5 Regions Down, 3 to go in Round One of the 128 Team Tournament.
Here are the 8 matchups coming up in Region 6.
6. 2016 Chicago Cubs v. 123. 1955 New York Yankees
59. 1968 Detroit Tigers v. 70. 1998 Atlanta Braves
27. 1919 Cincinnati Reds v. 102. 1945 Chicago Cubs
38. 2017 Cleveland Indians v. 91. 1957 New York Yankees
11. 1911 Philadelphia A's v. 118. 1917 New York Giants
54. 1969 Baltimore Orioles v. 75. 1949 New York Yankees
22. 1976 Cincinnati Reds v. 107. 1906 Chicago White Sox
43. 1928 New York Yankees v. 86. 1974 Los Angeles Dodgers
Let's kick it off:
6. 2016 Chicago Cubs v. 123. 1955 New York Yankees
Cubs are now the second overall seed in this tournament; they won the World Series; this Yankee team lost the Series to the Dodgers.
Yankees-Casey Stengel
C Berra (30) 120 4.7
CF Mantle (23) 180 8.4
1B Skowron (24) 140 1.7
RF Bauer (32) 121 4.5
LF Collins (32) 103 1.1
2B McDougald (27) 108 5.4
SS Rizzuto (37) 89 .6
3B Carey (23) 87 2
P Ford (26) 144 4.8
Bench
LF Howard (26) 118 1.7
SP2 Byrne (35) 120 1.5
SP3 Turley (24) 123 3.7
Platoon in left for the Yankees. Everything else will stay the same.
Cubs-Joe Maddon
CF Fowler (30) 123 3.9
3B Bryant (24) 146 7.6
1B Rizzo (26) 143 6.3
C Contreras (24) 122 2.2
RF Zobrist (35) 121 3.8
LF Soler (24) 103 .6
2B Baez (23) 94 2.3
SS Russell (22) 94 3.9
P Hendricks (26) 196 5.5
Bench
LF Coghlan (31) 109 .6
SP2 Lester (32) 171 5.5
SP3 Arrieta (30) 135 5.1
Cubs also platooning in left; no Heyward in this series, just not enough bat. And Contreras catches every day. Cubs are seed favorites and WAR advantage at 1B-SS-3B-and all 3 SP
1st: 26 year old right hander Kyle Hendricks stands on the Wrigley Field mound in front of a rabidly partisan crowd, 16-8, 2.13, he gives up a one out double to Mickey Mantle, after the second out Hendricks walks Hank Bauer - but it stops there.
1st: The Yankees counter with the lefty Whitey Ford, 26 years old, 18-7 with a 2.63 ERA; Dexter Fowler walks to open it up and after an out Anthony Rizzo just torches one- it hits high off the left field foul pole and the Cubs bounce out to an early lead. Yankees 0 Cubs 2
2nd: Gil McDougald walks, that's it.
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: Mantle doubled in the first -- and now he triples in the third with one out, after the second out Bauer singles and it's Yankees 1 Cubs 2
3rd: Fowler walks again, two outs later he's at second base, from which he scores on a Willson Contreras base hit. Yankees 1 Cubs 3
4th: 1-2-3
4th: Jorge Baez singles with one out and then Addison Russell walks - that's all.
5th: Mantle singles with one out - he is a homer away from the first cycle in the tournament; that's it.
5th: 1-2-3
6th: 1-2-3
6th: Ben Zobrist and Jorge Soler walk back to back -- Ford can't really afford to give up any more runs - Baez laces a double - it clears the bases and now it's Yankees 1 Cubs 5
7th: Andy Carey walks after an out, Yogi singles -- and here comes Mantle; a homer from the cycle, two men on - Yanks down 4....Maddon is going to the pen - 31 year old right hander Pedro Strop - Strop against Mantle -- and Strop strikes him out and gets out of the inning.
