Thursday, December 28, 2017

KOD26 World Series: Houston Ousts The Tribe in Five

Game #1
HOU 3 8 1
CLE  2 6 0
WP – Miller   LP – Sabathia   Sv – Wagner
HR:  Everett, Peralta

Fresh of their Game 7 9th inning win in LA, the Astros headed to Cleveland for G1 of the KOD 26 World Series.  Houston sent Wade Miller to the mound against the Round Mound of the Mound, CC Sabathia.  Adam Everett led off the 1st with a double down the line in right and scored on Jeff Bagwell’s one out single.  In the bottom of the 3rd Aaron Boone reached 2nd on a wild pitch and scored on Jody Gerut’s gap double to right center.  Gerut was in for the injured Grady Sizemore who left the game in the bottom of the first.  In the top of the 6th the Astros retook the lead when Jeff Kent doubled in Morgan Ensberg, and they added on more when Adam Everett led of the 7th with a solo HR.  Miller went 6.1 innings and gave way to Miceli and Dotel who brought the Astros to the top of the 9th with a 3-1 lead.  Billy Wagner came in for the 9th and gave up a leadoff HR to Peralta before getting the next three for the save.

Game #2
HOU 4 10 0
CLE   2  6 0
WP – Redding   LP – Lee  Sv – Wagner
HR:  Hidalgo


The Astros game out swinging against Cliff Lee and put a quick 4 on the board before Tim Redding took the hill.  Bagwell and Ensberg each had an RBI single and after a Jeff Kent double, Richard Hidalgo hit one 412 feet to center for a 2 run HR.  And that was the Astros offense in this one.  Redding cruised through the first 5 innings before Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner each drove in a run with RBI singles.  Lidge pitched the 7th and Dotel took on the 8th and 9th.  Wagner was brought in to get the last out after Dotel put two runners on with 2 out.  The Astros head home with a 2 game lead.

Game #3
CLE  6 12 0
HOU 7 15 2
WP – White   LP – Miller
HR:  Blake, Berkman, Hidalgo

With 2 wins on the road the Astros were looking to gain a big advantage with a win at home.  The Indians started Keith Millwood against the Astros Roy Oswalt.  Houston scored first in the bottom on the first when Bagwell laced a single to right to score Berkman from 2nd.   In the 3rd inning the Indians scored three to take their first lead of the series.  With 2 on and 1 out, Coco Crisp brought in Millwood from 2nd and then Martinez brought in two with a single of his own.  VMart missed a sign and attempted to steal with 2 out and ended inning sliding into 2nd.    Crisp led of the 6th with a triple and Martinez brought him in with a single.  In the bottom of the 6th Berkman walked, stole 2B and scored on another Bagwell RBI single.  Casey Blake led of the 7th with a solo HR and Ben Broussard hit a PH double in the 9th to drive in another run and but the Tribe up 5-1 going into the bottom of the 9th.  Houston fans will tell their grandchildren about the bottom of the 9th.  Bob Wickman came to pitch and was not treated like a guest – Everett led off with a double and went to 3rd on a deep fly by PH Vizcaino.  Orlando Merced PH for the pitcher and brought in Everett with an RBI single to up the middle.  Biggio followed with another single, putting men at 1st and 2nd with one out.  Kent grounded to SS, but the Indians could only get Biggio at 2nd.  The next batter was Berkman who blasted a game tying HR to right center.  And then Richard Hidalgo poked one down the left field line that just made it into the seats (319 ft) for the walk off win.

Game #4
CLE  5 10 0
HOU 3  6 0
WP – Westbrook  LP – Villone  Sv – Howry
HR:  Peralta, Ensberg

Backs against the wall, the Indians came out swinging and scored three runs in the 1st.  After a one out walk by Crisp, Jhony Peralta hit his 2nd HR of the series.  Jose Hernandez ripped a double off the wall in left center that brought in Blake for the quick 3-0 lead.  Ensberg put Houston on the board in the 4th, but Cleveland game right back and scored 2 in the top of the 5th when Martinez singled, Blake doubled and took third on the through home that did not get Martinez, and Hernandez hit a sac fly to bring in Blake.  Kent, Berkman and Hidalgo hit back to back to back doubles to open the 6th, but Westbrook toughen and got the next three batters to stop the damage.  Miller came in for the 7th and 8th and Howry pitched a perfect 9th to preserve the win for Cleveland.

