ALCS: A's sweep Tigers in 4 straight.

GAME 1 - Comerica Park
A's 5, Tigers 4 (15 inn)
Samardzija vs Scherzer

A's closer Sean Doolittle was asked to do alot, which meant close out the Tigers and protect a 1 run lead in the bottom of the 9th.  A one out double by Castellanos scored JMart and sent the game to extra innings.  Nether team cracked the scoreboard until Moss hit a leadoff homer in the top of the 15th to give Oakland a 1 run lead that Gregerson protected for his first post season save.  Lost in the shuffle was the 5 great innings of relief Annibal Sanchez gave the Tigers.  The lone blemish on his record was Brandon Moss' solo blast.
A's lead series 1-0

GAME 2
A's 11, Tigers 4
Lester vs Price

Neither ace had his "A" stuff, but Price (8 runs in 5 2/3 inn) was horrible.  Lester gave up 3 in 5, which on most days would not be good enough for win, except today his team scored 11 and won easily.  A balanced Oakland attack saw John Jaso (2-4) score 3 runs and knock in 1 (solo homer), which jump started 6 run third inning where the A's batted around.
A's lead series 2-0

GAME 3 - O.com Coliseum
Verlander vs S.Gray
A's 4, Tigers 3

Hoping to catch 2012 in a bottle the Tigers went to ace in name only, Justin Verlander who gave up 4 runs in 6 innings and never looked comfortable on the hill.  Oakland's Sonny Gray gave up 3 in 7 and notched himself a quality start.  Vogt and Jed Lowrie each had 2 hit games with the latter also knocking in 2.  Sean Doolittle rebounded from his game one woes with a perfect 9th for his 3rd post season save.
A's lead series 3-0

GAME 4
Porcello vs J.Chavez
A's 5, Tigers 4

On the verge of an unlike sweep the A's went down early to a 2-0 deficit.  An RBI double by

Lowrie and an RBI single by Callaspo in the bottom of the 2nd evened up the contest until a JMart homer to lead off the 4th put the Tigers up by 1.  Two innings later the A's tied it at 3 apiece with a Coco Crisp ground out.  Detroit, fighting for their post season lives got a clutch 2 out single by Ian Kinsler in the top of the 9th to take the lead once again.  Closer Joe Nathan was called on to get 3 outs and help the Tigers live for another elimination game.  Nathan wasn't able to register an out and departed after giving up back to back singles to Vogt and pinch hitter Derek Norris.  Lobstein relieved Nathan and walked Lowrie to load the bases.  He then walked Callaspo to force in the game tying run.  An RBI single by Coco Crisp provide the game winner and the series clincher as the A's heade to the Fall Classic vs the Redbirds.
A's win series 4-0

Home Cooking and Late-Inning Dramatics Send Redbirds to World Series

Click Here to view Series Game by Game Box Scores.

Game 1, October 11, 2014 at St. Louis – Matt Holliday went 4 for 5 with a double, home run and 3RBI as the Cardinals captured game 1 with a 7-3 score. The Redbirds struck quickly in the B1 scoring 3 on a 2-run double by Matt Adams and an RBI single from Kolten Wong. Pittsburgh got them all back with single runs in the 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th innings. One on a wild pitch, another on a free pass with bases loaded and one from Andrew McCutchen’s RBI single. Cardinals starter Lance Lynn was chased after just 3.2 IP, and replaced by Shelby Miller (1-1). Miller, Seth Maness and Pat Neshek would blank the Bucs the rest of the way. Meanwhile, St. Loo took the lead for good in the 6^th when Pete Kozma scored on an IF groundout and Holliday doubled home Jon Jay. Holliday’s (1) 400-foot bomb to CF with a man on in the 8^th sealed the deal.

