Bethlehem and Santa Fe finally faced off to start the Federal League Championship Series!  (For the record, all delays were my fault; work and the holiday season have combined to slam my schedule pretty hard.)

Game One: Verlander vs Halladay

The best pitchers in the FL faced off against each other, but only one of them would come through with a worthy performance.  Freddie Freeman put the Geckos on the board with a 2-run homer in the third inning, and he added a sac fly to make it 3-0 in the 6th.  Bethlehem threatened in the 7th with 2 out and men on 2nd and 3rd, but after a controvertial intentional walk to PH Alejandro De Aza loaded the bases, Jimmy Rollins lined out to end the threat.  Uggla and Pence homered in the 7th and the game was essentially over at that point, and Santa Fe eventually took the game 7-1.

Game Two: CJ Wilson vs Lincecum

The Bombers got on top early with 2 unearned runs on back-to-back doubles by Ramirez and Hafner following a Lincecum throwing error.  They added another run in the 2nd inning and were looking good, but Wilson fell apart in the third - allowing three walks and three singles before being relieved by Ramon Ramirez who kept the score at 4-3.  Bethlehem tied it again next inning but Big Papi struck with a 2-run bomb to retake the lead at 6-4.  Lincecum struggled in the 6th, loaded the bases with two out, and Rivera was brought in much, much earlier than usual to face what looked like the key moment in the game.  Thankfully for SFE, he succeeded, coaxing a ground out from Morse.  After clinging to a small lead for a couple of innings, the Geckos exploded against a series of Bomber relievers in the 8th and ultimately won 10-5.

So the series moves on to Bethlehem was Santa Fe up 2 games to none.