Verlander versus Roark- Early HRs by Nomar Mazara and Jose Peraza stake the Blondes to an early lead off of Verlander, but the Mosstroopers come back with a balanced attack and get to Addison Reed in the 7th for the 7-5 victory.
Game 2:
In a battle of pitching Titans, Miguel Gonzalez matched Chris Tillman 0 for zero until they gave way to Addison Reed and Kenley Jansen. The Blondes were able to scratch across a run versus Jansen for the 1-0 victory to tie the series as it headed to Shiner for the next three. Blevins picked up the save.
Game 3:
NMO got a big 3-run HR from Edwin Encarnacion to cruise to a 7-1 victory behind the arm of Steve Matz
Game 4:
NMO got another clutch pitching performance, this time from Justin Verlander for the 3-1 victory.
Game 5:
Tense back and forth game that had NMO come back from a 4-0 deficit to lead 8-6 with Kenley Jansen on the mound in the 9th. Jansen promptly walked the apparently much-feared Curt Casali, he of the sub .200 average, to put the tying run on in the bottom of the 9th with the top of the order coming up. Certainly with Eric's luck and my lack thereof, it would be the catalyst for a much anticipated comeback from a 3-1 deficit.
With Billy Hamilton up, Eric decided to hit and run but Hamilton let him down and swung and missed and Casali was on his own. As amazed as I weas, Eric did not get the "1" he needed to be safe and Casali was out by a mile. Of course, then the potent bat of Peter Bourjos came up with 2 outs in the 9th and singled, just because that would have made it way too easy so up came Jose Ramirez and.... lined out for the NMO victory.
Congrats to Eric for his amazing 3-year run and for taking the Blondes this far, especially for taking down mighty HAR and giving NMO a chance to move on...
Congratulations to Warren and good luck against the hated Gecko Lizards!
Shiner made it further than I expected and did put up a good fight against a very strong New Monmouth team. Our pitching did a great job in the upset of Harmony Grove, but couldn't work that same magic on the NMO bats other than the one shutout. Perhaps SHI ace Roark should have focused more on making outs than on headhunting. He drilled Encarnacion once and Wieters 3 times in 2 starts, resulting in 3 injuries. Not sure why he hates Wieters so much.
