2015 – NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES #1

ClovisNational League Division Series
Bethesda Bandicoots vs. Clovis Wheat Kings

Series Preview:   National East Champions Bethesda Bandicoots vs. NL West Champs Clovis Wheat Kings. First two games in Clovis followed by three back east and the final pair back out west if needed. Bethesda finished the season with a 90-72 record outpacing Jersey by 9 games. Clovis comes into the series after posting a 98-64 record edging out Long Beach by 2 games for the top spot. Both teams feature strong starting staffs, but Clovis will enjoy an edge in the bullpen.

Game #1: Jake Arrieta (10-6 2.99) vs. Garrett Richards (16-5 1.95)

Arrieta will climb the hill for Bethesda while Richards earns the nod from the Clovis bench.
Richards starts strong with a pair of K’s but then a streak of wildness puts two runners on via the walk. Peralta came up with a chance to get things started for

RichardsNLDS11

Bethesda but grounded weakly to defensive stalwart Murphy for the out. This would set a pattern for Richard who would put runners in scoring position in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings but each time would reach back for a little something extra to retire the Bandicoots without issue.
Meanwhile Clovis broke through against Arrieta in the third when Castro snuck a single through the right side and Richards drew a walk trying to lay down a bunt. Davis hit a bouncing ball that looked for a moment like the Bandicoots might turn two but Davis put on a burst of speed and beat out the return throw leaving runners on 1st and 3rd for Daniel Murphy. Davis broke for second and Murphy put a perfectly placed ball through the ensuing hole for a base hit that easily scored Castro for the games first run.
Richards got through the 6th without incident, his only perfect inning. Into the 7th with Clovis clinging to a 1-0 lead. After two quick outs Seth Smith lined a double into right. Having seen enough the skipper turned to the bullpen and Tony Watson. Watson starred down Adrian Gonzalez who belted a frozen rope into center field but right at Davis for the final out of the inning.
A parade of pinch hitters came on for Bethesda but it didn’t matter as Watson was dealing. Cain, Gonzalez, and then Rollins were set down with little problem for the Wheat Kings still leading 1-0.
Ninth inning and the call went out for Santiago Casilla to take the bump. Ruiz went down on a foul pop for the first out. Snider batted for Arrieta who pitched brilliantly but was badly fooled on a slider in the dirt for strike three and the second out. John Jay was the Bandicoots last chance but he only managed an excuse me swing with a squibber out in front of the plate; Castro pounced on it firing down to first for the third out and the win.
Richards earned the win with 6.2 gutty shutout innings while Arrieta tossed a complete game but was saddled with the hard luck loss. Casilla earned the save with a perfect ninth while Murphy knocked in the game’s only run.
Clovis wins 1-0 and leads series 1-0.

Game #2: Sonny Gray (16-6 3.15) vs. James Paxton (4-4 2.56)

