2015 World Series - Metropolis at Santa Barbara - Game Two

Santa Barbara takes a 1-0 series lead into Game Two with the visiting Metropolis Avengers. The Avengers have Corey Kluber on the mound in their effort to tie the series. Outlaw Alex Cobb takes the ball for his club, who hoping to put Metropolis in an 0-2 hole.

Denard Span ripped a leadoff double and scored the first run.

Cobb took care of the Avengers in the first and the Outlaw hitters got right to work in the bottom of the inning. Leadoff hitter Denard Span lashed a double down the line to start the inning and speedy 2B Jose Altuve followed with a single. Surprisingly, Span took the conservative route and did not challenge Andrew McCutchen's throwing arm by trying to score. That put runners on the corners for Jason Heyward. The lefty hit a sharp ground ball for a fielder's choice, but it was enough for Span to score the game's first run. Buster Posey then followed with another ground ball, moving Heyward into scoring position. JD Martinez came through with a clutch two-out single, scoring Heyward and putting Santa Barbara up 2-0. Much like Game One, when they scored three runs in the first, the Outlaws jumped on the Metropolis starter early and put the visitors on their heels.

JD Martinez's single put the Outlaws up 2-0.

The Avengers tried to rally in the second, but did so in an unusual way - they put three runners on base without the benefit of a hit. Jose Bautista and Jose Reyes both walked and Michael McKenry reached on an error by 1B Edgar Encarnacion. However, Pablo Sandoval grounded into a double play to erase Bautista and Jayson Werth failed to deliver a key hit with two on and two out and the game stayed 2-0 Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara tacked on a run in the bottom of the fourth with some aggressive baserunning. Carlos Santana drew a walk with two outs. Elvis Adrus followed with a double and Santana surprised many by getting an excellent jump and sprinting all the way around to score just ahead of McCutchen's throw. The Outlaws have long been known for taking chances on the bases, and Santana must have been taking notes from the team's speedsters. His dash around the bases gave Santa Barbara a 3-0 lead.

Metropolis began another unusual rally in the top of the fifth inning. Werth started the inning with a walk and moved to second on a passed ball. Andrew McCutchen then hit a grounder to first, but Encarnacion booted it for his second error of the game and the Avengers had runners on the corners. Robinson Cano had a chance to do some damage and hit the ball hard, but he didn't get quite enough and it turned into a long sacrifice fly to put Metropolis on the board and trim the lead to 3-1.

The Avengers used another lead-off walk in the top of the sixth to scrape together their second run. Jose Bautista drew the base on balls and moved to third on Pablo Sandoval's sharp single to right. Michael McKenry came to bat, but grounded into a double play. Bautista did score on the play to cut the lead to one, but it also put the brakes on a budding rally.

Wieters tied the game with a clutch pinch hit.

Outlaw Buddy Carlyle took over for Cobb in the top of the seventh inning. He struck out Werth for the first out, but then dug himself a hole by walking McCutchen and Cano and bringing Steve Pearce to the plate. Carlyle jammed him with a fastball, which Pearce lifted into center field for an easy out. Santa Barbara then brought in Jonathan Papelbon to face DH Melky Cabrera, but Matt Wieters came out of the Avengers dugout instead. Wieters came through in the clutch and ripped a hard single past the infield and sent McCutchen home with the tying run.

Metropolis manufactured three runs to tie the game and looked to take the lead in the eighth with a two-out rally. Jose Reyes doubled and Werth walked, bringing McCutchen, the best Avenger hitter, to the plate. McCutchen was the MVP of the NLCS, but failed in this spot, as he swung through a Papelbon fastball and struck out to strand both runners.

Avenger reliever Joaquin Benoit had entered in the sixth and kept the Outlaws off the board through the seventh and eighth innings. Santa Barbara's best reliever, Andrew Miller, was in the game and matched zeroes, keeping the game tied at three as it moved to extra innings.

Cano's homer gave Metropolis its first lead.

Werth drew his third walk of the game to lead off the eleventh. He was the potential go-ahead run and moved up 90 feet when McCutchen hit an infield single perfectly placed between second and third. Santa Barbara closer Ken Giles came on to face Cano with two runners on and no outs. Cano worked the count to 2-2 and Giles left a fastball over the middle of the plate. The Avenger second baseman didn't miss his pitch and he drove it into the right field stands for a homer and a 6-3 Metropolis lead.

Craig Kimbrel had entered with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but stayed in the game for the eleventh. He got two quick ground outs from Encarnacion and Arenado before walking Santana to keep the Outlaws alive. Pinch hitter Delmon Young came to bat for Elvis Andrus, but Kimbrel finished him off with three fastballs in the mid-90s to end the game.

