Playoffs vs Angels

Steve and I are at his house doing the lineups, and nearly done with them at that, when we get a phone call letting us know that Cameron will be at the game. We’re very excited by this. It does mean that we have to redo our batting order and lineup, but we make it work. We decide to go with the following batting order:
Jeremy Ma, Nick, Cameron, Jeremy Me, Jared, Jeremy F, Austin, Alec, Justin, Matt S, Sean, and Noff.

Having to play the two games, hopefully back to back, means we have to use our pitchers wisely, and also balance out kids catching with their pitching. Steve and I both feel real good heading into the day. Hopefully our optimism will be justified.

Angels vs. Red Sox

We lose the coinflip and so we’re the away team. Their pitcher goes out there and retires us in order, including two strike outs. Jeremy Ma frustrates me by once again swinging at the first pitch. The kid does very well when he waits until later in the count, but he seems to swing all too often at that first pitch. It looks like we’ll have our own 1-2-3 inning, until their third batter doubles. Jeremy Ma walks the next guy, but we get the next batter to dribble out to first base to end the first inning 0-0.

We get going though in the second. Jeremy Me walks. Jared then singles. Frist strikes out, but it doesn’t matter when Austin doubles home Jeremy Ma. Alec then singles home Austin. Justin and Sherman keep our rally going by each singling, which drives home Alec. Unfortunately Sean and Noff each strike out to end the inning. Still four big runs is good news for us.

Jeremy Ma comes back out and facing the middle and bottom of their lineup makes things interesting after he walks a couple of guys but we get out of the inning without any damage thanks to a couple of timely strikeouts.

With us at the top of our order I hope we’ll get some runs going. Jeremy Ma does his part by singling. Unfortunately, Nick grounds into a fielders choice. Things don’t look good when Cameron strikes out for out number two. Jeremy and Jared walk, with Jared’s at bat proving to be especially crucial as Nick finds an opportunity to steal home on a passed ball. We get a run.

Jared is our next pitcher, and he just doesn’t have his normal stuff. After getting the last player in their lineup to ground out, we’re back at the top of their order. And their leadoff player doubles. Jared then walks the next three. Things look like they might be OK when we get the force out at home thanks to a nice throw by Justin at short. Unfortunately Jared walks another player, which is the second run he’s walked in. It also means we have to pull him. When I went out to the mound after his third walk he offered me the ball. I didn’t take it, but it shows that he was clearly rattled and perhaps I should have. Justin comes into pitch in relief. And unfortunately their batter rockets a 2 run double into left center. Fortunately Alec pulls down the next ball in right to end the inning, which could have been another run or two if he dropped it. Game is now tied at 4 going into the 4th.

Austin lines out to second base, on a nice play by the second baseman, AK from last year, to start the 4th. We then draw a couple of walks. Sherman is hit by the pitch, and it should be clear that this pitcher just doesn’t have it. Sean continues the walk parade, though Alec has already stolen home. Jsustin then steals home. Noff grounds into a fielders choice, but Jeremy Ma comes through with a single to drive home Sean, but Nick ends our rally with a strikeout. We get three big runs with another nice rally. 7-4 BoSox.

I tell Justin before he goes out there that he is going to be facing the bottom three batters in the order and it would be nice if we could get two outs out of that part of the lineup. We only get one out after a strikeout, followed by an at bat where their player fouls off no fewer than 6, and possibly more, 3-2 pitches. Justin finally walks the guy. Their next batter reaches on an error. When their leadoff player doubles, we let up the run. Happily we get the next two batters and no further damage is done. 7-5 BoSox.

We go down in order, including Cameron racking up a “hat trick” with his third strikeout of the day. He basically was up there looking at pitches which you simply can’t do with two strikes. I’m a little worried at this point, since Nick has not looked good lately for us and he’s our next pitcher. And indeed my worries seem justified when he walks the first two batters. However, he then settles down and strikes out the side. PHEW.

Jeremy F doubles to start of the inning, however, we can’t get him home and so we maintain a two run lead going into the bottom of the sixth. And Jeremy Me comes in and walks the first batter. I’m still feeling good about our chances though, as we’re once again at the bottom of their lineup. The next at bat is beautiful. We get a three pitch strike out and on the third strike the runner attempts to steal second. Jared throws him out for a crucial double play. Their last player strikes out and the Red Sox win the game.

This was a crucial game because it means we get to play two more and will either reach the championship or the 3rd/4th place game. We’re all very excited and upbeat after this first crucial victory. Our next opponent will be the A’s, who we’re 1-1 against, and so we know we should have a good game on our hands.