — Dwight Gooden and two relievers combined to shut out the 2023 Texas Rangers and knot this series at 2 games apiece. ... Mets hitters Mookie Wilson and Ray Knight each drove in a run in New York’s 2-run second inning. Gooden had to make it stand — but this was not a typical dominating shutout. Gooden labored, allowing 4 hits and 3 walks while every Rangers hitter worked a deep count. At the end of six innings, Gooden had thrown 123 pitches. He was done, but unfortunately, the Mets still had a fragile 2-0 lead to protect with three innings left. With Ron Darling needing rest and Jesse Orosco possibly unreliable (see Game One) skipper Davey Johnson called on Rick Aguilera, who had cramped up in extra innings in Game One. Aguilera gave up 2 hits and a walk over the seventh and eighth innings but kept Texas off the scoreboard. In the ninth, McDowell came in and got 3 quick outs — except the third was a strikeout and passed ball, and Josh Jung managed to reach first. Next, Marcus Semien singled, and now the crowd was into it with superstar Corey Seager stepping in. Seager worked the count full but then tapped out harmlessly to first base. Series tied.

GAME FIVE: Rangers 8, Mets 1 — Marcus Semien hit LHP Bobby Ojeda’s second pitch of the game down the third base line, all the way to the corner for a leadoff triple. That was the opening salvo to a 4-run first inning. Semien also ripped a 2-run double in the bottom of the second to make it 6-0 as the 2023 Rangers cruised. ... This game had none of the tension of Game Four. After Jonah Heim’s bases-clearing double in the first inning, the Mets were already too far behind, and their starter had nothing. ... Rangers LHP Jordan Montgomery went the distance: 9 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 1 W, 5 K. ... Now the series shifts back to Shea Stadium, where the 2023 Rangers will try to finish the job the 1986 Red Sox couldn’t.

At New York Shea Stadium

GAME SIX: Rangers 4, Mets 1 — This tournament now has its Cinderella. The 2023 Texas Rangers began the Wild Card round as the No. 10 seed in their bracket. They’ve now upset one of the top ball clubs in the entire apparatus: the mighty 1986 New York Mets. And they never looked like a “Cinderella” while doing it. The 2023 Rangers played like the stronger team. They pitched better, played smoother defense, hit more consistently, and applied all the pressure. The 1986 Mets spent all six games trying to overcome what the Rangers threw at them, when seeding suggested it should have been the other way around. ... IN GAME SIX, Rangers starter Max Scherzer held the Mets to 3 hits over 7 innings while walking 3 and striking out 3. New York scored its only run (unearned) when CF Leody Taveras dropped a flyball in centerfield to put Wally Backman on base. Four batters and 2 outs later, Kevin Mitchell singled him home to cut the Rangers lead to 2-1. That’s where it stayed until the top of the seventh. With two runners on, Rangers RF Adolis Garcia lined a 2-out, 2-RBI double off the top of the centerfield wall to make it 4-1. By then, RHP Ron Darling was pitching in relief of starter Sid Fernandez, who yielded 2 runs on 4 hits and 5 walks (with 4 strikeouts) over 5 laborious innings. ... The Rangers built a 2-0 lead on single tallies in the first and fourth innings, with RBI singles from LF Robbie Grossman and 3B Josh Jung. ... Scherzer departed after 7 innings for closer Will Smith. The normally “clutch” Mets mustered only a walk against Smith over the eighth and ninth innings, while striking out twice. ... The 2023 RANGERS WIN the series, 4 games to 2, outscoring the 1986 Mets, 33-23.

MVP-1: Rangers C/DH Mitch Garver: 7-for-13, HR, 2 doubles, 6 RBI, 7 runs scored

MVP-2: Rangers RF Adolis Garcia: 7-for-24, 2 HR, 1 triple, 1 double, 7 RBI, 3 runs scored

MV-Pitcher: Rangers RHP Max Scherzer: 2-0, 14 IP, 5 R, 4 ER, 11 H, 3 W, 7 K

2023 RANGERS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.259, 55-of-212); Extra-Base Hits: 15 (2 triples, 10 doubles, 3 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 2-1; Double Plays-Errors: 5-4; Walks-Strikeouts: 21-33 (-12).

1986 METS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.247, 51-of-206); Extra-Base Hits: 15 (1 triple, 9 doubles, 5 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 2-3; Double Plays-Errors: 7-11; Walks-Strikeouts: 15-33 (-18).

[webrian]

BRACKET D QUARTERFINALS

No. 11 1980 Phillies vs. No. 2 1944 CARDINALS

At St. Louis Sportsman’s Park

GAME ONE: Cardinals 4, Phillies 3 (11 innings) — Backup shortstop George Fallon slid home with the winning run after a wild pitch to Stan Musial in the eleventh inning. That run lifted the Cardinals to a 1-0 advantage in the series. Musial was batting against lefty reliever Tug McGraw with two outs and the bases loaded. McGraw had fallen behind in the count 3 balls and 1 strike, then uncorked the wild pitch. ... St. Louis’ Johnny Hopp tagged LHP Steve Carlton for a solo homer leading off the bottom of the first. But the Phillies took the lead on a Garry Maddux 2-run blast in the top of the second, off LHP Max Lanier. An RBI double by Bob Boone had pushed the lead to 3-1 in the fourth inning, but the Cardinals tied it 3-3 on Ray Sanders’ 2-run single in the fifth. The score remained knotted until the bottom of the eleventh inning. ... Carlton allowed 3 earned runs on 6 hits over 8 innings, with 3 walks and 6 strikeouts. Meanwhile, St. Louis’ Lanier gave up 3 earned runs on 8 hits over 6 innings, while also striking out 6. ... Cardinals reliever Al Jurisch picked up the win in relief.

GAME TWO: Phillies 4, Cardinals 1 — The 1980 Phillies needed a boost after failing to win with ace Steve Carlton in Game One. Dick Ruthven provided it. The salty right-hander pitched a complete-game, 4-hitter to even the series. Cardinals LF Stan Musial hit a pair of doubles and scored a run, but the rest of the lineup might as well have been napping. ... Phillies RF Bake McBride hit a solo homer off LHP Harry Brecheen in the top of the fourth inning. In the sixth, 3B Mike Schmidt made it 3-0 with a 2-run blast onto the roof of the leftfield bleachers. In the top of the ninth, facing Ted Wilks, McBride drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the fourth Phillies run. ... The series now shifts to Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia for Games Three, Four, and Five.

At Philadelphia Veterans Stadium

GAME THREE: Cardinals 7, Phillies 2 — Mort Cooper pitched a complete game. Meanwhile, Walker Cooper had an early 2-run single and Whitey Kurowski had a late 3-run homer as the 1944 Cardinals overwhelmed the 1980 Phillies. ... Mort Cooper, in fact, had a gem going until the Phillies loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth on a walk, a single, and an uncharacteristic error by SS Marty Marion. All of that allowed the Phillies to squeeze out an unearned run at the end, but Cooper still dominated. His line: 9 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 5 H, 4 W, 4 K. ... Stan Musial also picked up 2 more hits and scored a run, raising his series average to .417. ... The Phillies will have ace Steve Carlton back on the hill for Game Four.

GAME FOUR: Cardinals 4, Phillies 2 — Danny Litwhiler jolted a pair of solo homers and Marty Marion hit a key 2-run single to back a solid performance by LHP Max Lanier. ... Both of Litwhiler’s homers —one in the second inning, the other in the sixth— came off LHP Steve Carlton. The second came just moments after the Phillies had pulled within 3-2 on an RBI single by Mike Schmidt in the fifth. Marion’s 2-run single in the top of the fourth gave the 1944 Cardinals a 3-0 advantage. ... Lanier allowed 2 runs on 6 hits over 8 innings. Red Munger pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.

GAME FIVE: Phillies 6, Cardinals 0 — The 1944 Cardinals just can’t solve Dick Ruthven. The right-hander threw a complete-game shutout to help the 1980 Phillies avoid elimination. The Phillies also busted out offensively, greeting starter Harry Brecheen with three straight singles before RF Bake McBride slapped a 2-run single up the middle. The lead ballooned to 5-0 in the third when Greg Luzinski crushed a towering, 455-foot 3-run homer to more or less end Brecheen’s day. ... Pete Rose broke out of an 0-for-14 slump with 3 hits and 2 runs scored. ... Now the series swings back to St. Louis (up 3 games to 2) for a sixth game.

At St. Louis Sportsman's Park

GAME SIX: Cardinals 4, Phillies 3 (14 innings) — It took 14 innings and a clutch hit from one of their weakest hitters, but the 1944 Cardinals are flitting into the Bracket D semifinals. ... A 3-0 lead became a 3-3 tie, which became 5 extra innings of work. It all ended when 2B Emil Verban —who had been 3-for-23 in the series— slapped a hard ground ball up the middle with Danny Litwhiler taking off from second base. Phillies CF Garry Maddox swooped in to field the ball in short center, but his throw to the plate was a split-second late as backup C Keith Moreland whirled around to apply the tag. SAFE! The 1944 Cardinals could at last celebrate. ... In the first inning, Johnny Hopp beat a similar play at the plate after a Stan Musial single to give the Redbirds a 1-0 lead. It became 3-0 in the bottom of the third when Walker Cooper hit an RBI double and then scored on another Musial single. ... From there, it looked like Cardinals’ ace Mort Cooper might cruise to a shutout win. He had allowed just 2 hits through the first 6 innings —but he found trouble in the seventh. The Phillies loaded the bases with 1 out, and then Pete Rose singled past a diving SS Marty Marion to plate 2 runs, cutting the lead to 3-2. In the top of the eighth, reliever Ted Wilks gave up a single to Larry Bowa, with Manny Trillo racing around from second to score. That tied the contest 3-3. ... Though Wilks gave up the game-tying single, he emerged as the hero, turning in 6.1 innings of strong relief, yielding just 1 hit and 1 walk over the ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth innings. ... The Phillies bullpen of Ron Reed, Tug McGraw, and Larry Christensen almost equaled Wilks, allowing just 3 hits and 1 walk over 7.2 innings of work. ... The 1944 Cardinals will take on the 2023 Rangers in the bracket semifinals. ... The 1944 CARDINALS WIN the series, 4 games to 2, tying the 1980 Phillies 20-20 in total runs scored.

