2018 AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD CARD

Detroit  Crime @ Chicago Mobsters

DetroitChicagoThe Detroit Crime(104-58) take on the Mobsters of Chicago (105-57) in the American League Wild Card Series. Chicago comes in with a rotation of Rich Hill (13-3 2.98), Carlos Matias Martinez (11-9 3.47) & Marcus Stroman (15-8 3.95). Detroit’s rotation will be Stephen Strasburg (16-7 2.70), Carlos Carrasco (15-8 2.58) & Madison Bumgarner (9-7 4.05). This should be a great Wild Card match up with two very even teams.
GAME #1 – Stephen Strasburg (16-7 2.70) vs. Carlos Matias Martinez (11-9 3.47)

Chicago gets on the board first in Game 1 in the bottom of the 4th after Andrelton Simmons gets Hit by a Pitch moving Andrew McCutchen to second, Daniel Nava send a fly ball into the gap in right center, scoring Cutch. Alex Bregman hits a Sacrafice Fly to left, scoring Simmons. Freddie Freeman then plates Nava with a stand up Double to left. J.D. Martinez then hits a Double down the line in left scoring Freeman.

After recording the final out in the 3rd Detroit manager Sergio Ivone then pull Strasburg & Jason Vargas takes over for the Crime.

In the 6th Inning Rich Hill allows his 1st Hit of the game, a two out Double to Bryce Harper, followed by a shot to right past Neil Walker, scoring Harper to make it 4-1. Hill is pulled after 5.2 Innings, allowing only 2 Hits, 1 Run, walking 2 & Striking Out 8. Noah Syndergaard is brought in for Chicago.

CC-Sabathia18ALWCWith Andrew McCutchen on second & Neil Walker at first Andrelton Simmons lines a base hit over second scoring Cutch to make it 5-1 Chicago after 6 Innings of play.

Adam Jones Doubles in the 7th, followed by Pinch Hitter Daniel Descalso who Single home Jones, cutting the lead to 5-2 for Chicago.

In the bottom of the 7th Ryan Butcher is called upon to face Freddie Freeman, but it’s Freeman who wins this battle with a solo Home Run putting Chicago up 6-2.

Chicago Manager Stray Corrado then played the bullpen game, matching up lefties & righties the best he could. In the 9th with one out Kyle Schwarber is called upon to pinch hit for Adam Jones. Schwarber Doubles, bringing up Daniel Descalso to face Aroldis Chapman. Chapman hit Descalsco with a 87 MPH Slider that got him in the shoulder. Home Plate Umpire Victor Carapazza ejected Chapman. Chicago manager Stray Corrado was livid as he was trying to explain baseball to Carapazza in that in no way shape or form would Chapman try to put another runner on in this situation. Also if Chapman was going to hit someone on purpose it would be with a 102 MPH Fastball & not his slider. To no avail though Carapazza didn’t buy it & had already ejected Chapman. Corrado went to his long time ace & the Mid-West Baseball League All-Time Wins leader to get him 1 out. C.C. Sabathia then proceeded to get Ryan Goins to pop one up on the infield for the final out of game #1. After 249 Career wins, 8 Playoff Wins, 1 All-Star Game win, C.C. Sabathia notched his 1st Career Save.

Final Score: Chicago 6 – Detroit 2

Win: Rich Hill 1-0 (1.59)
Loss: Stephen Strasburg 0-1 (12.00)
Save: C.C. Sabathia #1

Home Runs: Freddie Freeman #1

GAME #2 – Carlos Carrasco (15-8 2.58) vs. Carlos Matias Martinez (11-9 3.47)

It didn’t take long in this one as the Crimes Manny Machado found as offering from Carlos Matias Martinez he liked & deposited it into the left fielder seats for a 1-0 Crime lead.

The 2nd Inning wasn’t much better for Chicago as Chris Davis blasted a solo Home Run to right field & after a Descalso walk, Yasmani Grandal blasted a two-run shot to give the Crime a quick & solid 4-0 lead. Chicago chimed back when J.D. Martinez hit a Solo Home Run off Carrasco, making the score 4-1 after 2 Innings of play.

Top of the 3rd & once again Manny Machado had something on Martinez as he blasted his second Home Run of the game putting the lead securely back in the Crime’s favor at 5 to 1. Carlos Matias Martinez was pulled after 2.1 Innings & Chicago called upon game #1 closer C.C. Sabathia to try & keep the lead at only 4 runs.

Bottom of the 4th Justin Turner muscled one deep to left for a solo bomb, cutting the lead to 5-2 Detroit still in charge.

Justin_Turner18ALWCThe bottom of the 5th is where Detroit’s manager Sergio Ivone should have started drinking. With one out Alex Bregman on 3rd, and Freddie Freeman on first, J.D. Martinez Doubles driving in Bregman & putting Freeman at 3rd. Blake Parker was called upon & after getting Buster Posey to fly out to Cameron Maybin in left, Parker was now facing Justin Turner who had already Homered in the bottom of the 4th. Turner a steady force in the Chicago line up was ready & found a Parker fastball to his liking when on a 2-2 pitch Turner pulled one hard to left, down the line if it stays fair it’s a Home Run – & Yes it was fair! Turners Homer put Chicago in the lead at 6-5, after Five Innings of play.

Bottom of the 7th & J.D Martinez hits one deep to left for a solo Home Run (7-5 Chicago). Buster Posey singles & is replaced by Billy Hamilton who promptly steals second. Justin Turner Singles up the middle scoring Hamilton standing up. At the end of 7 Innings of play Chicago now holds a 8-5 lead over the Crime.

Bottom of the 8th after a Alex Bregman Single & a two base error on Bryce Harper Freddie Freeman lifts a rain bringer down the line in right. Bregman tags, & tests the arm of Harper, but scores easily putting the Mobsters up 9-5.

Chicago’s bullpen game was a merry go round of 6 pitchers after Sabathia. Eight total Mobsters arms were used & only Martinez & Sabathia pitched more than 3 batters faced.

Final Score: Chicago 9 – Detroit 5

Win: C.C. Sabathia 1-0 (0.00)
Loss: Carlos Carrasco 0-1 (11.25)
Save: Dellin Betances #1

Home Runs: J.D. Martinez 2 – (2), Justin Tuner 2 – (2), Manny Machado 2 – (2), Chris Davis 1, & Yasmani Grandal 1

C.C. Sabathia who was shut down in the final week of the season to rest his ailing knee was one of the shining stars for Chicago. Sabathia with the Save & the Win was nothing short of unexpected. Chicago’s 2,3,4 hitters (Bregman, Freeman & Martinez) batted .571, .429 & .444 with 3 Home Runs & 8 RBI’s. Justin Turner was 5 for 8 with 2 Home Runs and 5 RBI’s.

Chicago after a well earned day of rest will head south of the border down Mexico Way to take on the Bottle Rockets of Tijuana in one of the American League Division Series match ups!

 

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