Tied at one, the 2013 World Series moved to Santa Barbara for three games. The hometown Outlaws send rookie AJ Griffin to face recent Avenger acquisition Kris Medlen in what could be a critical game in a seven-game series.
Griffin looked shaky in the first, giving up singles to three of the first four Avenger hitters. The last of those, by Andrew McCutchen, drove home Carlos Ruiz and put Metropolis up 1-0. David Freese walked to load the bases with just one out and Metropolis was looking for a big inning. Griffin was lucky, however, as Andy Dirks and Jose Bautista both hit line drives, but they were right to Outlaw fielders to end the inning.
Medlen worked around a one-out single in the bottom of the first and Jose Reyes quickly led off the top of the second with a single. Griffin wasn't worried, as he then struck out Bryce Harper, Ruiz and Robinson Cano to quickly end any brewing Avenger threat.
The game was 1-0 Metropolis into the bottom of the third. It looked like it would stay that way when Medlen struck out Brandon Phillips and Jason Heyward to start of the inning. However, Andrus singled and Jeff Keppinger followed with a grounder that bounced of Cano's glove and went for a single and error. That put runners on second and third for cleanup hitter Carlos Gonzalez, who came through with a sharp single, scoring Andrus to tie the game.
Metropolis had lost their lead, but took it right back in the top of the fourth. Reyes tripled and scored easily on Harper's double off the wall. Ruiz struck out, but Cano singled up the middle to give the Avengers a 3-1 lead. McCutchen followed with a double, but Cano held at third rather than risk running on Gonzalez's arm. An intentional walk loaded the bases and David Freese came through again, this time with a single to score Cano and put Metropolis up 4-1. Andy Dirks was looking for more, but swung through a change up for the third out of the inning.
The Avengers added another run to their lead on a Jose Bautista homer leading off the fifth inning. That put the visitors up 5-1 in their quest to take the series lead two games to one. The Outlaws weren't ready to give up, however, as Hewyard matched Bautista with a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the fifth.
The score was still 5-2 after the seventh-inning stretch and Medlen got two quick outs before Heyward came up again. The Outlaw right fielder was seeing the ball well and he connected on his second solo homer of the game, making the score 5-3 Metropolis.
Medlen stayed in the game for the eighth, despite the Avengers having the league's best and deepest bullpen. The decision looked great when Medlen struck out Keppinger for the first out, but looked foolish when Gonzalez followed with a long homer to make it a one-run game. Medlen did finish the eighth, but the Outlaws had fought back from a 5-1 deficit to make it a 5-4 game.
Surprisingly, Medlen took the ball for the bottom of the ninth, with Craig Kimbrel and Aroldis Chapman up in the pen. He retired Justin Ruggiano on a routine grounder and coaxed another out of pinch hitter Carlos Santana. Bautista couldn't find the handle on the grounder and Santana beat his throw to Medlen. The error put the tying runner on base and was the end of the road for Medlen. The Avengers called on Kimbrel to face pinch hitter Irving Falu. The utility infielder guessed fastball and was right, hitting a blooper over Reyes's head for a single and moving pinch runner Curtis Granderson into scoring position.
With one out and runners on first and second, Santa Barbara sent their hottest hitter to the plate - Jason Heyward. The lefty knew Kimbrel was bringing heat, but wasn't intimidated and fouled off three pitches before finding one he could handle. Heyward pulled 98 MPH fastball in right field for a double, scoring Granderson and moving Falu to third with just one out.
The Avengers brought their infield and outfield in for a play at the plate, but knew the Outlaws wouldn't be
afraid to call for the suicide squeeze, as the league's best bunter, Elvis Andrus, at the plate. That's exactly what happened, and Andrus laid down a good bunt, which Falu raced pass on his way home. Avenger third baseman Freese charged and made the play, but his throw was late and Avenger catcher Matt Wieters tried to make a quick catch and swipe tag, but came up empty. Instead, Falu slid feet first with the winning run and was quickly mobbed by his teammates.
The Outlaws had turned a 5-1 deficit into a thrilling 6-5 win and took the lead in the series, two games to one. Not only that, but Santa Barbara had stolen all momentum in the series and had Felix Hernandez scheduled for Game Four the next day.
.
.
.
.
.
.
| Andrew McCutchen put Metropolis up 1-0. |
Medlen worked around a one-out single in the bottom of the first and Jose Reyes quickly led off the top of the second with a single. Griffin wasn't worried, as he then struck out Bryce Harper, Ruiz and Robinson Cano to quickly end any brewing Avenger threat.
The game was 1-0 Metropolis into the bottom of the third. It looked like it would stay that way when Medlen struck out Brandon Phillips and Jason Heyward to start of the inning. However, Andrus singled and Jeff Keppinger followed with a grounder that bounced of Cano's glove and went for a single and error. That put runners on second and third for cleanup hitter Carlos Gonzalez, who came through with a sharp single, scoring Andrus to tie the game.
Metropolis had lost their lead, but took it right back in the top of the fourth. Reyes tripled and scored easily on Harper's double off the wall. Ruiz struck out, but Cano singled up the middle to give the Avengers a 3-1 lead. McCutchen followed with a double, but Cano held at third rather than risk running on Gonzalez's arm. An intentional walk loaded the bases and David Freese came through again, this time with a single to score Cano and put Metropolis up 4-1. Andy Dirks was looking for more, but swung through a change up for the third out of the inning.
 |
| Jason Heyward's homered in the fifth and seventh innings. |
The score was still 5-2 after the seventh-inning stretch and Medlen got two quick outs before Heyward came up again. The Outlaw right fielder was seeing the ball well and he connected on his second solo homer of the game, making the score 5-3 Metropolis.