MVP-1: Cardinals LF Stan Musial: 10-for-26, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, 3 runs scored

MVP-2: Phillies CF Garry Maddox: 7-for-24, HR, 2 doubles, 3 RBI, 4 runs scored

MV-Pitcher: Phillies RHP Dick Ruthven: 2-0, SO, 18 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 9 H, 5 W, 9 K.

1980 PHILLIES TEAM STATS: Batting: (.208, 44-of-211); Extra-Base Hits: 13 (1 triple, 8 doubles, 4 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 3-3; Double Plays-Errors: 3-4; Walks-Strikeouts: 18-35 (-17).

1944 CARDINALS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.213, 47-of-221); Extra-Base Hits: 9 (5 doubles, 4 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 3-2; Double Plays-Errors: 4-1; Walks-Strikeouts: 21-37 (-16).

[webrian]

**** THE SWEET SIXTEEN ****

Bracket A Semifinals

No. 5 1953 BROOKLYN DODGERS vs. No. 1 1927 NEW YORK YANKEES

No. 6 1962 SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS vs. No. 2 2018 BOSTON RED SOX

Bracket B Semifinals

No. 5 2004 BOSTON RED SOX vs. No. 1 2001 SEATTLE MARINERS

No. 3 1975 CINCINATTI REDS vs. No. 2 1929 PHILADELPHIA ATHLETICS

Bracket C Semifinals

No. 5 1998 ATLANTA BRAVES vs. No. 1 2019 HOUSTON ASTROS

No. 3 2016 CHICAGO CUBS vs. No. 2 1970 BALTIMORE ORIOLES

Bracket D Semifinals

No. 4 1968 DETROIT TIGERS vs. No. 1 1998 NEW YORK YANKEES

No. 10 2023 TEXAS RANGERS vs. No. 2 1944 ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

[webrian]

BRACKET A SEMIFINALS

No. 5 1953 Dodgers vs. No. 1 1927 YANKEES

At New York Yankee Stadium

GAME ONE: Yankees 3, Dodgers 1 — The 1953 Dodgers came into this series having averaged 8.4 runs per game against the 2023 Phillies and 1995 Indians. Waite Hoyt and the 1927 Yankees didn’t seem intimidated. ... Hoyt limited the Dodgers to 1 run on 5 hits over 8 innings and got support from Lou Gehrig, who went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and an RBI. ... Gehrig suffered through a 2-for-22 slump in the 1927 Yankees’ six-game victory over the 2003 Marlins in the quarterfinals. His first two-bagger of the game drove in teammate Babe Ruth to give the Yanks a 3-1 lead. ... The 1953 Dodgers got on the board first. Pee Wee Reese led off the game with a solid single to right field, then later scored on Roy Campanella’s RBI single. The Yankees tied it on Ben Paschal’s solo homer to left in the bottom of the second, then took the lead on Bob Meusel’s solo homer in the fourth inning. ... Wilcy Moore pitched around a single in the ninth inning to earn the save.

GAME TWO: Yankees 8, Dodgers 7 (12 innings) — Right fielder Ben Paschal singled in the bottom of the twelfth inning and Lou Gehrig raced all the way home from second with the winning run to complete an exhilarating comeback. ... The 1953 Dodgers led the 1927 Yankees 7-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning. However, the Yanks quickly seized the momentum on back-to-back pitches. First, 2B Tony Lazzeri swatted a solo homer to make it 7-4. It was his second round-tripper of the game. On the very next pitch, Paschal hit a drive deep to the left-centerfield gap that rolled all the way to the wall. Paschal rounded the bases for an inside-the-park home run, bringing the entire stadium to its feet. Nevertheless, the Dodgers still led 7-5 and decided to replace reliever Johnny Podres with right-handed stopper Clem Labine. He gave up a single to pinch hitter Ray Morehart but then retired both C Pat Collins and CF Earle Combs. With the Yanks down to their last out, SS Mark Koenig shot a hard single up the middle, putting runners at first and third with Babe Ruth coming up. Labine quickly got Ruth down in the count, 1 ball and 2 strikes. But then the Bambino got hold of a slider and hit an arching liner over RF Carl Furillo’s head and off the warning track. Both runners scored on the double, tying the game 7-7! Labine then intentionally walked Gehrig and retired Meusel on a groundout, but everything had changed. ... Yankees left-handed reliever Dutch Ruether pitched 3.2 scoreless innings to help make the victory possible, though it was Wilcy Moore who earned the win after throwing just 6 pitches in the top of the twelfth. ... The 1953 Dodgers owned the first 8 innings of the contest. Jim Gillian and Duke Snider had 3 hits and 2 RBI apiece as Brooklyn built its 7-3 lead. Snider had a pair of RBI doubles; Gilliam had a triple. Left fielder Jackie Robinson had a solo home run in the sixth inning. ... Lazzeri’s first homer of the game, in the third inning, was a 2-run inside-the-park homer. The Yankees hit a total of 3 homers in this game — 2 were inside-the-park, which is always a possibility at that cavernous ballpark, especially when balls are hit into “death valley,” the great expanse in left-centerfield. ... The series now shifts to cozy Ebbets Field, a veritable bandbox compared to the first version of Yankees Stadium. Fasten your seatbelts!

At Brooklyn Ebbets Field

GAME THREE: Yankees 3, Dodgers 2 — In a parallel timeline, the 1953 Dodgers might be up 2 games to 1 in this series, instead of down 3 to 0. But life isn’t fair against the 1927 Yankees. ... In this one, the Dodgers nearly came back from a 3-run deficit. A Pee Wee Reese sacrifice fly cut the margin to 3-1 in the seventh. A Roy Campanella solo homer cut it to 3-2 in the eighth. Then, with 2 out in the ninth, Jim Gilliam hit an easy bouncer to second base, but Tony Lazzeri bobbled it as he tried to make the throw. That allowed Duke Snider to bat. Snider hit a screaming liner to deep centerfield that immediately soared over CF Earle Combs’ head. Gilliam tore around the bases on a mad dash toward home plate. Yankees SS Mark Koenig took the relay throw from Combs and fired a dart to the plate just in time for C Pat Collins to make the tag as Gilliam crashed into him. Game over! ... It was the *second* time Gilliam got thrown out at home in this game. In the first inning, Ruth threw Gilliam out trying to score on a Jackie Robinson single. ... The Yankees took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth when Lou Gehrig tripled with 1 out, then came home on a BALK by RHP Russ Meyer. In the sixth, Combs and Babe Ruth each hit solo homers to push the lead to 3-0. ... Both starters pitched admirably in this one: Yankees LHP Herb Pennock yielded just 1 run on 6 hits through 7 innings while walking 4 and striking out 1. Meyer allowed 3 runs on 5 hits through 7 innings, with 4 walks and 8 strikeouts. ... Bob Shawkey earned the save for the Yankees, allowing 1 run on 2 hits over the final 2 innings. ... In Game Four, the Yanks will go for the sweep with their ace Waite Hoyt (22-7, 2.63 ERA) on the hill against Brooklyn LHP Preacher Roe (11-3, 4.36). The Dodgers just want to catch a break!

GAME FOUR: Dodgers 8, Yankees 2 — The 1953 Dodgers caught all the breaks in this one, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and never looking back. ... Yankees starter Waite Hoyt just didn’t have it and wasn’t helped by lackadaisical defensive play behind him. But that’s not the whole story: Jackie Robinson WENT OFF in this game, going 4-for-5 with 2 triples, 2 doubles, 4 RBI, and a run scored. Dodgers starter Preacher Roe went the distance, allowing 2 runs on 8 hits with 2 walks and 12 strikeouts! ... In the top of the ninth, Yankees DH Bob Meusel hit an apparent double off the top of the scoreboard in right field. However, he was called out for failing to touch first base. That’s how badly it went for the Yanks. Nevertheless, they’re still up 3 games to 1 and will likely just shrug this off.

GAME FIVE: Dodgers 4, Yankees 1 — The specter of elimination appears to be a good luck charm for the 1953 Dodgers. For the second straight game, the Bums got stellar pitching and had control of the 1927 Yankees all the way. This time, it was staff ace Carl Erskine (20-6, 3.54 ERA in 1953) shutting the Yankees down. In fact, he shut them out for 7.2 innings but then had to leave after having thrown 153 pitches. He didn’t want to come out, but as Kramer once said to Seinfeld, “You don’t argue with the body, Jerry.” ... Erskine’s line: 7.2 IP, 0 R, 8 H (all singles), 2 W, 11 K. ... The Dodgers took a 3-0 lead on 3B/DH Bobby Cox’ 3-run homer in the bottom of the second inning. Cox made it 4-0 with an RBI single in the fourth inning. All told, Cox went 3-for-4 with a run and 4 RBI. ... There were only three bright spots for the Yanks: one, Lou Gehrig hit his first homer of the tournament in the top of the ninth to prevent the shutout; two, Dutch Ruether pitched 2.2 scoreless innings of relief (after replacing a struggling George Pipgras); and three, the Bronx Bombers still need just one win to clinch their berth in the Bracket A finals. ... Now the series goes back across the bridge to Yankees Stadium. ... The Yankees will have Herb Pennock (19-8, 3.00) on the mound against shaky Dodgers RHP Russ Meyer (15-5, 4.36).

At New York Yankee Stadium

GAME SIX: Dodgers 4, Yankees 2 — The 1953 Dodgers have not only come back from a 0 games to 3 deficit to force Game Seven but are going into the decisive contest believing they’re the better team. ... For the third straight game, the Dodgers dominated the 1927 Yankees with their pitching! Starter Russ Meyer grew fatigued after 121 pitches but left in the seventh inning with his side protecting a 3-0 lead. The Yankees eventually clawed to within 3-2 with unearned runs in the seventh and eighth innings but got no closer. Dodgers RF Carl Furillo drilled a 446-foot homer off reliever Bob Shawkey in the top of the ninth to make it 4-2, and then stopper Clem Labine pitched his second straight 1-2-3 inning to nail it down. The 1953 Dodgers have rallied back from a 3-game hole against the most legendary ball club to force a seventh game. They have all the momentum now. They will have LHP Preacher Roe on the mound for the decider. Roe is not the Dodgers’ ace, but he is a lefty, and the 1927 Yankees struggle against southpaws, inasmuch as they struggled against anyone. The Yanks will counter with ace Waite Hoyt, who has pitched one good game and one bad game in this series. Anything could happen.

