National Baseball League

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Bob Costas (MLB on NBC-style recap):
"Sometimes, the postseason isn't just about a team. Sometimes, it's about a player finding the perfect moment in the perfect place.
For Jordan Foster, that place was Texas.
Less than an hour from Globe Life Field is where Foster grew up dreaming about nights exactly like this. He spent years pitching for other organizations, wondering if he'd ever get the opportunity to wear the Rangers uniform. On Monday afternoon, with the Division Series already leaning toward Seattle after Game 1, the hometown kid was handed the baseball.
And he delivered.
Foster scattered five hits over seven strong innings, allowing just two runs while repeatedly escaping trouble, leading Texas to a 6-5 victory that evened the American League Division Series at one game apiece.
Seattle actually threatened immediately. In the opening inning, Jordan Foster loaded the bases with a hit and two walks. It could have unraveled before it ever began.
Instead...
Dante Kendrick bounced into an inning-ending 3-6-3 double play.
That sequence may have been the defining defensive play of the afternoon.
The Rangers immediately rewarded their starter.
Jose Reyes drove in Austin Keithley in the first, Juan Cruz added another RBI single in the second, and in the third Texas manufactured two more runs despite collecting only one hit in the inning. Suddenly it was 4-0, and Foster could attack the strike zone with confidence.
Seattle finally broke through in the sixth when Travis Jarman crushed a towering 444-foot home run into the Texas seats, trimming the lead to 4-1.
An inning later, the Mariners added another run after Jose Garlaschelli's two-out single scored Dante Kendrick.
Now it was 4-2.
Momentum, perhaps, beginning to shift.
But playoff baseball often comes down to one swing.
Bottom of the seventh.
Juan Gallegos singles.
Jose Reyes reaches on an error.
William Gama lays down a sacrifice.
One out.
Ricky Roman steps in.
Josh Shelburne delivers...
CRACK.
A line drive rockets toward right field...
It splits the outfielders...
Roman races around second...
both runners score...
he slides into third with a two-run triple!
Texas restores its four-run cushion, leading 6-2.
That swing proved enormous.
Because the ninth inning became anything but comfortable.
Alex Sandoval, protecting the lead, suddenly couldn't find the strike zone. Two walks were followed by Reynaldo Mendez's RBI double. Carlos Villarreal then drilled a two-run double into the gap, and just like that the tying run was on base.
The Rangers crowd, roaring all afternoon, grew noticeably tense.
Sandoval regrouped.
Kelvin Irurita reached on an error, bringing the dangerous Travis Jarman to the plate as the potential hero for Seattle.
One final pitch.
A fly ball to left.
Routine.
Caught.
Ballgame.
Texas survives.
Jordan Foster earns the playoff victory he likely imagined as a youngster growing up in the shadow of this ballpark. He finishes with seven innings, five hits, two earned runs, three walks, and three strikeouts, earning Player of the Game honors.
Ricky Roman's seventh-inning triple stands as the decisive blow, while Jose Reyes, Juan Cruz, and the Rangers' patient lineup drew seven walks and constantly pressured Seattle starter Jonathan Villatoro.
The Mariners nearly authored a remarkable comeback, but nearly isn't enough in October.
With the Rangers' 6-5 victory, this best-of-five American League Division Series is now exactly what every baseball fan hopes for...
One game apiece.
Now the series shifts to Seattle, where momentum is suddenly very much up for grabs."

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Beavis Recaps NLDS Game 2
BEAVIS: Heh heh... dude... the Cubs totally had this game... and then they, like... didn't. Heh.
So Chicago scores in the first inning, and I'm thinking, "Yeah! Runs! This is cool!" Then Milwaukee scores right back, and after that... nothing. Like... everybody forgot how to baseball. Heh-heh. Nine innings of dudes hitting lazy fly balls and grounders. It was like watching the substitute teacher try to explain math.
Jim Russell for the Cubs was, like... awesome. Seven innings, one run, only four hits. He was kicking butt. Miguel Pena was kicking butt too. Seven innings, one run. It was like two guys having a pitching duel while everybody else stood around making outs.
Then Chicago had this hilarious chance in the fifth. Milwaukee makes two errors in the same inning! Heh-heh... two errors! And the Cubs are all loaded up like, "We're gonna score!"
Then... heh-heh-heh...
Joe Nation tags from third...
OUT AT HOME!
That was dumb. Heh. They got two free mistakes and still couldn't score. That's like getting free nachos and dropping them on your shoes.
Then Oscar Alfaro comes in for Milwaukee...
Three strikeouts.
Six batters.
Game over.
Heh... that dude was, like, "No. Sit down."
And then... the ninth inning.
Jose Olvera comes in for Chicago.
One out.
Jesse Rangel singles.
Uh-oh.
Then Corey Shipps comes up.
CRACK!!
Two-run bomb!
Walk-off!
American Family Field just totally lost its mind! Everybody's screaming and jumping around and spilling beer and stuff. Heh-heh... that's cool.
The Brewers win 3-1, and now the series is tied.
The funniest part is Chicago got five hits, Milwaukee made two errors, the Cubs had chances all over the place...
...and they still scored exactly one run.
Heh-heh... they wasted all their opportunities.
Now everybody's going to Wrigley Field tied 1-1, and the Cubs are probably sitting on the plane going...
"Uh... maybe we should have scored when they kept giving us free baserunners."
Heh-heh-heh...
"Shipps ships the Cubs home with a walk-off!"
Heh. He said "Shipps." That's cool.

