2019 NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES #2

Max Scherzer opens the series with a gem, pitching 7 shutout innings while giving up just 2 hits. Stanton got on the board first with a solo shot in the 2nd inning, while Lindor added to the lead with a 2-run shot in the bottom of the 6th. An RBI triple by Grossman and single by Upton in the 8th increased Sacramento’s lead to 5-0, shutting down Game 1.

Once again, Stanton got on the board first with a 2-run home run in the bottom of the 1st inning–which would have been enough in another shutout by the Capitals pitching staff. This time led by Chris Sale, who pitched 6 scoreless inning. Stanton would hit another 2-run home run in the 6th inning followed by an RBI double in the 7th inning. Sacramento takes Game 2 6-0.

Down 2-0 in the series, Pittsburgh looks to turn their fortunes around at home.

Sacramento jumps out to a 2-0 lead after two against Taillon, and things aren’t looking good. But Willy Adames (4-5 in the game) collects a 2-run double to tie it up. The teams trade runs in the 5th and we go extra frames! Juan Soto plates Mallex Smith in the bottom of the 10th and the Lumber Company win it 4-3.

Bouyed by their victory in Game 3, the Pirates square off against Mad Max Scherzer with some confidence. And Scherzer isn’t exactly intimidated, fanning 12 batters… but he can’t handle Francisco Cervelli. The Pittsburgh catcher belts a solo HR in the 2nd and also scores after a leadoff double om the 5th and Sean Manaea goes the distance for the 2-0 upset. The series is now knotted up at 2-2!

Next up for SAC is Chris Sale. Pittsburgh buys what he’s selling, as Cervelli and Marte both take him deep early. Unfortunately Clevinger is a little shaky, surrendering a pair of runs (including a Stanton HR). We find ourselves with a 3-2 lead into the 7th, where Kenley Jansen coughs up an unearned run to tie it at 3-3. Colin McHugh serves up a solo HR to Aaron Judge in the bottom of the 8th, and Raisel Iglesias slams the door as the Lumber Company wins it 4-3.

The Caps turn to Ryan Stanek in a do-or-die Game 6 while the Lumber Company hand the ball to Michael Wacha for his 2nd start of the series. Sacramento jumps to an early lead with a lead-off single by Cano, double by Lindor, and sacrifice hits by Stanton and Beltre. Sacramento’s lead wouldn’t last long; with runners on 2nd and 3rd in the top of the 4th, Brian Dozier singled to right-centerfield, scoring both and tying the game at 2. The Capitals pull Stanek and turn the game over to the pen. The Capitals eventually take the lead in the bottom of the 7th with an RBI single from Cano, and extend the lead with a solo home run off the bat of Adrian Beltre. Sacramento’s bullpen shut down the Lumber Company with 5 scoreless to secure the win, 4-2, and a series tie at 3-3.

Sacramento turns to Scherzer for the series finale to face off against Taillon. This time it was Pitttsburgh that would jump to an early lead, getting on the scoreboard with a Soto 2-run home run in the top of the 1st inning. Pittsburgh would extend its lead to 3-0 in the top of the 2nd with a Brian Dozier solo home run. Down 0-3 in the 3rd, Sacramento gets on the board with a Justin Upton 2-run home run followed by a sac hit by Moreland to tie the game at 3 all. The game would stay tied 3-3 until the 10th inning when Johnathan LuCroy would come off the bench to give the Lumber Company the 4-3 lead with a Dozier-scoring double. Down 4-3 in the bottom of the 10th, Cano get’s the leadoff walk and is promptly replaced at 1st by DeShields Jr. DeShields swipes 2nd and is driven home by a Lindor single, tying the game at 4-4. The game remains tied at 4 and Castro takes over for Cano at 2B. Bottom of the 11th and Yarbrough on the mound–Yadier Molina reaches on a Valentin error; Yarbrough strikes out Moreland for out number one; Reddick comes in to run and Torreyes comes in to pinch hit; and Yarbrough gives Torreyes the pass, opting instead to face Starlin Castro. Castro makes him pay, launching a series winning home run over the leftf ield wall. Sacramento beats Pittsburgh in 11, 7-4