GAME SEVEN: Dodgers 8, Yankees 2 — The Bums did it! Jackie Robinson went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and Gil Hodges hit a crushing 3-run homer as the 1953 Dodgers completed their comeback from a 0 games to 3 deficit. Hodges, the future manager of the New York Mets, came into Game Seven hitting just .160 (4-for-25) but doubled and scored a run in the top of the second, then drove Waite Hoyt from the mound with a 2-out, 3-run homer to right, turning a 4-2 lead into 7-2 command. ... Preacher Roe turned in his third straight solid start. His line: 7 IP, 2 ER, 8 H, 2 W, 5 K. Roe left after 124 pitches. Ben Wade relieved him and pitched the final 2 scoreless innings to clinch the series. ... Duke Snider hit his first (and only) homer of the series in the top of the ninth to make it 8-2. ... The 1927 Yankees took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second on a homer by reserve infielder Mike Gazella, who never homered in his entire real-life career. Gazella was subbing for slumping 3B Joe Dugan who batted 1-for-21 in the first 6 games. Gazella’s homer was the Yanks’ second extra-base hit since Game Four. The other was Lou Gehrig’s shutout-avoiding solo homer in the top of the ninth inning of Game Five. .... An upset of this magnitude requires some analysis. The 1953 Dodgers, who won 106 games that year *in spite* of their pitching, beat Murderer’s Row with ... PITCHING! They held the Yanks to 3 runs or fewer in 6 of the 7 games, while striking out 65 batters (9.3 per game) and limiting them to just 2 extra-base hits (solo homers) in the final 3 games. They limited Babe Ruth and Gehrig to 12-for-49 (.245) for the series with just 2 combined homers and 5 combined RBI, while walking them 11 times and striking them out 16 times — with just 3 walks and 9 strikeouts after Game Three. .... The Dodgers outscored Misdemeanor Row 24-7 during their 4-game comeback. ... The 1953 DODGERS WIN the series, 4 games to 3, outscoring the 1927 Yankees, 34 to 21.

MVP-1: Dodgers LF/2B Jackie Robinson: 13-for-29, 2 HR, 2 triples, 3 doubles, 8 RBI, 4 runs scored

MVP-2: Dodgers 2B Jim Gilliam: 11-for-29, 2 triples, 4 RBI, 3 stolen bases, 6 runs scored

MV-Pitcher: Dodgers LHP Preacher Roe: 2-1, 21 IP, 7 R, 7 ER, 23 H, 7 W, 21 K.

1953 DODGERS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.292, 73-of-250); Extra-Base Hits: 24 (5 triples, 12 doubles, 7 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 6-2; Double Plays-Errors: 6-7; Walks-Strikeouts: 24-40 (-16).

1927 YANKEES TEAM STATS: Batting: (.245, 59-of-241); Extra-Base Hits: 16 (1 triple, 5 doubles, 10 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 5-5; Double Plays-Errors: 9-6; Walks-Strikeouts: 24-65 (-41).

[webrian]

BRACKET A SEMIFINALS

No. 6 1962 Giants vs. No. 2 2018 RED SOX

At Boston Fenway Park

GAME ONE: Giants 8, Red Sox 4 — Orlando Cepeda went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, and 6 RBI as the 1962 Giants got the jump on the 2018 Red Sox. ... The Giants’ imposing first baseman hit a bases-clearing double in the top of the third inning to make it 3-0. The Sox got within 3-1 on an RBI single by Andrew Benintendi in the bottom of the third. That remained the score until Cepeda batted again with the bases loaded in the seventh, whacking a 2-run single up the middle to make it a 5-1 Giants lead. Giants C Tom Haller homered in the eighth, and Cepeda added his own solo shot in the top of the ninth. ... The Sox got 3 runs in the bottom of the eighth, but not near enough to make this one competitive.

GAME TWO: Red Sox 4, Giants 3 — The 2018 Red Sox needed a bounce-back game, and their superstar delivered. Mookie Betts went 2-for-3 with a home run, 2 stolen bases, and 3 runs scored to carry his team to victory. The bullpen helped, turning in 3.1 innings of scoreless relief. ... Betts homered to lead off the bottom of the first inning. That sent the message, and the rest of the BoSox responded. J.D. Martinez had an RBI double, while Xander Bogaerts and Steven Pearce came through with RBI singles to help Boston build a 4-1 lead. A 2-run homer by San Francisco’s Tom Haller cut the margin to 4-3 in the sixth, but then the Sox bullpen stepped in. Eduardo Rodriguez, Matt Barnes, and Craig Kimbrel silenced the powerful Giants’ bats, allowing just 2 hits while striking out 4.

At San Francisco Candlestick Park

GAME THREE: Red Sox 6, Giants 3 — Jackie Bradley Jr got the Red Sox off on the right foot with a 2-run triple in the second inning. Left-handed starter David Price made sure the lead held up. ... Bradley’s three-bagger gave Boston a 2-0 lead on a day when every Red Sox starter collected at least one hit. All told, the Sox amassed 13 hits and drew 8 walks as the Giants rested their best bullpen arms. Meanwhile, Price limited the Giants to 2 runs on 6 hits over 5.2 innings. He walked 1 and struck out 6. ... A home run by 1B Orlando Cepeda helped pull the Giants to within 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning, but an RBI single by Ian Kinsler in the top of the seventh shifted the momentum back to Boston. Relievers Joe Kelley, Matt Barnes, and Heath Hembree helped lock down the win.

GAME FOUR: Red Sox 7, Giants 3 — The 2018 Red Sox are making it look easy. Andrew Benintendi drilled a pair of home runs, including a 3-run blast in the seventh inning, to propel Boston to a 3 games to 1 advantage. ... Boston starter Chris Sale pitched 6 rocky innings, allowing 3 runs on 9 hits with 1 walk and 5 strikeouts. But thanks to a couple of big innings, Sale still got the win. ... The Giants took a 3-0 lead early in the game. Jim Davenport and Harvey Kuenn hit RBI singles in the second inning, and Orlando Cepeda mashed his third homer of the series in the bottom of the third to make it a 3-run lead. Then the Red Sox got it going against Giants LHP Billy O’Dell: Benintendi homered to lead off the top of the fourth. Doubles by J.D. Martinez and Steve Pearce followed to cut the margin to 3-2. Ian Kinsler hit an RBI single to tie the game, and then Jackie Bradley Jr. capped the 4-run inning with an RBI double down the right field line. ... O’Dell settled down and pitched two scoreless innings after that. But he departed in the top of the seventh while Boston had 2 runners on and 2 out. Bobby Bolin came on in relief, but “Beni Biceps” greeted him with a 3-run clout over the right field fence. ... Nathan Eovaldi pitched 3 perfect innings in relief of Sale to earn the save. .... The Red Sox will go for the clincher in Game Five, with Rick Porcello starting against San Francisco’s Jack Sanford.

GAME FIVE: Giants 9, Red Sox 2 — It was as if the 1962 Giants woke up after a two-game nap. Though the Red Sox could have clinched with one more win, the Giants played with energy and urgency. The “Willies” finally got going. Willie Mays, who is still batting just .111 in the series, cracked a 2-run homer in the bottom of the first. Willie McCovey also hit his first dinger of the series. Felipe Alou also went deep with a 3-run shot in the third inning that made it a 5-1 Giants lead. That finished off RHP Rick Porcello, who completed that third inning but did not come out for the fourth. Also, SS Jose Pagan, the No. 9 hitter in the Giants’ lineup, went 4-for-4 with a homer, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored. ... The Red Sox will shake this off and regroup for Game Six. But ... what if the 1962 Giants are about to take it to another level?

At Boston Fenway Park

GAME SIX: Red Sox 8, Giants 0 — As it turned out, the 2018 Red Sox had this all along. Behind a sparkling performance from LHP David Price, the BoSox thoroughly dismantled the 1962 Giants to clinch their berth in the Bracket A finals. ... Price went 9 innings, limiting the Giants to just 3 singles and 2 walks while striking out 5. Meanwhile, RF Mookie Betts sparked the hitters. For the second time in this series, Betts led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo homer. A 2-run single from Rafael Devers made it 3-0 in the first inning. Betts added a triple, a stolen base, and 2 more RBI as Boston increased its bulge to 5-0 through 5 innings. A 3-run eighth inning, highlighted by an RBI double from Andrew Benintendi, added more icing to the cake. The 1962 Giants just couldn’t get anything going. The Red Sox outhit the Giants 13-3, and fans were openly celebrating in the stands after the fifth inning. The party erupted in earnest after Betts squeezed Willie Mays’ harmless fly ball in shallow right for the final out. ... The Red Sox will face the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers for the Bracket A crown, and a berth into the Final Four. ... The 2018 RED SOX WIN the series, 4 games to 2, outscoring the 1962 Giants, 31 to 26.

MVP-1: Red Sox RF Mookie Betts: 9-for-24, 2 HR, 1 triple, 2 RBI, 6 stolen bases, 6 runs scored

MVP-2: Giants 1B Orlando Cepeda: 11-for-22, 3 HR, 2 doubles, 9 RBI, 5 runs scored

MV-Pitcher: Red Sox LHP David Price: 2-0, SO, 14.2 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 9 H, 3 W, 11 K

1962 GIANTS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.241, 48-of-199); Extra-Base Hits: 17 (7 doubles, 10 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 1-3; Double Plays-Errors: 4-3; Walks-Strikeouts: 14-40 (-26).

2018 RED SOX TEAM STATS: Batting: (.309, 64-of-207); Extra-Base Hits: 17 (2 triples, 10 doubles, 5 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 9-1; Double Plays-Errors: 4-5; Walks-Strikeouts: 24-35 (-11).

[jparker2112]

keep it going! great read!!