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Butt-Head: Uh huh huh huh... welcome to the playoffs. This game was cool because the Dodgers, like, actually remembered they're supposed to hit the ball.
Washington kept getting guys on base, then they'd just... heh... leave 'em there. Eight guys left on base. That's pretty dumb. They had the bases all loaded in the second because the Dodgers booted a grounder, and then Holden Daggett stood there looking at strike three. Heh heh. Nice job, bunghole.
Meanwhile Ian Sutcliffe was, like, "Whatever." Seven innings, five hits, one run. Every time Washington started acting dangerous, he'd just make somebody hit a popup or strike out. That's cool.
The Dodgers scored in the first because Eric Crismond poked in a run, then they scored again in the second after Mike Williams hit a triple. Heh... triple. That's like a double... plus one.
Mike Williams was everywhere. Three hits, a triple, two doubles, scored twice. That dude was just running around the bases all day. Then Juan Lopez kept getting hits and walks, Roberto Flores knocked in another run, and before you knew it it was 3-0.
Washington finally got one back in the seventh, but only because the Dodgers made a throwing error. So even when Washington scored, it was kinda because L.A. screwed up. Heh heh.
Then there was this part where Washington had second base with nobody out in the seventh, and Mat Shoemaker lined one right at the third baseman. Bam. Double play. That's like... the baseball gods saying, "No. You suck."
The Dodgers were like, "Thanks for killing your own rally." Then in the eighth Mike Williams smoked another double, Lopez singled him home, and that was pretty much game over.
Evan Kendrick came in for the last two innings and just punched out three dudes. Washington never even sniffed another rally.
Game Balls:
Ian Sutcliffe: 7 innings, 1 run. Pretty sweet.
Mike Williams: 3-for-4, a triple, two doubles, two runs. He was, like, collecting extra-base hits or something.
Juan Lopez: Two hits, two walks, RBI. This guy was always standing on a base. Uh huh huh.
Series tied 1-1, which is cool because now both teams have won one and everybody has to go all the way to Washington.
Butt-Head's Final Thought:
*"Washington had three Dodgers errors, three walks, and still scored one run. Heh heh... that's like getting free pizza and still starving. They better figure something out before Game 3... or they're gonna be, like... eliminated. Heh heh heh."

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New York Yankees: 19th ALCS berth
1904 1905 1909 1910 1912 1913 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1937 1939 1940 1941 1942

Michael Kay: Yankees Postgame
"Welcome to the Bronx... well, figuratively tonight, because the Yankees just put on an absolute clinic in Kansas City. Ballgame over! The Yankees demolish the Royals 16-2, complete the three-game sweep, and they're headed to their 19th American League Championship Series!"
Folks, this is what a championship team looks like.
For three innings, Kansas City actually had something going. Jose Cato's triple gave the Royals a 1-0 lead, and the Yankees were being held in check by David Sullivan.
Then came the fourth inning... and that was the end of the competitive portion of this ballgame.
Steve Carver delivers the big RBI single, the Royals kick the ball around in center field, Rafael Castillo follows with another RBI knock, and just like that it's 3-1 Yankees. From there? Forget it.
Mark Martinez continues what has been an unbelievable postseason. A solo homer in the fifth, a single in the sixth, a walk, another RBI, a triple in the eighth... he scores four runs, drives in two, finishes the series hitting .538, gets on base at a .600 clip, and is your deserved Series MVP.
But here's what impressed me most...
This wasn't a one-man show.
German Cavazos looked like he was swinging a telephone pole. Five hits. Four RBIs. Three runs scored. Every time the Yankees needed a big hit, there he was.
Josh Thomas? Three hits, four runs scored, two walks, and capped it with an RBI triple.
Steve Carver knocked in three.
Cesar Hernandez crushed a three-run homer that completely blew the game open in the sixth.
And the Yankees finish with 18 hits, eight walks, and 16 runs. That's relentless offense. One through nine, nobody gave Kansas City a breather.
Meanwhile, Kyle McClure deserves plenty of credit. The line may not jump off the page because Kansas City had 13 hits, but McClure never let the Royals string enough together. He gave his club 8⅓ innings, threw 124 pitches, and constantly got the ground ball when he needed it. Two double plays behind him didn't hurt either.
And let's not overlook the defense. Rick Carter throws out a runner at the plate. The infield turns two double plays. When Kansas City had opportunities to make the score respectable, the Yankees shut the door.
Now, let's zoom out.
This is a franchise that just keeps writing history.
Nineteenth American League Championship Series appearance.
1904, 1905, 1909, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1937, 1939, 1940, 1941... and now 1942.
They won 129 games during the regular season. There were some people wondering whether that late seven-game losing streak meant anything.
I think we have our answer.
The Yankees have now outscored Kansas City by a massive margin over three games, swept the series without facing elimination pressure, and never looked rattled. This is a veteran club that expects October baseball—and expects to keep playing deep into October.
Now they wait.
Will it be Seattle? Will it be Texas?
Whoever it is, they're going to have to deal with a Yankees lineup that just scored 16 runs in a postseason clincher and looks every bit as dangerous as it did during that historic regular season.
*"The Yankees are moving on to the ALCS. The final from Kansas City: Yankees 16, Royals 2. And you can put it on the board... this Bronx Bombers club is four wins away from another American League pennant."

