3/4 of the way through Round One. Here are the Region 7 matchups:
7. 1909 Pittsburgh Pirates v. 122. 1999 Atlanta Braves
-A Pirates team has yet to advance and this is their final chance. One of the Bobby Cox teams has moved forward and there are two shots in Region 7
58. 1905 Chicago Cubs v. 71. 2009 New York Yankees
-The 1909 and 1910 Cubs have both advanced; two more shots for this era in Region 7. There isn't a 21st century Yankee team moving forward yet; they have two shots left to do that.
26. 2019 Houston Astros v. 103. 1948 New York Yankees
-The 2017 Astros have advanced; this is Houston's last first round team. The '41,'43,'47,'49 Yankees have all advanced.
39. 1917 Chicago White Sox v. 90. 1949 Boston Red Sox
-The White Sox have yet to advance a team forward; this is their last chance. A 20th century Red Sox team hasn't advanced yet, they've got two shots remaining.
10. 1907 Chicago Cubs v. 119. 2018 Los Angeles Dodgers
-Here's the other Cubs team from that era; the 2017 Dodgers have advanced already and the 2019 Dodgers are still to come.
54. 1954 New York Yankees v. 75. 1913 Philadelphia Athletics
-The '52 and '53 Yankees have moved forward; '51 is still to come.
23. 1936 New York Yankees v. 106. 1995 Atlanta Braves
-The '37 Yankees have moved forward; the '38 team is still to come. Here's that second Braves club.
42. 1935 Detroit Tigers v. 87. 1983 Baltimore Orioles
-Two 20th century Tigers teams have moved on; here's their last team; 4 Orioles teams are headed forward and here's their last club.
Time to kick it off. 48 spots claimed, 16 left. Region 7 fills 8 of those spots.
7. 1909 Pittsburgh Pirates v. 122. 1999 Atlanta Braves
-A Pirates team has yet to advance and this is their final chance. One of the Bobby Cox teams has moved forward and there are two shots in Region 7. This Pirate team won the whole thing; Braves won the pennant.
Braves-Bobby Cox
3B Jones (27) 169 6.4
LF Klesko (28) 128 1.2
C Lopez (28) 128 2
1B Simon (24) 109 .2
CF Jones (22) 114 7.4
RF Jordan (32) 104 2.5
2B Lockhart (34) 67 .3
SS Hernandez (29) 71 .3
P Millwood (24) 167 6.5
Bench
2B Boone (30) 83 1.3
LF Williams (32) 99 1.3
SP2 Maddux (33) 126 5.6
SP3 Smoltz (32) 141 6.2
Straight platoon at 2B for Cox; the Bucs probably throw a lefty in game 3; Klesko will slide to first and Williams moves in to left for that one. No Glavine for the series, he's Atlanta's 4th best starter.
Pirates-Fred Clarke
LF Clarke (36) 131 5.1
SS Wagner (35) 177 9.3
2B Miller (22) 121 4.7
CF Leach (31) 115 3.2
3B Byrne (24) 115 2.2
C Gibson (28) 109 5.4
RF Wilson (25) 106 2
1B Abstein (26) 97 .7
P Camnitz (27) 158 5.4
Bench
SP2 Willis (33) 115 4.1
SP3 Leifeld (25) 109 1.3
SP3 Maddox (22) 116 2.5
Player/manager Clarke will roll out the same 8 each game; theoretically there might be a game 3 pitching decision, but probably they go with the lefty, the only lefty for either team likely to start. Bucs are seed favorites, they have WAR advantage at 1B(not when Klesko is there)2B-SS-LF; Braves have SP advantage in every game.
1st: The last Pirate team standing sends 27 year old RH Howie Camnitz to the mound; 25-6, 1.62, 1-2-3
1st: Bobby Cox has a team headed to the Round of 64; they look to make it two with 24 year old RH Kevin Millwood; 18-7, 2.68, Honus Wagner doubles with one away - that's all.
2nd: Randall Simon's looking at least at one start; he walks and two outs later, Keith Lockhart, in a similar position, singles. Neither Walt Weiss nor Ozzie Guillen had a positive WAR - so Jose Hernandez gets the start at short and he singles here to plate the game's first run. Braves 1 Pirates 0
2nd: Bobby Byrne walks, that's it.
