2017 NATIONAL LEAGUE WILD CARD

Triple Creek  Patriots @ Columbus  Explorers

 Triple Creek Patriots (96-66), in their first ever MWBL playoff appearance, take on a strong Columbus Explorer crew (101-61). Vegas line gives the edge to Columbus, let’s see how it shakes out.
Game #1: Kevin Gausman (10-11  3.72) vs. J.A. Happ (16-7  2.58)

Jose_Lobaton17WCPatriot’s Kevin Gausman takes on J.A Happ.   A.J. Happ led the Explorers staff in Wins and compiled a tidy 2.58 ERA this season. Triple Creek GM made it publicly known yesterday, “just because you get the starting nod, the hook can come at any time”.

Lead-off double to the right center gap by Jonathan Villar quiets the home crowd quickly. Corey Seager follows two batters later with a double down the 3rd base line, scoring Jonathan Villar easily. Patriots 1-0.

Charlie Blackmon leads the Columbus attack. He had an outstanding season with a .345/.381/.552 slash line. Kevin Gausman shakes off Caleb Joseph several times, and after finally delivering his first offering, Charlie Blackmon hits a bullet into right field. The Patriot skipper is out the dugout instantly, signaling for a lefty, they had Alex Wood already warming up! Alex Wood was a dazzling 11-0 this year on a 1.27 ERA.  Kevin Gausman’s not happy but he looked tentative out there and that just won’t cut it. Charlie Blackmon steals 2nd on Alex Wood’s 1st pitch but doesn’t score. After 1 inning – Patriots 1 Explorers 0.

Bottom of the 4th, Patriot’s leading 1-0, and Matt Carpenter on 2nd after a double. Ian Desmond doubles scoring Carpenter. Eduardo Nunez follows with a single that couldn’t quite score Ian Desmond. 1st and 3rd, Grandy-man (Curtis Granderson) up, and Eduardo Nunez is off to the races, stealing 2nd on a close play. Dee Gordon scores Ian Desmond on a fly ball bringing Jose Iglesias up with a man on 2nd. Jose goes with a pitch into right for a hit, scoring the speedy Eduardo Nunez. At innings end the Explorers have taken a 3-1 lead.

Fast forward to the 6th, and Lonnie Chisenhall finds himself facing Blaine Hardy with 1 out and runners on 2nd and 3rd. Lonnie Chisenhall pokes one to 3rd, Eduardo Nunez juggles it, manages to get the out at 1st but a run scores. Several Columbus pitchers entered the series itchy, which made it “everyone into the pool” day, and it was now Joe Biangini’s turn. Chase Headley turns a Joe Biangini fastball into a line-drive scoring Corey Seager. Tie game.

In the bottom of the 6th, Columbus starts with a single from Eduardo Nunez. After a Eduardo Nunez SB and FC from Curtis Granderson, Dee Gordon steps in with a chance 90 feet away. He walks and immediately tries to steal 2nd. All 4 previous Explorer stolen base attempts have been successful, so on the 5th attempt of the day Caleb Joseph pops up with a little something to prove, and oh how he does, right over Jonathan Villar’s head scoring Eduardo Nunez. Jose Iglesias, drove in a run earlier, and is looking for more. He finds a pitch he likes and bounces one of the wall for a double. Ryan Zimmerman into bat for Joe Biangini, and he walks, Alex Wood is not happy with his effort there as CharlieBlackmon is on deck. The 2-2 pitch to Blackmon just catches the plate, Charlie Blackmon was frozen. Alex Avila goes down swinging and Alex Wood minimizes the damage but the Patriots trail 5-3 after 6 full.

Top of the 8th, still 5-3, and Albert Almora steps in for Lonnie Chisenhall. Almora hits a seeing-eye-single off Tony Watson to lead it off. Chase Headley follows with a single off Tony Watson’s glove. Trayce Thompson pops out bringing Jose Lobaton up. David Robertson trots in to relieve Tony Watson which turns Jose Lobaton around. Two outs and two on, a curveball from David Robertson is lofted to center, Curtis Granderson on the run, he may run out of room, and does! Go crazy!! Jose “the hidden power source” Lobaton coaxes one into the front row. Patriots 6 Explorers 5.

Marwin Gonzalez drives in Stephen Piscotty in the 9th to add a Patriot insurance run. Matt Carpenter tanks a solo-shot in the 9th for Columbus to pull within 1 but Addison Reed would preserve a Patriot victory, 7-6.

Triple CreekGame #2: A.J. Griffin (7-11  4.07) vs. Wade LeBlanc (7-3  2.73)

 A.J. Griffin making his 1st playoff start since TJ  Surgery & L-O-N-G rehab takes on lefty Wade LeBlanc.

Patriots fail to score in the 1st but Explorers draw 1st blood. Charlie Blackmon leads off with a single, Russell Martin executes a great hit and run, and Matt Carpenter snags the RBI on a FC. Explorers 1-0.

Marwin Gonzalez starts a 2nd inning Patriot rally with a single and stolen base. Gonzo moves to 3rd on a FC and Chase Headley scores him with a hot shot by Jose Iglesias. Headley makes 2nd on a Trayce Thompson single. Caleb Joseph gets a wish granted and smokes one to left center, scoring Chase Headley and getting Tracye Thompson to 3rd. Jharel Cotton, who replaced A.J. Griffin after Charlie Blackmon’s single in the 1st, squares on a suicide squeeze! Whoa! Not even close to making contact and Trace Thompson is TOAST but Caleb Joseph beats Russell Martin’s throw to 2nd. Jharel Cotton only hangs his head for a moment, he still has a square wheeled duck on the pond. Jharel Cotton takes a vicious hack and turns on an inside fastball, it’s down the line, Eduardo Nunez dives, it’s through! Caleb Joseph rumbles and stumbles across the plate, Jharel Cotton found himself a double, don’t tell me the odds. Jharel Cotton then holds Columbus down and Triple Creek has a 3-1 lead after 2 innings.

It would remain 3-1 until the 7th, when Andrew Benintendi makes an appearance, pinch hitting for Stephen Piscotty. Andrew finds a hole on the left side to score Jonathan Villar. Jonathan Villar had singled and stole 2nd to get into position.

Patriots would hold their 4-1 lead the rest off the way.

 Triple Creek takes the series 2-0 as their bats worked some serious magic and hurlers got outs when they counted most. Marwin Gonzalez led all hitters, going 5-9.

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