[webrian]

BRACKET B SEMIFINALS

No. 5 2004 Boston Red Sox vs. No. 1 2001 SEATTLE MARINERS

At Seattle T-Mobile Park/Safeco Field

GAME ONE: Mariners 6, Red Sox 5 (15 innings) — Manny Ramirez hit a cathartic, tie-breaking home run in the top of the fifteenth inning. He waved his fist as he circled the bases and his teammates greeted him in the dugout as if Ramirez had just won the game for them. They should have known better. ... The 2001 Mariners grinded out at-bats and patiently loaded the bases against reliever Derek Lowe in the bottom of the fifteenth, and then Mike Cameron came through with a 2-run single to walk it off. ... The 2017 Dodgers severely tested these Mariners in their quarterfinal series, including another 15-inning Game One that ended in a 1-0 victory. The M's showed the same resilience in this contest against the 2004 Red Sox. ... Seattle broke a 1-1 tie with a 3-run sixth inning that included an RBI single by Edgar Martinez and later a 2-run single by David Bell. But a 4-1 lead was not enough cushion. The Red Sox chipped away with single runs in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings to tie the game and send it to extras. ... The Boston bullpen (Tim Wakefield, Alan Embree, Mike Timlin, Keith Foulke, and Lowe) worked 8 scoreless innings to enable the comeback and give the Red Sox every chance at winning. But the Mariners dug in and outlasted even that huge effort. ... Boston RHP Curt Schilling allowed 4 earned runs on 9 hits through 6 innings with 2 walks, 2 strikeouts. Seattle ace Freddy Garcia yielded just 2 earned runs on 3 hits through 7 innings with 3 walks and 1 strikeout. Reliever Joel Pineiro earned the win in relief. His line: 4 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K. ... In Game Two, Boston’s Pedro Martinez (16-9, 3.90 ERA) will go against Seattle LHP Jamie Moyer (20-6, 3.43).

GAME TWO: Mariners 5, Red Sox 3 — The 2001 Mariners scored all 5 of their runs after the sixth inning and ruined a classic performance by RHP Pedro Martinez. ... The 2004 Red Sox scored single runs in the first and second innings to go up 2-0. Meanwhile, the Dominican was dominating. Pedro had 10 strikeouts through five innings and had 11 K’s before the M’s got their second hit. But in the bottom of the seventh, with the Red Sox leading 3-0, fatigue started taking its toll. Leading off, Edgar Martinez drew a 12-pitch walk after fouling off 6 straight pitches. John Olerud followed with a single, and Mike Cameron drew another walk, loading the bases with nobody out. Pedro had to go, even though the Boston bullpen was thin after Game One’s exertions. All Pedro could do was watch balefully from the dugout as Keith Foulke allowed all 3 runners to score, then gave up an RBI single to Ichiro Suzuki to put Seattle ahead, 4-3. ... Bret Boone launched a solo homer off Curt Leskanic in the top of the eighth to make it 5-3. ... Norm Charlton allowed just 1 hit and 1 walk over the final 3 innings to earn the win for the Mariners. ... Pedro’s line: 6 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 W, 11 K.

At Boston Fenway Park

GAME THREE: Red Sox 7, Mariners 3 — The Red Sox were out to prove that they, too, could grind out long at-bats and deliver clutch hits. Centerfielder Johnny Damon made the point loud and clear with a 1-out, bases-clearing double in the bottom of the sixth that blew the game open. ... The Mariners trailed only 3-2 going into the bottom of the sixth, but they were in a pitching fix, with some of their better bullpen arms still worn from the first two games. Starter Aaron Sele was an uncomfortable mess on the mound. He had given up 3 runs on 4 hits and 5 walks over the first 5 innings, and that had cost him over 110 pitches. When Sele gave up his sixth walk to open the sixth inning, skipper Lou Piniella had to make the move. He brought in John Halama, a shaky left-hander with a 4.73 ERA. But he had a fresh arm and the bottom third of the Red Sox lineup was due. Still, Halama didn’t fool anyone. Trot Nixon, Bill Mueller, and Orlando Cabrera all singled, but each hit the ball so hard that runners could only advance one base each time. Still, Cabrera’s hit drove in a run to make it 4-2. Piniella practically sprinted to the mound to yank Halama and put in Ryan Franklin, a more solid right-hander. Franklin gave up only 1 hit over the final 3 innings — but it was the bases-clearing double by Damon, pushing the 4-2 lead to 7-2. ... Of course, Boston was having its own bullpen issues. With a 5-run lead, the Sox tried to use lefty Mike Myers to mop up the ninth. Myers got 2 outs but also allowed 1 run on 4 hits and left with the bases loaded. So Mike Timlin came in to get the last out, leaving 3 Mariners runners stranded.

GAME FOUR: Mariners 8, Red Sox 5 — Boston starter Curt Schilling got off to a bad start. So of course, the 116-win Mariners took full advantage. ... Seattle’s first 3 batters of the game reached safely; Ichiro Suzuki and Mark McLemore on singles, and Bret Boone on a tapper to the mound that resulted in a botched throw from Schilling to his first baseman. It culminated in a 4-run first inning, including a 2-out, 2-run homer from CF Mike Cameron. Schilling threw 42 pitches in that opening frame and fell behind 4-0. ... The Seattle lead grew to 5-1, but thanks to David Ortiz, the Red Sox managed to cut it to 5-4. After Ortiz delivered RBI singles in the first and third innings, he cranked a 2-run homer to right field in the bottom of the sixth. The Sox had a chance to tie or even take the lead in that inning, with two more batters reaching via singles. But reliever Norm Charlton came in and put out that fire. ... Boston loaded the bases with 1 out in the seventh, but Mariners reliever Jeff Nelson got out of it. He got Jason Varitek to hit into a forceout at the plate, and then Kevin Millar, 0-for-15 in the series up to that point, swung and missed at the end of an 8-pitch battle. ... The Mariners added 3 runs on 5 hits — including 4 singles in a row with two out — in the eighth inning to increase the margin to 8-4. Boston’s Johnny Damon hit a solo homer to right to lead off the bottom of the ninth, but reliever Paul Abbot (15-5 as a starter in 2001) then shut the door. ... The now-desperate 2004 Red Sox will turn to Pedro Martinez in Game Five to keep their hopes alive.

GAME FIVE: Mariners 10, Red Sox 7 — Once again, Pedro Martinez started off strong. Once again, the Red Sox got him a 3-0 lead. And yet, once again, the 2001 Mariners stormed back and won decisively. This time, it clinched their berth in the Bracket B finals. ... Five different Mariners collected at least 2 hits, and four of them drove in at least 2 runs as Seattle chased Pedro from the mound and overwhelmed the Red Sox’ tattered bullpen. ... It should have been an easy Boston victory. The Sox lineup produced 7 runs on 14 hits and had one of their aces on the mound while playing at home. But Pedro got fatigued even sooner in this game, giving up 2 runs in the fourth inning and 2 more in the fifth, at the cost of 128 pitches. Nevertheless, Boston still clung to a 5-4 lead after six innings, and it was clear they’d have to squeeze their bullpen for any chance at reaching a sixth game. ... Bret Boone’s third homer of the series (off Tim Wakefield) tied the game 5-5 in the top of the seventh inning. ... In the top of the eighth, Mariners SS Carlos Guillen drove an opposite-field, 2-run homer over the Green Monster to give his side a 7-5 lead. ... The Red Sox loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth, and SS Orlando Cabrera hit an RBI single to get it within 7-6. But then Seattle skipper Lou Piniella brought in Norm Charlton, and he struck out both Johnny Damon and Mark Bellhorn to snuff the threat. ... The Mariners struck for 3 more runs in the top of the ninth after Boston 1B Kevin Millar’s second fielding error in two innings. Guillen, now facing Keith Foulke, drove in 1 run with a 2-out double to center, and then C Dan Wilson followed with a 2-run single, stretching the lead to 10-6. ... Millar had a miserable series. In addition to his two late errors leading to 4 unearned Mariners runs, he finished the series 1-for-20 at the plate. ... Boston made some noise against Kaz Sasaki in the bottom of the ninth. A double by pinch hitter Doug Mirabelli followed by a Jason Varitek single put runners at first and third with 2 outs. Bill Mueller then hit a soft liner toward third base. David Bell, normally an excellent fielder, took his eye off the ball and it glanced off his glove, allowing a run to score. That gave Boston fans some hope, with Gabe Kapler stepping in. A 3-run homer could tie the game. Instead, Kapler hit a routine tapper to shortstop for the final out. That finished off the celebrated “curse breakers.” ... The 2001 MARINERS WIN the series, 4 games to 1, outscoring the 2004 Red Sox, 32-37.

MVP-1: Mariners LF Mark McLemore: 10-for-26, 1 double, 3 RBI, 2 runs scored

MVP-2: Mariners C Dan Wilson: 8-for-14, 4 RBI, 2 runs scored, .600 OBP

MV-Pitcher: Mariners RP Norm Charlton: 1-0, 5 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 W, 4 K

2004 RED SOX TEAM STATS: Batting: (.246, 47-of-191); Extra-Base Hits: 16 (1 triple, 10 doubles, 5 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 2-1; Double Plays-Errors: 4-5; Walks-Strikeouts: 25-28 (-3).

2001 MARINERS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.296, 59-of-199); Extra-Base Hits: 13 (1 triple, 7 doubles, 5 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 6-2; Double Plays-Errors: 4-4; Walks-Strikeouts: 16-41 (-25).

[webrian]

BRACKET B SEMIFINALS

No. 3 1975 CINCINATTI REDS vs. No. 2 1929 PHILADELPHIA ATHLETICS

At Philadelphia Shibe Park

GAME ONE: Athletics 11, Reds 0 — Either the 1975 Reds weren’t ready for what they faced in Game One, or they aren’t worthy. That was the blunt fact Reds skipper Sparky Anderson put to his players after their shockingly one-sided loss to the 1929 Athletics. ... Athletics LHP Lefty Grove struck out 11 batters over 7.1 innings while allowing just 3 singles and 4 walks. The Philadelphia lineup connected for 5 home runs, including 2 by CF Mule Haas, the hero of their six-game quarterfinal victory over the 1941 Yankees. Both Al Simmons and Jimmie Foxx went deep, as did SS Jimmy Dykes, whose 3-run bomb in the sixth inning made it 11-0. ... Reds LHP Don Gullett lasted just 4 innings, and would have been pulled sooner, if the game still felt winnable. The Cincy defense also committed 4 errors in this game. The 1975 Reds will try to regroup and represent themselves better going forward.

