Two Capital division foes square off yet once again.
Game 1: Heroes jump out to a 1-0 lead in the 3rd off rbi single from Ramos. The Zips then go back-to-back-to-back off Iwakuma (Victorino, Byrd, Freeman) to give BZ 3-1 lead. Belgrade added another 3 spot in the 4th with rbi triple from Gardner and a 2-run blast from Victorion. Jordan Zimmerman brought the A game today and holds HA to 5 hits and 2 runs thru 8. Zips win 6-2.
Game 2: The real live Bumgarner wasn’t present in this game. Bumgarner got hit for 7 run in less than 5 innings. Four walks and 3 errors by Peralta didn’t help his case. Byrd clobbers a 2-run shot to dent the Hero lead in the 6th, but HA would roll to a 7-3 win. Teams combined for 7 errors!
Game 3: Carlos Beltran gave the Heroes the early 2-0 lead in the second with a long ball to center, but BZ cut the lead in half with Scutaro rbi single in bottom of frame. King Felix and Gaudin both settle down for the next 4 innings. Victorino then ties the game at 2 with a blast in the 6th. Justin Upton puts the Heroes back on top 3-2 in the 7th as his rbi double plates a plodding B. Moss. Both teams hand the ball off to the relievers in hopes the scoring is done. The Zips have other ideas as they play small ball in the bottom of the 9th. Victorino singles to lead off inning, swipes second, and later scores on Freeman single. Lopez blows the save and off to extra innings we go. Six relievers combined to throw 3 shutout innings for each team. Light hitting Tulo leads off the 13 with a BB and scores off a 2 out rbi double from Beltran to give HA the 4-3 lead. A tiring O’Day gets the first 2 hitters in the bottom of the 13th and then gives up a single to Victorino. With the pen wore down, HA goes to back up starter Kuroda who then promptly walks Byrd. With the left handed hitting Freeman now up, the Heroes call on Cecil to end the game. Freeman flies out to deep left and Heroes win 4-3.
Game 4: Heroes go back to ace starter Iwakuma who once again struggles early. After a Victorion single and Byrd double, a WP then plates Victorino and Freeman then single in Byrd. Byrd then puts a 2 run shot on the board in the 4th to put the Zips up 4-1. More shady defense in the 5th gives Belgrade an insurance run they would never need. Zobrist homers for HA in the 6th to end the scoring. Zips coast home with a 5-2 win and tie the series.
Game 5: Colon and Zimmerman come strong putting up goose eggs thru 3. In the 4th, J. Upton walks and moves to third on Alex Gordon double. A Beltran double gives the Heroes an early 2-0 lead. BZ get one back in the 5th when Victorino singles, swipes second, and then scores on Scutaro single. Colon hands the ball off to Cotts in the 8th with a 2-1 and hoping for the W. Cotts gives up a lead off double to Freemand who then gives way to PR Granderson. Granderson moves to third on ground and then HA calls on closer Holland. PH J. Bautista then delivers a key pinch hit to left to tie the score at 2. Both teams roll over for the next two frames before Zips relievers Janssen and Robertson implode in the 11th. Heroes strike for 4 hits including 2 doubles with Frazier’s being the key 2 out hit that plates 2 to give HA the 5-2 lead. Santos finishes the 13th in perfect fashion to give HA the win.
Game 6: Heroes strike for 2 in the first as A. Ramirez takes Bumgarner deep. Peralta gets the Zips on the board with a solo shot in the 4th. Zobrist and hill reach base for HA in the 5th before Tulo finally helps with a 3-run shot to put HA up 5-1. Belgrade gets a couple back in the 7th as King Felix gives up a walk and then boots a ball before Holland gives up rbi double to Gardner. Belgrade scratches for another run in 8th to bring score to 5-4. Heroes leave in Holland who gets first two batters quickly and with two outs, hand the ball over to Cotts who faces PH Swisher. Swisher pops it up and HA wins 5-4 and advances to next round.
Two teams very evenly matched. Fortunately HA won all 3 close games (2 extra inning games). Thanks for playing Ben and it was a fun series!!!
Hal