National Baseball League

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Ohhh brother… lemme tell ya somethin’ right now: the Mets—your New York Mets—actually show a little backbone here in Philly. Down 2-1 in the series, their season hangin’ by a thread, and they go out and beat the Phillies 3-2 to send this thing back to Citi Field for a decisive Game 5.

Now listen, I been watchin’ this team my whole life, okay? I’ve seen ‘em break my heart a million times. And I’m sittin’ there today thinkin’, “Here we go again. Robby Lopez is gonna give up some bomb, bullpen’s gonna blow it, we’re dead.” But I gotta give the kid credit, man—seven innings, three hits, ten strikeouts! The guy looked like freakin’ Jacob deGrom circa 2015 out there. I didn’t even know Lopez had that in him!

And how about some actual clutch hits for once? Alicea, BOOM, solo homer in the sixth. Sloan, BOOM, another one in the eighth. Contreras with the RBI double early. I’m sayin’ to myself, “Is this the Mets? Or am I watchin’ another team?”

Now, of course, ya still can’t breathe easy, ‘cause you know the Phillies lineup—they can hit. Leo Echeverria hits a two-run shot in the sixth, makes it 2-2, and I’m screamin’ at the TV, “Here it comes! Here it comes!” But somehow, SOMEHOW, the Mets hold on.

Now we go back to Citi Field. Winner takes all. You believe in miracles? I don’t know. But lemme tell ya—if they actually pull this off, it’ll be one of those rare times as a Mets fan where you feel like you’re not cursed.
Game 5, Sunday, Citi Field. Strap in, Mets fans. Either we’re goin’ to the NLCS… or it’s another chapter in the Book of Misery.

Ohhh, the pain!

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"Well a pleasant good evening everybody, from Cincinnati, Ohio — the Great American Ball Park the site of Game 4 in this Division Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Cincinnati Reds. And boy, what a night it was for the Giants, who absolutely had to win to stay alive. And Tony Calderon, the left-hander, delivered one of those postseason performances you’ll be talking about for years to come.

Eight innings, six hits, no runs — and friends, the Reds never really threatened. Calderon just kept painting the corners, mixing speeds, and every time Cincinnati thought they had a chance — double play! Three of them, in fact, turned by that San Francisco infield.

And in the seventh inning, that’s when the Giants really broke it open. Nick Moser, the designated hitter, a long drive into the left-field seats — and then just a few batters later, Chris Alfonso got one he could handle and launched it out to right, and the air went right out of the crowd of 48,073 here in Cincinnati.

Final score: Giants 7, Reds nothing. And with that, San Francisco evens this best-of-five at two games apiece. And now, friends, the whole season comes down to a winner-take-all Game 5. That will be Sunday, from Oracle Park, on the shores of McCovey Cove. And what a setting that will be — a chance to go to the League Championship Series on the line.

For now, the Giants go home happy, the Reds go home shaking their heads, and Tony Calderon goes home as the unquestioned Player of the Game.

This is Jon Miller, reminding you: Baseball, as always, is a game of inches — and tonight, it belonged to San Francisco."

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“Hello baseball fans, Harry Doyle here… and if you like ninth-inning drama, you came to the right place. Cleveland pulls one outta the fire — 4-3 over the Rangers — thanks to a bases-loaded walk. Yeah, you heard me right, a walk. Exciting stuff, huh?”

“Dustin Cranmer was dealing — 7 innings, only two hits, looking like Cy Young’s long-lost cousin. He kept Cleveland in it while the bats were snoozing through six. Then finally, finally, somebody remembered it was a playoff game. R. Gonzalez goes yard in the 7th, Holdcraft with a big two-run blast in the 8th, and then in the 9th… Pedro Peña steps up. Bases loaded, two out, the whole season on the line — and he… takes… ball four. Yup. Parade the guy around the bases, and the Indians walk it off. Fans went nuts, beers went flying, and somewhere Bob Uecker opened another one.”

“Meanwhile, Texas thought they had it. Guerrero hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth that tied the game and swung the momentum in their favor. But their bullpen looked shakier than my hands after a six-pack. Hector Rodriguez comes in, walks the yard, and gifts Cleveland the win. Thank you very much.”