GAME TWO: Athletics 4, Reds 2 — Bing Miller went 2-for-3 with 2 stolen bases and 2 runs scored as the Athletics built a 4-0 lead and held off a ninth-inning Reds rally. ... A’s starter George Earnshaw had a 1-hit shutout with 2 walks and 8 strikeouts through 8 innings. But he gave up a pair of singles to Pete Rose and Joe Morgan to start the ninth. The Reds loaded the bases and pushed a pair of runs across, but reliever Bill Shores retired Ken Griffey and Dave Concepcion on easy flyouts to end the game. ... The 1975 Reds played much better in this one, turning 3 double plays and committing just 1 error — a wild throw to second base on a double-steal attempt, with Jimmie Foxx scoring from third on the gaffe. Reds starter Gary Nolan gave up 4 runs (2 earned) on 9 hits through 6 innings. The A’s did not have an extra-base hit in this game.

At Cincinnati Riverfront Stadium

GAME THREE: Athletics 11, Reds 3 — The 1975 Reds haven’t been mathematically eliminated yet. Two teams — the 1970 Orioles and 1953 Dodgers — have come all the way back from daunting 0 games to 3 deficits in this tournament. But the way the 1929 Athletics have dominated this series so far suggests a comeback will be impossible. ... Jimmie Foxx hit 2 more homers and drove in 5 runs to lead the Philadelphia barrage in this one. Al Simmons and even diminutive 2B Max Bishop also drove balls over the wall. The A’s never trailed, taking a 2-0 lead on Foxx’s first homer in the top of the second inning, and only building onto it from there. ... Philly LHP Rube Walberg pitched 8.1 innings, allowing 3 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts. The A’s held a 3-1 lead after 6 innings but extended it to 5-1 when Simmons tagged reliever Pedro Borbon for a 2-run blast in the seventh. Bishop and Foxx added 3-run shots in the eighth inning to make it 11-1. ... The A’s will send ace Lefty Grove (20-6, 2.81 ERA) to the mound to try for the sweep in Game Four.

GAME FOUR: Reds 11, Athletics 3 — If the mighty Athletics thought the Big Red Machine would simply pull over and let them pass, they had another thing coming. The Reds erupted for 5 singles, 1 double, 1 walk, 1 sacrifice fly, and 7 runs in the bottom of the third, driving ace Lefty Grove from the mound. The 1975 Reds scored 11 runs without hitting a single dinger; they still haven’t homered in this series. Johnny Bench led the 13-hit barrage with 3 singles, an RBI, and 2 runs scored. Merv Rettenmund’s 2-run double in the third made it a 5-1 Reds lead. ... The Athletics got on the board in the top of the first inning. Max Bishop led off with a double to the RF corner and eventually scored on a wild pitch. However, the Reds scored the next 9 runs to take control. ... LHP Don Gullet earned the win despite allowing 3 earned runs over 7.1 innings. He gave up 5 hits and walked 4.

GAME FIVE: Athletics 3, Reds 1 — Sparky Anderson left starter Gary Nolan in for exactly 1 batter too long. The game was a scoreless tie in the top of the sixth, but there were two outs and the Athletics had loaded the bases on an error and 2 walks. Nolan had thrown over 100 pitches, but he’d been pitching well. So Anderson stuck with him against SS Jimmy Dykes, who wound up doubling off the wall in right-center. All 3 baserunners crossed the plate, and just like that, A’s RHP George Earnshaw had a 3-run advantage to work with — and Earnshaw was pitching even better than Nolan had. ... The Reds did put a run across in the bottom of the sixth, after a pair of fielding errors and a walk had loaded the bases with 1 out. Tony Perez hit a sacrifice fly, but then Dan Driessen flew out to end the threat. The 1975 Reds never threatened again. Earnshaw eventually departed in the eighth, but he’d done his job: 7.1 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 W, 6 K. ... Bill Shores pitched the last 1.2 innings to earn the save. He allowed 1 single and struck out 1. ... Nolan’s line: 5.2 IP, 3 R, 0 ER, 5 H, 2 W, 3 K. ... The 1929 Athletics will face the 2001 Mariners in the Bracket B finals! ... The 1929 ATHLETICS WIN the series, 4 games to 1, outscoring the 1975 Reds, 32 to 17.

MVP-1: Athletics LF Al Simmons: 7-for-22, 2 HR, 1 triple, 4 RBI, 6 runs scored

MVP-2: Athletics 1B Jimmie Foxx: 5-for-18, 3 HR, 1 double, 8 RBI, 5 runs scored

MV-Pitcher: Athletics RHP George Earnshaw: 2-0, 15.1 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 H, 4 W, 14 K

1975 REDS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.211, 35-of-166); Extra-Base Hits: 8 (2 triples, 6 doubles); Stolen Bases-Caught: 5-0; Double Plays-Errors: 5-10; Walks-Strikeouts: 12-39 (-27).

1929 ATHLETICS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.282, 50-of-177); Extra-Base Hits: 19 (2 triples, 7 doubles, 10 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 3-1; Double Plays-Errors: 2-4; Walks-Strikeouts: 13-29 (-16).

[webrian]

BRACKET C SEMIFINALS

No. 5 1998 Atlanta Braves vs. No. 1 2019 HOUSTON ASTROS

At Houston Daikin Field/Minute Maid Park

GAME ONE: Braves 12, Astros 2 — The home-run happy Braves just keep on keeping on. Four different members of the 1998 Braves went deep and RHP Greg Maddux did his thing in a series-opening romp. The Braves came into this series having belted 18 homers in a six-game victory over the 1961 Yankees. Many said they couldn’t repeat that feat against the 2019 Astros excellent staff. Well, maybe they can. .... Astros starter Justin Verlander didn’t stick around long. He gave up a solo homer to Ryan Klesko during the Braves’ 3-run third inning. He gave up a 2-run blast to Andres Galarraga, then yielded a 2-run jolt to Chipper Jones in the fifth as the Braves got out to a 7-0 lead. Atlanta C Javy Lopez put a fine capper on the dominance with a grand slam homer off reliever Ryan Pressly in the top of the ninth. ... Maddux pitched a complete game but he wasn’t perfect. He yielded solo homers to Yordan Alvarez and Yuli Gurriel in the seventh inning. But otherwise, Maddux was gold. His line: 9 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 0 W, 6 K.

GAME TWO: Astros 11, Braves 4 — Yuli Gurriel smashed a pair of longballs to lead a 4-homer barrage as the Astros got some payback and evened up the series. ... Houston got down to business right away. After a Jose Altuve RBI single in the first inning, Yordan Alvarez swatted his second homer of the series, a 2-run blow that increased the lead to 3-0. Gurriel launched his first blast, a 2-run shot, in the fourth inning to make it 5-0, then clubbed a 420-foot, 3-run homer during the seventh after the Braves had pulled within 6-3. Gurriel and Altuve combined for 8 RBI in the rout. Gerrit Cole picked up the win, with 6 strikeouts in 6 innings of work, but he also gave up 3 homers, 2 of them to Javy Lopez, the other to Andruw Jones. ... After losing Game One in a rout, the No. 1 seeded Astros had to make a statement. With that accomplished, they now head to Atlanta for Games Three, Four, and Five.

At Atlanta Turner Field

GAME THREE: Braves 2, Astros 1 — Keith Lockhart doubled in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the 1998 Braves. ... The 2019 Astros failed to capitalize on a stumbling start by Braves LHP Tom Glavine, who gave up 3 hits — including a leadoff double to George Springer — in the top of the first inning. Springer got caught trying to steal third on a precise throw by C Javy Lopez. An Alex Bregman single did score Jose Altuve to give Houston a 1-0 lead, but Glavine took control after that. The lefty allowed just 1 run on 7 hits over 7 innings, with 0 walks and 4 strikeouts. Houston starter Zack Greinke was nearly as good (6.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 1 W, 4 K) but he yielded an RBI single to Michael Tucker in the bottom of the fifth, then gave up the tie-breaking RBI double to Lockhart in the seventh. Andruw Jones scored both runs for the Braves. ... Kerry Ligtenberg pitched around a hit and a walk in a tense ninth inning to notch the save.

GAME FOUR: Astros 8, Braves 2 (12 innings) — Robinson Chirinos collected 3 hits, including the tie-breaking RBI single in the top of the twelfth inning as the 2019 Astros evened the series once again. ... A grand slam homer by George Springer followed Chirinos’ go-ahead single, turning what had been a low-scoring battle of pitching staffs into a late romp. ... Both starters, Houston’s Justin Verlander and Atlanta’s Greg Maddux, brought their best stuff, and the game remained scoreless for 5 and a half innings. The Braves broke through first. Michael Tucker led off the bottom of the sixth with a triple into the right-field corner and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Walt Weiss. Maddux cruised until the eighth inning. A leadoff single by SS Carlos Correa was of little concern, but after one out, Josh Reddick and Chirinos launched back-to-back doubles to put the Astros ahead, 2-1. That was the end of Maddux’ day. He finished with: 7.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 0 W, 3 K. ... Verlander completed 8 innings, allowing just 1 run on 4 hits with 0 walks and 9 strikeouts. The Braves tied the game in the bottom of the ninth off closer Roberto Osuna. Gerald Williams hit a leadoff double, was sacrificed to third, then scored on a single by Curtis Pride, who was pinch-hitting for Andres Galarraga. The Braves appeared to have the momentum going into extra innings, but the Astros’ pen smothered it. Will Harris and Hector Rondon allowed just 1 hit over 3 combined innings. ... Meanwhile, the Astros loaded the bases with 1 out against Braves’ reliever Kevin Millwood in the twelfth, then scored 6 unanswered runs.