Game 2, October 12, 2014 at St. Louis – It was a classic night in all respects (if you're a 

fan of the home team). The St. Louis early autumn weather was a classic 70 degrees and clear. It was a classic, festive, bright red atmosphere at Busch Stadium for the Fall Classic. The starting pitchers – Edinson Volquez for the Pirates and Michael Wacha for the Redbirds – each went 6+ innings in classic-duel fashion. It only needed a classic ending, and Cardinal’s Nation was not disappointed. With the score tied 2-2 and 2 outs in the bottom of the 9^th Yadier Molina met a Mark Melancon (0-1) 2-0 heater and sent it deep into the night for a 3-2 walk-off classic. Jhonny Peralta’s sac fly plated Matt Carpenter in the 1^st to give St. Louis the lead. The Buccos answered in the 3^rd when Travis Snider’s singled scored Ike Davis. Peralta’s (2) solo smash leading off the 4^th put the Cardinals up 2-1. It stayed that way until the 8^th when Russell Martin singled in Jose Tabata. Trevor Rosenthal (1-0) recorded 2 outs in the T9^th and was credited with the win.

Game 3, October 14, 2014 at Pittsburgh – A change of scenery is what the Bucs needed, and the river-front setting of PNC Park was just the elixir the doctor ordered. The Pirates battered St. Louis ace Adam Wainwright (1-1) for 5 runs on 8 hits over 5 innings and cruised to a 6-1 victory. Russell Martin (3 hits, 2RBI) and 2B Neil Walker (2B, HR, 2R, 3RBI) did most of the damage offensively. Pittsburgh plated 3 in the 1^st. Walker doubled home a pair and Martin sent Walker home with a base knock. The home club added 2 more in the 5^th on RBI singles from McCutchen and Martin. The visitor’s notched their lone run in the T5 on a Molina RBI single. Walker’s solo blast in the 7^th put the icing on the cake. Jeff Locke (1-0) replaced SP Francisco Liriano in the middle of the 5^th, tossed 2 2/3 innings of 2-hit shutout ball for the W.

Game 4, October 15, 2014 at Pittsburgh – Jordy Mercer and Travis Snider keyed a

couple of 3-run innings for the Pirates as they evened the series with a 6-2 win. With St. Louis leading 2-0 in the 4^th, the Bucs loaded the bases with 1 out when Davis hit a fly to LF and Walker scampered home safely on a close play at the play. Martin and Starling Marte were able to advance to 3^rd and 2^nd. Mercer then drove both in with a single. The Bucs tripled their pleasure again in the 6^th with Josh Harrison plating Gregory Polanco with a single and Snider bringing in 2 more with his base knock. Vance Worley (2-0) started and won for Pittsburgh. John Lackey (0-1) started and lost for St. Louis.

Game 5, October 16, 2014 at Pittsburgh – Garrit Cole (2-0) was nearly unhittable as he yielded just 2 hits in 7 innings of work. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh offense took advantage of everything given to them, taking a 3-2 series lead with an 8-3 win. McCutchen (3 hits, 4RBI) was the early hitting star for the Bucs with an RBI single in the 4^th and a 2-run double in the 5^th. The Cardinals completely crumbled in the B7^th. Neshek started the inning, gave up a single to Mercer, and felt a twinge in his back. He was removed for precautionary reasons (later tests revealed he could be ready to play again back in St. Louis). In a true brain-fart moment (maybe the bullpen phones weren’t working?), Redbirds manager Bruce Thomas brought in a tired Miller. He walked Chris Stewart. Harrison (2 hits, 3R, 3RBI) then buried a 3-run shot deep into the LCF seats. Marco Gonzalez took the hill, fanned Snider then surrendered a solo shot to McCutchen down the LF line. Marte would double in Martin before the carnage was done and the 5-run explosion left the home folks delirious with an 8-0 margin. The Cardinals saved some face, and perhaps built some momentum to head back to Gateway City, when Peralta hit a 3-run tater in the 8^th.