Metropolis has to feel good after fighting back from a three-run deficit to win the game and even the series at one game each. The series now moves to Metropolis for Games Three, Four, and Five. Given the history these teams have with each other and in the postseason, it's hard to imagine the series does not return to Santa Barbara. 

BOXSCORE: 2015 Metropolis Avengers At 2015 Santa Barbara Outlaws    11/2/2015

  Avengers           AB  R  H RBI AVG     Outlaws            AB  R  H RBI AVG

  A.McCutchen CF      5  2  1  0 .341     D.Span CF           4  1  1  0 .220 

  R.Cano 2B           4  1  2  4 .380     J.Altuve 2B         5  0  1  0 .270 

  S.Pearce 1B         6  0  1  0 .190     J.Heyward RF        4  1  0  1 .265 

  M.Cabrera DH        3  0  0  0 .333     B.Posey C           5  0  1  0 .296 

A-M.Wieters PH,DH     2  0  1  1 .333     J.Martinez LF       4  0  2  1 .288 

  J.Bautista RF       4  1  1  0 .154   C-P.Bourjos PR,LF     1  0  0  0 .200 

  P.Sandoval 3B       3  0  1  0 .139     E.Encarnacion 1B    5  0  0  0 .220 

B-G.Petit PH,3B       2  0  0  0 .125     N.Arenado 3B        5  0  1  0 .280 

  M.McKenry C         5  0  1  0 .300     C.Santana DH        3  1  1  0 .182 

D-C.Iannetta C        0  0  0  0 .080     E.Andrus SS         4  0  1  1 .265 

  J.Reyes SS          4  0  1  0 .250   E-D.Young PH          1  0  0  0 .250 

  J.Werth LF          2  2  0  0 .343                                         

                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---     

         Totals      40  6  9  5                 Totals      41  3  8  3

A-Pinch Hit For Cabrera In 7th Inning

B-Pinch Hit For Sandoval In 8th Inning

C-Pinch Ran For Martinez In 8th Inning

D-Subbed Defensively (C ) For McKenry In 11th Inning

E-Pinch Hit For Andrus In 11th Inning

Avengers........ 0 0 0  0 1 1  1 0 0  0 3 -  6  9  0

Outlaws......... 2 0 0  1 0 0  0 0 0  0 0 -  3  8  2

Avengers (9-2)           IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR    ERA  SCORESHEET

C.Kluber                  5 2/3   5   3   3   3   6   0   2.00  A1 C7

J.Benoit                  3       2   0   0   0   2   0   1.59  C8 D9

C.Kimbrel WIN(1-0)        2 1/3   1   0   0   1   4   0   0.84  E1

Totals                   11       8   3   3   4  12   0

Outlaws (9-6)            IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR    ERA  SCORESHEET

A.Cobb                    6       5   2   1   4   4   0   2.87  A1 C8

B.Carlyle HOLD(2nd)       0 2/3   0   1   1   2   1   0   4.91  C9 D3

J.Papelbon BS(1st)        0 1/3   1   0   0   0   1   0   4.50  D4 D5

A.Miller                  1 2/3   1   0   0   2   2   0   0.90  D6 E4

D.Storen LOSS(0-1)        1 1/3   1   2   2   1   1   0   6.75  E5 F1

K.Giles                   1       1   1   1   0   1   1   1.50  F2

Totals                   11       9   6   5   9  10   1

ATTENDANCE- 45,830 DATE- Monday, November 2nd 2015 TIME- Day WEATHER- Good

UMPIRES- Bruce Dreckman, Sam Holbrook, Gerry Davis, Brian Gorman

T- 4:17

LEFT ON BASE- Avengers:11  Outlaws: 9

DOUBLE PLAYS- Avengers: 0  Outlaws: 2

ERRORS- E.Encarnacion-2

DOUBLES- M.McKenry(3rd), J.Reyes(4th), D.Span(2nd), J.Martinez(4th),

         E.Andrus(3rd)

HOME RUNS- R.Cano(3rd)

RBIs- R.Cano-4(12th), M.Wieters(1st), J.Heyward(7th), J.Martinez(9th),

      E.Andrus(7th)

STOLEN BASES- A.McCutchen(2nd)

SACRIFICE FLIES- R.Cano

WALKS- A.McCutchen, R.Cano, M.Wieters, J.Bautista-2, J.Reyes, J.Werth-3, D.Span,

       J.Heyward, C.Santana-2

STRIKE OUTS- A.McCutchen-2, S.Pearce, M.Cabrera-2, J.Bautista-2, P.Sandoval,

             G.Petit, J.Werth, D.Span, J.Altuve, J.Heyward-2, B.Posey,

             J.Martinez, P.Bourjos, E.Encarnacion-2, C.Santana, E.Andrus,

             D.Young

GIDP- P.Sandoval, M.McKenry

WILD PITCHES- A.Cobb

2-out RBI- J.Martinez, E.Andrus, M.Wieters

RLISP 2-out- J.Werth, J.Altuve, J.Reyes, D.Span, M.Cabrera, J.Bautista,

             A.McCutchen, N.Arenado

TEAM RISP- Avengers: 2 for 11  Outlaws: 2 for 7

WEB GEMS- Top 4th: Buster Posey blocked the plate, saving a run!