GAME FIVE: Braves 8, Astros 2 — It wasn’t enough for Andruw Jones to give his team the lead in a tight and crucial fifth game. So, in his next at-bat, he gave the Braves plenty of insurance too. Jones snapped a 2-2 tie with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth. But in the seventh, with the Braves still leading 4-2, Jones crushed a 400-foot grand slam to right-center field. ... With this victory, the 1998 Braves have taken their third lead in the series, at 3 games to 2. However, the Astros always bounce back, and Games Six and Seven (if necessary) will be played in Houston. ... The Astros took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second with a pair of unearned runs against RHP John Smoltz. A pair of Braves fielding errors led to a 2-run single by C Robinson Chirinos. Atlanta struck back in the bottom of the inning. Andres Galarraga smoked a long home run to center to make it 2-1. Later in the frame, Keith Lockhart’s bloop single scored Ryan Klesko to make it 2-2. ... Smoltz turned in a good performance but left in the top of the seventh. His line: 6 IP, 2 R, 0 ER, 5 H, 2 W, 5 K. ... Rudy Seanez and Dennis Martinez combined to pitch the final 3 innings. Gerritt Cole took the loss for Houston, despite striking out 8 over 5.1 innings.

At Houston Daikin Field/Minute Maid Park

GAME SIX: Astros 3, Braves 2 — Astros manager A.J. Hinch had to make a difficult decision. In the top of the seventh inning of a 2-2 tie, in a *must-win* game, Houston starter Zack Greinke gave up a leadoff double to Ryan Klesko, and then intentionally walked Javy Lopez. Conventional wisdom dictated relieving Greinke then, but the right-hander wasn’t tired. He’d thrown just under 80 pitches to that point in a tense but efficient performance, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and 4 walks. One more hit could give the 1998 Braves the lead. One more walk could load the bases. Hinch decided to leave Greinke in, knowing he’d be crucified if this decision backfired. ... Fortunately for the Astros, it was the right call. Greinke escaped the jam with a forceout and two easy flyouts. The 2019 Astros took the lead on a Michael Brantley single in the bottom of the seventh, and Greinke finished by retiring the last 9 batters he faced. ... Astros C Robinson Chirinos was the other hero, going 3-for-3 with a triple, a double, an RBI, and a run scored, raising his series average to .400. Chirinos’ 1-out double in the bottom of the seventh set up Brantley’s 2-out RBI single that put Houston on top for good. ... Greinke’s line: 9 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 4 W, 9 K. He finished with a flair, striking out 2 of the last 3 batters in the top of the ninth. ... Atlanta’s Gerald Williams homered in the top of the first inning to give his side a 1-0 lead. It was the Braves’ tenth homer of the series. Tom Glavine took the loss, though he pitched adequately (6.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 3 W, 3 K). ... This series is going down to the wire. Aces Justin Verlander (for Houston) and Greg Maddux (for Atlanta) will be on the mound for Game Seven.

GAME SEVEN: Astros 6, Braves 1 — Justin Verlander walked 2 of the first 3 batters he faced and gave up an RBI single to Ryan Klesko in the top of the first inning. Little did anyone know, Verlander was about to turn in one of the most dominant mound performances of this tournament. ... The right-hander did not allow another hit and didn’t give up another walk until there were 2 out in the ninth. Verlander pitched a complete-game, 1-hitter while walking 3 and striking out a jaw-dropping 14 as the 2019 Astros advanced to the Bracket C finals. ... Verlander’s awesome Game 7 was a light-years improvement on his Game 1 performance, when he gave up 7 runs on 3 homers over 4 innings. It signaled his and the Astros’ toughness and desire to win against an equally talented, equally hungry 1998 Braves squad. ... The Braves held onto their 1-0 lead until the bottom of the third inning, when RHP Greg Maddux gave up a leadoff infield single to red-hot C Robinson Chirinos, then after 1 out, gave up an RBI double to Michael Brantley, followed by an RBI triple from Jose Altuve, giving the Astros a 2-1 advantage. ... The score remained 2-1 until the bottom of the eighth. Maddux, still on the mound, struck out pinch hitter Kyle Tucker, but then Altuve singled, and Alex Bregman was hit-by-pitch for the second time in the game. Braves manager Bobby Cox decided to bring in Kerry Ligtenberg for this high-leverage situation. It backfired. Yordan Alvarez lined a single to right field. Altuve trotted home, but Bregman got greedy and was thrown out trying to take third. That was already all the insurance Houston would need, but they were about to get more: After SS Carlos Correa drew an 8-pitch walk, 1B Yuli Gurriel hit a 3-run bomb into the LF seats, and the stadium went crazy! It was Gurriel’s fourth homer of the series, but his first since Game Two, giving him 9 RBIs in the series. ... As Astros fans counted down the outs and cheered every strike, Verlander dominated the top of the ninth inning. He struck out Walt Weiss on 4 pitches (looking). He K’d Gerald Williams on 3 pitches (swinging) but then walked Chipper Jones on 7 pitches. No bother. Verlander struck out Andres Galarraga on 3 big empty swings. Ballgame! Verlander struck out 6 of the final 7 batters he faced. ... Though Verlander had a poor Game One performance, he bounced back in his next two starts: 17 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 H, 3 W, 23 K. ... The 2019 ASTROS WIN the series, 4 games to 3, outscoring the 1998 Braves, 33-31.

MVP-1: Astros 2B Jose Altuve: 10-for-27, HR, 1 triple, 3 doubles, 5 RBI, 4 runs scored

MVP-2: Astros 1B Yuli Gurriel: 6-for-25, 4 HR, 1 double, 9 RBI, 5 runs scored

MV-Pitcher: Astros RHP Justin Verlander: 1-1, 21 IP, 9 R, 9 ER, 14 H, 4 W, 26 K.

1998 BRAVES TEAM STATS: Batting: (.212, 49-of-231); Extra-Base Hits: 21 (2 triples, 9 doubles, 10 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 10-2; Double Plays-Errors: 3-3; Walks-Strikeouts: 25-62 (-37).

2019 ASTROS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.236, 56-of-237); Extra-Base Hits: 22 (2 triples, 12 doubles, 8 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 3-2; Double Plays-Errors: 4-2; Walks-Strikeouts: 18-38 (-20).

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BRACKET C SEMIFINALS

No. 3 2016 CHICAGO CUBS vs. No. 2 1970 BALTIMORE ORIOLES

At Baltimore Memorial Stadium

GAME ONE: Cubs 8, Orioles 4 — Kyle Hendricks allowed only 1 run on 4 hits through 7 innings as the Cubs built a big lead and hung on. He struck out 7 and walked 3. Chicago scored 2 runs in the second inning, 2 more in the fifth, and then 4 in the seventh on home runs by Dexter Fowler and Anthony Rizzo. It was an encouraging start for the 2016 Cubs against one of history’s most formidable teams. ... Orioles starter Jim Palmer lasted only 5 innings. His line: 5 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 3 W, 6 K. ... Justin Heyward went 3-for-4 with an RBI and 2 runs scored while Ben Zobrist, Willson Contreras, and Javier Baez had 2 hits and an RBI apiece in the middle of the Chicago lineup. ... The Orioles scored 3 runs in the ninth inning to make the final score closer than the actual had been. Don Buford had a 2-run double off Justin Grimm in that ninth inning.

GAME TWO: Orioles 7, Cubs 0 — Mike Cuellar threw a NO HITTER! ... The 1970 Orioles drew even in this series in the most dominating fashion that exists; LHP Mike Cuellar held the 2016 Cubs hitless through 9 shutout innings, while walking 2. He needed 114 pitches to do it but never seemed labored. Cuellar recorded 12 groundouts, 8 flyouts, and 7 strikeouts. ... The Orioles got most of their offense from the Robinsons, in the fifth inning. Frank Robinson launched an opposite-field, 3-run homer to right field. Two batters later, Brooks Robinson went deep to left field for a 2-run blast, giving the O’s a 6-0 lead. That was the end the outing for RHP Jake Arrieta, who gave up 6 runs on 5 hits and 5 walks. ... Now even at a game apiece, the series shifts to Chicago.

At Chicago Wrigley Field

GAME THREE: Cubs 12, Orioles 0 — This was a tense and scoreless pitcher’s duel until the Cubs exploded late. ... For six innings, Chicago’s Jon Lester and Baltimore’s Dave McNally matched each other with zeros. But in the bottom of the seventh, the Cubs loaded the bases with nobody out, and Baltimore skipper Earl Weaver made the fateful decision to leave McNally on the mound to face Kris Bryant. It didn’t make sense. Bryant had grounded out (after a 10-pitch at-bat), been hit by a pitch, and then intentionally walked in 3 previous at-bats against McNally. This time, Bryant pounded a line drive through the left-centerfield gap for a 3-run double. That’s when Weaver came to take McNally out, but it was too late, and the Cubs were stoked. They added 9 more runs on 6 more hits and 3 more walks, with the final blow being a Willson Contreras grand slam in the bottom of the eighth. ... Yep, that washed away the sickly taste of getting no-hit in Game Two. ... Meanwhile, Lester continued to dominate the O’s lineup, finishing with a complete-game shutout. His line: 9 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 1 W, 2 K.

GAME FOUR: Cubs 4, Orioles 1 — The 2016 Cubs are doing to the 1970 Orioles what Baltimore famously did to its opponents from 1969 to 1971: smothering them with excellent pitching while taking advantage of high-leverage situations. In Game Four, the Cubs’ Kyle Hendricks shut the O’s out for seven innings. Meanwhile, the Cubs pushed a run across in the bottom of the fourth inning, then loaded the bases with nobody out against Jim Palmer in the bottom of the sixth. This time, Baltimore skipper Earl Weaver wasted no time signaling for a reliever. He brought in finesse man Eddie Watt. The O’s hoped Watt could induce a double play or a couple of infield pop-ups. Instead, he gave up an RBI single to Willson Contreras, walked Chris Coghlan with the bases loaded, and allowed Addison Russell to hit a sacrifice fly, as the Cubs’ lead ballooned to 4-0. Watt eventually got out of the inning, but the damage was fatal. Don Buford ripped a solo homer off Hendricks in the top of the eighth, but it didn’t even dent the Cubs’ momentum. Hendricks pitched a complete game, allowing just 1 run on 7 hits, with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. ... The Cubs can lock down a berth in the Bracket C finals with one more win. The Orioles will turn to LHP Mike Cuellar in Game Five, hoping there’s still enough magic in his arm to get them to Game Six.