Game 6, October 18, 2014 at St. Louis – Trailing 2-1 heading to the B9, the Cardinals found a way to come back, plating 2 runs, including another Molina walk-off winner. St. Louis sent the series to a game 7 final with a 3-2 squeaker. Volquez and Wacha again matched up on the mound, and both pitched very well. St. Louis dented the scoreboard in the 2^nd when Peter Bourjos hit a 2-out single scoring Wong. Pittsburgh fought back with single runs in the 4^th and 5^th on sacrifice flies by Martin and Mercer, respectively. The score remained 2-1 Pirates as both clubs went to the bullpen. Pat Neshek (3-0) showed he was again healthy with a perfect T9 for St.L. Melancon (0-2) took the ball in the B9 hoping to send his club to the World Series. It was not to be. Holliday walked on a close 3-2 pitch. Peralta followed with a double down the line off the LF wall. Holliday raced home to tie it, and Peralta beat the cut-off play to 3rd. Adams was passed intentionally. Molina then showed why he earned the series MVP award with a sharp single into left.    

Game 7, October 19, 2014 at St. Louis – Few things are more dramatic than a Game 7 in sports. And these two clubs left it all on the field for this one after 6 grueling games played already. The St. Louis manager was already rewarded in his decision to hold back his ace from pitching on 3-days rest in a do-or-die game six. Now, could Adam Wainwright (2-1) live up to the billing? Pittsburgh would send Locke (1-1), the winner of game 3, to bump. Once again, hits seemed to come at a premium price at Busch (so did the beer, btw). There was no scoring until the T4 when the Bucs Snider led off with a double and scored on a Martin base hit. The Cardinals took the lead in the 6^th when Carpenter and Jay led off with bases on balls. Holliday plated Carpenter with a base knock that tied the score. Peralta walked to load the bases, and Locke was sent to the locker room. Justin Wilson climbed the hill for the visitors and struck out Adams. He then uncorked a wild pitch that brought Jay in with what would prove to be the game-winner. The two clubs battled on with the score still an air-tight 2-1. The Bucs came closest to scoring in the T8 with runners at 1^st and 3^rd and 1 away. Sam Freeman took over for Wainwright and fanned Tabata. Maness entered and got McCutchen to fly out to shallow center. Maness started the 9^th and retired Walker himself on a 1-3 come-backer. Rosenthal then was summoned and recorded his 3^rd save of the post-season, getting Martin to ground out to second and setting off a wild celebration after whiffing Marte. The Redbirds now await the winner of the ALCS.
--submitted by Bruce Thomas--

ALDS: A's outlast Halos in extra innings in game 5

Series Box Scores

GAME 1 - 10/2/2014 - Angels Stadium
Kazmir vs Weaver
Angels 7, A's 0

No real contest here as the Halos beat up on Scott Kazmir and chased him from the hill with 2 outs in the 4th.  Jared Weaver cruised for 7 innings by allowing just 2 hits and fanning 8.  The Halos balanced attack saw everyone but Freese getting a hit.  Calhoun hit a 2 run shot in the 3rd.
Angels lead series 1-0

GAME 2 - 10/3/2014
Samardzija vs Shoemaker
A's 5, Angels 2
 

A 3 run blast by Derek Norris with 2 out in the 9th for Oakland broke a 2-2 tie to even the series. 
Series tied 1-1

GAME 3 - 10/5/2014 - O.Com Col
C.J.Wilson vs Lester
A's 4, Angels 2

Once again Norris to the rescue with a clutch 2 run double in the 9th to break another 2-2 tie.  Gregerson gets the win and Grilli takes the loss.
A's lead series 2-1

GAME 4 - 10/6/2014
LeBlanc vs Gray
Angels 8, A's 6

The Halos victimized Gray for 6 runs in 3 1/3.  Oakland battled back with 5 runs in the 6th to chase LeBlanc and make it a 2 run game.  Both teams traded solo runs in the 9th and the Halos tied the series.  Howie Kendrick wielded the big stick going 3 for 5.  Amazingly the Halos are in this with the big bats of Trout (.167) and Pujols (.188) hitting below the Mendoza line.
Series tied 2-2

GAME 5 - 10/7/2014 - Angels Stadium
Kazmir vs Weaver
A's 8, Angels 4 (10 inn)

 

