2018 – NATIONAL DIVISION SERIES #1

Tempe Tempers @ Columbus Explorers

TempeColumbusNational League Division SeriesTempe Tempers (113-49, 2nd N.L. Central) vs. Columbus Explorers (117-45, 1st N.L. Central). In just a few short years, these teams have become serious rivals, and the Explorers have even wrestled the N.L. Central crown away from perennial winner, Tempe, 2 of the last three years. Now after the Tempers won the N.L. Wildcard series, the two teams will square off for a N.L. Division Series. Tempe took the season series 8-5, but it included a 6-1 series win in the season opener when the teams were vastly different than they are today. In fact, the Explorers benefited this year from a few trades with Tempe and now they meet again to see who goes for the N.L.L Pennant.
Ervin_SantanaNLDS18GAME #1 – John Lester (12-5 3.60) vs. Ervin Santana (15-3 2.61)

Little did anyone realize that Ryan Zimmerman’s rbi single in the 1st and Xander Bogaerts error in the 2nd that led to a run would be the difference in this game. Columbus up 2-0 after 2 rode Santana’s 3 hit pitching (5.2 innings) along with 2.1 perfect innings from 4 relievers to get the game to the 9th and David Robertson. But the 9th inning turned out to prove eventful.
Adrian Beltre leads off an fans. Matt Adams then laces one the gap for a stand-up double. Welington Castillo then grounds to 3rd for the 2nd out and Adams moves to 3rd. Ozzie Albies up, pitch comes in and it’s off Jesus Sucre’s glove (just in for defensive purposes) and Adams scores, 2-1. Albies then works Robertson for a single to give Bogaerts a chance to redeem himself. But Robertson gets the K and the game ends with Columbus taking game 1, 2-1.   Lester pitched well, 7 innings, 5 hits, 8 ks to go with the 2 runs (1 earned).

TEM 1-5-1 LP Lester (0-1)
COL 2-6-2 WP Santana (1-0) S Robertson (1)

Eduardo_NunezNLDS18GAME #2 – Jhoulys Chacin (19-7 3.34) vs. Alex Meyer (6-1 4.14)

6 homers, 11 innings, 11 pitchers, this game had it all and then some featured too many lead changes and drama – but the 11 LOB by Columbus was probably the most telling factor.
Tempe ended the game with 8 hits – ALL of them extra base hits, 4 doubles, 4 homers and 2 walks, They also fanned 10 times and then every time they gave up the lead, someone else would rise to the long ball occasion.
Scoring started in the home half of the 2nd when Shin-Soo Choo draws a 2 out walk, then a WP and an Eduardo Nunez rbi double. But before the home crowd could settle into the lead, Troy Tulowitzki hits one to LF that just kept carrying and it cleared the fence for a two run homer (1) and a 2-1 Tempe lead. Tempers continue to add to the lead in the 4th when Marcel Ozuna greets former teammate Myers with a lead-off homer (1) to make it 3-1. Beltre follows with a double and Myers is shown the exit sign and Luis Avilan comes on to hurl (maybe literally). But he gets the next three batters to retire the side.
Explorers’ turn – in the 4th things start when Choo again draws a walk and with 2 outs, Alex Avila cracks the homer (1) and it’s a tie game. McCullers comes in to relive to start the 5th and he’s effective – 3ks. Bottom half, Dee Gordon singles, Matt Carpenter walks – but Chacin gets the next two before Paul DeJong singles scoring Gordon and the home crowd is again happy as it’s 4-3 after 5. And Chacin is gone.
McCullers effectiveness ends when Ryan Braun leads off the 6th with a solo homer (1) to tie the game. But in the bottom half, with Johnny Cueto pitching, Nunez connects for a homer (1) to get the Explorers back into the lead, 5-4. Top of the 7th Drew Steckenrider in to pitch and Welington Castillo leads of with a double. Steckenrider exits, Matt Belisle (former Tempers) comes in and of course he serves a big 2 run gopher ball to Ozzie Albies and Tempe regains the lead 6-5 (and the crowd groans).
8th inning – nobody scores!
9th inning – Jarrod Hughes on the mound (came in to close out the 7th) and needs 3 outs to tie up the series. Charlie Blackmon works a 2 out walk. Ryan Zimmerman up and Hughes misses the catcher for a WP – Blackmon to 2nd. Zimm then lines one LF for the tying rbi single and we get to have more fun playing this game in free baseball land!
Yusmeiro Petit comes in for the 10th and blanks the Tempers in order (their big guns no less). Kirby Yates comes on and he retires the Explorers giving up just a 2 out single. Petit stays for the 11th and Matt Adams leads off with a double. 1 out later, Yoenis Cespedes comes in to PH for Tulowitzki and he smashes a double to plate Adams and gives Tempe the 7-6 lead. Fast forward to the bottom half, Yates still on the mound to face Carpenter, Blackmon and Zimmerman. Whiff and a popup to start things brings Zimm to the plate with 2 out. He lines one hard to RF for a single bringing up DeJong. Crowd seeing the homerun in their minds, but Yates had other plans and gets DeJong to strikeout to end the game, Tempers win, and the series is tied up 1 game apiece as they travel to Tempe.