Game #5
CLE  3 9 1
HOU 4 6 0
WP – Dotel  LP – Howry  Sv – Wagner
HR:  Hidalgo, Bagwell

A Game #1 rematch with Sabathia throwing for the Indians and Miller starting for Houston.  Both starters pitched very well in this one.  Jeff Kent singled in Berkman in the 1st to give the Astros a 1-0 lead.  In the 6th, Hidalgo game Miller some breathing room with a solo HR to left to put the Astros up 2-0.  Miller went 7 shutout innings, allowing 6 hits with no walks and 5 K’s.  Dotel came on for the 8th hoping to shut the Tribe down and turn the game over to Wagner for the 9th.  But…, with 2 outs and a runner on 1st, Hafner walked.  Peralta singled in Sizemore from 2nd, and then Ronnie Belliard cranked a triple to right that scored Hafner and Peralta and Cleveland took the lead, 3-2.  David Riske had pitched a no run 7th for Cleveland, but gave up a lead off walk to Berkman.  With Bagwell coming up, the Tribe called on righty Bob Howry to hold.  But Bagwell deposited a 1-2 pitch from Howry into the left center field seats to put the Astros back up 4-3.  Wagner did come in for the 9th and set the Indians down in order for the save and the series.

Great series!  Three 1 run games and two 2 run games.  A great season by the Tribe.

--submitted by Tom Landers--

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

NLCS - Houston Outlasts LA to Advance to KOD26 World Series

Game #1
HOU 2 5 0
LAD  9 10 0
WP – Messersmith  LP – Redding
HR – Ferguson

A last minute decision to start Andy Messersmith paid off for the Dodgers.  Andy dominated the Stros allowing only 5 hits with 0 walks and 7 K’s for the complete game win.  The Dodgers scored one in the 1st on a Buckner FC and one in the 3rd on a Joshua single.  LA broke it open in the 7th with four runs to take a 6-0 lead.  Houston managed 2 runs in the top of the 8th, but a Joe Ferguson 3 run HR sealed the with for LA.



Game #2

HOU 4  7 1
LAD  7 10 1
WP – Sutton   LP – Oswalt  Sv - Brewer
HR – Hidalgo, Berkman


With a solid win by Messersmith in the books, LA turned to Don Sutton to keep the home field advantage alive.  Houston countered with Roy Oswalt.  LA wasted no time getting the scoring started has they gave Oswalt a case of the Willies – Davis led off with a double and Crawford brought him in with a single.  In the top of the 3rd Kent and Berkman led off the inning with singles and Hidalgo brought them home with a 3 run HR, giving Houston it’s first lead in the series.  But that was short lived as the Dodgers got to Oswalt for 5 in the bottom of the 5th, the key hit being a 2 run double by Ron Cey.  LA padded their lead in the 8th on a Davy Lopes sac fly and Berkman got that back with a solo shot in the 9th off a tiring Sutton.  Jim Brewer came in for the last two outs to score the save and send the teams to Houston with LA holding a 2-0 series lead.

Game #3
LAD  3 7 1
HOU 7 12 1
WP – Villone  LP – Downing
HR – Ferguson, Hidalgo, Ensberg, Everett


A match up of lefties in Game 3 and the Dodgers showed out of the gate that they wanted to keep their winning streak alive.  With one out and two on in the first, Joe Ferguson hit is 2nd 3 run HR of the series to spot Downing with a quick 3-0 lead.  The Astros got on the board in the 2nd behind a solo shot by Hidalgo, and Ausmus triple (I know, right?) and a Villone RBI single.  In the 3rd, Morgan Ensberg launched a solo HR of his own to tie the score at 3.  Houston added three more in the bottom the 4th and then another run on Adam Everett’s HR in the bottom of the 6th to close out the scoring.  Downing gave up all of the Houston runs and was pulled after 6.  Villone pitched a strong 7 for Houston before turning it over to Dotel for the last 2 innings.