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Bob Costas: ALDS Game 3 Recap
Good evening.
There are postseason games that are tense. There are postseason games that are dramatic. And then there are those rare October marathons that seem to exist outside the normal boundaries of baseball. On this Wednesday afternoon in Seattle, the Rangers and Mariners played one of those games—a 15-inning epic that lasted five hours and thirty-two minutes before Texas finally emerged with a 12-8 victory, taking a commanding 2-1 lead in this best-of-five American League Division Series.
The box score almost defies belief.
Both clubs collected 18 hits. Seattle drew eight walks. Texas drew five. There were 36 hits, 20 runs, and nearly every player seemed to have a hand in the action. Yet for all that offense, the game spent nearly six innings deadlocked before one final explosion settled everything.
Seattle struck first with three runs in the opening inning. Luis Ramirez immediately announced that he was going to be the story of the afternoon, delivering a two-run single that energized the T-Mobile Park crowd. Texas answered with two in the second and then erupted for four in the third, turning a 3-0 deficit into a 6-3 lead almost before the Mariners could catch their breath.
But Seattle never blinked.
Ramirez kept hitting. Reynaldo Mendez kept driving in runs. Jose Garlaschelli's RBI double in the fifth tied the contest at six, and from that point forward both pitching staffs settled into an exhausting battle of attrition.
Kean Lynch gave Texas four scoreless innings of relief despite issuing four walks. David Gonzalez matched him for Seattle with four brilliant scoreless innings of his own. Every inning seemed to present another opportunity that somehow disappeared.
The drama intensified in the 11th.
Texas executed a squeeze bunt with Justin Sarge, only to have Ricky Roman cut down at the plate. An inning later Seattle stranded the bases empty despite facing a fresh reliever. The tension mounted with every pitch.
Finally, in the 13th, Texas appeared to have landed the decisive blow. An outfield error by John Coyle allowed William Gama to score, and Jon Gallon's RBI single made it 8-6 Rangers.
But this remarkable game had another twist.
In the bottom half, Dante Kendrick reached on a hit that became a right-field error, and once again Luis Ramirez delivered. His two-run double into the gap tied the game at 8-8, sending an already exhausted crowd into another frenzy.
Then came the 15th.
With Casey Pearson on the mound for Seattle, Justin Sarge singled, Juan Cruz followed with the go-ahead RBI single, and the Rangers simply refused to stop. Mike Cornwell, pinch-hitting earlier and now in the game defensively, added a hit. Juan Gallegos ripped a two-run double, and Jose Reyes drove home another with a single. Four runs crossed the plate, transforming an unforgettable duel into a convincing final score.
Javy Padilla, after surrendering the tying runs in the 13th, retired Seattle in order in the 15th to earn the victory.
Ironically, the game's Player of the Game wore the losing uniform.
Luis Ramirez authored one of the finest postseason performances you'll ever see:
5-for-6
Double
Walk
4 RBIs
Tied the American League postseason extra-inning record with five hits
Yet October often delivers cruel mathematics. Magnificent individual performances can be overshadowed by a team defeat.
Texas, meanwhile, showcased extraordinary depth.
Juan Gallegos finished with three hits and three RBIs, Jose Reyes drove in three, John Moran contributed two RBIs, Jon Gallon added another, and Juan Cruz delivered perhaps the biggest hit of the afternoon—the go-ahead RBI single in the 15th that finally broke Seattle's resistance.
The Rangers now stand one victory away from advancing to the American League Championship Series.
For Seattle, the challenge is both physical and psychological. They battled for fifteen innings, erased multiple deficits, received a historic performance from Luis Ramirez, and still walked off the field empty-handed.
That's the beauty—and sometimes the heartbreak—of October baseball. Sometimes one pitch, one inning, or in this case, one final inning after nearly five and a half hours, becomes the only chapter anyone remembers.

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Vin Scully: NLDS Game 3 Recap
"You know, every October has its own personality. Some games are loud, filled with dramatic home runs and late-inning rallies. Others are quieter, almost poetic. This one belonged to the pitchers... and to one swing of the bat."
Good afternoon from our imaginary booth overlooking Nationals Park, where the Los Angeles Dodgers took a commanding two-games-to-one lead in this Division Series with a beautifully played 3-0 victory over Washington.
It began almost before everyone had settled into their seats.
John Hollander stepped to the plate in the first inning against Jamie Lampshire, found himself behind in the count, then drove a soaring fly toward right field. Three hundred fifty-six feet later, the Dodgers owned a 1-0 lead. As it turned out, that was all Juan Garcia would need.
Now, Garcia's line won't overwhelm you with strikeouts—just one in seven innings—but baseball has always rewarded pitchers who understand the art of changing speeds and inviting hitters to put the ball in play. Washington managed only four hits against the left-hander, and each time the Nationals appeared ready to stir, Garcia quietly put the fire out.
Perhaps his finest moment came in the second inning.
An error, followed by back-to-back walks, loaded the bases with nobody out. The crowd of nearly fifty thousand sensed a turning point. Garcia struck out Holden Daggett, induced a fielder's choice at the plate, and then retired Mat Shoemaker on a harmless fly ball. Three runners stranded. No runs scored.
Sometimes, that sequence becomes the game.
Jamie Lampshire deserved far better fortune than the loss. He worked 8⅔ innings, allowed only seven hits, and surrendered just one earned run. For seven innings he matched Garcia nearly pitch for pitch, giving Washington every opportunity to climb back into the contest.
But baseball can be cruel.
In the eighth inning, Mike Williams reached on an error by second baseman Mat Shoemaker. Juan Lopez followed with a single, and after Eric Crismond recorded an out, another Shoemaker miscue allowed Hollander to reach safely while Williams crossed the plate. Moments later, Luis Castaneda's fielder's choice brought Lopez home, and what had been a tense 1-0 game suddenly became a much more comfortable 3-0 Dodger advantage.
Those two Washington errors in the inning proved devastating.
Meanwhile, Jay Motis came on for the final two innings and never allowed a hit, earning the save with a calm, efficient finish.
The Dodgers did not overwhelm Washington offensively—they collected only seven hits—but they made each opportunity count. Hollander supplied the early thunder with his first-inning homer and later added another RBI on the eighth-inning error. Roberto Flores contributed two hits, Juan Lopez added two more, and Mike Williams continued his excellent postseason by scoring twice.
Washington, on the other hand, drew six walks but simply could not deliver the timely hit. Raul Manzo collected two of the club's four hits, yet the Nationals finished the afternoon 0-for-their-biggest-moments, leaving eight men aboard.
And that's the curious beauty of October baseball.
One swing.
One brilliant escape with the bases loaded.
Two costly errors.
A pair of pitchers who reminded us that power is not the only way to dominate a game.
Now the pressure shifts squarely onto Washington. The Dodgers stand one victory from the League Championship Series, while the Nationals awaken tomorrow knowing that every pitch, every at-bat, every inning could be their last of 1942.
*"You know, the wonderful thing about baseball is that tomorrow offers another chance. For Los Angeles, it's a chance to celebrate. For Washington, it's simply a chance to keep autumn alive. And in October, that's all any club can ask for."