Game two would feature a couple of youngsters, Sonny Gray for Bethesda and James Paxton for Clovis.
After a scoreless first Bethesda continued to be frustrated offensively when Paxton shut down for a second inning. In the bottom of the second Clovis got a bit of extra help when Arenado reached after Marwin Gonzalez’s throw pulled Adrian Gonzalez off the bag. Crawford bounced one up the middle but left Rendon with no play resulting in runners on first and second without any outs. Saunders, playing in place of Byrd, lined a single into right to load them up. Castro struck out leaving them loaded with Paxton coming to the plate. With the infield pulled in Paxton couldn’t help his own caused when he grounded one to Rendon who cut down Arenado at the plate for the second out. Davis lined one into left which Smith had lined up but the ball bounced off his glove sending both B-Craw and CrawfordNLDS12Saunders around to score and giving Clovis an early 2-0 leave.
Heading into the seventh inning both hurlers were dealing but Clovis still led 2-0 after parlaying the two errors into a pair of runs. Rendon led off for Bethesda with a base hit and then promptly stole second. Smith sent one into right and Rendon tagged up at second and motored into third just ahead of Saunder’s throw. With just one out Paxton was pitching for the strikeout but got Adrian Gonzalez on a weak pop fly that was just as good. With two outs Marwin Gonzalez stepped to the plate and hit a blooper down the right field line that dropped for a double and the Bandicoots first run.
With Paxton clearly tiring the call went out to the bullpen for George Kontos who retired Cain and limit the damage to the single run.
In the bottom of the seventh B-Craw laid into Gray’s first pitch and hung out a clothesline that easily cleared the right field wall and give Clovis back their two run lead.
Wilhelmsen came in for Clovis to face Rollins leading off the eighth. Rollins hit a bouncer to La Roche at first that backed him up but Wilhelmsen never covered first, just standing on the mound watching the world go by. After the mental error Ruiz came up and took advantage of the clear lapse in concentration and absolutely hammered one out of the park to tie the game at 3 apiece. Wilhelmsen cleared his head in time and managed to get out of the inning and into the dugout where he received an earful from the skipper.
Bottom of the eighth and Davis led off with a blistering line drive down to third that proved to much for Marwin Gonzalez who was saddled with the tough error. Clovis, desperate to get a runner into scoring position sent Davis on the first pitch to Murphy, the Wheat Kings leading hitter. Davis just beat Ruiz’s strong throw but it was enough. Murphy was fooled and hit a comebacker to Salas now pitching for Bethesda that allowed Davis to advance to third. With Cruz coming to the plate the Bandicoots didn’t hesitate in sending four wide ones and putting Nelson on intentionally to set up the double play and take their chances with Adam La Roche. La Roche upset the plan with a bloop between Rendon and Jay that easily scored Davis and give Clovis a 4-3 lead. Arenado hit a rocket into right that Cain ran down but Cruz at second base and La Roche at first weren’t going anywhere. Crawford stepped up again with another chance to do some damage and he took advantage with a line drive into right center that scored Cruz and gave the Wheat Kings a 2 run lead heading into the ninth.
The call went out again for Santiago Casilla who induced Smith to pop one up for the first out. Adrian Gonzalez bounced one to La Roche who took care of it all himself and with two outs the lesson Gonzalez stepped up and lined one into center field but Davis got a good jump and grabbed it for the final out of the game and give Clovis the 5-3 win.
Wilhelmsen, despite his poor performance, was the beneficiary of the 8th inning outburst and got the win, Casilla picked up his second save in row. Salas took the loss after giving up the two unearned runs. Crawford scored two, drove home two, and had three hits for Clovis who now leads 2 games to none over Bethesda with the series now heading east.

After Two Games: 

first two games in the books now;  Clovis leading 2 games to none as Bethesda defense really lets them down. The teams head east, way east up into the Canadian hinterland, or at least a really long, long way from California, the sight of games one and two. Clovis holds what they hope will be a commanding 2-0 lead at this point.

Game #3: Andrew Cashener (12-2 1.90) vs. Tyson Ross (9-8 3.06)

In a bar bet trivia pitching match-up Tyson Ross who tossed a perfect game this year will face off against Andrew Cashner who also tossed a perfecto this season. That’s one you don’t see everyday.
Ross was perfect after one while Cashner gave up a single to Peralta and dashed the hopes of millions who were hoping for a double no-no at the very least.
Could it be? Through 3 Ross was perfect with 5 punch-outs; clearly he was on top of his game. In the 4th he retired Davis to lead off and then had to face Murphy. The Wheat Kings second sacker caught ahold of one and drilled it deep to right but Travis Snider raced back, up and over and picked clean! Ross retired Cruz on an easy ground ball and the fans were starting to buzz.
Meanwhile, Cashner was still in control for Clovis matching Ross zero for zero heading into the bottom of the fourth. Peralto came up and hit a liner just past the diving la Roche for a two base hit. A-Gon was retired on an unproductive ground ball and up stepped defensive star Travis Snider. Cashner hung an off-speed pitch and Snider did not miss it with the ball finally coming to earth in the happy hands of a Bandicoot fan in the second deck of the right field pavilion.
Into the fifth with Bethesda now holding a 2-0 lead. After striking out La Roche Ross finally showed he was human when Byrd smacked a hard line drive that netted him a double for the first Clovis hit of the series. B-Craw followed with a bouncer through the left side that put runners at first and third for the Wheat Kings. Arenado came to the plate and found something he liked drilling one that rolled to the center field wall and sent both runners around to score and tie the game at 2. Ross bore down and struck out the next two batters but the damage had been done.
After two quick outs Jay worked a walk off of Cashner, promptly stole second and then scored on Rendon’s base hit to reclaim the lead 3-2 for Bethesda in the fifth.
RendonNLDS13Both hurlers settled down and worked through the sixth unscathed. In the Clovis half of the seventh Arenado doubled followed by an intentional walk to Castro, which prompted Cobb’s entrance into the game for Ross. Cobb induced Belt to ground out and end the threat.
Clovis sent Gio Gonzalez to the hill for the seventh hoping to keep it close. A pair of base hits off the bats of Rollins and Cain meant an early exit for Gio. Wilhelmsen came in to face the right handed batter, Anthony Rendon. Rendon ruined the strategy when he blasted a pitch way over the wall in left field to give Bethesda a commanding 6-2 lead.
Clovis scored in the eighth on an error by Odirozzi but that was all they could manage. Wilhelmsen gained a small measure of revenge with a perfect eighth inning.
Top of the ninth Odirozzi retired Crawford but walked Arenado. Castro hit a bouncer that retired Arenado at second but beat out the return throw to keep hope alive for Clovis. Ynoa pinch hiitting for Wilhelmsen lined a double into the gap putting runners on second and third and bringing the tying run to the plate.
Bethesda countered with Broxton with the game now in jeopardy. Saunders was sent up in place of Davis to hit to nullify the lefty-righty advantage. Saunders laced one toward the gap but Snider racing over snagged it in the webbing of his glove to preserve the Bandicoot win 6-3.
Ross picked up the win with his 6.2 innings of work that included 9 strikeouts. Broxton was credited with the save while Cashner was tagged with the loss. The real star was Snider with two tremendous catches in the field and a 2 run blast that got Bethesda’s offense jump started.
Clovis now with a shaky 2-1 game lead in the series.

