This Federal League Division Series matchup featured two division winners that look very different indeed. Surprise (126-36) brutally dominated all season, whereas Camden (84-78) didn't expect to make the playoffs and pretty much won their division by default. So yeah, SUR had 42 more wins in the regular season and won 8 of 12 games with Camden in the regular season. However, it's rather terrifying to be such a huge favorite and anything can happen in the playoffs. Even more terrifying, Camden has MadBum as their ace. Could he carry them to an unlikely victory?
G1: MadBum (20-6, 1.83 ERA) vs. Marco Estrada (15-3, 3.22 ERA)
Estrada was only the 4th most successful starter in a ridiculous SUR rotation, but got the call anyway. The Zombies mostly mauled lefties this season and got to MadBum for 3 runs in the 3rd, including a 2-run double by team MVP Donaldson. However, MadBum shut them down after that. Fortunately for Surprise, Estrada rose to the challenge and took a 2-hit shutout into the 7th. Camden rallied with a pair of 2 out baserunners and sent in the mighty Khris Davis to pinch hit. Gregerson escaped that jam. It was Camden's best shot as Thielbar and Cishek finished the shutout. Camden also lost Moustakas to injury until game 6. SUR 3-0
G2: Homer Bailey (12-12, 4.24 ERA) vs. Mark Buehrle (22-3, 2.15 ERA)
That's not a typo, Buehrle really was that awesome for Surprise this season! Bailey fell behind early on an Utley homer, but frustrated the Zombies after that until the 6th when Kottaras singled to make it 3-0. Buehrle had a 1-hit shutout in the 6th, but got the hook anyway, because it's the playoffs, man! Ross finished that inning and Thielbar went the last 3 innings. PH Murphy homered to make it 4-0, but Rosario was injured in the 8th and would miss game 3. That forced Surprise to play Utley at catcher for the 9th inning. Fun! He called for some chin music and Yelich was knocked out until game 6. That led to Camden's 1st run, but it wasn't enough. SUR 4-1
The series moved to Camden for a battle of Zacks! Greinke was acquired to be the Zombie ace, but instead he easily led the team in losses. He also doesn't match up well against the Camden lineup. SUR scored first on Carp's HR after a DP, but Camden quickly struck back with a 2-run HR by Morneau, doubling their run total from games 1-2. If Camden expected to make the playoffs, unlimited scum Reid Brignac presumably wouldn't be playing so much as a 2b3e41. He rocked a .404 OPS in 522 PA this season by the way. He somehow made almost all the X-chances hit his way, but his error helped SUR retake the lead at 3-2. Could Greinke hold it? We'll never know, because SUR pulled him in the 5th. He did outlast Wheeler, who left after walking Utley to start the 3rd. Camden's bullpen was fantastic, shutting down the Zombies for 7 innings with Blevins, Holland, Henderson, and Simon. The Surprise bullpen matched them until the 7th when Arenado and Aoki defied the odds with doubles off Gregerson and Matusz, respectively. Matusz walked another lefty to start the 8th and Arenado struck again with an improbable RBI single off Coleman. Ugh. SUR rallied in the 9th with a 2-out double that tired Simon, but he struck out Donaldson to preserve Camden's victory. SUR 4-3
G4: Tyson Ross (16-0, 1.70 ERA) vs. MadBum (20-6, 1.83 ERA)
Thats also not a typo.Ross was nigh untouchable for Surprise this season and drew the huge challenge of preventing Camden from tying up the series with MadBum.However, the Lumberjacks roughed him up a bit in this one with 9 hits in his 6 innings.He was lucky that the only 2 runs scored came on Hosmers HR in the 3rd.Marte made a huge throw to nail Aoki at home just before the HR.Meanwhile, MadBum was rolling.He retired 11 in a row before his 1st walk and had a no-hitter into the 7th.However, Raburn drew a 1-out walk and Jennings brought him home with a triple!Camden somewhat surprisingly went to Holland and Rosario made them pay with an RBI single that tied the game.Escobars 2-out double might have tied the game, but Rosario was thrown out at home.In the 8th, the Zombies had 2 on with 2 out and Camden called on Logan Ondrusek to face Utley.Chase crushed his first pitch deep into the seats for a 3-run homer!Gonzalez added a 2-run HR in the 9th and Surprise ended up with a relatively easy win after being no-hit for 6 1/3.SUR 7-2
G5: Marco Estrada (15-3, 3.22 ERA) vs. Homer Bailey (12-12, 4.24 ERA)
Estrada and Buehrle were both available and pitched well in their earlier starts, but SUR picked the RH again.He made me look good with 6 no-hit innings before a leadoff single in the 7th.Nava led off the game with a HR, but that was the only run until Carps solo HR in the 6th.SUR made it 3-0 when Marte laid down a squeeze bunt in the 7th and it looked like Camdens season was nearly over.They were down to their last 2 outs when Hosmer singled (on a play that 2b Pennington should have made) to chase Hoover.SUR sent in their automatic closer Cishek, who saved 60 games this season.However, this time he walked Lowrie and served up a meatball to Brown, who crushed it into the seats for a shocking 3-run home run!Just like that, we had a tie game.WTF?!?!?!On to the 10th, Ondrusek knocked Escobar out of the game.With 1 out, Pennington tried to redeem himself with a 2-run HR, but his weak power made it a single instead.Up came Scott Van Slyke, who replaced Carp in the 8th.Would SUR regret making that move?No!Van Slyke delivered a double and Pennington beat the throw home to give Surprise a 5-3 lead!Cishek took care of business from there.SUR 5-3
Whew! Camden certainly made them work for it, but Surprise won the series in 5 games. Congratulations to Travis for taking a flawed team this far. Perhaps he'll get another shot at Surprise in the World Series, although given our playoff history, he might rather play someone else.
CMD hit .200/.259/.300 with 3 HR and 2 SB. However, their pitching (4.09 ERA) kept the games close.
SUR hit .248/.324/.453 with 7 HR and 2 SB. Although the bullpen had some very shaky moments, SUR had a 2.00 ERA overall.
Utley, Gonzalez, and the Rosario/Kottaras catcher combo led the SUR offense, while getting little help from Donaldson, Venable, and Escobar.
Estrada was terrific in his 2 starts (13.2 IP, 4 hits, 2 BB, 0 runs). Buehrle and Ross were very good as well. Greinke makes me sad. Thielbar was the best among the relievers, who created some unwelcome drama.
Hosmer, Brown, and of course Arenado led CMD, but the MIF and catchers provided almost nothing.
CMD pitchers did pretty well overall, but Ondrusek made a case for Series MVP by allowing 4 runs in 3 IP to help SUR win the last 2 games.
Okay, enough of this. Bring on Austin or Brooklyn!
