In the Federal League Wildcard game, the South division Redwood Pioneers (99-63) visited the Central division Surprise Zombies (111-51) in the one-game playoff.  Surprise sent David Price (5-1, 3.72 ERA) to the hill and Redwood countered with Chase Anderson (14-5, 2.64 ERA).

Redwood struck first as Buster Posey homered off Price in the top of the first for the quick 1-0 Redwood lead.  That score held into the bottom of the 8th inning as both teams squandered multiple scoring chances, couldn't get favorable split card pulls, and generally rolled like crap.  In the bottom of the 8th, Justin Turner tied the game with a solo homer, which ended the night for Chase Anderson.  Lefty Justin Wilson relieved and escaped the 8th without further damage.

The Surprise bullpen continued to hold off Redwood in the top of the 9th, and Redwood's Anthony Swarzak returned the favor against Surprise in the bottom of the 9th, and off to extra innings we went.  In the 10th, Andrew Miller put down Redwood without incident, and Swarzak turned in his second scoreless inning against Surprise, as the game went to the 11th frame.  In the top of the that inning, pinch-hitter Patrick Kivlehan rolled a 4-3 for a leadoff walk against Andrew Miller.  On the Hit-and Run, Miguel Rojas grounded out but moved pinch-runner Gorkys Hernandez to second.  Buster Posey then rolled the second 4-3 of the inning for a walk, with runners now at 1st and 2nd.  Justin Smoak then rolled a 3-6 for a single, scoring Hernandez with the go-ahead run and moving Posey to third.  Surprise then went to the bullpen to relieve a tired Miller, bringing in lefty Brent Suter to face Ryan Schimpf, who popped out for the second out.  Corey Kluber then came in to face righty Jake Marisnick, who grounded out to end the inning.

To nail down the 2-1 victory, Redwood brought in their ace closer, lefty Sean Doolittle (27 Saves, 1.87 ERA).  To Redwood's delight, Surprise chose to not pinch-hit for Starling Marte to begin the inning.  Marte has 3 total hits on his card against lefties, and of course, his roll of 3-6 was one of them, as the unlikely tying run was now on base.  Wellington Castillo struck out for the first out of the inning, but pinch-hitter Brandon Guyer then rolled a 6-3, which is a Ballpark HR chance of 1-12.  Surprise pulled the HR.....if only Guyer were N-Powered, but he's weak, so Surprise had to settle for the single, putting the winning run at first and moving the tying run to third.  Pinch-runner Eric Young then stole second base to put the winning run at second with one out.  With lefty masher Asdrubal Cabrera due up, Redwood chose to take out their stud lefty closer and bring in righty Blake Parker to face Cabrera.  Cabrera grounded into the drawn-in infield for the second out of the inning, with Marte and Young staying at their respective bases.  Alcides Escobar then strode to the plate as Surprise's last chance, but he flew out for the final out of the game.

Redwood now advances to the next round to face Santa Fe, in a rematch of last season's Federal League championship series, which Santa Fe won in 5 games.  Surprise now has the offseason to contemplate their second consecutive one-game wildcard playoff loss.