Scoreless after 4 1/2 innings the Halos broke the ice with a Freese solo shot to lead off the bottom of the 5th.  Oakland took the lead in the 7th with a 2 run shot by Moss, then added another long ball of of catcher Vogt's bat to make it 3-1.  The Halos finally got some knocks from Trout and Pujols and took a 4-3 lead heading into the 9th.  Coco Crisp led off the 9th by striking out, but a passed ball allowed him to reach 1st and a wild pitch allowed him to reach second where he promptly scored on a single by Gentry.  Oakland threatened to pus across another run with runners on 1st and 2nd, but the halos got out of it.  The bottom of the 9th saw the Halos load the bases only to be foiled by reliever Cook.  That would be costly as the A's would push across 4 runs in the top of the inning courtesy of a Josh Donaldson bases clearing triple.  Even though it wasn't technically a save situation Doolittle came on board and needed 23 pitches to get out unscathed to clinch the series for the A's.
Oakland wins series 3-2

Redbirds Advance to NLCS, Winning Tight Series with LA

Game 1, October 3, 2014 at Los Angeles – Clayton Kershaw (1-0) was everything that a Cy Young caliber pitcher should be. The pitcher’s duel that never materialized in real life was present in this Action Baseball 2014 Playoff showdown. Kershaw went 8 innings, yielding just 1 run on 3 hits, while fanning a Gibson-like 14 batters. His mound opponent, Adam Wainwright, tossed just 6 innings, but likewise gave up just 1 run on 8 hits. St. Louis lit the scoreboard in the 1^st when Jhonny Peralta singled home Randal Grichuk. The score remained 1-0 visitors until the B6 when Hanley Ramirez singled in Yasiel Puig to tie it. Kershaw stayed on (he helped himself with 2 hits) while the Redbirds went to the bullpen. In the B8 the Dodgers tallied the winning run when Matt Kemp and Ramirez greeted Cardinals reliever Seth Maness (0-1) with back to back doubles. Kenley Jansen (1) cleaned it up the 9^th for a 2-1 LA victory.

Game 2, October 4, 2014 at Los Angeles – Matt Adams tripled in Jon Jay in the T10

to lift the Cardinals to a 4-3 win and send the series back to St. Louis tied at 1-all. Lance Lynn (6 IP) and Zack Geinke (7.1) were the starters, but they were long gone before this one was decided. LA grabbed a quick 2-0 lead with single runs in the 2^nd and 3^rd. Dee Gordon plated Juan Uribe with a single in the 2^nd. Kemp hit a long solo shot to center in the 3^rd. Grichuk’s 2-run bomb in the 7^th tied it up, 2-2. LA went up 3-2 on a solo blast from Ramirez in the B8. Jansen was called on again to save it for the Dodgers, but Peralta had other ideas, smacking a 2-1 offering over the LCF wall. That set the stage for Adam’s extra innings heroics. Pat Neshek (1-0) was credited with the win. Trevor Rosenthal (1) recorded the final two outs for the save.

Game 3, October 6, 2014 at St. Louis – Kolten Wong’s fly to right in the B9 was just deep enough for Peralta to beat Kemp’s throw as he raced home from third with the winning run in a thrilling 2-1 Cardinals victory. This was again another outstanding pitcher’s duel between Hyun-Jin Ryu of the Dodgers and John Lackey for the Redbirds.  Both teams exchanged runs in the 3^rd when Lackey mishandled Puig’s chopper to the mound, allowing Uribe to scamper home. St. Louis answered in the bottom of the frame when Grichuk singled in Wong. The clubs remained scoreless after that until Adam’s RBI triple in the 9^th. That made Pat Neshek (2-0) a winner again. Brian Wilson (0-1) was tagged with the loss.

Game 4, October 7, 2014 at St. Louis – Clayton Kershaw (2-0) started for LA on

3-days rest and was brilliant through 7 innings. He blanked the Cardinals on 3 hits and the Dodgers evened the series 2-2 with a 4-0 whitewash. A combination of Pedro Baez, Scott Elbert and Jansen finished off the shutout. Catcher A.J. Ellis put the Dodgers on the board with a solo shot down the LF line in the 3^rd. Andre Ethier’s sac fly in the 4^th plated Adrian Gonzalez. Gonzalez and Uribe had RBI doubles in the 6^th. Shelby Miller (0-1) was the LP for the Cardinals.