“So we’re going to Game 5 in Texas. Should be fun. Or not. Depends on if anyone remembers how to hit the ball before the seventh inning. Final again from Cleveland: Indians 4, Rangers 3. Back after this… maybe.”

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Philadelphia Phillies: 4th NLCS appearance
1905 1910 1911 1919

“So, the Phillies are in the NLCS. Fourth time in their entire history, can you believe that? Fourth. First time in eight years. You know how many times the Yankees have been there? Forget it, it’ll depress you. But okay, fine, congratulations, Phillies fans, pop the champagne, go crazy.”

“But let me just say this: 5-3 over the Mets, game five, Citi Field. Yeah, nice little story. Vince Brown, the MVP, hitting .471. Two home runs, eight RBIs, the guy looks like Babe Ruth out there. Great. But I gotta be honest with you—.471? You know what that means? He’s due to start failing. Nobody hits .471 forever. You think he’s keeping that up in the NLCS? No way. It’s all downhill from here. I’m just telling you the truth, don’t get mad.”

“And the Mets—don’t even get me started. Ten hits, one home run, and you still only put up three runs? That’s like buying a whole Thanksgiving dinner and then throwing away the turkey. What’s the point? You can’t leave nine guys on base and expect to win. It’s embarrassing. Embarrassing! And Citi Field? 39,000 people? That’s it? I’ve seen more people waiting in line at a Costco on a Saturday.”

“So now the Phillies don’t even know who they’re playing next—could be the Reds, could be the Giants. And you know what that means? They’re sitting around, waiting, getting tight, overthinking. Bad news. Nothing good happens when you’re waiting in the playoffs. Somebody gets hurt in practice, somebody eats a bad sandwich—it’s always something. Trust me.”

“Anyway, Phillies in the NLCS. Yay. Big whoop. Call me when they actually win the whole thing, alright?”

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Cincinnati Reds: 4th NLCS appearance
1901 1903 1909 1919

"Well, a very pleasant good evening to you, wherever you may be. From Oracle Park in San Francisco, on a cool October Sunday, we’ve had one of those games that reminds you why baseball is so deeply stitched into the fabric of America."

"The Cincinnati Reds, a franchise born in the 19th century, tonight punched their ticket to the National League Championship Series. It will be their fourth appearance in club history, their first in a decade. And fittingly, it came in a 12–10 slugfest that had just about everything you could possibly want—home runs, doubles rattling off the walls, missed opportunities, late-inning drama… and yes, that familiar October tension where every pitch feels like a lifetime."

"The Reds scored five in the first, three more in the second. You thought it might be a runaway. But the Giants, with their history and their heart, answered right back—four in their half of the first, three more in the third. And suddenly, it wasn’t a blowout, it was a bare-knuckle brawl."

"And through it all, Ricky Saucedo—the young center fielder—played like he had been waiting his whole life for this stage. Two doubles, three hits, driving in runs, making plays, earning the series MVP. For the series, .375, two home runs, six driven in. And as the Reds celebrated in their clubhouse, champagne stinging their eyes, you couldn’t help but think—maybe, just maybe, this could be their year."

"As for San Francisco, a gallant effort, sixteen hits tonight, two triples by Jesus Fagundes to tie a postseason record. But October can be cruel. You blink, you make a mistake, and suddenly it’s over. Tonight, the Reds were just a little bit better, a little bit luckier, and a little bit stronger."

"So Cincinnati moves on. A hundred and three wins in the regular season, and now a chance to chase history against the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Championship Series. Two proud clubs, two passionate fan bases. And as the curtain falls here in San Francisco, you can almost hear the echoes of all the great moments that have come before—and the promise of those still to come."

"From the shores of the Ohio River to the banks of the Delaware, October baseball marches on. The Reds are moving forward. The Giants, meanwhile, can only look to next year. And isn’t that the beauty of it all? Tomorrow always waits."

"This is Vin Scully, wishing you a very pleasant good night, from San Francisco."