3rd: Chipper Jones walks and Ryan Klesko singles - Javy Lopez then singles and it's 2-0. Randall Simon walks again and the Braves have loaded them up with nobody out. Andruw Jones singles - that scores Klesko and it's 3-0, Jopez is thrown out at the plate - the wheels are off for Camnitz as he hits Brian Jordan to re-load the bases. Lockhart grounds to third - Byrne throws home -- but Simon is safe and now it's 4-0. Hernandez then grounds to third -- and Byrne kicks this one and now it's 5-0. Milwood helps himself with a base hit -- that's going to score 2, it's 7-0 and the Braves have batted around - and then Chipper just rocks one -- a 3 run shot deep - deep into the Forbes Field bleachers -- the Braves have hung 10 runs on this Pittsburgh team. 37 year old RH Sam Leever replaces Camnitz, he gives up a Klesko single, the inning ends there Braves 10 Pirates 0
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: Jordan hits a one out single, that's it.
4th: Tommy Leach walks with 2 out, that's it.
5th: Klesko doubles with two out - and the Bucs go back to the pen to get Vic Willis; he was supposed to start Game 2 - but now he's burned with this appearance and you gotta like the Braves now to win this series.
5th: 1-2-3; Millwood's given up 1 hit.
6th: Andruw Jones reached on a one out error, then Lockhart singles after the second out - Hernandez singles - the inning ends Braves 11 Pirates 0
6th: Wagner singles with 2 out, that's it.
7th: 1-2-3
7th: Leach singles - but that's all. Tough day for the Pirates. Could be the last tournament game in Pittsburgh.
8th: Simon singles and 2 outs later Lockhart walks, that's it.
8th: Clarke walks with two out, nothing else.
9th: Klesko walks with two out, that's it.
9th: Dots Miller singles but is erased on a double play -- Millwood then hits Byrne and gives up a Gibson single - but that's where it ends.
Braves 11
Pirates 0
WP Millwood
LP Camnitz
5 hit shutout for Millwood who also added a couple RBI. Chipper reached twice, hit a 3 run homer, Klesko reached 4 times, 3 times for Simon and Lockhart, 2 hits for Hernandez, Jordan reached twice.
Wagner/Leach/Byrne all reached twice for Pittsburgh.
We head to Atlanta - the Braves can end this thing.
LF Clarke (36) 131 5.1
SS Wagner (35) 177 9.3
2B Miller (22) 121 4.7
CF Leach (31) 115 3.2
3B Byrne (24) 115 2.2
C Gibson (28) 109 5.4
RF Wilson (25) 106 2
1B Abstein (26) 97 .7
SP3 Maddox (22) 116 2.5
3B Jones (27) 169 6.4
LF Klesko (28) 128 1.2
C Lopez (28) 128 2
1B Simon (24) 109 .2
CF Jones (22) 114 7.4
RF Jordan (32) 104 2.5
2B Lockhart (34) 67 .3
SS Hernandez (29) 71 .3
SP2 Maddux (33) 126 5.6
1st: 33 year old right hander Greg Maddux stands on the Turner Field mound, 9 innings away from the next round; 19-9, 3.57, he gives up a 2 out single to Miller, nothing else.
1st: Vic Willis was needed to pitch most of game one; so the Bucs turn to 22 year old right hander Nick Maddox, if for no other reason than Maddux v. Maddox is fun, 13-8, 2.21. Chipper Jones opens with a base hit and then Ryan Klesko singles him over to third -- but the Braves leave them on the corners.
2nd: Byrne singles, steals second - and is driven home on a George Gibson single and the Pirates have their first run of the series. Chief Wilson then singles to put them on the corners and Gibson scores on an Abstein groundout. After the second out of the inning, Clarke singles - and that scores the third run of the inning. It's the Pirates who jump on top today, Pirates 3 Braves 0
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: Byrne singles with one away, that's all.
3rd: Hernandez leads off with a single, takes second on a passed ball, and after an out, an error puts Chipper on first- a Klesko groundout scores Hernandez and now it's 3-1. Javy Lopez singles home the second run. Pirates 3 Braves 2
4th: Maddox singles with two outs off of Maddux, that's all.