GAME FIVE: Cubs 6, Orioles 1 — It shouldn’t have been this easy. But with the 2016 Cubs playing at their highest level and the 1970 Orioles failing to capitalize on opportunities, this was the only foreseeable outcome. ... In Game Five, RHP Jake Arrieta took the mound and was by no means more effective than he had been in Game Two — but this time, the Orioles couldn’t make hay. Arrieta lasted 6 innings but gave up 5 hits and 6 walks over that time, with 4 strikeouts. The O’s mustered just 1 run while hitting into 3 double plays. Baltimore hit into 10 double plays over the 5 games of this series. ... The Cubs clung to a 2-1 lead until the bottom of the sixth, when Jorge Soler followed Javier Baez’ 2-out single with a towering 2-run homer to left, doubling the lead to 4-1. The Cubs added a fifth run on Addison Russell’s RBI single later in the inning. Baez added an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh to make it 6-1. ... The deflated Orioles mustered just 2 singles over the final 3 innings against relievers Hector Rondon and Pedro Strop. The O’s went down 1-2-3 in the ninth, and the Cubs began celebrating as soon as centerfielder Dexter Fowler caught Don Buford’s flyball for the final out. ... LHP Mike Cuellar gave up a hit to the Cubs’ first batter (Fowler) in the first inning and never came close to repeating his masterful Game Two performance. ... The 2016 CUBS WIN the series, 4 games to 1, outscoring the 1970 Orioles, 30-13.

MVP-1: Cubs C Willson Contreras: 9-for-19, HR, 7 RBI, 4 runs scored, .524 OBP

MVP-2: Cubs CF Dexter Fowler: 6-for-18, HR, 2 doubles, 3 RBI, 3 runs scored

MV-Pitcher: Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks: 2-0, 16 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 11 H, 5 W, 10 K

2016 CUBS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.273, 44-of-161); Extra-Base Hits: 9 (5 doubles, 4 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 3-3; Double Plays-Errors: 10-1; Walks-Strikeouts: 20-27 (-7).

1970 ORIOLES TEAM STATS: Batting: (.210, 32-of-152); Extra-Base Hits: 7 (4 doubles, 3 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 3-1; Double Plays-Errors: 2-2; Walks-Strikeouts: 22-22 (E).

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BRACKET D SEMIFINALS

No. 4 1968 DETROIT TIGERS vs. No. 1 1998 NEW YORK YANKEES

At New York Yankee Stadium

GAME ONE: Yankees 3, Tigers 1 — Derek Jeter went 2-for-4 with a homer and 2 RBI while RHP David Cone allowed only 2 hits over 8 innings. The 1998 Yankees have won 5 straight games without a loss so far in this tournament. ... The 1968 Tigers got on the board in the top of the first inning. With 2 out, Cone walked Al Kaline, then gave up an RBI double to Norm Cash. It appeared early on like the Tigers might need only that 1 run. Detroit RHP Denny McLain struck out 6 of the first 7 Yankee batters he faced, but they started to reach him in the bottom of the third. Jeter singled with two outs, driving in Jorge Posada to tie the score 1-1. In the fourth, Tino Martinez golfed a 418-foot solo homer off McLain into the right field stands, putting the Yanks on top. In the sixth, Jeter hammered a 429-foot moonshot to deep center to make it 3-1. ... McLain still pitched reasonably well: 8 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 1 W, 10 K ... But Cone pitched even better: 8 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 4 W, 9 K. ... Mariano Rivera pitched a clean ninth to nail down the save.

GAME TWO: Yankees 6, Tigers 3 — A persistent mix of rain and mist hung over Yankee Stadium for the entirety of the game, but it was Bernie Williams who brought the thunder. With 2 on and 2 out in the bottom of the ninth, Williams rocketed a 3-run homer over the right-field wall to win the game. It was Williams’ third hit of the day. ... The Yankees took advantage of a fielding error by SS Mickey Stanley to seize a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Stanley slipped in the wet as he tried to field a Tino Martinez ground ball. Two outs later, Jorge Posada clubbed a 2-run homer to break the scoreless tie. Shane Spencer followed with a solo homer to make it 3-0. ... The 1968 Tigers clawed their way back, scoring on an Al Kaline single in the top of the sixth, and then a Bill Freehan solo homer in the top of the seventh to get within 3-2. In the top of the ninth, Kaline drew a leadoff walk from closer Mariano Rivera. Two outs later, Freehan lined a single to right field, and Kaline beat the throw home to tie the score. ... But in the bottom of the ninth, Chuck Knoblauch doubled, and Derek Jeter walked, and they were on base when Williams crushed a Pat Dobson pitch 379 feet to right field, a 112-mile-per-hour screamer that cleared the wall in less than 2 seconds. ... The 1998 Yankees will take a 2 games to 0 lead to Detroit for Games Three, Four, and Five.

At Detroit Tiger Stadium

GAME THREE: Yankees 13, Tigers 0 — It is incredibly hard to beat the 1998 Yankees once they get going. The 1968 Tigers surely hoped a return to friendlier territory might provide a boost, but it did not. The Yankees shelled Detroit pitching for 13 hits, including 8 for extra bases, and rolled to a 3 games to 0 lead in the series. ... Bernie Williams hit a 2-run single to make it a 3-0 Yankees lead in the third inning, then added a solo homer during a 6-run fifth. Scott Brosius had a 2-run double in that fifth inning, and Shane Spencer capped it with a 430-foot, 3-run homer off reliever John Hiller. Brosius capped the scoring with a 464-foot solo homer in the top of the ninth. The Yankees showed no mercy. ... LHP Andy Pettitte threw 7.1 shutout innings, allowing just 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 4. Hideki Irabu mopped up, allowing no baserunners. ... The Tigers will have ace Denny McLain on the mound for Game Four, hoping to at least end the Yankees’ 7-game winning streak.

GAME FOUR: Tigers 6, Yankees 3 — It seemed a bad omen when Yankees leadoff hitter Chuck Knoblauch crushed Denny McLain’s fourth pitch of the game into the centerfield seats for a homer. But the 31-game winner buckled down after that and nearly pitched a complete game as the 1968 Tigers avoided a humiliating sweep. ... Detroit didn’t trail for long. The Tigers loaded the bases on 2 walks and a single with 1 out in the bottom of the second. RHP David Cone walked Gates Brown to force in the tying run. Then, with 2 outs, Dick McAuliffe singled up the middle, bringing in 2 more runs. The Tigers never lost the lead after that. ... A solo homer by Jim Northrup made it a 4-1 lead. The Yankees got within 4-2 on a sacrifice fly in the fifth, but in the bottom of the eighth, Brown hit a 2-run single off reliever Jeff Nelson to extend the lead to 6-2. ... A solo homer by C Jorge Posada with 2 outs in the ninth finally sent McLain off the mound, but he walked off to a standing ovation. His line: 8.2 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 3 W, 7 K ... on 154 pitches! ... Don McMahon came in to get the last out. ... The Tigers will go for another win in Game Five, with LHP Mickey Lolich opposing the Yankees’ David Wells.

GAME FIVE: Tigers 10, Yankees 8 — Mickey Stanley went 3-for-5 and hit a clutch, 3-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning to keep the 1968 Tigers’ hopes alive. ... Stanley’s homer could not have come at a more opportune time. The 1998 Yankees, which had trailed 4-0 after the first inning, battled back to take an 8-6 lead in the top of the seventh. In the bottom of the seventh, Jim Northrup led off with a double and scored on a Don Wert single to get within 8-7. ... Yankees manager Joe Torre then replaced reliever Ramiro Mendoza with set-up man Graeme Lloyd. He got Dick McAuliffe to ground out. But Stanley worked a 3-balls, 1-strike count, then clobbered a 113-mph, 411-foot, 3-run blast deep into the left-centerfield seats. Tiger Stadium erupted as Stanley circled the bases. ... But the job wasn’t finished yet. The Yankees used 2 walks and a single to load the bases with 1 out in the top of the eighth inning. Tim Raines battled Detroit stopper Pat Dobson for 8 pitches and then struck a line drive toward a gap in left field. Incredibly, LF Willie Horton caught it, then fired a long throw to first base. Tino Martinez had strayed too far off the bag and was late getting back! The sudden double play ended the Yankees’ threat, and once again Tiger Stadium erupted with cheers. ... Yankees 3B Scott Brosius drew a leadoff walk in the top of the ninth, but Dobson calmly retired the next 3 hitters in order. ... Yankees LHP David Wells gave up 4 runs on a walk and 5 hits while retiring just 1 batter in the first inning. A 2-run single by Norm Cash, followed by a 2-run homer by Horton, gave Detroit a 4-0 lead. The Yankees replaced Wells with long reliever Orlando Hernandez and chipped away until they tied the game, 6-6, on a Jorge Posada solo homer in the sixth. Bernie Williams homered in the top of the seventh to give the Yanks a 7-6 lead, and Shane Spencer added a sacrifice fly to make it 8-6. ... This series, which appeared all but over after Game Three, is heading back to Yankees Stadium, and now the Tigers have momentum.

At New York Yankee Stadium

GAME SIX: Tigers 8, Yankees 0 — The 1998 Yankees can’t believe what’s happening to them. The top-seeded Bombers have gone from a 3 games to 0 lead, after a 13-0 romp, to a loss away from elimination and joining the 1971 Pirates and the 1927 Yankees in the never-ending quest for that fourth win. ... This one was never close, as LHP Andy Pettitte got off to an awful start—the second in a row by the Yankees’ rotation. Pettitte, who threw 7.1 shutout innings in that 13-0 win, gave up 3 runs in the first inning, then 4 more in the third. Detroit’s Bill Freehan hit a 2-run double in the first inning. Jim Northrup hit a bases-loaded, 3-run double in the third. After that, the Yanks went into a shell, trying to save their best relievers for Game Seven. ... Meanwhile, Tigers starter Earl Wilson sparkled on the mound, four days after giving up 5 runs in 4.2 innings in Game Three. Wilson had a 1-hitter going through 7.2 innings but finally left after yielding a pair of singles in the bottom of the ninth. His line: 8.1 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 5 W, 10 K. ... What’s even more daunting is that the Yankees will have to get past a determined Denny McLain in Game Seven. McLain is 1-1 in this series, but he’s the only starter who has pitched consistently well. The Yanks will counter with the equally focused David Cone.