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Cleveland Indians: 2nd ALCS appearance
1902 1919

“WELL, HOW ABOUT THAT, FOLKS! The Cleveland Indians are goin’ to the American League Championship Series for the first time in 17 years! That’s right — you heard me — seventeen! It’s only the second time in their long, tortured history they’ve made it this far. Not bad for a ballclub that hasn’t sniffed the postseason in fourteen years. You think people in Cleveland are gonna remember where they were tonight? You bet your rear ends they will!

Final score from Globe Life Field: Cleveland 4, Texas 1. And boy, did the Tribe make it interesting. Six innings of absolutely nothing, then suddenly, BAM! A four-spot in the 7th, courtesy of Satiago’s three-run blast. Somebody tell the Rangers bullpen they were supposed to stop the fireworks, not light ‘em!

Mike Niccolai went eight strong innings, scattering eleven baserunners like confetti at a wedding, but hey, one run’s one run. And Raul Gonzalez? Series MVP. Guy was hotter than a three-dollar pistol all week.

So Cleveland’s reward? They get the Baltimore Orioles in the ALCS. Baltimore has lost only one game this postseason, which means they’re either really good… or really due. Either way, it’s gonna be a helluva show.

Once again, your final: Cleveland 4, Texas 1. The Indians move on, the Rangers move home, and I move to the nearest bar. This is Harry Doyle, reminding you: if you can’t make it good… make it long.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.”

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1919 League Championship Series

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Well, hello there everybody—this is Mel Allen with you, bringing you the happy recap from Cincinnati, and oh, what a ballgame it was!

On a crisp October afternoon, the Philadelphia Phillies traveled into Great American Ball Park and came away with a stirring 4–3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds to grab a one-game-to-none lead in this League Championship Series.

How about that?

The hero of the day—37-year-old right-hander Eric Hoelzle, the wily veteran from Hanford, California. Hoelzle had that fastball darting, the breaking ball biting, and for seven strong innings he handcuffed the Redlegs, scattering just five hits, fanning nine, and keeping the crowd of over 49,000 on edge all afternoon.

The Phillies got their thunder early. In the second inning, shortstop Sam Branscome turned on an A. Miranda pitch and sent it deep into the left field seats. That, folks, was a souvenir—and the Phils were on the board. Then in the sixth inning, with the Reds threatening to climb back in, José Torras answered with a mighty blow of his own, a solo home run that silenced the crowd and pushed Philadelphia’s lead to three.

But these Reds are never out of it. Down 4–1 late, they scratched and clawed. In the eighth inning, J. Castaneda lashed a two-out single to bring them within a run. The bases were buzzing, the ballpark rocking, and you could almost feel Cincinnati ready to steal this one away. But reliever Dallas Moran reached back for something extra, wriggled out of further damage, and then slammed the door in the ninth for the save.

Final score: Phillies 4, Reds 3. The veteran Hoelzle gets the win, Moran the save, and the Phillies take a 1–0 lead in the series.

Oh, what a game of inches it was—Worboys cutting off a run at the plate with a brilliant throw from left, Segovia answering back with a cannon of his own to deny Philadelphia a tally, and pitch by pitch the drama building until Moran got the final out.

So the Phillies draw first blood here in Cincinnati. Tomorrow, it’s game two, and you can be sure the Redlegs will be fighting tooth and nail to even things up.

And there you have it, friends—the happy recap!

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Harry Doyle Style Broadcast Recap

“Well folks, if you like offense and one-sided beatdowns, then boy did you get your money’s worth today. The Cleveland Indians rolled into Baltimore and turned Camden Yards into their personal batting practice, steamrolling the Orioles 14–1 to grab a 1-0 lead in the LCS.

Jesus Becerra, the pride of Mason City, Iowa, went the distance! Nine innings, six hits, one run, and a whole lotta Orioles wondering why they even bothered showing up. He threw 105 pitches—heck, I think I could’ve done that after a six-pack of Miller Lite.

Now, let’s talk about that Cleveland offense. They scored in every way possible. Three runs in the fifth, seven—yes, SEVEN—in the sixth, and they didn’t even stop there! Everybody was getting in on the act—Kresse, Fernandez, Holdcraft, Cervantes—hell, even the bat boy probably drove in a run!