4th: 1-2-3
5th: Wagner singles - steals second - and after the first out, scores on a Leach base hit. After the second out, Gibson singles Leach home; the Bucs are doing all the hitting today they didn't do in game one. Maddux gives up a Wilson single - and that ends his day; Bobby Cox brings in Bruce Chen, 22 year old lefty and he ends the inning. Pirates 5 Braves 2
5th: 1-2-3
6th: 1-2-3
6th: 1-2-3, 10 straight for Maddox
7th: 1-2-3
7th: 1-2-3, 13 straight for Maddox
8th: Gibson singles and that's all.
8th: 1-2-3, 16 straight for Maddox
9th: 33 year old lefty Mike Remlinger won 10 games in relief and had a 2.37 ERA, he gives up a two out Wagner single and then walks Miller, but that's all and we go to the bottom of the 9th.
9th: 27 year old right hander Babe Adams has a dozen wins and a 1.11 ERA and comes in to send this series back to Pittsburgh. He gives up a leadoff single to Klesko and then after an out, walks Simon - that brings the tying run to the plate. But the Braves do not score.
Pirates 5
Braves 2
WP Maddox
LP Maddux
Maddox beat Maddux and not by a little bit, really strong effort for Nick and Greg got hit pretty solidly. Wagner/Byrne have each reached 4 times, Leach 3. Gibson reached 3 times today, Wilson twice.
Chipper's now reached 3 times, so has Hernandez, Klesko 6,
Showdown game at Forbes. Winner take all.
CF Jones (22) 114 7.4
3B Jones (27) 169 6.4
C Lopez (28) 128 2
1B Klesko (28) 128 1.2
RF Jordan (32) 104 2.5
LF Williams (32) 99 1.3
2B Boone (30) 83 1.3
SS Hernandez (29) 71 .3
SP3 Smoltz (32) 141 6.2
LF Clarke (36) 131 5.1
SS Wagner (35) 177 9.3
2B Miller (22) 121 4.7
CF Leach (31) 115 3.2
3B Byrne (24) 115 2.2
C Gibson (28) 109 5.4
RF Wilson (25) 106 2
1B Abstein (26) 97 .7
SP3 Leifeld (25) 109 1.3
1st: One game for all of it - 25 year old Lefty Leifield was 19-8, 2.37, 1-2-3
1st: 32 year old RH John Smoltz gets the ball for the Braves; 11-8, 3.19, he hits Fred Clarke with the first pitch of the game - but that's it.
2nd: Klesko walks - thats it.
2nd: Byrne/Gibson single with one out, that's all.
3rd: Jose Hernandez triples with one out - after the second out, he scores on an Andruw Jones base hit and the Braves are on the board. Chipper singles, it ends there Braves 1 Pirates 0
3rd: Leifield singles with 2 out, that's all.
4th: With one out, Brian Jordan is aboard on an error, Gerald Williams sees his first start of the series, he singles and then will steal second - also seeing his first start is Bret Boone -- and he triples home both men and now the Braves have a three run lead. Nice series for Hernandez - he singles home Boone. Braves 4 Pirates 0
4th: Dots Miller doubles with one out and then Tommy Leach singles, Byrne walks and the Bucs have the bases loaded up. Gibson hits a sac fly to score the first run for the Bucs. Braves 4 Pirates 1
5th: Chipper walks and Javy singles - and after a Klesko double play, Jordan walks - but Leifield's able to hold the Braves here.
5th: Bill Abstein singles - two outs later he's standing at second when Wagner singles -- Abstein rounds third -- and is dead thrown out at the plate by Andruw Jones to end the inning.
6th: Hernandez reached on a one out error and then Smoltz doubles to score him -- it's 5-1 and this one sure looks like it's over. Braves 5 Pirates 1
6th: Miller doubles - two outs later Gibson doubles and the Pirates cut the lead. Braves 5 Pirates 2
7th: Babe Adams enters for the Bucs; 1-2-3
7th: 1-2-3
8th: 1-2-3
8th: Wagner singles - that could be his final at bat in the tournament; that's enough for Cox - he brings in the lefty Mike Remlinger - he gets two, then walks Byrne but the Bucs don't score and we're headed to the 9th.
9th: 22 year old right hander Chick Brandom sees his first action; he's got a 1.11 ERA - he gives up a 2 out Chipper single, but nothing else. Bottom of the 9th.