Game #4

LAD  2 7 0
HOU 5 9 0
WP – Miller  LP – Osteen
HR – Cey, Ausmus

Houston plated 3 runs in the 2nd on a WP, ground out and single.  They add solo runs in the 5th and the 8th.  Wade Miller held the Dodgers to no runs on 5 hits, no walks and 7 K’s through 6 innings.  Brad Lidge pitched the 7th and 8th, allowing no hits while striking out 4.  A well-rested Billy Wagner came in for the 9th and after two quick outs gave up a single to Buckner and a 2 run HR to Cey, before settling down for the final out.




Game #5
LAD  3 8 1
HOU 7 6 2
WP – Redding  LP – Messersmith
HR – Ferguson, Hidalgo, Berkman


In the rematch of Game 1 pitchers, Houston fared better against Messersmith than the first time.  Ferguson continued to mash for the Dodgers with a 2 run HR in the first, but Houston rallied back.  Hidalgo hit his 3rd of the series leading off the 2nd inning, and then Lance Berkman crushed a 3 run HR in the 3rd.  Messersmith was pinch hit for in the 7th, leaving him on the hook for the loss after 6 IP allowing 4 runs on 4 hits, 4 walks and two K’s.  Redding pitched well after the 1st inning and was lifted after allowing a single run in the 7th to pull the Dodgers within one run, 4-3.  Houston added 3 more runs in the bottom of the 7th off of Charlie Hough while Miceli and Dotel combined for two shutout innings to preserve the win for Redding.  After 5 games the home team cannot lose – back to LA.

Game #6

HOU 1 8 0
LAD  8 11 2
WP – Shanahan  LP – Oswalt
HR – Garvey


With the series on the line, LA sent Sutton to the mound for Game 6 vs Oswalt for the Astros.  LA again scored first on a Ferguson ground out.  In the 2nd inning terror struck the Dodger fans when after 2 outs Sutton called out the trainer and was removed from the game with an undisclosed injury.  Greg Shanahan relived and intentional walked Ausmus before striking out Oswalt.  The Dodgers used Sutton’s injury as motivation as they came out and scored 3 off of Oswalt in the bottom of the 2nd on a Bill Russell double and a Ken McMullen PH sac fly.  Tommy John came on to pitch the 3rd inning and went 4.2 innings, allowing one run on 4 hits.  Oswalt was done after 6, allowing 5 runs on 8 hits.  Charlie Hough and Pete Richert pitched the last 2 to hold on for the win for Shanahan, who got the win despite only pitching 1/3 of an inning.  On to Game 7 with the home teams still holding serve….

Game #7
HOU 4 9 1
LAD  2 6 0
WP – Dotel   LP – Brewer  Sv – Wagner
HR - Bagwell


The teams saved the best for last in the closest game of the series.  Villone and Downing matched up for the 2nd time, with both pitchers going a strong 6 innings.  Lopes led off the 4th with a bunt single and scored on a Davis double to right.  A Manny Mota ground out to moved Davis to 3rd, and he scored on a very deep sac fly by Ferguson.  Houston came right back on the top of the 5th, when with Everett on first Bagwell crushed a 2 run HR to left to tie the score at 2.  That was it for scoring for both teams until the 9th inning.  With one out in the 9th, PH Orlando Merced reached on an infield single and Adam Everett drew a walk.  Berkman was up next and launched a drive deep to left that was foul.  The Dodgers quickly subbed Von Joshua into left to replace Mota in the event of another one of those.  Berkman did drive it to left again, but it hit the wall and brought both Merced and Everett home to score.  Still well rested Billy Wagner came in for the 9th and promptly put two on with a single and walk before getting Garvey to ground out in to force play, punching out Yeager and getting Russell to ground out for the save and the series win.

Great back and forth series.  The Dodgers played like champs. Berkman gets the MVP with a .345 AVG and 9 RBI in the series.

--submitted by Tom Landers--

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

ALCS - Tribe breaks out the broom over Pale Hose

The 2005 Indians, surprisingly, sweep the 1955 White Sox in a series that saw two close games early and then two easy Indians wins once the series moved to Comiskey. Tribe pitchers were pretty stellar overall, and their slugging prowess was on display.