Game 5, October 9, 2014 at Los Angeles – Going where the

real life teams didn’t go, the Cardinals nonetheless advanced to the NLCS with a tight 2-1 win. Adam Wainwright (1-0) was spot on, going 8 innings with 1 run and 5 hits against him. Wong got things rolling offensively for St. Loo with a RBI single plating Matt Holliday. The Dodgers responded immediately in the B4 when Uribe brought home Gonzalez on a sac fly. The winning run came in the 7^th when Matt Carpenter singled and PR Shelby Miller raced home. Rosenthal (2) retired outs 26 and 27 for the Redbirds winner. Grienke (0-1) was the hard-luck loser.
--submitted by Bruce Thomas-- 

Click here to see game by game box scores.

ALDS - Motown sweeps Charm City in Reverse of Real Life Series

Sunday, October 5, 2014 - Click to See box scores

Game 1 Camden Yards
Max Scherzer cruised through 7 innings allowing 3 hits and a walk. Victor Martinez hit a solo homer leading off the second. JD Martinez followed with a single and scored on Alex Avila's double. The Tigers added a run in the third on singles by Ian Kinsler, Miguel Cabrera and VMart. Torii Hunter added a homer in the 8th and the Tigers took a 4 run lead into the bottom of the 8th. But Scherzer was gassed and the Tigers had to go to the bullpen. Al Albuquerque came on and got the first two Orioles but then gave up a single and a walk. Even though Tiger's manager Tom Davis should have known better, in came Joba Chamberlain. Adam Jones doubled home Nick Markasis and Alejandro De Aza., Nelson Cruz walked and Steve Pearce doubled home both runners to tie the game. Kyle Lobstein came on and shut down the Orioles. The two teams went 1-2-3 in the 9th and we went into extra innings. Don Kelly, pinch hitting for Andrew Romine led off the 10th with a double. Rajai Davis grounded to Pearce and Kelly went to 3rd. Ian Kinsler singled him home. Markasis singled to lead off the Oriole 10th but the next 3 hitters went out and the Tigers held on to a 5-4 win. Kyle Lobstein took the win and Brad Brach the loss.

Game 2 Camden Yards
Wei-Yin Chen and Justin Verlander dueled each other for three scoreless innings until Nick Castellanos hit a two run homer in the 4th. The Tigers added two more in the top of the 7th.  Verlander ran out of gas in the 7th and left after 6.1 innings, having struck out 9 Orioles. Albuquerque finished out the 7th and Anibel Sanchez closed out the final two innings. Tigers 4 Orioles 0

Game 3 Comerica Park

VMart hit a 2 run homer in the first and Nick Castellanos a solo homer in the 2nd. The Orioles finally scored off a Tiger starter in the 5th on a Nick Hundley homer.. In the top of the 8th, with one out, consecutive singles by Nick Markasis, Pearce and Jones loaded the bases. Price was done and in came Joba Chamberlain. Showing that Thursday's outing was a fluke, Chamberlain struck out Cruz and Delmon Young to end the threat. The Orioles went 1-2-3 in the ninth and the Tigers ended a sweep of the Orioles. 4-1 Detroit was the final.
--submitted by Tom "Crash" Davis--

NLDS - Buccos raise the Jolly Roger by swatting away Nats in 4

Tuesday, October 7, 2014 - Click to See box scores

The Buccos raise the Jolly Roger by taking three of four from the boys from D.C. Even the Presidents' Race couldn't help the Nats solve Pittsburgh pitching in this series.

On to the Championship round for the upstarts from the Steel City.

Thanks to Jim. W. for playing today.

Game One: PIT 6, WAS 2:

Gerritt Cole was the "Nat King" (get it, Nat King Cole, bad joke that it is), strikes out 12 Nationals in seven innings to get the series started off right for Pittsburgh. Stephen Strasburg didn't fare as well, giving up a three run fourth: the big blow was Jordy Mercer's double that plated two. Cole even hit a successful squeeze to score the fourth run.

