Saturday, January 10, 2015

KOD 20 AL League Division Series - Seattle vs. Chicago

Game 1, October 4 at Seattle – There was never a doubt that this version of the “South Side Hitmen” could bash the ball around the yard. The question was could the pitching stop opposing batsmen enough? They did in the opening game of the series as Jim Parque (4-2) and two relievers withstood Ichiro Suzuki’s 4 knocks and 10 total hits for the Mariners in a 7-2 White Sox winner. Suzuki singled and scored in the 1st for the M’s. Chicago went up 3-1 in the 3rd on a sec fly from Magglio Ordonez and a 2-run double by Jose Valentin. The Sox went up 4-1 the next inning when Carlos Lee (4 hits) singled in Charles Johnson. Seattle closed the gap in the 7th on a John Mabry pinch sac fly, but Johnson crushed the Emerald City’s hopes with a 2-run big fly in the 8th.  

Game 2, October 5 at Seattle – The “Big Hurt” Frank Thomas blasted a solo shot in the
1st for the ChiSox off Ryan Franklin (5-2). It only made Ben Davis and the Mariners mad. Davis crushed a 3-run bomb in the bottom of the frame off Mike Sirotka (3-5) and Seattle was off and running to a 10-4 series tying victory. Randy Winn singled home Jose Guillen in the 2nd. It stayed that way until the 5th when John Olerud singled in Bret Boone and Guillen doubled in a pair for a 7-1 lead. The Pale Hose clawed back some with 3 in the 7th, but the M’s tacked on 3 more in the 8th for the final tally.

Game 3, October 7 at Chicago – Back on the south side of Chicago, Seattle displayed its own fire power in a 9-5 win. Rey Sanchez banged out 4 hits and drove in 3 from his 9th spot in the order. After each team pushed a run across in the 2nd, the Mariners exploded for 4 in the 4th and 3 in the 5th to bury the Pale Hose. Sanchez singled, doubled, scored twice and knocked in one during the fray. Guillen drove in a pair in the 4th and Boone hit a 2-run bomb in the 5th. Chicago rallied for 3 in the 9th, but Arthur Rhodes eventually slammed the door. Joel Piniero (4-3) started and won for the Navs. Cal Eldred (2-4) took the loss.  

Game 4, October 8 at Chicago – The Mariners backed the White
Sox firmly up against the wall and looked to finish the massacre, leading 3-0 through the first third of the ballgame. Boone cracked a solo shot and Winn clocked a 2-run smash. Frank Thomas then donned the Superman cape. He doubled in a run and scored a run in a 2-run 4th inning for the ChiSox. The Big Hurt then powered a 3-run 5th with a 2-run blast. The Sox would even the series with a 5-3 victory. James Baldwin (5-2) tossed 6 for the win. Keith Foulke nailed down his 24th save of the season. Freddie Garcia (5-3) was the shell-shocked loser.

Game 5, October 9 at Seattle – Both teams’ hitters seemed to be sleeping after catching the red-eye back to the West Coast. First game starters Jim Parque (5-2) and Jamie Moyer (7-3) were dealing goose eggs. Then, the visiting team awoke and the home club never did. Chicago captured this ALDS with a shocking 8-0 whitewashing. Johnson, Ordonez and Thomas collected RBI singles in the 5th for a 3-0 lead. Herbert Perry crushed a 3-run home run in the 6th. Ray Durham doubled home the final two runs in the 8th. Bill Simas and Sean Lowe hurled the final 2.2 innings to nail down the shutout.

Chicago awaits the winner of the Yankees – Indians for the right to go to the World Series.  
--submitted by Bruce "Not Frank" Thomas--

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