TEM 7- 8-1 WP Yates (1-0) BS Hughes (1) 11 innings
COL 6-11-1 LP Petit (0-1) BS Belisle (1)

 
GMarcel_Ozuna18NLDSAME #3 – Parker Bridwell (11-4 2.88) vs. Wei-Yen Chen (4-0 2.88)

Now back on home soil the Tempers are beginning to feel real comfortable and the confidence shows when the light up former teammate Bridwell for 3 runs in the 1st. Votto singles to lead off, then Marcel Ozuna connects for a 2 run homer (2) and a 2-0 lead. And to make it a bigger lead, Castillo doubles, lead-foot Adams tries to score from 1st – Castillo goes for 3rd on the throw, it’s cut there and Adams scores, Castillo’s out but it 3-0 Tempers after 1.
In the 3rd, they add to the lead when Joey Votto walks and Ryan Braun singles. 2 outs later, Bridwell uncorks a pitch the would have required a huge fishing net to catch. Adams follows with a dying quail for 2 more runs and a 5-0 lead after 3. Chen goes 2.2 innings and then is relieved by Gregory Infante followed by 4 other Tempers relievers who basically controlled the Explorer over the course of 9 innings giving up a total of 7 hits, 4 walks and fanning 5 and allowing a lone run in the 9th. And by then Columbus was down by 8 as Castillo cranks a solo homer (1) in the 6th. And Lance McCullers goes wild in the 8th walking the first 3 batters of the inning before PHitter Evan Gattis doubles to plate 2 more. Final 8-1 Tempe and the Tempers have shifted the advantage their way with a 2-1 series lead!

COL 1-7-0 LP Bridwell (0-1)
TEM 8-9-1 WP Infante (1-0)

Dee_GordonNLDS18GAME #4 – Ervin Santana (15-3 2.61) vs. John Lester (12-5 3.60)

Rematch from game 1 and in a real strange way – the final score was identical as well, 2-1, and it was again Columbus coming out on top.
The pitchers were very strong through 6, 0-0 as the 7th started. But there were some interesting plays going on to keep it scoreless. In the 3rd, Dee Gordon and Eduardo Nunez each singled and they were each thrown out at 2nd trying to steal by Wellington Castillo. In the 6th, Dee Gordon led the inning off with a single and successfully stole 2nd, but then Brandon Workman got Nunez to line out. He gives the IW to Blackman and Infante comes in and gets Zimmernan and Dejong to keep the score the 0-0 tie.
Finally in the 7th, the scoring drought ends when Shin-Soo Choo cracks asolo shot in the (1). Tempers tie it up in the bottom of 7th when Beltre leads off with a double and then scores on a Cabrera single to tie it up. Johnny Cueto actually scored the run (PR) and Cabrera was thrown out going to 2nd.
Some 8th inning action included a Nunez 1 out single and stolen base, but he gets stranded. In the bottom of the 8th. Tulo walks and Bogaerts comes in to pinch ran and gets thrown out by Martin. Impressive. Then Joey Votto later doubles so Martin’s throw saved the game at this point. No one scores in the 9th – so it’s free baseball again.
In the 10th, Dee Gordon singles (3rd one of the game) and Nunez then executes the perfect hit and run (his 3rd hit) to put runners on the corner with one out. Hildenberger issues the Intentional Walk to Charlie Blackmon to load the bases. Ryan Zimmer then gets a sac fly on a shallow out to CF when Gordon uses his speed to just score and Columbus the 2-1 lead. DeJong struck out to limit the damage. David Robertson comes on got the first three batters to preserve the save and even the series.  Santana’s 2nd start and win and minuscule era (0.61) is basically the reason the series is tied at 2-2.

COL 2-9-0 WP Santana (2-0) (10 innings)
TEM 1-5-0 LP Hildenberger (0-1)

GAME #5 – J.A. Happ (15-7 2.61) vs. Jhoulys Chacin (19-7 3.34)