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Harry Doyle Recaps NLDS Game 3
"Holy cow! If you're a Brewers fan, you might want to switch over to the fishing channel for a while, because this one is gonna hurt."
Welcome to Wrigley Field, where the Chicago Cubs pulled off the kind of finish that makes October baseball so wonderful... unless you're wearing Milwaukee blue.
The Cubs stunned the Brewers 3-2 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.
And folks... this looked like Milwaukee's game.
Jesus Gaytan was absolutely dealing for Chicago. Seven shutout innings, only three hits allowed, and he had the Brewers looking like they were trying to hit a marble with a pool cue. But Justin Manley came on in the eighth and suddenly things got interesting.
Milwaukee took advantage of a Chicago error, and with two outs Jesse Rangel ripped a double into left. Joey Fields scored... Danny Davila never stopped running from first... and before the Cubs knew what hit 'em, Milwaukee had stolen a 2-1 lead.
"You could almost hear the Brewers fans saying, 'Finally! We got this one!'"
Justin Tate had been terrific himself—seven innings, one run—and Oscar Alfaro came on to finish it off.
Well...
He got Katsukuni Sato on strikes.
He retired Paul Bader.
One out to go.
"Folks, that's where the script got tossed right out the window."
Josh Lewis slapped a single.
Antonio Sanchez came up and absolutely smoked one into the gap in right-center.
Triple!
Lewis raced home.
Tie ballgame.
Wrigley Field exploded.
Now the Cubs had the winning run ninety feet away, and Brent Anderson stepped in.
No heroics needed.
Just a clean line drive back through the middle.
Sanchez crossed the plate standing up.
Ballgame.
Series lead.
Pandemonium.
"Wrigley Field went bananas! Hats flying, people hugging strangers... somebody probably spilled a hot dog in the excitement!"
You almost have to feel for Milwaukee.
They managed only four hits all afternoon, yet they scratched out the go-ahead runs late and were literally one out from grabbing a 2-1 series lead. Instead, they walk back to the clubhouse wondering how another postseason game slipped through their fingers.
And if you're a Brewers fan...
"You start saying, 'Here we go again.' Because somehow, some way, these October games always seem to find the one crack in the dam."
Give Chicago plenty of credit, though.
Josh Lewis wouldn't make the final out.
Antonio Sanchez delivered perhaps the biggest swing of the season with that game-tying triple.
And Brent Anderson became the hero, lining the walk-off single that every kid dreams about in the backyard.
Final from Wrigley:
Cubs 3, Brewers 2.
Chicago is now one win away from the League Championship Series, while Milwaukee is left wondering how a game that was 99% in their pocket disappeared in the blink of an eye.
"That's baseball. Sometimes you're counting the outs... and the other team is counting the hits it still needs."

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King Robert Baratheon Recaps ALDS Game 4
"GODS, what a performance!"
Lords and ladies, gather 'round! The Seattle Mariners stood upon the battlements with their backs against the bloody wall, and they answered the challenge like warriors of old! Four to nothing! The Rangers marched into T-Mobile Park thinking they'd finish the war today. Instead, they were thrown back into the sea!
And the hero? Javy Vargas!
Aye, that's a king's performance! Nine innings! A complete game shutout! Five miserable hits allowed! One walk! ONE STRIKEOUT! Bah, he didn't need strikeouts! Every Ranger who swung the bat beat it into the ground or popped it into the air like frightened pigeons. One hundred and seventeen pitches, and not once did he yield an inch.
NOW THAT'S HOW YOU DEFEND YOUR CASTLE!
Meanwhile, Bobby Valle wasn't poor, mind you. Eight innings, four runs... many a pitcher has survived with such a line. But Vargas was a bloody giant today.
Seattle struck first in the third. Jose Garlaschelli started the charge, Carlos Villarreal drew a walk, Kelvin Irurita scratched out an infield hit to load the bases. Then Travis Jarman lifted a sacrifice fly, and John Coyle followed with a sharp single to make it 2-0.
Enough to win? Against Vargas?
More than enough!
Then came the fifth.
Carlos Villarreal strode to the plate...
CRACK!
A solo shot into the Seattle afternoon! Three to nothing! The crowd roared loud enough to wake dragons.
And just to make certain there'd be no miracle from Texas, John Coyle singled in the sixth, stole second like a highwayman, Luis Ramirez beat out an infield hit, and Reynaldo Mendez drove Coyle home.
Four to nothing. Hammer. Meet nail.
Now let us speak of the Rangers' offense...
Five hits. Four runners left aboard. One walk. One strikeout. They weren't carved apart—they were simply smothered. Vargas let them swing early, get weak contact, and before they knew it another inning had vanished. It was like trying to chop down a castle wall with a spoon.
And Texas never truly threatened.
Their best chance came in the fifth with runners aboard, but Seattle's defense cut down a runner trying to advance, and Vargas slammed the gate shut once again.
A masterpiece.
So now, what once seemed destined to be a Texas coronation has become a proper war.
Series tied. Two games apiece.
One game remains.
One winner marches to the American League Championship Series.
The other rides home wondering how they let victory slip through their fingers.
"Gods... Game 5. GIVE ME SOMETHING FOR THE PAIN... AND LET THE WINNER TAKE THE THRONE!"

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Los Angeles Dodgers: 8th NLCS berth
1902 1910 1914 1918 1922 1923 1926 1942

Vin Scully Recaps NLDS Game 4
"You know, in baseball there are afternoons when the game moves so quietly, so delicately, that every pitch seems to carry the weight of the season. And then, in just a few moments, everything changes."

Good afternoon, everybody.

On a cool October day in the nation's capital, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals spent eight innings writing one of those marvelous pitching duels that remind us why postseason baseball has such a timeless appeal.

Tom Shepard for Los Angeles.

Adam Petrowsky for Washington.

Neither man willing to give so much as an inch.

For seven innings, Shepard was simply magnificent. Two hits. Three strikeouts. Two walks. Every time Washington threatened, he found another answer. A strikeout here. A harmless fly ball there. And in the seventh inning, perhaps his finest work of the afternoon, the Nationals put two aboard with one out.

The crowd sensed opportunity.

Shepard sensed danger.

He retired Benito Aguilar on a fly ball to center, and then Jonathan Andersen, batting for Mario Garcia, lifted a harmless popup.

The inning...and perhaps Washington's season...quietly slipped away.

Across the diamond, Adam Petrowsky deserved much better fortune than defeat. Seven shutout innings. Only three Dodger hits. No walks. Efficient, composed, and every bit Shepard's equal.