7th: 38 year old right hander Jim Konstanty is the Yanks best bullpen arm and he comes on; Bryant singles, after an out, Contreras and Zobrist both walk - the Cubs are already up 4 and have loaded the bases ---- and Jorge Soler hits the first grand slam in the tournament. Jorge Soler is in a platoon with Chris Coghlan - starting today against the lefty -- and he has ended this game. Baez singles and the Yanks go back to the pen for 24 year old right hander Bob Wiesler. He gets out of it. Yankees 1 Cubs 9
8th: 1-2-3
8th: 1-2-3
9th: The Cubs send 28 year old Adam Warren out to finish it off -- he gets two out and then Berra singles -- giving Mantle one last chance at the cycle - he walks - and Warren ends it.
Yankees 1
Cubs 9
WP Hendricks
LP Ford
Cubs win in a laugher - Fowler reached twice, Rizzo homered, Contreras reached twice, so did Zobrist, Soler had the grand slam and reached twice, Baez had 3 hits.
For New York, Berra had 2 hits, Mantle reached 4 times with a double and triple, and Bauer reached twice.
We go to Yankee Stadium - Bombers need a win.
CF Fowler (30) 123 3.9
3B Bryant (24) 146 7.6
1B Rizzo (26) 143 6.3
C Contreras (24) 122 2.2
RF Zobrist (35) 121 3.8
LF Soler (24) 103 .6
2B Baez (23) 94 2.3
SS Russell (22) 94 3.9
SP2 Lester (32) 171 5.5
2B McDougald (27) 108 5.4
1B Skowron (24) 140 1.7
CF Mantle (23) 180 8.4
RF Bauer (32) 121 4.5
LF Howard (26) 118 1.7
C Berra (30) 120 4.7
SS Rizzuto (37) 89 .6
3B Carey (23) 87 2
SP2 Byrne (35) 120 1.5
1st: Tommy Byrne is a 35 year old lefty and the Yanks need him to survive one more day. 16-5, 3.15. He gives up a leadoff single to Fowler, that's all.
1st: Jon Lester is also a lefty, 32 years old, 19-5 with a 2.44 ERA, He gives up a leadoff walk to McDougald and then Skowron singles. After an out, Bauer doubles down the left field line to clear the bases. After the second out, Yogi singles and now it's 3-0. And then Rizzuto hits a gapper - that's going to score Yogi. The Yankees just jump all over Lester -- Cubs 0 Yankees 4
2nd: Baez walks with two out, that's it.
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: Bryant gets hit with two out and then Byrne walks Rizzo and Contreras - but the Cubs stay off the board.
3rd: Mantle walks, that's it.
4th: Soler walks and Baez singles - but that's all.
4th: Byrne and McDougald single with two out - that's all.
5th: Rizzo doubles, that's all.
5th: 1-2-3
6th: 1-2-3 -- strong effort by Byrne today.
6th: 1-2-3
7th: Jim Konstanty comes on for the Yankees; 1-2-3
7th: Konstanty hits for himself - and he singles, two outs later Mantle walks, but that's all. Except for that first inning, it's a strong outing for Lester, but it sure looks like the first inning is enough.
8th: Contreras reaches by error and Zobrist singles -- two out later, Addison Russell jolts a 3 run bomb to right -- and just like that - just like that - the Cubs are back in this thing. Cubs 3 Yankees 4
8th: Pedro Strop comes on for the Cubs - he gives up a one out single to Berra, that's it. We go to the 9th.
9th: 25 year old right hander Tom Morgan comes on to close this one out - he hits Bryant with one out -- that's the second time Bryant has been hit today - he can't continue; Jason Heyward comes on to run for him. Rizzo then singles. The Cubs have the tying run in scoring position.
And Willson Contreras comes through with a base hit -- Heyward will score -- Rizzo goes to third, the Cubs have tied it up - and still, with one out - the go ahead run is now 90 feet away. 25 year old right hander Tom Sturdivant comes on -- Zobrist grounds to McDougald - Rizzo stays at third - McDougald gets the out at first. Contreras moves up.