Game Two: PIT 4, WAS 3

A 3-3 tie was broken in the eighth on Russell Martin's bases empty homer. Neither starter was effective. Francisco Liriano only went five, while Jordan Zimmermann gave up 13 hits in six innings. After Martin's homer, the Pirates bullpen took over - Holdzkom, Watson and Melancon only allowed three meager singles in their three innings of work.

Game Three: WAS 1, PIT 0

A very tight game and great pitching duel between Doug Fister and Edinson Volquez. Washington manages to score the game's only run in the sixth on Anthony Rendon's double. Fister goes 8.1 innings of shutout ball, pitching a tidy three hitter, while Rafael Soriano gets the one-out save.

Game Four: PIT 2, WAS 1

Another edge-of-your-seat thriller. Pittsburgh scores two in the second off Gio Gonzalez and holds on for the series-ending win. Pittsburgh's Vance Worley strikes out seven in 6.1 innings, while Washington gets one back on a Rendon sac fly. But the Pirates' triple threat in the bullpen -- Holdzkom, Watson, and Melancon -- again holds off the Nats. Watson strikes out the side in the eighth, while Melancon gets in a bit of trouble in the ninth. He puts two Nats runners on the basepaths but then strikes out Adam Laroche to snuff the rally and send the Washington team back to the capital city to lobby for more victories next year.

Melancon gets his third save of the playoffs. But the Pirates overall pitching -- especially the bullpen -- continues to be the jewel for the Pirates in the postseason.
--submitted by Joe Pryweller--

2014 Wild Card Round: A's 5, Royals 4 (15 inn) & Pirates 2, Giants 0

Thursday October 2, 2014 - AL Wild Card Game

A's 5, Royals 2 (15 inn) - Click link to view boxscores

Lester vs Shields After a Greg Holland WP in the 9th Billy Burns moved into scoring position then scored the tying run on a Coco Crisp single. KC could not score in the bottom of the frame and this winner take all game moved toward extra innings. Back to back jacks by Brandon Moss (2 run shot) and Josh Reddick gave the A's a 3 run lead in the top of the 15th. KC went down easily in the 9th to be eliminated. Relievers Holland and Aaron Crow could not contain the A's. Drew Pomeranz got the win after pitching a scoreless 14th and Sean Doolittle got the save. KC blew a great 6 inning effort from James Shields (1 ER). Jon Lester gave up just 2 runs for the A's as both starters lived up to their billing.

---

Wednesday, October 1, 2014 - NL Wild Card Game

Pirates 2, Giants 0 - Click link to view boxscores

Bumgarner vs Volquez

Both aces were on tonight. Pittsburgh scratched out a solo run in the bottom of the 3rd when Josh Harrison led off the inning with a triple then scored on a Mercer ground out. Bucs shortstop Jordy Mercer provided an insurance run with a 2 out solo shot in the bottom of the 8th. San Fran went down weakly in the 9th with 3 successive ground outs to Mercer at short. Edinson Volquez got the win by striking out 8 and allowing just 3 hits in 6 2/3 innings. Closer Mark Melancon pitched a perfect 9th for the save. Bucs advance to play the Nats in the LDS.

The 2014 MLB Playoff Manager Pool

	Name/e-mail	Team	Action Forum	AIM
		NL
1	Jim Williams	Nationals
2	Marc Weiss	Dodgers	simarc	devilscap
3	Bruce Thomas	Cardinals		BLT8490
4	Joe Pryweller	Pirates		jpryweller@msn.com
5	Larry Reeves	Giants		sacdk45
		AL
1	Douglas Zaner	Angels	dzanr	dzanr
2	Bill Keller	Orioles		keller351
3	Tom Davis	Tigers		CrashTD25
4	Orion Bell	Royals		noiro@cox.net
5	Justin Ryan	A's		wave22runner

Click on the Manager's NAME to e-mail.