It was a classic stalemate.

Zeroes everywhere.

And then...

The ninth inning.

Chris Jovine took over for Washington, and suddenly the Dodgers found the opening they had searched for all afternoon.

Elias Maxwell lashed a double into the gap.

Roberto Flores followed with a sharp single, sending Maxwell all the way to third.

Now the Dodgers had something they hadn't enjoyed all day—a runner ninety feet away.

Ismael Smith didn't get a hit...

...but perhaps he got something even more valuable.

A slow ground ball to third brought Maxwell home with the first run of the afternoon.

One to nothing.

The Nationals were stunned.

Before they could recover, Mike Williams—the quiet star of this Division Series—lined another base hit into center.

Flores raced around third...

The throw came home...

Safe.

Two to nothing.

Just like that, eight innings of tension gave way to two swings of the bat.

Jay Motis took the ball for the final two innings after Shepard's brilliant afternoon and calmly retired the final six Washington hitters. The last out floated gently toward first base.

And with that...

The Dodgers were on their way once again.

Their eighth National League Championship Series appearance.

1902. 1910. 1914. 1918. 1922. 1923. 1926. And now...1942.

Mike Williams was named Series MVP, hitting an extraordinary .467, and while his biggest RBI came in the ninth inning today, his steady presence seemed to define the entire series.

But this afternoon belonged to pitching.

Tom Shepard authored seven unforgettable innings.

Jay Motis closed the door without a hint of drama.

And when October asked the Dodgers for one final rally...

They answered.

"The Dodgers now wait to discover whether their next opponent will be Milwaukee or Chicago. Washington's wonderful season comes to an end, while Los Angeles continues its pursuit of another championship. That's the beauty of October. One clubhouse celebrates...the other quietly begins looking toward spring."

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Chicago Cubs: 4th NLCS berth
1913 1940 1941 1942

Harry Caray Recaps NLDS Game 4
"Hellooo again, everybody! Holy cow! If you love October baseball, you had yourself a beauty at Wrigley Field! And if you're a Cubs fan...get ready! They're goin' back to the National League Championship Series for the THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR!"
The Chicago Cubs have done it again!
Five to two over the mighty Milwaukee Brewers, and let me tell ya something—that final score doesn't tell the whole story.
For six innings these clubs were slugging it out like heavyweight prizefighters.
Milwaukee came out swinging! Corey Shipps—who was just about the only Brewer who looked comfortable all series—absolutely crushed one into the Chicago afternoon in the second inning. Four hundred fifteen feet!
Holy cow, did he hit that baseball!
The Cubs answered right away.
Katsukuni Sato singled.
Paul Bader doubled.
Josh Lewis knocked in a run.
Antonio Sanchez lifted a sacrifice fly.
Just like that, Chicago was back in front.
Then Mark McDonald said, "Not so fast!" and launched one into the seats in the third.
Tie game!
Two to two!
And from there?
It became a chess match.
Brent Christiansen wasn't overpowering, but he kept making pitches when he had to. Milwaukee kept getting runners aboard...and kept leaving them there. Nine men stranded! Corey Shipps was intentionally walked twice because the Cubs weren't about to let him beat 'em again.
Meanwhile Tyler Wesley kept battling for Milwaukee. Seven-plus innings. He deserved better than the loss.
But baseball...
Baseball doesn't always reward what you deserve.
Now here comes the seventh inning!
Antonio Sanchez reaches on an error.
Steals second!
Brent Anderson shoots a base hit into center...
Here comes Sanchez! SAFE!
The Cubs take a 3-2 lead, and you could feel Wrigley Field start to shake.
Then came the eighth.
Sato with another hit.
Bader with another hit.
Josh Lewis lines one into the outfield.
One run scores...
Then the ball gets away from the Brewers!
Another run comes home!
Holy cow! That's the ballgame!
Bill Hollis came on and slammed the door in the ninth, striking out the final two hitters.
And just like that...
The Brewers' season...
Is over.
Now folks, let's talk about Milwaukee for just a second.
One hundred and two wins!
One hundred and two!
Nobody else in the National League even won ninety games!
You dominate the regular season. You finish with the best record in the league.
And you're golfing before the League Championship Series.
That's October baseball.
It can be absolutely heart-breaking.
The Brewers have now put together another magnificent regular season...
...and once again leave October without a pennant.
As for the Cubs?
Three straight trips to the NLCS!
1940...1941...1942!
Only their fourth appearance ever, joining 1913, 1940, 1941, and now 1942, but this is beginning to feel like a golden era on the North Side.
Series MVP Justin Hopson didn't drive in a run today, but he was on base, doubled, and set the tone all series long. Katsukuni Sato reached base three times. Paul Bader scored twice. Josh Lewis delivered the biggest hit of the afternoon with those insurance runs in the eighth.
And now...
Get ready, baseball fans!
The Chicago Cubs...
The Los Angeles Dodgers...
The National League Championship Series!
"Holy cow! Wrigley's gonna be buzzin', Brooklyn—well, Los Angeles—is gonna be buzzin', and I can't wait! So long, everybody!"

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Texas Rangers: 3rd ALCS Berth
1918 1922 1942

