Redwood and Camden faced off in the Federal League playoffs to earn the right to face the powerhouse Gecko Lizards, who advanced over Sewell.
Game 1 : Arrieta vs. Bumgarner
Redwood's Jake Arrieta fired 7+ shutout innings, allowing just 5 hits and 1 walk, while striking out 7 Lumberjacks to earn the win in the 3-0 Pioneers victory. Joey Rickard homered in the third for the game's first run, and Tyler White doubled on a range pull on Camden's leftfielder Kris Davis to drive in two. Ryan Buchter pitched the last 1+ innings for the save. Ian Kinsler had two hits for Camden.
Game 2: Fernandez vs. Syndergaard
Game two belonged to the Camden dynamic duo of Noah Syndergaard and Nolan Arenado. Syndergaard threw the complete-game 4-hitter, allowing just Greg Garcia's solo homer in the top of the first for a short 1-0 Redwood lead. "Thor" walked just 1 and struck out 8 in the masterpiece. On the offensive side, Arenado was all Camden needed, and he went bezerk with a 4 for 4 day, scoring 3 runs and driving in 6 with a double and three homers! Not that it was needed, but Kris Davis and Ian Kinsler also homered, as Jose Fernandez was torched for 8 earned runs and 5 homers in just 6+ innings.
Game 3: Hernandez vs. Taillon
With the series tied at one game apiece, Redwood comes back home whimpering after the game two shellacking. It was apparently "Turn back the clock day", as Redwood's King Felix pitched like his younger self, tossing 7 shutout innings, allowing just 5 hits, 1 walk, and striking out 7 in the 4-0 Pioneers win. Angel Pagan, Brandon Belt, and Robinson Cano all belted solo homers, while Pedro Alvarez had 2 doubles and drove in a run. Jameson Taillon was tagged with the loss, allowing 3 earned runs over 3+ innings. Alex Colome threw 3 shutout innings of relief and struck out six for Camden in the loss, and Addison Russell had two hits. Camden also suffered a tough blow in the 3 game injury to power-hitting Kris Davis.
Game 4: Arrieta vs. Bumgarner
With Redwood now leading the series 2-1, game four was a rematch of game one. The script was a bit different, but the result was the same as Arrieta earned the 5-3 win with 7 strong innings, again allowing just 5 hits, but this time allowing 3 runs. Bumgarner pitched very well for 4 plus innings, allowing just one run on Tyler Saladino's solo homer in the 3rd inning. Bumgarner left with a 3-1 lead in the 5th, but Tyler Thornburg did his best Jose Fernandez imitation, allowing 4 runs on 3 homers in just one plus innings to take the loss. Brandon Belt and Robinson Cano both hit their second homer of the series, while Buster Posey hit his first. Ryan Buchter was solid in relief between Arrieta and Luke Gregerson, who struck out the last two batters of the game for the save. Redwood was now up 3-1 in the series and was just one win away from advancing.
Game 5: Gonzalez vs. Pomeranz
With their backs against the wall, Camden got just what they needed in a dominant performance by Drew Pomeranz. The lefty went 8+ shutout innings, allowing just 3 singles, 2 walks, and struck 8 in the gem. Alex Colome came in to strike out Cano to end the game and earn the save. Keon Broxton homered, scored 2 runs, and drove in a run for the Lumberjacks, while Arenado had an RBI double (his 8th RBI of the series). Redwood's Gio Gonzalez allowed 4 runs in 4+ innings to take the loss. Camden could now return home with a chance to sweep the final two games to advance.
Game 6: Fernandez vs. Syndergaard
With Redwood leading 3-2 in the series, this game featured a rematch of game two, as Fernandez was rocked by Arenado's 3-homer game and Syndergaard dominated. And much like game four's rematch of game one, the script was different but the result was the same. Although Jose Fernandez rebounded and pitched well, the Pioneers could not get the big hit off Syndergaard, who allowed just one run through 5+ innings, despite walking four. Alex Colome then relieved for Camden and dominated, tossing 3 shutout innings and striking out four. Arenado continued his mastery over Fernandez, as homered off him again and Yelich doubled in a run in the 2-1 Lumberjack win to even the series at 3 games apiece. Tyler Thornburg struck out Posey for the final out of game for the save. Fernandez was the tough-luck loser, allowing just 2 runs over 8 innings, while striking out 11.
Game 7: Arrieta vs. Bumgarner
It would be an Arrieta vs. Bumgarner matchup for the third time this series, and this one would decide who would advance to face Santa Fe. Arrieta notched wins in the previous two games in strong outings, but Bumgarner pitched well in both efforts, taking one loss in the series opener. And in this decisive game seven, nothing much would change as Arrieta once again would dominate for the Pioneers. The righty went 6+ strong innings, allowing just 4 hits and 1 run, walking 1 and striking out 6. Bumgarner could not keep pace, as he was done in by a solo homer by Melvin (Don't call me BJ) Upton and a two-run shot by Danny Espinosa. Arrieta exited in the 7th with a 4-1 lead, and the Redwood bullpen of Tyler Rogers, Will Smith, and Carlos Torres closed out the game with two shutout innings, with Torres picking up the save. Redwood now advances to face off against the feared Gecko Lizards.
For the series for Camden, Arenado was a monster. He hit .333 with 4 doubles, 4 homers, and 9 RBI's. Kinsler hit .364 but could only muster 1 RBI on a solo homer. Yelich hit .308 with two RBI's, and Broxton homered and drove in two runs as well. As a team, Camden his .202. On the mound, Pomeranz pitched a gem with 8 shutout innings, and Syndergaard earned two wins on two starts, allowing just 7 hits in 14+ innings with a 1.23 ERA. Alex Colome was dominant out of the pen, tossing 8+ shutout innings, allowing only 3 hits and 2 walks, and striking out 13. On the downside, Nori Aoki was just 1 for 16, Adrian Gonzalez was 2 for 22, and Addison Russell was 3 for 21. The three hitters combined for one run and one RBI over the 7 game series, with 25 strikeouts.
Redwood was led by series MVP Jake Arrieta. He was 3-0, allowing just 14 hits and 5 walks in 21 innings with a 1.71 ERA. Felix Hernandez also pitched well in his lone start with 7 shutout innings to earn the other win for Redwood. Ryan Buchter tossed 4 perfect innings of relief and three different relievers notched saves. Needless to say, Redwood earned the series win on the mound, as the team hit just .164 over the series. But they did slug 11 homers in scoring 18 total runs. No one player excelled at the plate, as Tyler Saladino was the only Pioneer to hit over .250 (he hit .308). Players hoping to pick it up in the next series against Santa Fe are Nick Markakis (0 for 14), Danny Espinosa (1 for 21, 2 errors and several pull singles on his 2 range rating), and Buster Posey (2 for 23).
Congratulations to Travis and his Camden squad on a well-played series and a great season. We used Netplay and indeed, Strat has worked out the kinks and it works very well. It was a pleasure playing against Travis, who is a great sport and patiently puts up with my comments throughout the game. He's a real great guy and deserves a better fate....perhaps that better fate awaits in his CL matchup against Shiner???? If you've read this lengthy recap and have made it to this point, congratulations, you deserve a beer!