Meanwhile, Baltimore… well, they put up one run. A sympathy run. The kind of run where you pat ‘em on the back and say, ‘Attaboy, at least you tried.’
And I gotta say, if Game 1 is any indication, this series could get ugly fast. Real ugly. Cleveland looks like they brought a cannon to a knife fight.

Final again from Baltimore: Cleveland 14, Orioles 1. Cleveland up 1–0 in the series. Tomorrow’s another day, but for Baltimore… they might wanna pray for rain.”

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Jeremy Grey (Vince Vaughn): [shaking his head] Unbelievable, John. October 22, 1919, and the Philadelphia Phillies just stole one in Cincinnati. Extra innings. It’s like crashing a wedding where the best man passes out before the toast — you didn’t see it coming, but you’re thrilled it happened.

John Beckwith (Owen Wilson): Yeah, totally. I mean, Colin Yovanovich — the guy goes seven innings, two hits, just mowing dudes down like…like…uh—

Jeremy: Like Chazz Reinhold at a funeral buffet. Meatballs everywhere, no survivors.

John: [laughs] Exactly. And then Porch, the catcher — Porch! What a name. He goes deep early, puts Philly on the board. That’s like slipping into the cake line before the bride and groom even get their first piece. Total power move.

Jeremy: Oh, and then in the 11th inning — Michael Ray comes in, doubles, knocks in the winning run. That’s like finding the bridesmaid crying in the coatroom, swooping in with a handkerchief, and suddenly you’re slow dancing to “Shout” two hours later.

John: And the Reds? Man, they had a shot. They had Castaneda launch a two-run bomb to tie it in the 7th. That place was rocking, cigars in the stands, dudes with handlebar mustaches yelling “Hurrah!” But then — nothing. Just…nothing.

Jeremy: Because here’s the thing, John. The Reds looked like that one guy at the reception who thinks he’s killing it on the dance floor, but really he’s just stomping his feet off-beat and spilling champagne on grandma.

John: [nodding seriously] Total disaster.

Jeremy: Phillies now up 2-0 in the series. They go back to Philly. Citizens Bank Park. The city of brotherly love. Cheese steaks, Rocky Balboa, bell towers. You know they’re feeling good.

John: I love it. I love playoff baseball. It’s weddings, John, but with stats. You got romance, heartbreak, big moments. Only difference is instead of a garter toss, you get Branscome striking out five times in one game.

Jeremy: [grinning] Strikeout record in extras. That’s not a stat you want on your registry, buddy.

John: Registry joke! I love it.

Jeremy: You motorboatin’ son of a gun, Phillies are rolling. Reds gotta figure it out, or this series is over.

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“Well folks, welcome back to beautiful Camden Yards where—believe it or not—the Cleveland Indians have gone up two games to none on the mighty Baltimore Orioles. Final score here: Cleveland 3, Baltimore 2. And if you fell asleep through the first seven innings…well, you didn’t miss a damn thing.

Dustin Cranmer out there just mowing down birds like it’s open season. Seven shutout innings, cool as a beer on a summer day.

Then, whaddya know, bottom of the eighth—BAM! Rafael Gonzalez sneaks one outta here. Solo shot. Cleveland finally wakes up the scoreboard, it’s 1-0 Tribe.

Top of the ninth—Cleveland says, ‘Hey, let’s make this interesting.’ Santiago doubles, Holdcraft doubles him home, and suddenly it’s 3-0. Indians looking like they’re ready to cruise.

But hold the phone, folks! Bottom nine, two outs, nobody on, and Rob Reid decides he wants to give the home fans something to cheer about. Cranks a two-run shot, and all of a sudden it’s 3-2. Fans on their feet, place is rocking… and then poof—Lupe Garcia slams the door.

So Cleveland heads home up 2-0 in the series, and Baltimore’s got some serious soul-searching to do. You win 100 games in the season, you better not go out like a bunch of pigeons in October.

Final line: Cleveland, 3 runs on just 4 hits—efficient, like cheap whiskey. Baltimore, 2 runs on 7 hits, left 5 men stranded—more clogged than rush-hour traffic.