Beavis: Uh huh huh... dude... the Mariners had 13 hits and still lost. That sucks. They kept getting guys on base... and then they'd just, like... leave them there. They stranded 18 runners! Heh heh... they were, like, collecting stranded runners.
Butt-Head: Yeah. They kept getting into scoring position and then they'd choke. Twelve innings of, "Uh... maybe now?" Nope. They left the bases loaded in the 11th, then loaded 'em again in the 12th and still got nothing. Dumbasses.
Beavis: Heh heh... then Texas was all, "We're not even gonna get a hit for a while." They only had eight hits the whole game. That's, like... less than Seattle. Math is weird.
Butt-Head: Yeah, but they got the only hit that mattered. Juan Cruz comes up in the 12th and just rips a game-winning single. Boom. Everybody goes nuts.
Beavis: YEAH! WALK-OFF! Heh heh... that's cool. The dude's just like, "Game over. Go home." Heh heh.
Butt-Head: The biggest hit before that was Ricky Roman's triple in the sixth. Seattle was winning 3-0, looking all smug and stuff, then Roman clears the bases with one swing.
Beavis: Three dudes scored! Heh heh... triples are cool because the outfielders have to run around like idiots.
Butt-Head: Juan Gallegos didn't have a huge game today, but he was the series MVP anyway. He hit .364 in the series and kept getting on base. He was all, "I don't care about stats. I just wanna win." That's actually not stupid.
Beavis: Heh heh... mission accomplished. He said "mission." That's military or something.
Butt-Head: Matt Hall pitched seven innings and kept Texas alive after Seattle started hitting everything. Then Alex Sandoval escaped jam after jam. Seattle kept threatening and threatening...
Beavis: ...and then threatening some more! Heh heh... "We're gonna score!" "No you're not!" Heh heh.
Butt-Head: Kean Lynch came in for the 12th, survived another Mariners traffic jam, and got the win. Seattle basically handed Texas another chance.
Beavis: And then the Mariners helped out even more! Jon Gallon hit a grounder, the third baseman booted it, and suddenly Justin Sarge's standing on third like, "Uh... cool."
Butt-Head: Then Juan Cruz smokes a line drive to left. Ballgame. Series over. Mariners are going fishing.
Beavis: Fishing! Heh heh. Seattle should be good at that.
Butt-Head: Now Texas gets to play the Yankees.
Beavis: Uh... weren't the Yankees, like... 129-33?
Butt-Head: Yeah. That's gonna suck.
Beavis: Heh heh... but Texas already survived twelve innings of this crap. Maybe they'll make the Yankees, like... cry or something.
Butt-Head: Probably not. But if they do, that would be cool.
Beavis: The Rangers are going to their third ALCS! 1918... 1922... 1942! Heh heh... that's a lot of waiting.
Butt-Head: Yeah. Twenty years between appearances. They finally made it back... and now they have to face the biggest buzzsaw in baseball. This oughta be entertaining. Huh huh huh.

[jg2977]

.

[jg2977]

1942 League CS

[jg2977]

Beavis and Butt-Head Recap: ALCS Game 1 – Rangers at Yankees (October 11, 1942)
Beavis: Heh heh... twelve innings. They played, like... three games, but it only counted as one.
Butt-Head: Yeah. Dumbasses couldn't decide who wanted to win.
Beavis: The Rangers were all like, "We're winning!" Then the Yankees were all like, "No you're not!" Heh heh.
Butt-Head: This game kicked ass.
Butt-Head: So Texas came out swinging. Juan Gallegos hit an inside-the-park homer in the first.
Beavis: Whoa! Heh heh... that's like... running... really far. If I hit one of those I'd probably stop at second and ask for nachos.
Butt-Head: Yeah. You'd be tagged out by the hot dog vendor.
Beavis: Then New York scored four runs in the second because Texas forgot how baseball works.
Butt-Head: There was an error... a sacrifice fly... then Mark Martinez hit a bases-clearing triple.
Beavis: Triple! Triple is almost touchdown.
Butt-Head: Wrong sport, buttwipe.
Beavis: Then German Cavazos hit another triple and suddenly it's 6-2 Yankees.
Butt-Head: Texas looked totally cooked.
Beavis: Like my burgers.
Butt-Head: But then William Gama started wrecking stuff.
Beavis: Yeah! Home run! Then later a huge two-run double!
Butt-Head: That guy had a homer, a double, three RBIs...
Beavis: Player of the Game!
Butt-Head: Yeah... for the losing team.
Beavis: Heh heh... that sucks.
Beavis: Then the seventh inning happened.
Butt-Head: Four runs.
Beavis: Bases loaded... singles... sacrifice fly... Yankees making errors...
Butt-Head: Texas goes from losing 6-3 to leading 7-6.
Beavis: Yankee Stadium got all quiet.
Butt-Head: Like your brain during math class.
Beavis: But then Mark Martinez was all, "I'm gonna steal everything."
Butt-Head: Seriously. That dude stole second...
Beavis: Then stole third...
Butt-Head: Then Josh Thomas hit the sacrifice fly to tie it in the ninth.
Beavis: Heh heh... they kept stealing bases like they were shoplifting.
Butt-Head: After that?
Beavis: Everybody forgot how to hit.
Butt-Head: Schneider comes in for New York...
Beavis: Four innings!
Butt-Head: Didn't allow a hit.
Beavis: Zero! That's cool.
Beavis: Then the twelfth inning...
Butt-Head: Javy Padilla throws to Rafael Castillo.
Beavis: Uh-oh.
CRACK!
Beavis: WHOAAAA!!
Butt-Head: Four hundred fourteen feet.
Beavis: Right into the crowd!
Butt-Head: Walk-off homer.
Beavis: The stadium exploded!
Butt-Head: Not literally, dumbass.
Beavis's MVP
William Gama! He hit bombs and doubles and stuff.
Butt-Head: He lost.
Beavis: Oh yeah...
Butt-Head's MVP
Rafael Castillo.
Butt-Head: You hit the walk-off in the ALCS? That's cool.
Final Thoughts
Beavis: The Rangers were like, "We got this!"
Butt-Head: Then the Yankees were like, "No."
Beavis: Twelve innings...
Butt-Head: Seven lead changes and ties...
Beavis: Inside-the-park homer...
Butt-Head: Walk-off homer...
Beavis: Heh heh... this game had everything except fire.
Butt-Head: Yeah... and now Texas has to win in Yankee Stadium after blowing a four-run comeback.
Beavis: They're gonna need... like... extra nachos or something.
Both: Heh heh heh!

