Both starters were on until the 4th inning when RDW would strike first when singles by Freeman and Posey chased Woodruff. Chafin would strike out Lowe before a Davis groundout and Sosa single plated two runs. HAR would answer in the 5th with back to back HRs from Machado and Baez, after the next two outs Gallo added a solo shot of his own (Burnes gave up 8 hr's total I believe in all of his actual mlb season). RDW would be held scoreless the rest of the game and CMD added two insurance runs in the 8th on an Acuna walk and Bell double and Steckenrider walking in a run. Hendriks would be called on for the 7 out save. CMD 6-2
Game 2: Urias vs Greinke
CMD would score first with a run in the 2nd on hits by Machado, Cruz, and Baez. RDW answered in the top of the 3rd with a Hill triple and Duffy single followed by three straight walks to score another run. CMD would tie it up in the 7th on a d'Arnaud HR. RDW answered back after a Machado error cleared the way for a Wade 2 run HR. Not to be out done CMD tied it up again on a Goldschmidt single and Cruz HR. Tied up going into the 9th. After a walk to Mullins CMD turned to Hendriks who decided to give up two doubles and hit two batters giving RDW the 2 run lead, which the wouldn't relinquish. RDW 6-4
Game 3: Marquez vs Allard
A Gallo triple and Sanchez ground out got CMD on the board first. Goldschmidt homered in the 4th and Sanchez homered in the 5th. RDW would claw back with a run in the 7th on a McCarthy double and Higashioka single, then scoring two more in the 8th a Freeman walk and Posey HR. This one would go to extras, after two outs in the 10th a Goldschmidt single and Bradley PH two run HR would put CMD up. Hendriks would close it out with an 8 out win. CMD 5-3
Game 4: Mayers vs Hill
RDW would strike in the 1st after Mullins double and another Machado error scored two runs on a Posey single and Lowe ground out. A Gallo HR in the 4th put CMD on the board and a Machado HR in the 7th tied it up. CMD couldn't hold the lead in the bottom of the 7th as a Mullins 3 run HR off Loup would be more than CMD could overcome. RDW 5-2
Game 5: Woodruff vs Burnes
CMD scored one in the 1st on hits from Gallo, Acuna, and Seager. A Yelich single and Acuna double plated another run in the 3rd. A Lowe HR in the 5th would get RDW on the board but that's all they would score. Machado added a HR in the 9th and Hendriks closed out the victory. CMD 3-1
Game 6: Greinke vs Urias
A Higashioka HR in the 2nd put RDW up early. A Bradley PH HR in the 3rd tied the game. Bell and Soler HRs in the 4th would give CMD the lead. Seager followed with a HR in the 5th. Down 4 to 1 going into the 8th RDW would make it close on a Freeman two run HR off Hendriks. CMD would push it back to a two run game on a Pomeranz wild pitch in the 8th. With Hendriks out off innings CMD turned to Santana, Guerra, Chargois, and Myers in the bottom of the 9th to close out the win. CMD 5-3
Congrats to Rick on yet another great team and as always a really great time playing the games, win or lose always a pleasure playing games with Rick. My team had a little more depth than his and I think that flexibility is what made the difference in this series.
Congratulations to Travis and CMD for advancing to the next round. It was a tough, close series where one break could decide it. CMD's lefty depth in the bullpen was key, as they generally neutralized Redwood's lefty bats Mullins, Freeman, Lowe, and Yaz. It seems they guys were always facing a lefty. Travis is awfully tough as he maneuvers a deep, quality bullpen, as he often uses 8-11 relievers in one game.
But in the end, you can't win a series if your stud ace on the mound, Corbin Burnes, goes 0-2 with a 4.70 ERA. Redwood is now left licking its wounds as CMD bounces them from the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