*** TOP OF INNING 1 ***

0     A.McCutchen 3- 4     0 Strike Out                     b-0

1     R.Cano      5- 4  1  0 Single                         b-1

1 1   S.Pearce    6- 7     0 Force Play                     1-o b-1

2 1   M.Cabrera   3- 8     0 Ground Out                     b-0

*** BOTTOM OF INNING 1 ***

0     D.Span      6- 6 14  0 Double                         b-2

0  2  J.Altuve    2- 3  9  0 Single                         2-3 b-1

0 1 3 J.Heyward   6- 5     0 Force Play                     3-H 1-o b-1

1 1   B.Posey     1- 9     0 Ground Out                     1-2 b-0

2  2  J.Martinez  1- 5     0 Single                         2-H b-1

2 1   E.Encarnaci 6- 6 19  0 Ground Out                     b-0

*** TOP OF INNING 2 ***

0     J.Bautista  4- 8     0 Walk                           b-1

0 1   P.Sandoval  1- 9     0 Ground Out Double Play         1-o b-0

2     M.McKenry   4- 3     0 1 Base Error - 1B              b-1

2 1   J.Reyes     6- 3     0 Walk                           1-2 b-1

2 12  J.Werth     6- 8     0 Ground Out                     b-0

*** BOTTOM OF INNING 2 ***

0     N.Arenado   3- 7     0 Single                         b-1

0 1   C.Santana   5- 7     0 Strike Out                     b-0

1 1   E.Andrus    1- 8     0 Fly Out                        b-0

2 1   D.Span      1- 3     0 Walk                           1-2 b-1

2 12  J.Altuve    2- 7     0 Ground Out                     b-0

*** TOP OF INNING 3 ***

0     A.McCutchen 3- 7     0 Ground Out                     b-0

1     R.Cano      2- 9     0 Ground Out                     b-0

2     S.Pearce    6- 6     0 Single                         b-1

2 1   M.Cabrera   1- 9     0 Strike Out                     b-0

*** BOTTOM OF INNING 3 ***

0     J.Heyward   5- 8     0 Strike Out                     b-0

1     B.Posey     3- 8     0 Fly Out                        b-0

2     J.Martinez  3- 8     0 Strike Out                     b-0

*** TOP OF INNING 4 ***

0     J.Bautista  1- 6 17  0 Single                         b-1

0 1   P.Sandoval  4- 5     0 Strike Out                     b-0

1 1   M.McKenry   1- 8 18  0 Double                         1-o b-2

2  2  J.Reyes     2-10     0 Fly Out                        b-0

*** BOTTOM OF INNING 4 ***

0     E.Encarnaci 6- 5     0 Ground Out                     b-0

1     N.Arenado   2- 8     0 Ground Out                     b-0

2     C.Santana   3- 7     0 Walk                           b-1

2 1   E.Andrus    2- 8 10  0 Double                         1-H b-3

2   3 D.Span      6- 4     0 Ground Out                     b-0

*** TOP OF INNING 5 ***

0     J.Werth     2-10     0 Walk                           b-1

0 1   A.McCutchen          0 Passed Ball                    1-2

0  2  A.McCutchen 4- 3     0 1 Base Error - 1B              2-3 b-1

0 1 3 R.Cano      5- 8     0 Sac Fly                        3-H b-0

1 1                        0 Stolen Base                    1-2

1  2  S.Pearce    4- 7 10  0 Ground Out                     b-0

2  2  M.Cabrera            0 Wild Pitch                     2-3

2   3 M.Cabrera   6- 9     0 Strike Out                     b-0

*** BOTTOM OF INNING 5 ***

0     J.Altuve    4- 6     0 Strike Out                     b-0

1     J.Heyward   2- 8     0 Walk                           b-1

1 1   B.Posey     5- 9     0 Strike Out                     b-0

2 1   J.Martinez  6- 7     0 Force Play                     1-o b-1

*** TOP OF INNING 6 ***

0     J.Bautista  4- 8     0 Walk                           b-1

0 1   P.Sandoval  2-10 14  0 Single                         1-3 b-1

0 1 3 M.McKenry   6- 8     0 Ground Out Double Play         3-H 1-o b-0

2     J.Reyes     6-12     0 Ground Out                     b-0

*** BOTTOM OF INNING 6 ***

0     E.Encarnaci 2- 7     0 Strike Out                     b-0

1     N.Arenado   5- 7     0 Ground Out                     b-0

                             SUBSTITUTE P - Joaquin Benoit