9th: The Braves closer is the notorious 24 year old lefty John Rocker, he's got 38 saves and a 2.49 ERA - Abstein singles with one out - but Rocker gets the next two and its done.
Braves 5
Pirates 2
WP Smoltz
LP Leifield
Of the 8 top seeds in the Regions, 5 are now dead - the Bucs franchise is out of this tournament. Like Millwood, a strong outing for Smoltz. Chipper reached 6 times in the series, Klesko 7. 5 for Hernandez. Smoltz added an RBI today - let's make those two starting pitchers the MVPs.
The '99 Braves take this one - they will face the winners of:
58. 1905 Chicago Cubs v. 71. 2009 New York Yankees
-The 1909 and 1910 Cubs have both advanced; two more shots for this era in Region 7. There isn't a 21st century Yankee team moving forward yet; they have two shots left to do that. The Cubs are seed favorites but did not win the pennant - this Yankee team won the whole thing.
Yankees-Joe Girardi
SS Jeter (35) 125 5.9
3B Rodriguez (33) 138 5
1B Teixeira (29) 141 5.6
C Posada (37) 125 1.8
RF Swisher (28) 122 3.1
2B Cano (26) 121 4.9
LF Damon (35) 118 3.4
CF Gardner (25) 87 2
P Sabathia (28) 137 6.2
Bench
DH Matsui (35) 123 2.6
CF Cabrera (24) 93 1.4
SP2 Pettitte (37) 111 3.2
SP3 Burnett (32) 114 3.5
Probably a platoon in CF; if Gardner doesn't hit in game 1, maybe Melky comes on to face a right hander in game 2. Matsui will DH in New York.
Cubs-Frank Chance
1B Chance (28) 159 6.4
CF Slagle (31) 104 2.7
LF Schulte (22) 103 1
RF Maloney (27) 98 2.4
2B Evers (23) 94 2
SS Tinker (24) 79 4.2
3B Casey (35) 79 2
C Kling (29) 61 .9
P Reulbach (22) 209 5.9
Bench:
DH McCarthy (36) 92 .3
SP2 Brown (28) 137 3
SP3 Weimer (31) 131 3.3
SP3 Wicker (28) 147 3.4
Not a lot of bats on this Cub team and a really light bench; this team is really Chance and a bunch of starting pitchers. No chance for any changes in the lineup - there's a LH/RH decision for SP3. Cubs are seed favorites, but only have a WAR advantage at 1B-CF and that's it -- this is an overwhelming WAR advantage for the Yankees.
1st: Ed Reulbach is a 22 year old right hander; 18-14, 1.42 - he gives up a 1 out single to Alex Rodriguez and then Mark Teixeira is aboard via error. Jorge Posada singles - that scores ARod and the Yankees are on the board. Yankees 1 Cubs 0
1st: New York's game 1 starter is 28 year old lefty CC Sabathia, 19-8, 3.37, Frank Chance opens with a base hit and an out later, Frank Schulte follows after the second out Johnny Evers walks and the bases are loaded - but Sabathia gets through it.
2nd: Three straight singles - Cano/Damon/Gardner -- Cano scores and it's 2-0; after the first out, Jeter singles to make it 3-0 and when ARod grounds to the right side, Sabathia scores. Yankees 4 Cubs 0
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: Cano walks with one out, that's all.
3rd: Jimmy Slagle singles to open, nothing else.
4th: ARod draws a two out walk, that's all.
4th: Evers singles and Tinker walks to open the frame - Doc Casey then singles to score the Cubs first run; Johnny Kling doubles and it clears the bases and there's still nobody out. After an out - Chance doubles - loud contact here in the 4th and the Cubs have tied this game at 4. Yankees 4 Cubs 4
5th: 1-2-3
5th: Evers hits a one out single, that's all.
6th: With two outs, Reulbach hits Sabathia with an 0-2 count, then gives up a base hit to Jeter, but the game remains deadlocked.
6th: Reulbach singles with one out - but nothing results.
7th: With one out, Posada walks - after the second out, Cano singles -- and then Johnny Damon comes through with a base hit to left center - Posada comes around to score and the Yankees regain the lead. The Cubs go to their pen - there are only 7 pitchers on the staff, so they turn to their 5th starter, 25 year old right hander Carl Lundgren, 13-5, 2.23 -- he gives up a base hit to Gardner that makes it Yankees 6 Cubs 4
7th: 24 year old right hander David Robertson enters for the Yankees - 1-2-3
8th: Jeter singles to open the inning; two outs later Posada walks - that's it.
