MLB Postseason: ALDS vs. NLDS

ALDS

Rangers vs. Rays- Game 1:

• Rangers won 5-1; Rangers lead the best-of-5 series 1-0
• Cliff Lee, started for Rangers, gave out 10 K's
• David Price, started for Rays, allowed 9 hits
• Ben Zobrist hits a solo home run for Rays
• Bengie Molina and Nelson Cruz hit solo home runs for Rangers

Yankees vs. Twins- Game 1:

• Yankees won 6-4; Yankees lead the best-of-5 series 1-0
• Francisco Liriano, started for the Twins, stroke out 7
• Mark Teixeira hit a solo home run for the Yankees
• Michael Cuddyer hit a solo home run for the Twins
• Yankees scored 4 runs in the 6th (4-3)
• Twins scored 1 run in the 6th to tie the game at 4 (4-4)
• Yankees scored 2 runs in the 7th to break the tie (7-4)

Rangers vs. Rays- Game 2:

• Rangers won 6-0; Rangers lead best-of-5 series 2-0
• James Shields, started for Rays, pitched only 4.1 innings
• Shields gave up a home run
• Rays go through 3 pitchers in 1 inning with 2 outs
• C.J. Wilson, started for Rangers, stroke out 7
• Ian Kinsler and Michael Young hit solo home runs for Rangers
• Controversial check swing by Michael Young (truely was a botched call by ump) next pitch he hit out for solo home run
• Rangers scored 5 runs in 5th inning, Shields out of game after 2 outs in 5th and 2 other pitchers put in with 2 outs
• Rays manager, Joe Maddon, ejected for arguing about the check swing after the home run by Michael Young

Twins vs. Yankees- Game 2:

• Yankees won 5-2; Yankees lead best-of-5 series 2-0
• Lance Berkman, DH, hit a solo home run for the Yankees
• Orlando Hudson hit a solo home run for the Twins
• Andy Pettitte received 19th winning decision in postseason play
• Twins manager, Ron Gardenhire ejected for arguing balls and strikes

Rays vs. Rangers- Game 3:

• Rays won 6-3; Rangers lead the best-of-5 series 2-1
• Rays score 3 in the 9th inning to break a tie of 3 with the help of solo run home runs by Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena
• Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz both hit 2 run home runs for the Rangers

Twins vs. Yankees- Game 3:

• Yankees won 6-1; Yankees win best-of-5 series 3-0
• Yankees scored 3 in the 4th inning
• Nick Swisher and Marcus Thames, DH, both hit solo home runs for the Yankees

ALDS

Reds vs. Phillies- Game 1:

• Phillies won 4-0; Phillies lead the best-of-5 series 1-0
• Roy Halladay pitches a no-hitter
• Phillies only scored in the 1st and 2nd innings with Edinson Volquez pitching
• Phillies scored 3 in the 2nd inning
• Roy Halladay stroke out 8
• Roy Halladay only allowed 1 walk

Braves vs. Giants- Game 1:

• Giants won 1-0; Giants lead best-of-5 series 1-0
• Tim Lincecum pitched a shut out
• Tim Lincecum had 14 strike outs
• Tim Lincecum only allowed 2 hits

Reds vs. Phillies- Game 2:

• Phillies won 7-4; Philles lead best-of-5 series 2-0
• Reds shut out the Phillies until 5th inning
• Phillies scored 2 runs in the 5th
• Phillies scored 3 runs in the 7th
• Brandon Phillips hit a lead off home run in the 1st inning for the Reds
• Jay Bruce hit a solo home run for the Reds

Braves vs. Giants- Game 2:

• Braves won 5-4; Best-of-5 series is tied 1-1
• Giants scored 3 in the 1st inning with the help of a solo home run by Rick Ankiel
• Braves scored 3 in the 8th inning
• Pat Burrell hit a solo home run for the Giants

The NLDS has been more exciting in my opinion. The NLDS has had extraordinary pitching in both Game 1s. Both Game 2s of the NLDS have been offensive battles. What else is their that people want to see besides pitching or offensive battles? ALDS has had the Rangers and Yankees dominating Rays and Twins which is only fun for a fan of Rangers or Yankees to watch. Though Game 3 of the Rays-Rangers NLDS was good with the 9th inning comeback. So my opinion is....

NLDS wins over ALDS, in more entertaining for baseball fans.