2     C.Santana   2- 3  5  0 Single                         b-1

2 1   E.Andrus    1-10     0 Force Play                     1-o b-1

*** TOP OF INNING 7 ***

                             SUBSTITUTE P - Buddy Carlyle

0     J.Werth     5- 9     0 Strike Out                     b-0

1     A.McCutchen 1- 7     0 Walk                           b-1

1 1   R.Cano      1-10     0 Walk                           1-2 b-1

1 12  S.Pearce    4- 8     0 Fly Out                        2-3 b-0

                             SUBSTITUTE P - Jonathan Papelbon

                             SUBSTITUTE PH- Matt Wieters

2 1 3 M.Wieters   3- 7     0 Single                         3-H 1-3 b-1

2 1 3 J.Bautista  2- 9     0 Strike Out                     b-0

*** BOTTOM OF INNING 7 ***

                             SUBSTITUTE DH- Matt Wieters

0     D.Span      2- 9     0 Fly Out                        b-0

1     J.Altuve    4- 4     0 Foul Out                       b-0

2     J.Heyward   4- 2     0 Fly Out                        b-0

*** TOP OF INNING 8 ***

                             SUBSTITUTE P - Andrew Miller

                             SUBSTITUTE PH- Gregorio Petit

0     G.Petit     2- 8     0 Fly Out                        b-0

1     M.McKenry   6- 4     0 Ground Out                     b-0

2     J.Reyes     3- 6 10  0 Double                         b-2

2  2  J.Werth     2-10     0 Walk                           b-1

2 12  A.McCutchen 5- 6     0 Strike Out                     b-0

*** BOTTOM OF INNING 8 ***

                             SUBSTITUTE 3B- Gregorio Petit

0     B.Posey     3- 4     0 Ground Out                     b-0

1     J.Martinez  2- 5  4  0 Double                         b-2

                             SUBSTITUTE PR- Peter Bourjos

1  2  E.Encarnaci 2- 7     0 Strike Out                     b-0

2  2  N.Arenado   3-10     0 Foul Out                       b-0

*** TOP OF INNING 9 ***

                             SUBSTITUTE LF- Peter Bourjos

0     R.Cano      6- 7     0 Ground Out                     b-0

1     S.Pearce    5- 7     0 Strike Out                     b-0

2     M.Wieters   5- 5     0 Walk                           b-1

                             SUBSTITUTE P - Drew Storen

2 1   J.Bautista  3- 6     0 Fly Out                        b-0

*** BOTTOM OF INNING 9 ***

0     C.Santana   1- 3     0 Ground Out                     b-0

1     E.Andrus    4- 9     0 Strike Out                     b-0

                             SUBSTITUTE P - Craig Kimbrel

2     D.Span      4- 7     0 Strike Out                     b-0

*** TOP OF INNING 10 ***

0     G.Petit     4-11     0 Strike Out                     b-0

1     M.McKenry   6- 3     0 Fly Out                        b-0

2     J.Reyes     4- 9 20  0 Ground Out                     b-0

*** BOTTOM OF INNING 10 ***

0     J.Altuve    3- 9     0 Fly Out                        b-0

1     J.Heyward   6- 6     0 Strike Out                     b-0

2     B.Posey     1- 8     0 Single                         b-1

2 1   P.Bourjos   6- 8     0 Strike Out                     b-0

*** TOP OF INNING 11 ***

0     J.Werth     1- 5     0 Walk                           b-1

0 1   A.McCutchen 4- 6  4  0 Single                         1-2 b-1

                             SUBSTITUTE P - Ken Giles

0 12  R.Cano      1- 4  3  0 Home Run                       2-H 1-H b-H

0     S.Pearce    5- 3     0 Ground Out                     b-0

1     M.Wieters   1- 7 17  0 Line Out                       b-0

2     J.Bautista  6- 8     0 Strike Out                     b-0

*** BOTTOM OF INNING 11 ***

                             SUBSTITUTE C - Chris Iannetta

0     E.Encarnaci 2-10     0 Ground Out                     b-0

1     N.Arenado   2- 8     0 Ground Out                     b-0

2     C.Santana   4- 6     0 Walk                           b-1

                             SUBSTITUTE PH- Delmon Young

2 1   D.Young     5- 5     0 Strike Out                     b-0