[jg2977]

Beavis and Butt-Head Recap: NLCS Game 1 – Cubs at Dodgers (1942)
Beavis: Heh heh... dude... playoff baseball.
Butt-Head: Yeah... this game was cool because... uh... almost nobody scored. Heh heh.
Beavis: Three whole runs! That's like... football numbers. Heh heh.
Butt-Head: The Dodgers won 3-0, and Clint Spackman was like... "You're not getting any runs." He pitched seven innings, gave up four hits, and basically told the Cubs to go sit in the dugout.
Beavis: Yeah! He was throwing strikes and stuff. The Cubs kept getting guys on base, then they'd be like... "Uh... now what?" Heh heh.
Butt-Head: They stranded eight runners. They had seven hits and one walk... and still got shut out.
Beavis: That's like getting all the way to the bathroom... and forgetting why you went there. Heh heh heh!
The Dodgers Do Just Enough
Butt-Head: Los Angeles wasn't exactly exploding either.
Beavis: Yeah, they only got seven hits too.
Butt-Head: But they actually used them.
Ismael Smith ripped an RBI double in the 2nd.
John Hollander doubled home another run in the 3rd.
Juan Lopez singled home Roberto Flores in the 7th for insurance.
Beavis: Three runs... and everybody was like, "Mission accomplished." Heh heh.
Cubs Miss Every Chance
Beavis: Dude... Katsukuni Sato kept trying.
Butt-Head: Yeah. Two hits, including a double.
Beavis: Alex Lozano had a couple times where I thought they were gonna score.
Butt-Head: Nope.
Beavis: Paul Bader got on...
Butt-Head: Nope.
Beavis: Ninth inning... two guys on...
Butt-Head: Strikeout... fly ball... game over.
Beavis: That sucked.
Jim Russell Wasn't Terrible
Butt-Head: The Cubs' pitcher Jim Russell wasn't even bad.
Six and two-thirds innings...
Three runs...
One strikeout...
He mostly got beat by timely doubles and a bunch of annoying little hits.
Beavis: Yeah... his offense was like, "We'll totally help you."
(long pause)
Beavis: They didn't.
Dodgers Bullpen
Butt-Head: Jay Motis came in...
Beavis: ...and slammed the door.
Butt-Head: Two scoreless innings.
Beavis: Save. Heh heh... he saved it.
Players of the Game
Beavis: Clint Spackman rules!
Butt-Head: Yeah. Player of the Game. Seven shutout innings, only four hits, four strikeouts. That's what your ace is supposed to do.
Beavis: Hollander was cool too. Two hits and an RBI.
Butt-Head: Lopez and Smith each knocked in runs.
Series Outlook
Beavis: So the Dodgers are up 1-0.
Butt-Head: The Cubs better figure out how to score.
Beavis: Yeah... because zero is... uh...
Both: LESS THAN THREE!! Heh heh heh!
Butt-Head: This wasn't one of those crazy 12-inning Yankee games.
Beavis: No way.
Butt-Head: This was just pitchers saying...
Both: "YOU SHALL NOT HIT!"
Beavis: Heh heh... baseball rules. Sometimes.

[jg2977]

Beavis and Butt-Head Recap: ALCS Game 2 – Texas Rangers 4, New York Yankees 1
Beavis: Heh heh... dude... the Yankees won 129 games and then they totally scored... like... one run. Heh. That sucks.
Butt-Head: Yeah. They were all like, "We're the greatest team ever," and Texas was like, "Uh... no."
Beavis: Heh heh... denied.
Butt-Head: This game was all about this Jose Reyes dude. Four-for-five. Four singles. Two RBIs. He just kept showing up on base like that annoying kid who won't leave your house.
Beavis: Yeah! Every inning it was like, "Jose Reyes is on again." Heh heh. He was farming hits.
Butt-Head: He should change his name to Jose Always-on-Base. That'd be cool.
Beavis: Justin Truelove actually pitched pretty good.
Butt-Head: Yeah, he only gave up two runs... except one of them happened because the Yankees forgot how to catch the ball.
Beavis: Heh heh... errors are cool.
Butt-Head: No, they're not, dumbass. Unless the other team makes them.
Beavis: The Yankees finally tied it when German Cavazos hit that homer.
Butt-Head: That was awesome. Everybody was probably like, "Here come the Yankees."
Beavis: Then Texas was like... "Nah."
Butt-Head: The sixth inning was hilarious. Texas loads the bases, John Moran lines one to left...
Beavis: ...and the left fielder boots it!
Butt-Head: Yeah! The ball's like, "I'm free!" Heh heh.
Beavis: That error made it 2-1. That's gotta hurt your bunghole.
Beavis: Then the Yankees almost did something in the sixth.
Butt-Head: Yeah, two hits...
Beavis: ...then one guy gets thrown out trying to get to third...
Butt-Head: ...then another guy gets caught stealing second.
Beavis: Heh heh... they erased their own rally! They got, like... double grounded.
Butt-Head: They ran themselves out of the inning. That's something we'd probably do.
Beavis: Yeah... because we're idiots.
Butt-Head: Texas pitcher Dobbe van Lanen wasn't overpowering, but he kept getting big outs.
Beavis: Then Padilla comes in for one batter...
Butt-Head: ...and then Kean Lynch gets the save by making the ninth inning way more stressful than it needed to be.
Beavis: Three walks and still no runs.
Butt-Head: That's like trying really hard to wreck your car but accidentally parking perfectly.
Beavis: And then in the ninth...
Butt-Head: Jose Reyes comes up again!
Beavis: Heh heh... AGAIN!
Butt-Head: Two-run single. Ballgame.
Beavis: Four hits! He couldn't stop scoring... uh... baseball points.
Butt-Head: So now the series is tied 1-1, and it's heading to Texas.
Beavis: The Rangers stole home-field advantage.
Butt-Head: The Yankees still have the better record...
Beavis: But Texas has the momentum.
Butt-Head: Yeah. One hundred twenty-nine wins don't mean squat if some dude named Jose Reyes keeps slapping singles all over your face.
Beavis: Heh heh... he said "slapping."
Both: Heh heh heh heh!

