Conference Championships (Round 1, Best of 7)
MarVa Conference
Game 4: Norfolk Cavaliers @ Chesapeake Blue Crabs
Cavs Pregame:
It would be nice for Cornell Pearson to take home the game 4 win and just end this series now. I don't want it to drag on like it did last season. Get it over and get on with it and rest up. The longer the series goes the harder the games become to win. Henry Hamer will be in the lineup once again, replacing Jeff Lewis. Lewis will get in later in the game for Defense. I also decided to go with Robinson Lopez in place of Edgar Baez. Baez was 0-10 versus Watts during the regular season and hasn't done much in the playoffs. He may see an AB against a righty later in the game.
We go up against Dave Watts our 3rd lefty faced this series. He owned us during the regular season so hopefully we will make him pay for that this game... Claude Bond is still playing at 22%, but he is having a solid playoff series. Doesn't really look like the spasm's are bothering him.
After a lackadasical game 3 with the sticks, hopefully the Cav's break out this game. We need someone to step up and hit today...
Game Time:
The Cav's broke out the hitting sticks in the first, cracking out 5 hits. The inning started with Sergio Rodriguez singling up the middle. Then Sergio Galvez drove the 1-2 pitch 417ft over the right-center field wall. With 2-outs Bob Short got the rally going again, doubling down the right-field line, Gallegos walked. With runners on first and second Robinson Lopez singled up the middle plating Short. Gallegos went to third and Lopez to second a on the play at the plate, setting up a 2-RBI single by Mario Gomez. That single chased starter David Watts... when the dust settled, the Cav's scored 5, on 5 hits and a walk.
After Pearson shut the Blue Crabs down 1-2-3 in the first, the Cav's would get one more. A lead-off triple by Sergio Rodriguez started the inning off. He would score 2 batters later on an RBI double by Henry Hamer. That would be all the Cav's would get, but they now hold the lead 6-0 after 2.
In the 2nd the Blue Crabs would get on the score-board. A lead-off double by Alberto Molinero, was followed by a walk to Xue-qin Xu. They would move up on a balk, and then score on a Monte Lyon double. Lyon would get doubled off of second on a fly-out to left-center ending what could of been a bigger inning. After two the Cav's are holding on to a 6-2 lead.
A walk to Sergio Rodriguez would start the fourth. After two ground-outs moved Rodriguez to third. He would come home to score on a 2-run HR by Alejandro Pena (408ft). Bob Short would follow Diaz with a back-to-back shot over the right-field wall (380ft), greeting new pitcher Dave Campbell and giving the Cav's a 9-2 lead.
The Cav's would add another run in the 5th. Sergio Galvez singles to right, scoring Mario Gomez, who singled earlier in the inning. Giving the Cav's the 10-2 lead.
In the 8th the Blue Crabs would add a run. It all started with a walk to Claude Bond. Bond would move to second on a ground out by Molinero. The next batter Xue-qin Xu would rake a single to the right-centerfield gap scoring Bond. After 8 innings the Cav's hold the 10-3 lead.
Miguel Angel Gonzalez would retire the Blue Crabs 1-2-3 in the 9th ending the game, giving the Cav's the series sweep!! The Cav's are heading back to the title game, after a big 10-3 win.
W: Cornell Pearson (1-0)
L: Dave Watts (0-1)
S: none
HR: NFK: Bob Short (1), Alejandro Diaz (1), Sergio Galvez (3)
POG: Sergio Galvez: 3-5, 3B, HR (3), R, 3 RBI
Cavs Postgame:
That was how I was hoping this game would work out. I needed a big blow-out and I got one.
Cornell Pearson wasn't his best, but he go the job done. He threw 113 pitches over 8 innings, allowing 7 hits and walking 5. He usually possess better control, but we turned 3 big double plays and he was able to relaz and just throw strikes.
The offense went crazy with 13 hits. Claudio Flores was the only starter not to collect at least one. Robinson Lopez and Mario Gomez both collected 2 hits and may end up be my 2nd/3rb base combo. Moving Baez to the bench. Not sure yet, however.
Sergio Rodriguez had 2 hits and walk, and he scored 3 runs. He is quickly proving himself as the lead-off man of the Cav's future. I am excited about the way this team is playing, and now we have our starters lined up 1-2-3 for the series. I would like to get that elusive 6th title.
Seems like all things are clicking right for the Cav's, and hopefully we can take this momentum with us into the finals. I have a lot of confidence in this team and I know we can hang with anyone. I am looking forward to the Championship round...
MarVa Conference Series MVP: Sergio Galvez, Norfolk Cavaliers. Galvez hit .467 during the series, drove in a team high 6 runs and belted 3 HR's.
Delaware Conference
Game 4: Wilmington Iron Pigs @ Lewes Braves
The Lewes Braves and the Wilmington Iron Pigs battled in game 4, with each team answering back. In the 2nd the Iron Pigs jumped out to a 3-0 lead, only to see the lead vanish in the bottom of the inning thanks to a 3-run HR by Derek Campbell. But the Iron Pigs would then answer right back in the 3rd thanks to hits and errors, scoring 4 and taking the 7-3 lead. That lead would last till the 5th when Andres Salinas would hit a game tying grand slam. The Iron Pigs would take the lead again in the 8th scoring one, and then the Braves would walk off on an Andres Salinas single in the bottom of the 9th. A high scoring affair, but in the end the Braves pulled out the 9-8 win, tying the series at 2.
W: Ed Yoder (2-0)
L: Scott Wise (0-1)
S: --
HR: LEW: Derek Campbell (1), Andres Salinas (1)
POG: Andres Salinas: 2-5, HR, R, 5 RBI, Grand Slam in the 5th