Ryan_ZimmermanNLDS18Series tied at 2-2, this is normally the pivotal game. Happ hopes to bring home a lead to Columbus, Chacin seeks to keep Tempe in it like he did in game 2 (well sort of).
Well sports fans, Joey Votto leads off the bottom of the 1st with a big home run (1) and the Tempers fans are all abuzz. Lead only holds up until the 2nd when Ryan Zimmerman leads off with a double and scores on a Nunez single. Top of the 4th, Charlie Blackmon leads off with a single, moves to 2nd on a WP and scores on a Zimmerman single for a 2-1 lead for the visitors. Columbus extends the lead in the 6th – Blackmon walks, Jarrod Hughes comes in to relieve Wei-Win Chen and he gives up a 2 run homer to Zimmerman (3rd hit of the game, 1st homer of the series). Columbus now up 4-1.
Bottom of the 7th, Yoenis Cespedes walks with 1 out, Happ leaves and Darren O’Day comes in. Ozzie Albies greets him with an rbi triple. Matt Adams then singles scoring Albies and it’s 4-3 Explorers as the Tempers mount a comeback. O’Day settles down and shuts them down however to end the 7th.
Top of the 8th, Columbus seeks to ice the game. Matt Carpenter opens the inning with a double off Brandon Workman. Blackmon then grounds one to Alies, who then throws it in the dirt to 1st, Votto can’t get it, Blackmon is safe, Carpenter is at 3rd. Workman leaves and Joe Smith enters. Zimmerman up and the steal is on. Blackmon breaks for 2nd and Yandy Diaz throws it over Albies head, Blackmon to 3rd and Carpenter scores. Zimm then fans and DeJong walks with the infield in. Iglesias comes in to PR, Shin Soo Choo up and he bounces one past Votto for an rbi and 6-3 lead. Tempers don’t give up, Petit in to pitch and Adrian Beltre lights him up for a homer (1) and it’s 6-4. Then David Robertson came in and set down Tempe in order in the 9th. Columbus ends up taking 2 in Tempe after the Tempers grabbed a 2-1 series lead. The Explorers have the 3-2 lead and home field advantage.

COL 6-9-0 WP Happ (1-0) S Robertson (3)
TEM 4-8-2 LP Chacin (0-1)

 
David_RobertsonNLDS18GAME #6 – John Lester (12-5 3.60) vs. Lance McCullers (15-3 2.40)

Lester, who pitched well in game 1 – though he took a tough loss – is being called on to right the ship for the Tempers. The Explorers will be going with McCullers who had a great regular season, good enough to earn the playoff start.
Bottom of the 1st, Eduardo Nunez (who has been tearing the cover off the ball in this series) lashes a one out double. 1 out latter, Ryan Zimmerman keeps up his terror toward Tempe and doubles home Nunez as Columbus takes the 1-0 lead. But in the 2nd, the Tempers strike back. Matt Adams singles to CF. Welington Castillo grounds to 3rd and Nunez fields it, throws to Zimmerman and this time it’s the Explorers who commit the error as the throw sails past Zimm. Castillo ends up at 2nd, Adams as 3rd and they give Castillo a single on the play – plus the E5. Braun follows and McCullers ties him up, but he gets the bat on it – snap – and the ball pops over 2nd into shallow right – Adams scores but Castillo is held at 3rd. Troy Tulowitzki likes the idea of a hit parade and he singles scoring Castillo and the Tempers take the 2-1 lead. McCullers finally puts an end to the parade but finds himself down in the score.
In the 4th, Columbus ties it up after Paul DeJong leads off with a double, Choo grounds him to 3rd and Ian Desmond drives him home with a groundout to short. They then take a 3-2 lead in the 5th when Martin leads off with a walk, Gordon singles, and Nunez smashes one past Joey Votto at 1st. Martin heads for home, Gordon for 3rd, Nunez tries to get to 2nd on the throw home. The throw is cut off, Martin scores and Nunez is nabbed at 2nd. But Columbus takes a 3-2 lead. Lester then gets Blackmon on a comebacker and fans Zimmerman, but after 5 it’s 3-2 Columbus.
Explorer fans are now in a frenzy, smelling something in the air and hoping beyond hope for victory, NOW, in game 6. Bottom of the 7th, Gregory Infante pitching, 2 outs and Dee Gordon up and he chops one in front of home that Welington Castillo fields and bobbles – and Gordon is safe. Another error that comes back to haunt as Nunez follows with, of course, the 2 run homer (2) and a 5-2 lead.
Top of the 8th, Tempe is not throwing in any towel, Darren O’Day in to pitch. Two outs and Castillo comes to bat. He seeks redemption and he buries one into the left field seats – it’s now 5-3. O’Day then gets Ryan Braun on an excuse me swing to end the 8th. Bottom half and Shin-Soo Chin gets the run back with his own homer (2) and a 6-3 Columbus lead. So the game goes to the 9th and David Robertson comes in – he’s saved their 3 wins so far, and looks to make it 4. Tulowitzki flies out to LF. Melky Cabrera in to PH for Jarrod Hughes and he goes down swinging. Tempe down to their final out and Joey Votto steps in. He lines one to LF – Desmond had him played perfectly and he snares it for the final out and the team celebration begins! Joy in Columbus as the Explorers win 6-3 and take the series 4 games to 2.

TEM 3-7-1 LP Lester (0-2)
COL 6-9-1 WP Petit (1-1) S Robertson (4)

Explorers vanquish their #1 rival and earn the opportunity to play in the NL LCS. If they award an MVP for the series it could go to David Robertson for his 4 saves, it could go to Ryan Zimmerman for hitting .360 with 2 doubles and a homer and 7 rbis, but it would go to Eduardo Nunez. He goes 4 for 4 in the finale and bats an even .500 for the series. 13 for 26, 2 doubles, 2 homers, 3 runs and 6 rbis!

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