Game #4: Kyle Lohse (18-7 2.97) vs. Alex Cobb (10-10 3.12)

Game 4 with Kyle Lohse taking the mound for Clovis and Alex Cobb for Bethesda. Clovis leads the series 2-1.
Top of the first and Cruz finally woke up from his mini-slump with a deep home run to left giving Clovis an early lead. The bottom of the first would see Bethesda answer when Murphy’s throw pulled La Roche off the bag putting Jay on at first to lead off the game. A pair of ground-outs put Jay at second where A-Gon drove him home with a base hit to tie it up at 1.

CastrodNLDS14

The second saw Byrd reach first on a base hit and then Castro stepped up and blasted a Cobb fastball over the right field wall for a 3-1 Clovis lead.
The bottom of the second was an adventure, a fly ball by Gillaspie was almost turned into a double before Cruz righted his ship and settled under it for the out. Ruiz drilled one to deep right that Byrd went over the fence to haul back. Rollins stepped to the plate to face the suddenly punch drunk Lohse. When Rollins hit it he didn’t give anyone a chance to grab it as he sent it deep into the bleachers and cut the Clovis lead to 3-2.
Cobb took the mound for the third and retired Cruz and La Roche but when he tried to throw a pitch to Arenado something went terribly wrong in his shoulder as he could no longer even get a throw as far as the plate. With Cobb’s day done, Chamberlain came into pick him up. Instead Arenado drilled the first pitch back up the middle. The Bandicoot skipper, clearly not happy with something Chamberlain did, quickly trotted out to the mound to make a change and bring in Axford who got out of the inning without any further damage. Lohse got through the third without any more than a Jay base hit.
Into the 4th and Axford retired Clovis in order. In the home half of the 4th Lohse gave up a pair of hits to Gillaspie and Ruiz but struck out Rollins and retired the pinch-hitter Snider to get out of the inning.
in the 5th Bethesda turned to Martin Perez to keep the score close. Davis was retired but Murphy smashed a double and came around to score with two outs on La Roche’s clutch base hit giving Clovis a 4-2 lead. Lohse retired the side in the home half of the fifth for the Wheat Kings.
Clovis went down in order in the 6th as Perez began to settle in. Peralta singled for Bethesda off of Lohse and stole second. Not wanting to risk another inning like the second the Wheat Kings pulled Lohse in favor of Loup who retired the next two batters and end the threat.
The seventh passed uneventfully with Wood taking over for Perez and Wilhelmsen coming in for Clovis. In the eighth Salas took over for Wood. Clovis mounted a threat when La Roche and Arenado singled. Belt came in to run for lead foot La Roche and Crawford moved both runners over with a ground ball. Byrd was intentionally passed and Castro came up with one out and the bases jammed. He skied one to center that was deep enough to score Belt easily and put Clovis up 5-2.
Wilhelmsen was still on the mound for Clovis and retired the Bandicoots in the bottom of the eighth. The ninth watched Clovis go down without doing any harm.
Bottom of the ninth and it was time for Clovis to call Santiago Casilla. Casilla sandwiched a pair of weak ground outs around a strikeout to put the Clovis in the driver’s seat with a 5-2 win.
Lohse earned the gutty win while Casilla picked up his 3rd save of the series. Cobb, out for the rest of the series took the loss.
Clovis is now one win away from punching their ticket to the Championship round.