Second and third now. Two away. Casey decides to walk Soler- he got all he needed from Soler in game one. Bases loaded now -- and Sturdivant gets Baez to line to Skowron. Cubs 4 Yankees 4
9th: Tommy La Stella replaces Bryant at third, and Justin Grimm, 27 year old right hander, comes to the mound - he gives up a two out single to Skowron -- that means Mantle. And Maddon decides to put him on. That's a big decision - Maddon decides to give Mantle to intentional pass and that moves the winning run into scoring position. But it works - Grimm strikes out Bauer to end the inning.
10th: 23 year old lefty Rip Coleman is the next Yankee arm, 1-2-3.
10th: 24 year old right hander Carl Edwards is the new Cub pitcher - 1-2-3
11th: 1-2-3
11th: 1-2-3
12th: Zobrist walks -- but Soler hits into a double play to wipe him off the bases, Baez then singles -- and in a really aggressive move - he steals second. And that pays dividends - Russell singles to center -- Mantle comes up clean and throws home -- but Baez scores the go ahead run and the Cubs are now 3 outs from winning this thing. Bob Grim comes on for the Yankees - Albert Almora for the Cubs - and he walks. It ends there - but that might have done it. Cubs 5 Yankees 4
12th: 28 year old Hector Rondon gets the call - 1-2-3 and it's done.
Cubs 5
Yankees 4
WP Edwards
LP Coleman
Yankees took a 4-0 lead into the 8th and lost the series in the 12th. Rizzo reached 3 times today and homered in game one. Soler walked twice today after that grand slam yesterday -- and Addison Russell hit the big 3 run homer today. Let's say he and Soler split MVP.
The 2016 Cubs move on - they'll take on the winner of this one -
59. 1968 Detroit Tigers v. 70. 1998 Atlanta Braves
World Champion Tigers taking on the NL East Champion Braves
Braves-Bobby Cox
3B Jones (26) 148 6.4
LF Klesko (27) 117 1.9
1B Galarraga (37) 157 4.4
C Lopez (27) 124 4.5
CF Jones (21) 116 6.9
RF Tucker (27) 95 .4
2B Lockhart (33) 83 1.5
SS Guillen (34) 82 .5
P Maddux (32) 187 8.5
Bench:
SS Weiss (34) 94 2.2
RF Williams (31) 122 1.9
SP2 Glavine (32) 168 6.3
SP3 Smoltz (31) 144 5.2
Weiss is a switch hitter; he'll definitely play against a lefty, but maybe against a RH also. Straight RF platoon. Braves Big 3 are going to be a force to reckon with.
Tigers-Mayo Smith
2B McAuliffe (28) 126 4.5
1B Cash (34) 142 3.5
CF Northrup (28) 129 5.1
LF Horton (25) 165 4.7
RF Kaline (33) 146 3.6
C Freehan (26) 145 7.1
3B Wert (29) 67 .4
SS Tracewski (33) 43 .2
P McLain (24) 154 8.1
Bench
CF Stanley (25) 102 3.4
SP2 Wilson (33) 106 3.8
SP3 Lolich (27) 95 2.6
Mickey Stanley is the regular CF and a good one and can't crack the lineup. Maybe Cash sits against a lefty and that's the platoon. We'll see. Tigers are seed favorites, they have WAR advantage only at C-2B-LF-RF
1st: Quite a pitching matchup here in game 1 - Denny McLain had the year of a lifetime, 24 years old, 31-6 with a 1.96 ERA -- he gets one, but then hits Ryan Klesko - after the second out, Javy Lopez stuns the Detroit crowd with a 2 run homer to left - McLain's ERA is under 2 -- he's given up 2 in the first inning. Braves 2 Tigers 0
1st: McLain's opponent is the great Greg Maddux, 32 years old, 18-9, 2.22 -- Dick McAuliffe singles on the first pitch; Maddux gets the next two - but then walks Willie Horton and Al Kaline to load the bases -- but he escapes it.
2nd: Ozzie Guillen draws a two out walk, but that's all.
2nd: Denny McLain was not a good hitter, his OPS+ was 8; but he singles with two out off of Greg Maddux, that's where it ends.
3rd: Klesko walks, that's all.
