A.L. CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES TIJ @ HOL G#1

HollywoodIt was a balmy 86 degrees in Hollywood, CA as Tijuana makes their way up north, from the border.  The Bottle Rockets arrived close to game time as they seemed to be conveniently slowed at the border patrol just north of San Diego.  As Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun and Billy Butler de-board the bus, they can be heard making comments that Hollywood Werewolves owner Steve Cutler was responsible for the hold up.  Here they are, arriving 1 hour before game time with little time to warm up.  Hollywood just got done playing the best offense in the AL in Severn and now it plays the 2nd best in the AL, Tijuana.

TijuanaGame 1: – Ian Kennedy vs Clayton Kershaw.  Kennedy won 19 games during the season, while Kershaw posted the 2nd highest win total in the AL (#1 is Jered Weaver with 28) with 22, but posted the lowest ERA in 1.71.  With these records and efficiency, it looks like we’re in for a tight game.  With 2-outs in the 3rd, Hanley Ramirez reaches 1st base on an infield single to the right side.  With Kurt Suzuki behind the plate, Ramirez steals 2nd for Ben Zobrist.    The pitch to Zobrist….He CREAMS one to left center, Drew Stubbs up with it, but not before Ramirez gives Tijuana the 1-0 lead as Zobrist pulls into 2nd with a double.  The game remains that way into the 6th when Suzuki leads off with a double to center.  With Stubbs at the plate, Suzuki edges toward 3rd.  Stubbs shows bunt and lays it down and as the throw goes into first, Suzuki stops at 3rd.  After Carlos Pena strikes out, Emilio Bonifacio steps to the plate.  Kennedy deals and Bonifacio grounds it to the hole, Ramirez can’t get it and Suzuki scores to tie the game at 1.  With the game tied, we head to the 7th.  Prince Fielder leads off…Kershaw comes home with it..the swing and a fly ball … pretty well hit … right field…it may not be caught … it’s history! … home run for Prince Fielder and the once rowdy crowd was pure silent…..Carlos Beltran than steps in and Kershaw fans him for #10 of the games.  This brings up Justin Upton.  He tops it toward second, Kinsler races in and short hops it…the throw, the scoop by Pena…SAFE!  Upton beats it out.  Upton promptly steals 2nd and with 2-outs, Joe Mauer steps to the plate.  Kershaw comes to the plate, it’s swing on by Mauer, he slaps it to right, Upton will score as Mauer cruises into 2nd on the throw home.  Kershaw appears to be rattled, down 3-1 now, but is being left out there.  Hanley Ramirez trot to the plate in an utterly quiet stadium and hammers a double to center to make it 4-1 Tijuana.  As the Tijuana fans go crazy, Hollywood pulls Kershaw from the game.   Trailing 4-1 in the 8th, Hollywood looks to give Jeremy Guthrie some work, however it is short lived, as Ryan Braun leads off the inning with a single.  He’s promptly pulled for Franklin Morales who hits Prince Fielder (purpose pitch?) with the pitch.  He’s then pulled for Hollywood’s most reliable pitcher during the regular season, Steve Cishek.  Cishek seems a little out of whack cause he hits Upton on the first pitch.    The Billy Butler steps in…let’s listen to the call…WEREWOLVES playing for the double play … Cishek brings it in…ohhhh Butler tags this one right on the button … deep to straightaway center that could be trouble … Alex Gordon racing back … big trouble … that ball is gone!…IT’S A GRAND SALAMI!  Tijuana takes a HUGE lead at 8-1!  Cishek is pulled and Mark Buerhle steps in to get some work.  Tijuana adds another 4 in the 9th to extend the rout to 12-1.   This seems to look like a quick series for Hollywood as the home field advantage shifts to Tijuana.

Tijuana leads 1-0 as the Hollywood heads are down and they hope to show for game 2.  Braun and Fielder are seen laughing in the dugout and mocking, ‘We don’t need batting practice, we’ll just get it in against that Hollywood staff.  Manager Dave Myers on the other hand sits in his office wondering if they can keep that offensive explosion for the series.

Winner:  Ian Kennedy (1-0)
Loser:  Clayton Kershaw (0-1)
Homeruns:  Prince Fielder (1), Carlos Beltran (1), Billy Butler (1)

On to game 2…..

TRADE DEADLINE
WEDNESDAY 07/24/2024
AT 11:59 PM - ET!

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