The 2020 CLCS featured yet another playoff battle between the Shiner Blondes and Harmony Grove Toppers.  HAR (106-56) won their division yet again and then swept Terre Haute.  SHI (102-60) barely beat out TER for the division title and then held off San Francisco in a 6-game series.  SHI won the season series 7-5, but HAR has home field advantage, so this should have been a great series.  With Strat in the playoffs, you just never know

G1: Gonzales vs. Strasburg

The game started somewhat ominously for SHI as Soto singled, but was picked off. However, that didnt stop Devers from hitting a 2-run homer.  He added another one in the 4^th, this time with Soto on base. Meanwhile, Marco Gonzales was bizarrely dominant, not even allowing a baserunner until Bryants double in the 5^th. SHI probably should have pulled him, but instead let Marco hang around to give up Lindors 2-out 2-run double.  However, SHI easily won the bullpen battle, addeing 3 more runs off Strahm and Morin, including another Devers RBI.  SHI 8-3

G2: Lynn vs. Duffy

Shiner jumped on top early again with Siscos RBI double and another 2-run HR from Devers.  They really blew it open with 4 runs in the 5^th, but added 5 in the 7^th just to be mean.  Devers homered yet again and so did Sisco.  Adding insult to injury, Danny Duffy pitched into the 7^th before allowing his 1^st hit.  Yikes!  This is not what I was expecting at all.  SHI 14-2

G3: Strahm vs. Miley

Would Harmony Groves luck change with the move to Shiner?  Well, they loaded the bases in the 1^st, but Santana struck out.  SHI also had a great chance to score in the 1^st and chased Strahm, but Bichette was thrown out at home.  He did score in the 3^rd on a Soto single.  With 2 on and no out in the 5^th, PH Mazara crushed one deep to RF, but Harper jumped up to rob him! SHI did increase their lead to 2-0 with a sac fly though.  Miley had settled down nicely after the 1^st, but SHI pulled him in the 6^th after a 2-out walk. Tyler Duffey made his debut and served up a 2-run blast to La Stella, then a solo shot to Santana!  Nice job, dude.  On to the 8^th with Crichton dominating as HAR clung to a 3-2 lead.  Pence singled, but PR Dubon was caught stealing! That was all part of Shiners master plan as Ramirez doubled and Olson rocked a 2-run homer! SHI called on Yates in the 9^th and he closed it out.  SHI 4-3

G4: Strasburg vs. Gonzales

Wow, could SHI really sweep the mighty Toppers?  Hell no!  HAR quickly loaded the bases and Bryant lofted one just over the wall for a grand slam!  Shiner never seriously threatened as HAR took out some frustrations, scoring on all 4 relievers.  Strasburg even had a no-hitter through 5 2/3 but ended up allowing a few runs.  It didnt matter this time.  HAR 10-3

G5: Lynn vs. Snell

This is not the Cy Young version of Blake Snell, so he got a very quick hook after allowing 2 hits in the 1^st.  Clippard bailed him out and pitched 3 shutout innings.  Lynn got in trouble in the 3^rd as Devers drove in Soto again, then the next 2 batters walked.  Gallegos escaped the jam, but a single past the 2B with 2 outs in the 5^th set up Polancos double and Olson barely beat the throw home.  Soto added a solo HR in the 7^th to make it 3-0.  Meanwhile, the SHI bullpen was nearly perfect, including 3 scoreless from Vazquez.  Yates took over with 2 outs in the 8^th.  Harper led off the 9^th with a single, but Santana struck out to end the series.  SHI 3-0

So Shiner ended up with the Gentlemans Sweep, winning in 5 games.  Congratulations to Travis on putting together yet another great team that just couldnt get any Strat love in this series other than the Game 4 blowout.  Overall, SHI outscored them 32-18 despite losing 10-3 in G4.

The big hitting heroes for SHI were Devers (.524, 4 HR, 11 RBI), Ramirez (.588, 3 DO, 5 RBI), and Soto (.400, 3 DO, 4 BB).  Olson was 3-20 but hit a huge HR in G3. The starting rotation was shockingly effective in games 1-3, but the SHI bullpen really delivered in the close games, as been the case for most of their season. 

As for HAR, Lindor (.353 with 4 DO) was easily their top hitter. Bryant and McNeil were decent and then it got ugly. Santana hit 2 solo HR but was only 3-17. The Navarez/Wieters catching duo hit 3-21.  On the pitching side, Lynn had a 12.15 ERA in 2 losses, which is probably not what Travis had in mind for that investment. Strasburg had a 6 ERA in splitting his starts. The bullpen was a mixed bag, but Crichton and Gallegos both allowed runs in close games.  I also must mention that HAR was only 18-27 (.667) on X-plays with 3 errors and seemed much worse.  SHI was almost as bad, going 16-23 (.696) with 3 errors.

Okay, enough of that. Shiner advances to the World Series for the first time since their 2011-2013 run. They await the winner of Camden and Santa Fe. Will Travis get a chance to avenge his loss with HAR or will SHI get another shot at SFE, who took 2 of 3 in their prior World Series?  Feel the anticipation!