Player of the Game? Dustin Cranmer. Seven scoreless, eight Ks, and didn’t even spill his beer. Indians fans—start clearing your calendars, ‘cause if this keeps up, you’re gonna be busy in November.

This is Harry Doyle saying, "Indians win it, 3-2…Cleveland up two-zip… and Baltimore’s got about as much life right now as a night out in Milwaukee."

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**“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, let me explain to you what went on in Philadelphia, October 24th, 1919. Now, the Phillies—yeah, they had this thing in the bag. They’re up 2-0 in the series, they’re up 2-0 in the game, they got one strike to go, and BOOM! Juan Castaneda—this guy, this freakin’ guy—he comes up, bases loaded, two outs, and he don’t just dink a single. No, no, no. He crushes a grand slam. FOUR runs! You talk about reasonable doubt? There was no doubt. The ball was guilty of leavin’ the yard.

And just when you thought, ‘Hey, maybe the Phillies can escape with minimal damage,’ here comes Segovia. BAM! Another homer! Now it’s 5-2. I mean, Your Honor, that’s like hittin’ the witness with two different hammers at once.

Now Jimmy Grubbs, the Phillies pitcher—he was dealin’. Seven innings, shutout ball, allowed one just one hit and walked two. struck out seven. He’s struttin’ around like he owns the courtroom. But ya take him out too early, and suddenly the case falls apart. All of a sudden, Moran comes in for relief, and lemme tell ya somethin’, he ain’t relief. He’s distress. He’s a disaster! He turns Citizens Bank Park into a crime scene.

The Phillies had a couple guys on in the bottom of the ninth, maybe a chance to appeal the verdict. But then Chris Thomas comes in, shuts the door, case closed, bada-bing, bada-boom.

So now, instead of Philly walkin’ outta here with a 3-0 stranglehold, we got ourselves a 2-1 series. The Reds? They’re alive. They’re breathin’. They got new evidence! And we’re goin’ to Game 4 tomorrow. Court adjourned.”**

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“Cleveland is going crazy, folks! The Indians take it 10–7 over Baltimore and they are one win away from the World Series!”

Well, how about that? Cleveland jumps all over poor Donny van Meel in the first inning—he couldn’t find the strike zone with a GPS. Four runs in the opener, capped off by Matt Holdcraft’s bases-clearing double. That young man has got more pop than a case of Pepsi.

Holdcraft wasn’t done, either—he goes three for four, adds a solo shot in the third, and drives in four on the night. That’s what you call earning your per diem.

And for those of you scoring at home… or even if you’re alone… Cleveland got plenty of help from the long ball: Holdcraft, Gonzalez, and Osorio all went yard. Somewhere, Chief Wahoo is doing cartwheels.

Baltimore tried to claw back late—Hemphill’s three-run homer in the eighth made things interesting, and Reid had himself a day with four hits—but the Tribe bullpen just barely held it together. Shane Ramirez, two wild pitches… might’ve been aiming for the hot dog vendor. But hey, a win’s a win.

Final line: Indians 10 runs, 11 hits, no errors. Orioles 7 runs, 11 hits, no errors. And the fans here at Jacobs Field are on their feet, because this bunch is one game away from the Fall Classic.

Manager Kevin Neubauer summed it up: “Not perfect, but we’ll take it.”

Spoken like a man who knows his bullpen has more leaks than a screen door.

Game 4 tomorrow, same place, same teams—Cleveland trying to break out the brooms.

This is Harry Doyle saying: “So long everybody, drive home safely, and remember—don’t drink and bunt.”

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“Yo Adrian… the Phillies are one win away from the World Series!”

Lemme tell ya somethin’, it wasn’t always pretty, but the Fightins went toe-to-toe with Cincinnati tonight and came out swingin’ harder, y’know? Paul Campbell, that guy pitched like a champ — seven innings, only gave up a couple runs, kept throwin’ punches even when the Reds hit back early. That’s guts right there.

And hey, how ‘bout Elijah Worboys? Yo, that guy’s like the Apollo Creed of third basemen, real slick with the glove, but tonight he brought the bat too. Two hits, knocked in two runs, even popped one outta the yard in the seventh. Place went nuts. Reminded me of when I went the distance with Creed, y’know? You don’t gotta knock ‘em out, you just gotta keep answerin’ the bell.