Bruce took his White Sox club to new heights and the club was a tough matchup all year, finishing tied for the best record in the AL (with the Indians).

Game One: Cleveland 6, Chicago 5 (11 innings). A raucous way to start the series. Tied at one apiece, the Sox erupt for four runs in the seventh, capped by a Minnie Minoso double that plated a pair and sent CC Sabathia to the showers. But the Indians make a dramatic comeback in the bottom of the inning, as Victor Martinez launches a grand slam to give the Tribe a brief 5-4 lead. In the top of ninth, Minoso singles home the tying run off closer Bob Wickman and the Sox have hope.

But in the bottom of the 11th, the Tribe celebrates the win as Travis Hafner hits a homer that just wraps around the right field foul pole to give the Indians the victory.

Game Two: Cleveland 2, Chicago 1. Cliff Lee is lights-out for the Indians, going eight innings and only allowing one run. Chicago ace Billy Pierce is a bit wild early, walking two in the first and then allowing them to score on two singles. But that's all the Indians' offense can muster, and the Chisox can't get their hitters untracked. Bob Wickman pitches a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.

Game Three: Cleveland 5, Chicago 1. The Chisox again can't come up with much offense against
the strong Indians pitching, only scoring a run on five hits off Kevin Millwood and Bob Howry. Millwood strikes out eight in 6.1 innings and Howry takes it home. The Indians score two runs apiece off Jack Harshman in the fourth and fifth, as Hafner has another big day, hitting a two run homer and a two-run RBI single to account for the scoring.

Game Four: Cleveland 11, Chicago 6. The good news for the White Sox is that their offense finally reappeared. The bad news is that Dick Donovan and Billy Pierce (recruited in relief in a desperate try to win the game) give up  8 Indians runs.  As usual, Jake Westbrook is not great but is good enough to take the win. The Indians paint the scoreboard with homers from Coca Crisp and Aaron Boone (who hit two in the series) and five doubles. Boone has three RBIs to lead the way, while Ronnie Belliard and Grady Sizemore have two apiece.

It's on for the Indians to face the winner of the senior circuit matchup between LA and Houston.

--submitted by Joe P.--

Monday, December 25, 2017

KOD26 ALDS - '55 Pale Hose Tip '95 Halos in 5

Game #1 - Billy Pierce (1-0) Dixie Howell combined on a 4-hit shut-out as Chicago took the opener at home, 4-0. Pierce was nearly untouchable through 7 IP, fanning 9, walking 1 and surrendering just 3 hits. Chico Carrasquel (1) homered among his 3 hits to lead the offense. Chuck Finley (0-1) drew the unlucky assignment as mound opponent.

Gary DiSarcina
Game #2 - Gary "Little Old Lady from" DiSarcina cleared the bases with a 3-run triple in the 6th, leading to a 5-1 Angels win. Mark Langston (1-0) masterfully worked around 7 hits and 2 BBs in 5.1 IP. The Sox finished with 12 LOB. Dick Donovan (0-1) started and lost for the ChiSox.


Game #3 - Chico Carrasquel (2,3) blasted 2 home runs and drove in 3 runs. Bob Kennedy (1) added another long shot as one of his 4 bingos. It all led to a 5-1 Pale Hose win as the series moved to Anaheim. Jack Harshman (1-0) started and won on the hill. Mike Bielecki (0-1) took the loss.
Garret Anderson




Game #4 - Garret Anderson's (1) 3-run bomb in the bottom of the 12th kept the Halos alive with a 4-1 victory. The game featured outstanding pitching from starters Connie Johnson for the Sox and Brett Anderson for the Angels all the way through both bullpens. Jim Abbott (1-0) notched the W with game 1 starter Billy Pierce (1-1) taking the loss for Chicago. The loss also spoiled a 4-hit performance from Nellie Fox.

Game #5 - George Kell (1) banged out 3 hits and crushed a "cherry on top" 2-run 7th inning HR as Chicago wrapped in the series win with a 9-3 home victory. Sandy Consuerga (1-) got the win with 3.2 innings of 2-hit, shut-out relief. Finley (0-2) was again victimized on the hill for the Angels.

Congrats to Doug Zaner for an outstanding job of managing.