NYC (110-52) at SHI (118-44)

Both teams defeated their Division Series opponents in 6 games.  Shiner won 8 more games in the regular season, but NYC was the only team to win the head-to-head matchup with them, splitting @NYC and actually winning 4 of 6 @SHI.  Shiner would also be missing LF Josh Willingham until Game 6, while New York was totally healthy.  With expectations high for an epic playoff battle, would it live up to the hype?

Game 1 - Liriano vs. Pineiro:  The Diplomats drew 1^st blood on a 2-out RBI double in the 3^rd by the ageless Jim Edmonds.  However, SHI quickly answered with a solo shot by injury sub Vernon Wells, batting 9^th against the lefty.  However, the mighty Pujols struck out with 2 on base.  The game remained tied at 1 until the 5^th when Wells delivered again with an RBI double and then Weeks drove home 2 more to chase Liriano.  NYC cut it to 4-2 in the 6^th and chased Pineiro, but Ogando stranded a pair.  SHI added an insurance run in the 6^th and their bullpen took it from there.  Ogando, OFlaherty, and Axford combined for 3.2 perfect innings, with 5 strikeouts.  SHI won the opener, 5-2.

Game 2 Cahill vs. Dickey:  The Blondes scored 1^st in this one, on a Dunn solo shot.  SHI held that precarious 1-0 lead until the 5^th, when Denorfia and Hundley followed a DP with back-to-back homers!  However, that didnt last long as SHI struck back with a 2-run single by Renteria and a Pujols sac fly that would have been a 3-run HR if not for an incredible leaping catch by Edmonds!  In the 6^th, SHI scored on a 1^st and 3^rd balk to increase their lead to 5-2.  Dickey kept his knuckler dancing and held that lead into the 9^th, but a 1-out single by Holliday brought on Axford.  The closer looked shaky this time, allowing a double and walk to load the bases.  In the 5^th, Denorfia and Hundley had back-to-back homers, but in the 9^th they had back-to-back lineouts to end another 5-2 SHI win.

Game 3 Buchholtz vs. Lilly: The series moved to NYC for this matchup between young and old.  The young guy served up a solo homer to Thames in the 2^nd, an RBI single to Wells in the 3^rd (followed by a bases loaded Thames DP), and a Prado RBI single in the 4^th.  However, Old Man Lilly lost his focus after a Weeks misplay in the 4^th.  Swisher singled home the 1^st NYC run and Darnell McDonald tied it with a 2-run homer.  Both starters exited after 6 innings and the score remained tied until the 8^th.  Thames drew a 1-out walk and PR Desmond advanced on a groundout.  NYC surprisingly called for Franklin to IBB Molina and face Renteria, but SHI PH with Hernandez.  The veteran catcher delivered a huge RBI single and Prado followed that with an RBI double.  Oddly, NYC didnt IBB Pujols with a base open, but he grounded out.  Even Meek was handed the 5-3 lead in the 8^th and he retired all 6 NYC batters he faced to give SHI a 3-0 series lead.

Game 4 Westbrook vs. Chen: In this battle of veteran 4^th starters, Chen looked shaky early.  Castro led off for NYC with a triple and 2 walks loaded the bases for Rolen with 1 out.  However, his fly ball was caught and Markakis made a great throw to gun down Castro at home.  Chen escaped another jam in the 2^nd and Markakis scored the 1^st run on a Renteria double.  With 2 outs in the 4^th, Molina made it 2-0 with an RBI single, PH Giambi walked to load the bases, and then Prado unloaded them with a double!  Suddenly, SHI had a 5-0 lead and Chen continued to frustrate NYC until a single and double to start the 6^th brought on Casilla.  Casilla didnt pitch at all against HAR and looked rusty here, allowing an RBI single to Posey and 3-run HR to Swisher!  Meek was handed the 5-4 SHI lead in the 7^th and he pitched around a 1-out double and then retired 2 in the 8^th.  NYC PH with the dangerous Braun, so SHI countered with Axford, who struck him out.  On to the 9^th, with SHI still leading 5-4.  Axford struck out Hundley and coaxed a groundout from Cairo.  The NYC season was now down to PH Chris Denorfia, who grounded out to end it. 

Wow.  I certainly didnt expect to sweep a very good NYC team, particularly after how tough they played us in the regular season.  However, the rolls just went my way today.  Oddly, SHI scored exactly 5 runs in all 4 games and it was enough each time. 

SHI offensive heroes included Prado (8-16 and 5 RBI, even though hes already been traded), Renteria, Molina, Markakis, and Wells.  Meanwhile, big sluggers Pujols and Dunn combined for an ugly 2-29 line!  The Shiner pitchers were terrific other than Casillas crappy relief effort.  Axford saved 3 of the wins. 

As for NYC, only Hundley (5-14) and McDonald (2-5) hit better than Canos .286.  However, none of the regulars really stood out as terrible either.  Cairos 0-9 at the top of the order in the first couple games certainly didnt help though.  Other than Franklins loss in game 3, the NYC relievers pitched well, but none of the starters could hold SHI to less than 3 runs. 

Congratulations to Glenn on a great season, even though it obviously didnt end well.  Next up for Shiner is the mighty Santa Fe Gecko Lizards and a shot at ARBA championship glory!