GAME SEVEN: Yankees 9, Tigers 1 — The 1998 Yankees and their fans can sit back and exhale. Unlike the 1941, 1961, 2009, and 1927 Yankee squads before them, they will be moving forward. Right-hander David Cone made damn sure of it. The Yanks’ ace literally gave it all he had — 148 pitches over 6.2 innings. In that time, Cone allowed just 1 run (on a Jim Northrup solo homer) on 6 hits and 5 walks, with 12 strikeouts. Cone had 10 strikeouts through 5 innings. When Cone left for reliever Graeme Lloyd in the seventh, New York had a 3-1 lead. ... Paul O’Neill hit his first homer of the series in the bottom of the first inning. Shane Spencer walloped his fourth homer in the fourth inning, giving the Yanks a 2-1 lead. A 2-out, RBI double by Chuck Knoblauch made it 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth. ... Tigers RHP Denny McLain did his best, but the early Yankees homers had his side playing from behind and pressing. Finally, in the bottom of the eighth, the wheels came off. The Yankees piled on 6 more runs with a double, 3 singles, 2 walks, and 3 Tigers fielding errors. McLain’s line: 7.1 IP, 5 R, 5 ER, 7 H, 1 W, 7 K. ... Every regular member of the Yankees’ lineup, except DH Tim Raines, homered at least once, giving the Bombers a total of 16 round-trippers in the series. That still does not beat the 1998 Braves’ 18 homers in six games against the 1961 Yankees, but it beats everyone else. ... The 1998 YANKEES WIN the series, 4 games to 3, outscoring the 1968 Tigers, 42 to 29.

MVP-1: Yankees CF Bernie Williams: 10-for-28, 3 HR, 2 doubles, 8 RBI, 4 runs scored

MVP-2: Yankees LF Shane Spencer: 9-for-26, 4 HR, 2 doubles, 10 RBI, 4 runs scored

MV-Pitcher: Yankees RHP David Cone: 2-1, 21.1 IP, 6 R, 6 ER, 15 H, 11 W, 28 K

1968 TIGERS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.212, 48-of-226); Extra-Base Hits: 12 (6 doubles, 6 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 0-3; Double Plays-Errors: 10-7; Walks-Strikeouts: 33-45 (-12).

1998 YANKEES TEAM STATS: Batting: (.270, 63-of-233); Extra-Base Hits: 28 (1 triple, 11 doubles, 16 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 2-3; Double Plays-Errors: 1-4; Walks-Strikeouts: 36-49 (-13).

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BRACKET D SEMIFINALS

No. 10 2023 Texas Rangers vs. No. 2 1944 ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

At St. Louis Sportsman’s Park

GAME ONE: Cardinals 3, Rangers 2 — The 1944 Cardinals have Stan Musial. That’s a giant problem for most opposing teams, but 2023 Rangers manager Bruce Bochy believed he had the perfect antidote: a left-handed reliever who can hit 104 miles-per-hour on the gun. So when Musial strode to the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning of a 2-2 tie, with a runner on base, Bochy signaled Aroldis Chapman out of the pen. “How about some FIRE, scarecrow?” Musial didn’t flinch. He turned on Chapman’s first pitch and hammered it into right field for an RBI triple. That put the 1944 Cardinals on top to stay, 3-2. ... The Rangers got the jump on Cards starter Max Lanier in the first inning. Robbie Grossman hit an RBI single, and the bases were loaded when Lanier got Nathaniel Lowe to pop out to shortstop to end the threat. ... The Rangers loaded the bases again, with nobody out, in the top of the fourth, but Lanier finessed his way out of it with a flyout, a groundout, and a strikeout. ... Texas starter Nathan Eovaldi held the Cards hitless until the bottom of the fourth, when Musial slapped a double up the third-base line. Walker Cooper doubled Musial home, then he scored on Whitey Kurowski’s line-drive single to left. ... The Cardinals took their 2-1 lead to the top of the eighth, when Lowe belted a 2-out, solo homer to re-tie the score. ... Lanier labored for 6 innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits and 5 walks, and striking out 6 batters. Blix Donnelly earned the win with 2 innings of relief, and Fred Schmidt picked up the save. ... Eovaldi pitched 7.2 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts. He took the loss.

GAME TWO: Cardinals 8, Rangers 3 — The 1944 Cardinals broke out the bats in Game Two, slugging 3 homers with runners on base to coast past the 2023 Rangers. ... Ray Sanders hit a 2-run shot in the bottom of the third inning, and Danny Litwhiler cracked a 3-run blast in the bottom of the fourth as St. Louis built a 5-0 lead. Later, after the Rangers had closed within 5-3, Whitey Kurowski added a 2-run dinger during a 3-run sixth inning. Meanwhile, C Walker Cooper added a double, a triple, and 2 runs scored to the Cards’ 13-hit attack. RHP Mort Cooper allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits over 6 innings, with 6 walks and 6 strikeouts. Al Jurisch provided 3 innings of relief for the save, allowing no hits, no walks. Of the 9 outs Jurisch recorded, 8 were infield pop-ups, 1 was a strikeout. ... Rangers starter Jordan Montgomery lasted just 3 innings and took the loss.

At Arlington Globe Life Field

GAME THREE: Cardinals 3, Rangers 1 — The Rangers needed to make something positive happen quickly in front of their home fans, and they did. With 1 out in the bottom of the first inning, SS Corey Seager lined a ball into the deepest gap in right-centerfield. Seager used his speed to turn that into an inside-the-park home run and a 1-0 Rangers lead. Unfortunately for Texas, that was all they’d get off LHP Harry Brecheen, who scattered 9 hits over 6.2 innings and got just enough run support. ... The 1944 Cardinals evened the score on a sacrifice fly in the top of the second inning. In the third, Stan Musial hit a 2-out single, then came around to score on Walker Cooper’s double to centerfield, making it a 2-1 lead. Ray Sanders hit a solo homer in the top of the fifth to make it 3-1. ... Rangers starter Max Scherzer pitched well (7 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 0 W, 5 K) but his teammates left 9 men on base. Reliever Ted Wilks pitched the final 1.2 innings to get the save, as the heavily favored Cardinals moved to a 3 games to 0 advantage.

GAME FOUR: Cardinals 6, Rangers 2 — Marty Marion hit a bases-loaded, 2-run single in the top of the sixth inning to snap a 2-2 tie, and the 1944 Cardinals never looked back as they completed an easy sweep of the 2023 Rangers. ... Cardinals LHP Max Lanier got off to a rough start but settled down to pitch 7 quality innings, allowing just 2 runs on 7 hits while walking 1, striking out 3. ... The Rangers used Lanier’s early struggles and some small ball to grab a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Adolis Garcia drew a leadoff walk, and then with 1 out, Jonah Heim beat out a squibber up the first-base line for an infield single. Next, Lanier threw a wild pitch allowing the runners to advance to second and third. Later, during that same at-bat, Nathaniel Lowe hit a high chopper toward shortstop for an infield hit, as a runner scored. The Rangers scored their second run on a fielder’s choice groundout. ... The 2-0 lead held until the top of the fifth, when back-to-back 2-out doubles from Emil Verban and Johnny Hopp cut it to 2-1. In the top of the sixth, Cardinals superstar Stan Musial drew a leadoff walk, advanced to third on Walker Cooper’s single to center, then scored on a fielder’s choice, beating the throw home from SS Corey Seager on Whitey Kurowski’s ground ball. After an out, Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi intentionally walked Ken O’Dea to load the bases, but then Marion bounced a single through the hole between first and second and 2 runners scored, putting St. Louis on top, 4-2. ... That was the end of Eovaldi’s day, but the Cards kept scoring. They added an unearned run on 2 errors, a walk, and a wild pitch in the top of the seventh, then made it 6-2 on another RBI single by Marion in the ninth. ... Reliever Fred Schmidt pitched the final 2 innings to collect his second save of the series. Jonah Heim struck out swinging to end the game, sparking an instant, but restrained Cardinals celebration. ... The 1944 CARDINALS SWEEP the series, 4 games to 0, outscoring the 2023 Rangers, 20 to 8. They'll collide with the 1998 Yankees in the Bracket D championship series.

MVP-1: Cardinals 3B Whitey Kurowski: 5-for-15, HR, 4 RBI, 5 runs scored

MVP-2: Cardinals C Walker Cooper: 5-for-15, 1 triple, 3 doubles, 2 RBI, 4 runs scored

MV-Pitcher: Cardinals LHP Max Lanier: 1-0, 13 IP, 3 R, 3 ER, 11 H, 6 W, 9 K

2023 RANGERS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.220, 29-of-132); Extra-Base Hits: 5 (3 doubles, 2 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 2-1; Double Plays-Errors: 2-3; Walks-Strikeouts: 13-22 (-9).

1944 CARDINALS TEAM STATS: Batting: (.255, 35-of-137); Extra-Base Hits: 14 (2 triples, 8 doubles, 4 HR); Stolen Bases-Caught: 0-1; Double Plays-Errors: 3-2; Walks-Strikeouts: 12-23 (-11).

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SIDEBAR: Pitching Greatness

Here are the top 5 Performances by STARTING PITCHERS so far:

LHP Mike Cuellar (1970 Orioles): 9 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 7 K, Gsc: 92 (no-hitter in semifinals)

RHP Justin Verlander (2019 Astros): 9 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 H, 3 W, 14 K, Gsc: 92 (semifinals)

RHP Tyler Glasnow (2024 Dodgers): 9 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 2 W, 12 K, Gsc: 91 (wild-card series)

LHP John Tudor (1985 Cardinals): 9 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 W, 10 K, Gsc: 91 (wild-card series)

LHP Lefty Grove (1929 Athletics): 9 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 1 W, 12 K, Gsc: 90 (quarterfinals)

SPECIAL NOTE:

** LHP Mark Buehrle, of the 2005 Chicago White Sox, belongs in a special category by himself. He pitched 35 scoreless innings in this tournament, but the White Sox were eliminated by the 2018 Red Sox in the Bracket A quarterfinals.

***