3rd: Norm Cash singles, but is erased on a double play - Willie Horton puts the Tigers on the board with a solo shot to dead center - through 3, Braves 2 Tigers 1
4th: Michael Tucker leads off with a base hit, that's all.
4th: 1-2-3
5th: Ryan Klesko/Andres Galarraga single with one out - and then Javy By God Lopez hits a 3 run bomb - that's a two homer game for Lopez and the Braves are way out in front. Andruw Jones then hits the next pitch over the wall in dead center -- this one could be all but over. Braves 6 Tigers 1
5th: 1-2-3
6th: 1-2-3
6th: 1-2-3, 10 straight for Maddux
7th: 1-2-3, McLain's only given up 6 hits, but three have been loud.
7th: Freehan walks - but that's all. Maddux has given up just 4 hits.
8th: Tucker doubles and Lockhart drives him home - the Braves have come into Detroit and taken game one. Guillen singles, this inning will end Braves 7 Tigers 1
8th: 1-2-3
9th: 33 year old right hander John Wyatt is the next Tiger arm, Klesko singles/Galarraga walks, but that's all.
9th: The Braves go to 29 year old right hander Rudy Seanez to finish this off, 1-2-3
Braves 7
Tigers 1
WP Maddux
LP McLain
Maddux goes 8, gives up just 4 hits and is never in jeopardy. Strikes out 8. Klesko reached three times, Galarraga twice, Lopez hit two homers and had 5 RBI, Andruw Jones homered, Tucker reached 3 times, Guillen twice.
Horton homered, reached twice.
We head to Atlanta - Braves look to close this out.
1B Kaline (33) 146 3.6
C Freehan (26) 145 7.1
LF Horton (25) 165 4.7
RF Northrup (28) 129 5.1
2B McAuliffe (28) 126 4.5
CF Stanley (25) 102 3.4
3B Wert (29) 67 .4
SS Tracewski (33) 43 .2
SP2 Wilson (33) 106 3.8
3B Jones (26) 148 6.4
LF Klesko (27) 117 1.9
1B Galarraga (37) 157 4.4
C Lopez (27) 124 4.5
CF Jones (21) 116 6.9
RF Tucker (27) 95 .4
2B Lockhart (33) 83 1.5
SS Weiss (34) 94 2.2
SP2 Glavine (32) 168 6.3
1st: 33 year old Earl Wilson is Glavine's opponent, 13-12, 2.85 -- 1-2-3
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Andruw Jones singles with one out, and after the second out, Lockhart singles -- Walt Weiss is in at short today for the Braves and he doubles to right center - clearing the bases. Tigers 0 Braves 2
3rd: Kaline walks and then after an out, Horton is hit again - he drops hard - the Tigers bench is up and shouting at Glavine. A runner is sent in, that's the end of Horton for the series - after the second out, Northrup singles - and when McAuliffe grounds out, it scores a run. Tigers 1 Braves 2
3rd: Cash is the new first baseman for the Tigers, Kaline moves to the outfield, Chipper walks to open it up, after two out Lopez then singles to right - which is where it ends.
4th: With one out, Tracewski singles, with his .156 BA, he might be the worst position player bat in the tournament. that's all.
4th: Weiss singles again, with two out, and then Glavine singles. Wilson then walks Chipper and the Braves have loaded them up ---- but they don't score.
5th: With two out, Cash walks, and then Jim Northrup shocks the tomahawk chopping Braves fans with a two run homer to right -- just like that, Tigers 3 Braves 2
5th Galarraga and Lopez single to open the inning - can the Braves get their lead back - they can't.
6th: Stanley singles - two out later so does Wilson. That's all.
6th: 1-2-3
7th: With one out - Norm Cash hits a mammoth home run - Detroit 4 Atlanta 2
7th: 26 year old right hander Pat Dobson is the new Tiger pitcher, he gives up a two out Lopez walk, that's all.