Game #5: Garrett Richards (16-5 1.95) vs. Jake Arrieta (10-6 2.99)

In a rematch of game one Bethesda sends Jake Arrieta out while Clovis turns to Garret Richards.
Clovis went down in order in the first but Bethesda had other ideas as Anthony Rendon took Richards deep for his second homer of the series to give Bethesda a early 1-0 lead.
CrawfordNLDS15It would stay 1-0 Bethesda until the fifth when La Roche coaxed a walk only to be rewarded by being lifted for the pinch-runner, Belt. Crawford lined a double that sent Belt to third with one out. Arenado hit a blistering smash to third that Gillaspie had trouble with. He recovered in time to get the runner at first but Belt came home to tie the game at 1. Bethesda could make no hay in the bottom of the fifth but the sixth saw Clovis work a little more magic. Ynoa batted for Richards and doubled into the corner, and with two outs Cruz lined a single that enabled Ynoa to come round and score. Watson got through the 6th but in the seventh Pacheco lined a single, then he plunked Ruiz. With runners at first and second with one out and Arrieta coming up Bethesda opted to forgo the bunt and send Snider up. Watson got Snider to pop up for the second out but with the right handed Cain coming up Kontos came in from the pen to end the threat. Cain ruined the strategy when he lined a ba se hit that easily scored Pacheco to tie the game at 2 apiece. The 8th passed without anything changing.
Ninth inning, tied at two; it just doesn’t get much better. Wood now on the mound for Bethesda, Cruz smacks a double to lead off for Clovis. After two quick outs Crawford came up and lined one down the right field line for two bases and the RBI that put Clovis up 3-2.
bottom of the ninth, Clovis clinging to a 3-2 lead and needing one more win. Turning to Mr. Reliable, Santiago Casilla with three saves so far in the series it looked like an open and shut case.
Rollins works a walk to lead off and then steals second. Ruiz sends one up into the air in right, Byrd collars it as Rollins tags and takes off for third, the tag and he’s safe. Runner on third now with only one out. Clovis pulls the infield in and pitches to Jay not wanting to walk the winning run. Jay sends one straight up the chute which Phillips camps under. Two outs and Cain up, the match-up Clovis wanted. With Rollins creeping closer Casilla throws one high and away. It is the only edge that Rollins needs as he comes flying home for the steal…..He barrels into Castro and he is OUT! Wait…no, Castro drops the ball, Rollins has stolen home and tied the game at 3 each!
Clovis can’t do much of anything in the tenth but Bethesda gets a one out walk and an infield hit from A-Gon to put the winning run in scoring position. Clovis turns to Loup to face Peralta and Marywn Gonzalez. Loup gets both to pop up to end the threat.
In the eleventh Bethesda has Broxton on the mound for his second inning of work. Clovis has Saunders leading off. Michael hits one into the gap and ends up on second base. Bloomquist, in center following a double switch, lines one in front of Smith. Saunders flies around third and scores just ahead of the throw. Bloomquist is gunned down trying to take second on the throw but Clovis is more than happy to trade the out for a run. Broxton retires Belt and Byrd to set up the bottom of the eleventh with Bethesda’s season hanging in the balance.
Aaron Loup still on the mound as Clovis has seriously depleted their bullpen. Rollins chops one over the mound but Crawford will brook no nonsense as he guns him down. Ruiz looks at a couple of pitches and then lifts an easy fly into center that Bloomquist grabs. With two outs Jay steps up. He hits a little bouncer up the line, Belt charges in, grabs it and tags the speedy Jay as he runs by for the third out!

Series Results:

Clovis has taken the series 4 games to 1!!

Clovis takes the series in five games. Crawford was the hitting star hitting .421 for the Wheat Kings. Rendon led the Bandicoots with 5 RBI.  Great series that saw every game turn into a battle. You can’t ask for more.

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