Conference Championships (Round 1, Best of 7)
MarVa Conference
Game 3: Norfolk Cavaliers @ Chesapeake Blue Crabs
Cavs Pregame:
We head into Chesapeake with a 2 game lead and I am hoping we can finish the Crabs off early. It would be nice to get a 3-0 lead and just prime up for the championships... ok, you're right, I am getting ahead of myself. I need to focus on today's game, which should be a pitchers duel. On the hill for us is Pablo Garcia, making his first ever playoff appearance, for the Blue Crabs, is lefty Jorge Moran. Moran is a seasons playoff Vet making his 11th post-season start, with a recrod of 4-1 3.05 (1.11 WHIP).
I know its probably not the "brightest" move to make, but yes I am pulling Jeff Lewis and going with Henry Hamer, even if its a lefty/lefty matchup. I have lost a lot of confidence in Lewis over the past few post-seasons. Last seaosn he did ok, but after starting 0-8 this season I am going to go with the hotter bat. The only other tinker I am going to do is move Gallegos to the #3 and Hamer to #4. Breaks up the lefties earlier in the line-up and hopefully it will mean some better pitches for Gallegos with Hamer and Short coming up behind him.
For the Crabs Claude Bond is still listed at 22% (3 more days) for today's game.
Game Time:
The Cav's had a great opporutnity to break the game open in the top of the third, loading the bases with 1 out and the #2 and #3 hitters coming up... But Jorge Moran would step it up and strike out Galvez swinging on three pitches, then he would battle Gallegos to a full-count and Gallegos would go down swinging as well. A missed opportunity for sure.
In the 6th the Cav's would get the 0 off the score board. Sergio Rodriguez lead off the inning driving a double down the left-field wall. Sergio Galvez would move him over to third on a sac-bunt. with Rodriguez on third the Blue Crabs would walk Francisco Gallegos setting up the double play... but Henry Hamer would come through with a single to right, scoring Rodriquez. The Cav's would load the bases, but Alejandro Diaz would pop-out and pinch-hitter Robinson Lopez would end the inning on a ground out... but after six innings the Cav's would hold the lead at 1-0.
The Cav's pitches were in complete control, until the 7th. After 92 pitches, Pablo Garcia was removed from the game and Carlos Cononado was brought in. Raminro Herrera would start the inning iwth a single to left, and Steve Jackson would follow tthat with a double to right. With runners on 2nd and 3rd, I decided to keep Coronado in to face the left Ceaser Silva. On the second pitch of the inning Silva would hit a laser to second, Robinson Lopez leap up and pulled it in, and tossed it over to Flores to complete a double play. Alberto Sanchez would replace Coronado. The Blue Crabs would bring in Xue-qin Xu to face the righty. On the second pitch of the at-bat, Xu would pop out to second ending the threat and preserving the 1-0 Cav's lead.
Luis Martinez entered the 1-0 game in the 9th to face the Herrera, Jackson and Silva... he would retire all three hitters on ground-outs giving the Cav's the shut-out win, and 3-0 series lead.
W: Pablo Garcia (1-0)
L: Jorge Moran (0-1)
S: Luis Martinez (2)
HR: none
POG: Pablo Garcia: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 3 K
Cavs Postgame:
A 1-0 shut-out victory what an exciting game. Both teams had some chances to score runs, but in the end pitching rule. The Cav's manufactured our only run with a Sergio Galvez bunt. How often do you see the teams best hitter laying one day to set-up the winning run? Galvez does it all...
Alberto Sanchez went 2 innings of relief allowing 2 hits and striking out 2. He is quickly becoming my go to middle man. I was surprised with how poorly Coronado threw. He came into the playoffs hot, but I guess pitching out of the pen is a little different than starting.
Sergio Rodriguez was the offensive star for us tonight. He wwent 3-5, with that key double, scoring the only run of the game. Henry Hamer earned his strips and will be in place for Lewis in game 4. Lewis did enter the game late as a defensive sub.
Francisco Gallegos wasn't comfortable hitting in the 3-hole or facing the lefties the Crabs through at us. On the game today he was 0-3, with 2 K's and he left 9 men strained. Sergio Galvez wasn't much better going 1-3, leading 8... We could of blown the game wide open a couple of times if either one of those guys came through. But as the playoffs have been, every game it is someone else...
For the Blue Crabs Alberto Molinero had 3 of the Crabs 9 hits. Both teams left 8 men on. The Cav's turned 3 double plays, the Crabs 2.
Over the past few seasons the Cav's have had issues when facing lefties. Its nice to get some wins under our belt facing left handed pitching.
Couldn't of asked much more from Pablo Garcia. He brought his "A" game and was really impressive. But he really did show off his weakness, only able to got 6 innings, or 91 pitches. I probably could of pushed a few more pitches out of him, but figured it was a nice time for a clean cut-off... With that appearance he won me over, but he is still going to be a rental.
I am happy with this team. I am not sure what it is, but for some reason I believe in these guys a lot more than I have in the past few post-seasons. Maybe its all the "new" faces, maybe its just how good we are playing. Maybe its just the luck we have on our side (ie 2nd and 3rd, line drive double play). It will be nice if Pearson can shut the door tomorrow, so I can have Brown and Contreras rested for games 1 and 2...
Delaware Conference
Game 3: Wilmington Iron Pigs @ Lewes Braves
The Iron Pigs would start the scoring off in the 2nd when a Walt Martin triple would plate one. But the Braves would answer in their bottom half of the second when Hermino Bovay delivered a grand-slam giving the Braves the early 4-1 lead.
The Iron Pigs would tie it up, however, with 3 in the 4th. Alonso Martinez started the inning off with a double, and would score on a Gordon Purkis single. After a walk, a two-out walk none-the-less, a passed ball would move the runners up to 2nd and 3rd. Setting up Julian Moran's big single to right, plating two runs and tying the game.
After 4 innings the game was tied at 4, which is how it would stay till the 8th. With their backs against the wall, down in the series 2-0 and not wanting to lose at home Mike Simmons would step it up and deliver a huge lead-off HR in the 8th (464ft). This was all the Braves would need, as Luis DeLon would strike out the side in the 9th, giving the Braves the win.
The Iron Pigs now lead the series 2-1.
W: Ed Yoder (1-0)
L: Jason Nixon (0-1)
S: Luis DeLeon (1)
HR: LEW: Hermino Bovay (1), Mike Simmons (1)
POG: Herminio Bovay: 1-4, HR (1), R, 4 RBI