[jg2977]

Beavis: Heh heh... dude, the Cubs are in, like, serious trouble.
Butt-Head: Yeah. They totally had this game... then they, uh... blew it. Huh huh. They got walked off. That rules.
Beavis: FIRE! WALK-OFF FIRE! Heh heh!
Beavis: So the Cubs actually came out swinging. They scored two runs in the second because the Dodgers were, like... screwing up.
Butt-Head: Yeah. Error... wild pitch... triple by Josh Lewis... it was pretty cool. They were up 2-0 and all the Los Angeles fans were probably like, "Uh... this sucks."
Beavis: Then the Dodgers were like, "No way, dillweed."
Butt-Head: In the third inning they loaded the bases with walks because Cubs pitcher Jesus Gaytan couldn't find the strike zone. Then Vicente Jimenez and Elias Maxwell started smacking hits, Ismael Smith knocked one in, and suddenly it was 3-2 Dodgers.
Beavis: Walks are dumb. You should make the hitter earn it... unless he doesn't. Heh heh.
Butt-Head: Then everybody sort of chilled out for a while.
Beavis: Yeah... baseball was happening.
Butt-Head: Shut up, Beavis.
Beavis: Then the Cubs tied it in the seventh!
Butt-Head: Paul Bader singled, Josh Lewis singled again, Brent Anderson hit a sacrifice fly...
Beavis: Sacrifice. Heh heh... like offering baseballs to the baseball gods.
Butt-Head: You're an idiot.
Beavis: Then in the eighth the Cubs actually took the lead!
Butt-Head: Joe Nation doubled, Alex Lozano singled him home... 4-3 Cubs.
Beavis: Dude! They were gonna even the series!
Butt-Head: Uh... no.
ISMAEL SMITH ENTERS THE CHAT
Beavis: BOOOOOM!!
Butt-Head: This Smith guy was awesome. Two hits, four walks, and then...
Both: HOME RUN!!
Beavis: Four hundred twenty-nine feet! He hit that thing to, like... another zip code.
Butt-Head: Tie game. Dodger Stadium goes nuts.
Beavis: Heh heh... nuts.
Extra Innings
Butt-Head: The Cubs couldn't score in the tenth.
Beavis: Which is bad because then...
Butt-Head: Rafael Ruiz comes up.
Beavis: And he's all like...
"You know what would be cool?"
"Winning."
Butt-Head: BOOM! Solo homer!
Beavis: WALK-OFF!!
Butt-Head: The Dodgers win 5-4!
Beavis: Cubs fans are probably crying into their hot dogs.
Player of the Game
Butt-Head: Ismael Smith.
Beavis: Two-for-three...
Butt-Head: Four walks...
Beavis: Two RBIs...
Butt-Head: Huge game-tying homer.
Beavis: He was, like, impossible to get out.
Things That Sucked (for Chicago)
Butt-Head: They had a 2-0 lead.
Beavis: Blew it.
Butt-Head: Took a 4-3 lead.
Beavis: Blew it again.
Butt-Head: Their bullpen gave up both home runs that mattered.
Beavis: And now they're down 2-0 heading back to Wrigley.
Series Outlook
Butt-Head: The Dodgers are in total control.
Beavis: Yeah. Now the Cubs have to win four out of five.
Butt-Head: That's hard.
Beavis: Unless they score more runs than the Dodgers.
Butt-Head: Beavis...
Beavis: What?
Butt-Head: You're ready to manage a baseball team.
Beavis: Heh heh... yeah! Then I'd tell everybody to hit home runs.
Butt-Head: That's actually better advice than whatever the Cubs came up with in the last three innings.
Both: Heh heh heh heh!

[jg2977]

Beavis and Butt-Head Recap: ALCS Game 3 – Yankees 3, Rangers 2
Beavis: Heh heh... dude... the Yankees only got four hits and still won. That's, like... stealing. Heh heh.
Butt-Head: Yeah. They were all, "We don't need hits. We'll just... walk everywhere." Dumbasses.
Beavis: Eight walks! Heh heh... they just stood there and got on base. That's cool. I should try that in gym class.
Butt-Head: You'd get hit by the ball, Beavis.
Beavis: Heh heh... yeah.
Butt-Head: This Alex Leal guy is, like, really old.
Beavis: Thirty-six! That's practically fossilized! Heh heh.
Butt-Head: Yeah, but he shut Texas down for seven innings. Five hits... no walks... four strikeouts. He was like...
(deep voice)
"Get off my mound, bungholes."
Beavis: Heh heh... old dudes rule.
Beavis: The Rangers got nine hits!
Butt-Head: Yeah...
Beavis: The Yankees got four!
Butt-Head: Yeah...
Beavis: ...and the Yankees won.
Butt-Head: That's because baseball is stupid.
Beavis: Heh heh... yeah!
Butt-Head: Mark Martinez was everywhere.
Beavis: Dude stole like... every base in Texas.
Butt-Head: Three walks... four stolen bases... scored twice...
Beavis: Heh heh... every time he got on first he was like...
"See ya, suckers!"
Butt-Head: The Rangers were basically pitching batting practice for his legs.
Beavis: Rick Carter only went zero-for-three.
Butt-Head: But he had two sacrifice flies.
Beavis: He sacrificed... twice.
Butt-Head: That's like being the hero without getting a hit.
Beavis: Heh heh... lazy genius.
Beavis: Texas kept getting dudes on base...
Butt-Head: ...and then they'd be all...
"Okay, now what?"
Beavis: Heh heh!
Butt-Head: Four runners left. Double play in the ninth. Nice job, dillweeds.
Beavis: Dude, that eighth inning was awesome.
Butt-Head: Jon Gallon doubles...
Beavis: Then he tags up...
Butt-Head: Josh Thomas throws him out at third!
Beavis: Heh heh... he ran ninety feet just to get nailed.
Butt-Head: Then Texas almost came back in the ninth.
Beavis: Three straight hits!
Butt-Head: Crowd's going nuts...
Beavis: Then Elias Alvarado hits into a double play.
Butt-Head: That's like lighting a firework and then immediately sitting on it.
Beavis: Heh heh... BOOM!
MVPs According to Beavis & Butt-Head
Butt-Head: Alex Leal wins because he pitched like some old baseball wizard.
Beavis: Mark Martinez was cool too. Dude stole so many bases he probably stole somebody's truck after the game. Heh heh.
Series Status
Butt-Head: Yankees lead the ALCS 2-1 now.
Beavis: Heh heh... Texas better score before the ninth next time.
Butt-Head: Yeah. Getting nine hits and losing to four hits...
Beavis: ...
Both: "That sucks." Heh heh heh.