Link to box scores
Rangers vs. Rays- Game 1: http://es.pn/9JyL8G
Yankees vs. Twins- Game 1: http://es.pn/92Vebd
Rangers vs. Rays- Game 2: http://es.pn/d2G9CZ
Yankees vs. Twins- Game 2: http://es.pn/bGAsxq
Rays vs. Rangers- Game 3: http://es.pn/aVMKfz
Twins vs. Yankees- Game 3: http://es.pn/caD6uF
Reds vs. Phillies- Game 1: http://es.pn/d2C1D9
Braves vs. Giants- Game 1: http://es.pn/bNItDi
Reds vs. Phillies- Game 2: http://es.pn/bhdUlk
Braves vs. Giants- Game 2: http://es.pn/9VEbOC

Reds vs. Phillies: Game 2 of ALDS

The Cincinnati Reds started off strong with a lead off home run by Brandon Phillips in the top of the 1st inning  (1-0) off Roy Oswalt, which secured them from not having another shutout appearance. The Reds scored again in the 2nd (2-0), 4th (solo home run by Jay Bruce; 3-0), and 5th (4-0) before the Philadelphia Phillies joined into the party. The Phillies racked up 2 scores in the 5th (4-2), 1 in the 6th (4-3), 3 in the 7th (4-6), and 1 in the 8th (4-7).

The Reds only had 4 players that got hits: Brandon Phillips, 3-for-4 a double, a solo home run, and 2 runs; Orlando Cabrera, 1-for-2, and he left the game in the 5th inning with a strained oblique muscle (I have no idea what that is); Joey Votto, NL MVP candidate went 1-for-3; and Jay Bruce, 1-for-3 with a solo home run. While the Phillies had 1 more player with a hit, 5 players with hits: Chase Utley, 2-for-4 with 2 runs and 2 RBI; Ryan Howard, 1-for-3; Jason Werth, 2-for-4 with 2 runs and 1 RBI; Raul Ibanez, 2-for-4; and Mike Sweeney, PH, 1-for-1.

The pitching match up was Bronson Arroyo vs. Roy Oswalt. Bronson Arroyo won this matchup though the Reds lost. Roy Oswalt was having a hard time with the Cincinnati Reds offense after Roy Halladay had a hay day with them, two days before hand. Oswalt only pitched for 5 innings allowing 5 hits, 4 runs (2 home runs and 3 earned), 1 walk, but did strike out 5. Bronson Arroyo pitched just 1 more out than Oswalt, 5.1 innings, allowing 4 hits, 3 runs (1 earned), 3 walks, and 2 strike outs. Oswalt's ERA for the game was 5.40 while Arroyo's was only 1.69. Neither pitcher got the winning or losing decision.

Link to box score: http://es.pn/bYJGar
"Cincinnati Reds likely without SS Orlando Cabrera against Philadelphia Phillies", by Associated Press on ESPN.com: http://es.pn/a333ui

Roy Halladay throws a no-hitter to beat the Reds

On May 21, 2010 Roy Halladay threw a perfect game against the Marlins. I believe he has out done that by throwing a no-hitter in his first post season debut, in his first season with the Phillies. Halladay's perfect game was the 20th one in the MLB, while the no-hitter tonight was only the 2nd ever in postseason.

The Phillies ended up winning 4-0. The Phillies offense wasn't all that great all 4 of their runs were scored in the 1st two innings with Edinson Volquez pitching. Volquez was given the losing decision after allowing 4 hits, 4 earned runs, 2 walks, and an ERA of 21.60. After Volquez was pulled out by Reds manager Dusty Baker, 3 other pitchers tried to fix his horrendous outing they were somewhat successful. Travis Wood (rookie), Logan Ondrusek (rookie), and Bill Bray came from the bullpen to help out the Reds and they all kept the Phillies offense to tacking on more runs. Travis Wood pitched for 3 innings and 1 out allowing only 1 hit, 1 walk, 0 runs, and struck out 3. Logan Ondrusek pitched for 1.2 innings allowing 0 hits, 0 walks, 0 runs, and 0 strike outs. Bill Bray pitched for 1.1 innings also allowing 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, but he struck out 1 batter.

Roy Halladay was actually really close to another perfect game he only walked one batter. Halladay struck out 8 Red players, obviously allowed no hits, and pitched a full game. Only 4 Phillies players got a hit: Shaun Victorino (a double, a single, and 2 RBI), Raul Ibanez (double), Wilson Valdez (single), and the Doc (Roy) Halladay (RBI single). Chase Utley had no hits but he did record an RBI.

Only 1 error was committed in this game and it was by a horrible, horrible throw by relief pitcher Logan Ondrusek, who sailed a ball way over the first basemans head on a force out.

For any of you that missed this game, I feel deeply sorry for you. It was an amazing game even if your not a Phillies fan and if your a Reds fan some day you'll realize what an amazing historic event you witnessed. I hope every postseason game is as exciting as this but I do hope that some of them are with an offensive battle than a pitching or defense battle because I love high scoring, thrilling games.

Link to box score: http://bit.ly/dkwb8U
Other Links
"Doctober! Halladay hurls second playoff no-no" by Todd Zolecki if MLB.com: http://bit.ly/a50pwn
ESPN's recap, box score, play-by-play, and photos: http://es.pn/d9AnLz