The CL Coin Flip Game featured San Jose (94-68), who had long seemed a lock for a Wild Card spot with no significant chance to catch division winner Dime Box, and Williamsburg (98-64), who had battled NMO all season for leadership of the CL South, ending up only 2 games back.

With the game a win-or-go-home affair, both teams obviously started their aces: Lance Lynn, 23-6, 2.64 ERA) for WMB and Jordan Zimmermann (13-10, 2.80 ERA) for SJ.

Pitching was dominant early, as only one player made it as far as second base in the first three innings.

The wheels came off for Lynn in the fourth, however, after he dared to injury Adam Lind (rest of game only).  Lind's teammates avenged him with homers (Tulo, Martin), forcing an error by normally steady Robinson Cano, and nailing a bases-loaded clutch single by a lefty against designated LOOGY (and Fresh Prince) Will Smith.

Williamsburg struck back in the bottom of the inning with a Cano redemption RBI double and RBI hits by Castro and Valbuena to get to 5-3, but it wasn't WMB's night, as rf2e0 Venable turned a 2-out, 2-on x play into an RBI double and the ongoing parade of relievers couldn't stop the SJ offense.

SJ ends up winning and advancing to the real playoffs with a 9-4 victory.  We are not at all looking forward to facing dreaded HAR.

Congrats to Jon for putting together an excellent team that ran into some hot bats and bad Strat luck on x plays.