Game 1 (Carrasco vs Strasburg):EGR grabs an early lead thanks to a 2-run Matt Adams jack, but solo shots from Ezequiel Carrera in the 3rd and 5th are sandwiched around a single-K-double+error sequence in the 4th giving HAR a 4-2 lead after 5.HAR scores an insurance run in the 8th, but Strasburg doesnt need the help, as he held the EGR bats to 3 hits and a walk after the 1st.HAR 5, EGR 2
Game 2 (Santana vs Darvish):HAR never has more than one runner on base in any of the first 8 innings (4 singles and a walk).Meanwhile, Dexter Fowler hits a HR in the 3rd, and in the 5th, Crawford gets to 3rd with 2 outs. Intentional walks to the righties Domingo Santana and Sano brings Kyle Seager to the plate against Devenski.Seager walks in a run, and Odubel Herrera singles home 2 more to give EGR a 4-0 lead.The Witchfinders score again in the 7th, and a 1-out Toppers rally (a walk and 2 singles) plates a run, but Betances works out of it. EGR 5, HAR 1
Game 3 (Pea**** vs Happ): This one is over early, as HAR scores a run on a single-walk-Lindor RBI single. Happ strikes out the next 2 batters to trty and wriggle free, but Melky Cabrera hits a 3-run shot to give HAR the 4-0 lead. Happ gives up 4 straight singles and a sac fly in the 3rd to yield 2 more Toppers runs, and Rusin fares similarly in the 4th, as HAR adds 3 more runs on 4 singles and a walk. All told, HAR pounded out 17 hits for the game. EGR gets a nice single+errordouble-double sequence with 2 outs in the 9th, but its way too little, too late. Devenski atoned for his game 2 performance with 4.2 innings of 1-hit relief. HAR 10, EGR 3
Game 4 (Bridwell vs Carrasco): A 1st inning Beltre 2-run shot is answered by single EGR runs in the 2nd (Seager double-WP-Herrera SF) and 3rd (Springer HR). HAR retakes the lead in the 6th as a Beltre double is followed by a Suzuki error, Kiermeier SB , and a 2-RBI Lindor single. Brach, Uehara , and Davis keep the EGR bats in check, but in the 8th, Santana and Fowler hit back-to-back homers off of Davis to tie it at 4. The Toppers get 2 on with 1 out in the 9th on walk and HBP by Betances, but Rusin comes in to induce a DP and end the threat. Odubel Herrera reaches on a leadoff single in the 9th off of Devenski. Brebbia comes in and gets Suzuki to pop up, but pinch-hitter Ozzie Albies drills a triple (on a hit-and-run attempt) to complete the EGR comeback. EGR 5, HAR 4
Game 5 (Strasburg vs Santana):An Adams solo shot in the 2nd leads off the scoring, but Jones ties it in the 5th with a leadoff solo homer of his own, which is promptly answered by a 2-out 5th inning EGR score from a Beckham single and Ianetta double.EGR tacks on runs in the 6th (Fowler HR) and 7th (Seager double + Beckham single) to build a 4-1 lead after 7.HAR had chances in the 4th (1st and 3rd with 1 out, but a Beltre pop-up and Pedroia ground-out follow) and 5th (2 outs when a single-walk-single stretch threatens, but Hanley Ramirez is thrown out at the plate) but wasnt able to capitalize.The Toppers rally in the 8th is more successful, as they have runners at 2nd and 3rd with only 1 out. A Beltre ground-out plates a run, but Pedroia strikes out to end the threat.EGR goes out 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 8th, and Brad Hand gets 2 outs in the 9th before yielding a single to Lindor.Betances comes in and gives up singles to pinch-hitter Rene Rivera and Ezequiel Carrera, drawing HAR to within 1, but the big man finally gets Navarez to fly out, sealing the win. The EGR offense was the epitome of efficient, scoring 4 runs on 6 hits (no walks) and leaving only one man on base. EGR 4, HAR 3
Game 6 (Faria vs Darvish): The HAR lineup gets a 2-run Lindor HR in the 2nd and pounds out 2 singles, a walk, and a SF in the 4th, and 3 more singles in the 5th to take 4-1 lead after 5.Nava reaches on a Pedroia error in the 6th, goes to 2nd on a groundout, and scores on an Adams single to pull EGR to within 2, but follows that with a 1-2-3 7th.In the 8th, Crawford is HBP leading off, and Springer reaches on a Morales error.Santana walks to load the bases with no outs before Brach balks in a run (which seems a little unlikely in that situation).Fowler walks to reload the bases, and Adams strikes out, but Seager delivers a game-tying SF before Brach gets out of the jam.HAR has a chance to win it in the bottom of the 9th, as Betances loads the bases with 2 outs, Neshek comes in to strike out Adam Jones.Both bullpens pitch well into the 16th.Ianetta doubles, and Sanchez bunts him to 3rd before Beckham strikes out, but Springer launches a 2-out, 2-run homer.Jackie Bradley gives HAR hope with a solo shot off Senzatela in the bottom of the inning, but Hand comes in to close it all out.EGR 6, HAR 5 (16)
So, 3 not-too-close games followed by 3 very close games as EGR pulls out the 4-2 series win, which could easily have gone the other way except for a Wade Davis mini-meltdown and some key HAR errors in game 6. A fine Harmony Grove season gets stranded on the rocks of playoff baseball randomness, but congratulations to Travis for putting yet another playoff team together.
Very good series, just didn't have enough offense or bullpen to pull out the one run games (and my gold glovers let me down, 2 errors by Pedroia and 1 by Lindor). Congrats to Mike on bringing the Harmony Grove fans down again after another quick playoff exit!
Dude. That team may need to abandon Harmony Grove to finally break their playoff curse! How many consecutive seasons have they won the division without winning the championship? 15?
Moving to Surprise worked out well for Laramie. That team had a painful history of playoff misery, consistently coming up short despite finishing with 98+ wins in 12 of 18 seasons. That included 3 WS losses, but their 2 best teams didn't even make it that far. Sure enough, season #1 in Surprise turned out to be the 1st championship and they've won 3 more since then. Playoff luck has deserted me in the past 2 seasons, but the Surprise era clearly beats the Laramie one at least. Wait a minute, what am I doing here? You should NEVER EVER consider leaving Harmony Grove. You're totally due for a change in luck!