The Reds, they came out swingin’ too — Camacho hits one deep, Dunham’s leggin’ out a triple — but after the second inning, Campbell shut the door. Philly’s bullpen? Moran comes in and closes it like it was nothin’, real closer stuff.

Final score, 5–2, and now the Phillies, they’re up three games to one in the series. One more, just one more, and they’re in the World Series, yo! Citizens Bank Park was shakin’, people screamin’, it was beautiful.

Like my old man told me, “Nothin’s gonna hit harder than life… or a fastball inside.” But the Phillies, they kept movin’ forward, kept fightin’. Tomorrow, they get a chance to finish the job right here in Philly.

So yo Adrian… we did it… we’re almost there!

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Cleveland Indians: 1st AL Pennant
1919

“Cleveland, you can party like it’s 1919! Chief Wahoo is celebrating tonight, folks—the Indians have won their first ever pennant! Final score: Cleveland 4, Baltimore absolutely nothing.”

Well, if you like offense from the Orioles, tough luck. They put up the big goose egg—nada, zip, zero. Their bats had less life than a morgue at midnight. Five hits scattered across nine innings, and not a single guy crossed the plate. The Orioles couldn’t buy a run if they passed the hat around the dugout.

Meanwhile, the Tribe? Business as usual. Matt Holdcraft—who else—kept the party going with a double and an RBI, and oh yeah, he also walked away with the series MVP, hitting .533. That’s not just hot, that’s “don’t touch the stove, you’ll burn your hand” hot. Cervantes and Gonzalez chipped in with clutch hits, and the insurance runs in the eighth just iced it.

On the mound? J.P. Busch was cooler than the other side of the pillow. Seven shutout innings, five hits, two walks, four strikeouts. Then Luis Garcia came in and slammed the door so hard the Orioles are still looking for the handle.

So, Cleveland sweeps the series, four games to none, and for the first time in history, they’re going to the World Series! Who they’ll face is still up in the air—it’s either the Phillies or the Reds, and Philly’s got the edge in that one.

Final line tonight: Indians 4 runs, 9 hits, no errors. Orioles: 0 runs, 5 hits, no errors… unless you count their offense, which was a total error.

Fans are still on their feet here at Jacobs Field, waving, cheering, hugging strangers. Me? I’m reaching for the bourbon. Cleveland’s got themselves a pennant!

This is Harry Doyle saying: “So long everybody—be careful driving home, there are gonna be a lot of drunk Indians out there.”

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So here’s the thing about baseball. We all fall in love with the big-market glam — Yankees, Dodgers, Phillies. But October? October has always been about momentum. And yesterday in Philly, the Reds grabbed it, hugged it, and flat-out refused to let go.

Final score: Cincinnati 7, Philadelphia 3. And it wasn’t Bryce Harper, it wasn’t some $300-million guy—it was Ruben Soto. A second baseman. Not flashy, not headline-grabbing, but he outplayed the stars. Triple early, three-run bomb late. That’s culture. That’s buy-in. That’s a team saying, “We’re not done yet.”

Now, let’s be honest: Philadelphia’s still the better roster. They’ve got more depth, more bats, they had 11 hits in this game. But here’s the difference: Cincinnati got hits that mattered. Phillies stranded 11 runners—11! You can’t do that in October. The Reds? Three double plays, outfield assist at the plate—they did all the little things right.

And this is what great postseason series are about. It’s never a sweep when you’ve got an underdog with confidence. Cincinnati was down 3–1 in this series, season basically over, and they go into Citizens Bank Park, hostile environment, 40,000 Philadelphians foaming at the mouth, and they punch back. That’s not talent, that’s toughness.

And by the way—don’t underestimate what this means going back to Cincinnati for Game 6. The Reds have life. Philly’s still in control, but we’ve seen this before—better roster, more stars, home-field advantage… and suddenly you’re in a Game 7, and now it’s pressure versus belief.

The story here isn’t just Ruben Soto—it’s that the Phillies had a chance to finish it, and they blinked. And in sports, once the underdog sniffs doubt? Look out.

This series just got real.