Medlen stayed in the game for the eighth, despite the Avengers having the league's best and deepest bullpen. The decision looked great when Medlen struck out Keppinger for the first out, but looked foolish when Gonzalez followed with a long homer to make it a one-run game. Medlen did finish the eighth, but the Outlaws had fought back from a 5-1 deficit to make it a 5-4 game.
Surprisingly, Medlen took the ball for the bottom of the ninth, with Craig Kimbrel and Aroldis Chapman up in the pen. He retired Justin Ruggiano on a routine grounder and coaxed another out of pinch hitter Carlos Santana. Bautista couldn't find the handle on the grounder and Santana beat his throw to Medlen. The error put the tying runner on base and was the end of the road for Medlen. The Avengers called on Kimbrel to face pinch hitter Irving Falu. The utility infielder guessed fastball and was right, hitting a blooper over Reyes's head for a single and moving pinch runner Curtis Granderson into scoring position.
With one out and runners on first and second, Santa Barbara sent their hottest hitter to the plate - Jason Heyward. The lefty knew Kimbrel was bringing heat, but wasn't intimidated and fouled off three pitches before finding one he could handle. Heyward pulled 98 MPH fastball in right field for a double, scoring Granderson and moving Falu to third with just one out.
The Avengers brought their infield and outfield in for a play at the plate, but knew the Outlaws wouldn't be
 |
| Falu scored the winning run on Elvis Andrus's suicide squeeze. |
The Outlaws had turned a 5-1 deficit into a thrilling 6-5 win and took the lead in the series, two games to one. Not only that, but Santa Barbara had stolen all momentum in the series and had Felix Hernandez scheduled for Game Four the next day.
.
.
.
.
.
.
BOXSCORE: 2013
Metropolis Avengers At 2013 Santa Barbara Outlaws 11/4/2013
Avengers AB
R H RBI AVG Outlaws AB
R H RBI AVG
C.Ruiz C 5
1 1 0 .279
J.Heyward RF 5 2
3 3 .371
R.Cano 2B 5
0 1 1 .271
E.Andrus SS 3 1
2 1 .256
A.McCutchen CF 5
1 3 0 .278
J.Keppinger 3B 4 0
0 0 .208
A.Gordon LF 4
0 1 1 .286
C.Gonzalez LF 4 1
2 2 .302
D.Freese 3B 3
0 2 1 .346
B.Posey C 4 0
0 0 .178
A.Dirks DH 5
0 0 0 .405
E.Encarnacion DH 4 0
1 0 .196
J.Bautista 1B 3
1 1 1 .103
J.Ruggiano CF 4
0 0 0 .469
J.Reyes SS 4
1 2 0 .245
A.Gonzalez 1B 3 0
0 0 .250
B.Harper RF 4
1 1 1 .152
A-C.Santana PH 1 0
0 0 .000
B-C.Granderson PR 0 1
0 0 .158
B.Phillips 2B 3 0
0 0 .194
C-I.Falu PH 1 1
1 0 .571
-- -- -- --- -- -- -- ---
Totals 38
5 12 5 Totals 36
6 9 6
A-Pinch Hit For
Gonzalez In 9th Inning
B-Pinch Ran For
Santana In 9th Inning
C-Pinch Hit For
Phillips In 9th Inning
Avengers........
1 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 0
- 5 12 2
Outlaws.........
0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 2
- 6 9 0
Avengers
(9-5) IP H
R ER BB
SO HR ERA
SCORESHEET
K.Medlen 8 1/3 7
5 3 1
7 3 1.53
A1 D8
C.Kimbrel L(2-1)
BS(1st) 0 2
1 1 0
0 0 1.13
D9
Totals 8 1/3
9 6 4
1 7 3
Outlaws
(10-3) IP H
R ER BB
SO HR ERA
SCORESHEET
A.Griffin
WIN(2-1) 9 12
5 5 4
8 1 3.43
A1
Totals 9 12
5 5 4
8 1
ATTENDANCE-
49,414 DATE- Monday, November 4th 2013 TIME- Night WEATHER- Good
UMPIRES- Dale
Scott, Bill Hohn, Ron Kulpa, Dan Iassogna
T- 2:40
LEFT ON BASE-
Avengers:10 Outlaws: 6
DOUBLE PLAYS-
Avengers: 0 Outlaws: 0
ERRORS- R.Cano,
J.Bautista
DOUBLES-
A.McCutchen(3rd), B.Harper(1st), J.Heyward(3rd)
TRIPLES-
J.Reyes(1st)
HOME RUNS-
J.Bautista(2nd), J.Heyward-2(5th), C.Gonzalez(4th)
SACRIFICE HITS-
E.Andrus
WALKS- A.Gordon,
D.Freese-2, J.Bautista, E.Andrus
STRIKE OUTS-
C.Ruiz-2, R.Cano, A.Gordon, A.Dirks-2, B.Harper-2, J.Heyward,
J.Keppinger, B.Posey,
E.Encarnacion, A.Gonzalez-2, B.Phillips
2-out RBI-
C.Gonzalez, D.Freese, J.Heyward
RLISP 2-out-
J.Bautista-3, B.Posey, A.Gordon, A.Dirks, B.Harper
No comments:
Post a Comment