This year's FL Wild Card Game featured the Hollywoo Horsemen and Surprise Zombies. They finished with matching 110-52 records and split their head-to-head games, but SUR won the tiebreaker to host the game. Hollywoo would start the Dread Trevor Bauer, who was acquired specifically to win this game and dominated the league this season with a 25-5 record and 2.11 ERA. Surprise would counter with Tony Gonsolin, who was pretty good (7-9, 2.96 ERA), but only 1-3 against Hollywoo. However, I chose to face the peril and we played the game over Zoom, which worked very well. On to the action!
In the 1st, WOO put runners on the corners with 1 out, but playoff legend Arozarena hit into a DP. In the bottom half, Bauer got 2 quick outs, but then Hicks tripled and scored on a Cano single. That brought up Unlimited DJ Stewart, who crushed one into the seats and the Zombie fans went wild! Just like that, SUR led 3-0. The next couple innings went quickly and WOO got on the board in the 4th with a Dozier solo HR. Gonsolin faltered in the 5th, allowing 3 straight hits. Hosmer's RBI single made it 3-2 and brought up that Arozarena guy again with 2 runners in scoring position. SUR called on Brusdar Graterol, who got him on a foulout, then was replaced with the lefty Smyly who struck out Kepler. The Horsemen threatened again in the 6th, getting a single and double with 2 outs, but Watson struck out Heyward to escape the jam. In the 7th, Taylor led off with a single for WOO and advanced to 2nd. However, he was stranded there as Arozarena and Kepler failed again. The Zombies were clinging to their 3-2 lead with Bauer still pitching in the bottom of the 7th. After a 1-out walk, Ronald Guzman crushed a hanging slider to make it 5-2! Hollywoo got leadoff walks in the 8th and 9th, but only added to their LOB total off 11. Hahn retired the last 3 batters to earn a save.
Hollywoo actually outhit Surprise by 11-5 and outwalked them by 4-3. However, Stewart and Guzman delivered big homers whereas the Horsemen kept stranding baserunners. Gonsolin got the first 13 outs and 6 relievers combined for the last 14. Trevor Bauer obviously didn't live up to the hype or his Cy Young season, allowing 5 ER in 6 1/3 IP. Taylor and Hosmer went 5-6, but Arozarena and Kepler went 0-9 in the 4 and 5 spots behind them.
Congratulations to Josh on assembling a great team who delivered a fantastic season. The Horsemen deserved better than a one-and-done playoff run, but baseball is cruel that way. We shall see if my playoff luck continues against the mighty Camden Lumberjacks. I'm sure that Travis is thrilled to be facing me in the division series with both his teams. We have made so much wonderful history together in the ARBA playoffs!