8th: Right hander Rudy Seanez is the new Braves pitcher, he gives up a one out single to Wert, and after the second out - Dobson, hitting for himself, singles. Seanez then walks Kaline and Freehan and now it's Tigers 5 Braves 2
8th: Getting late now for the Braves - but Michael Tucker hits the first pitch over the wall and it's Tigers 5 Braves 3
9th: 44 year old right hander Dennis Martinez gets the call from Bobby Cox - with two out, he walks Stanley and gives up a Wert single - but that's all and we head to the bottom of the 9th.
9th: 1-2-3 and we're going to Detroit.
Tigers 5
Braves 3
WP Wilson
LP Glavine
The Tigers win on the road; Norm Cash comes off the bench, walks and homers, Kaline/Stanley/Wert all reached twice, Northrup homered and had 3 hits.
For Atlanta, Chipper reached twice, Galarraga has now reached 3 times, Lopez had now reached 5 times, Tucker homered today, Weiss singles twice.
One game for all of it. Who is going to face the 2016 Cubs?
3B Jones (26) 148 6.4
1B Galarraga (37) 157 4.4
C Lopez (27) 124 4.5
RF Williams (31) 122 1.9
CF Jones (21) 116 6.9
LF Klesko (27) 117 1.9
SS Weiss (34) 94 2.2
2B Lockhart (33) 83 1.5
SP3 Smoltz (31) 144 5.2
2B McAuliffe (28) 126 4.5
1B Cash (34) 142 3.5
LF Northrup (28) 129 5.1
RF Kaline (33) 146 3.6
C Freehan (26) 145 7.1
CF Stanley (25) 102 3.4
3B Wert (29) 67 .4
SS Tracewski (33) 43 .2
SP3 Lolich (27) 95 2.6
1st: It all comes down to this - 27 year old lefty Mickey Lolich, 17-9, 3.19 -- After an out, he drills Galarraga in the leg and the Tiger crowd roars its approval. We'll see what happens next - is that it - or will Atlanta retaliate?
1st: John Smoltz is a 31 year old right hander, 17-3, 2.90 -- 1-2-3
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Al Kaline homers to dead center -- maybe the most popular player in franchise history -- he has put the Tigers in front. Braves 0 Tigers 1
3rd: 1-2-3
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: Tucker's hit well, but Bobby Cox still replaced him today with Gerald Williams against a right hander - he doubles with two out. That's it.
4th: Northrup singles with one out, that's it.
5th: 1-2-3 -- Lolich has given up one hit.
5th: Don Wert is a bad hitter, 67 OPS+, but he hit 12 homers in the regular season - and he hits one here with one out - Tiger Stadium explodes - Braves 0 Tigers 2
6th: Smoltz and Chipper open the inning with singles and Atlanta's got something going -- but Lolich strikes out the next three Braves and again- listen to this Tiger Stadium crowd. Mickey Lolich has now struck out a dozen Braves.
6th: 1-2-3 -- Smoltz has struck out 8 Tigers of his own.
7th: Pat Dobson pitched 3 innings in game 2 and he comes on now for the Tigers. 1-2-3
7th: 1-2-3 -- 9 Ks for Smoltz. Getting late for the Braves.
8th: After an out, Cox decides to let Smoltz hit for himself (he did single in the 6th, after all) -- and on the next pitch -- Chipper Jones hits a two run homer to left center! Just like that -- it's a brand new ballgame. Braves 2 Tigers 2
8th: Smoltz has only given up 3 hits on the day and Chipper Jones has put him back in the series -- 1-2-3.
9th: 24 year old right hander Daryl Patterson enters, he gets the first out, but then gives up an Andruw Jones single -- and then Jones steals second. Potential go ahead run in scoring position -- and then Ryan Klesko comes through with a base hit -- Jones scores ahead of Kaline's throw -- and look at this the Braves 3 Tigers 2
9th: Smoltz stays on. Can he finish it up?
McAuliffe grounds to second.
Cash singles to right center -- the tying run is on base.
Northrup goes 3-6-3 and its done.
Braves 3
Tigers 2
WP Smoltz
LP Patterson
Smoltz throws a 4 hitter; he and Maddux both came up big in the series -- but the MVP has to be Chipper Jones for that two run homer that tied the score in the 8th inning.