8th: 1-2-3
9th: Cano doubles - two outs later Girardi calls on lefty pinch hitter Eric Hinske - who singles - Cano scores the insurance run. Yankees 7 Cubs 4
9th: After two perfect Robertson innings it's Mariano Rivera time; 39 year old right hander, 44 saves 1.76 ERA - 1-2-3
Yankees 7
Cubs 4
WP Sabathia
LP Reulbach
The Yankees take game one; 3 hits for Jeter; ARod reached twice, Posada reached 3 times, 4 times for Cano who scored 3 runs; 2 hits each for Damon and Gardner and 3 perfect innings from the pen.
For the Cubs - two hits for Chance, Evers reached 3 times.
We go to the Bronx - the Yankees looking to clinch.
1B Chance (28) 159 6.4
CF Slagle (31) 104 2.7
LF Schulte (22) 103 1
RF Maloney (27) 98 2.4
2B Evers (23) 94 2
DH McCarthy (36) 92 .3
SS Tinker (24) 79 4.2
3B Casey (35) 79 2
C Kling (29) 61 .9
SP2 Brown (28) 137 3
SS Jeter (35) 125 5.9
3B Rodriguez (33) 138 5
1B Teixeira (29) 141 5.6
C Posada (37) 125 1.8
DH Matsui (35) 123 2.6
RF Swisher (28) 122 3.1
2B Cano (26) 121 4.9
LF Damon (35) 118 3.4
CF Gardner (25) 87 2
SP2 Pettitte (37) 111 3.2
1st: 37 year old lefty Andy Pettitte 14-8, 4.16, looks to pitch his club into the next round; he gives up a one out single to Jimmy Slagle, that's it.
1st: 28 year old right hander Three Finger Brown stands on the Yankee Stadium mound; 18-12, 2.17, Teixeira reaches on error and then Posada singles - but nothing else.
2nd: Evers singles and after an out, Tinker walks. after the second out, Kling's aboard on error - and when Pettitte hits Chance the Cubs are on the board. Slagle then walks and that's 2 and when Schulte hits a two run single the Cubs are now way out in front Cubs 4 Yankees 0
2nd: After an out, Cano/Damon single and then Gardner doubles home Cano for the Yankees first run; a Jeter sac fly makes it Cubs 4 Yankees 2
3rd: Tinker singles with two out, that's it.
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: Kling singles to lead it off - but that's all.
4th: After two out - Damon walks and Gardner singles - Jeter then singles, Damon's going to score and it's Cubs 4 Yankees 3
5th: 1-2-3
5th: After two out - Matsui singles, Swisher walks, Cano singles -- Yankees have them loaded up - but Brown is able to keep them off the board.
6th: Tinker singles, steals second, and scores on a Casey double. Cubs 5 Yankees 3
6th: 1-2-3
7th: 1-2-3
7th: Teixeira walks, two outs later Swisher singles, but that's all and we go to the 8th.
8th: David Robertson comes on for New York - 1-2-3
8th: The Cubs once again turn to their 5th starter, Carl Lundgren - he gives up a one out single to Gardner and the Yankees have the tying run coming to the plate. But they do not score.
9th: Kling singles - Chance and Slagle walk back to back and the Cubs have a chance to put this one out of reach. Girardi turns to Phil Hughes, 23 year old right hander - he gives up a base hit to Schulte that scores two -- then a base hit to Maloney that plates a third, it's 8-3 and we are heading back to Chicago for Game 3. Hughes gets the next two - but then Tinker singles to score two more and this game has been totally busted open. 28 year old right hander Jose Veras is next; he gives up a Casey single, the inning ends Cubs 10 Yankees 3
9th: 1-2-3
Cubs 10
Yankees 3
WP Brown
LP Pettitte
Yankee pen was perfect in game one but they got lit up for 5 in the 9th today; Chance has now reached 4 times; Slagle reached 3 times today; Schulte had two hits and 4 RBI; Evers has reached 4 times; Tinker reached 4 times today with 2 RBI/2runs scored; Casey and Kling both had two hits.
Jeter has reached 4 times; so has Posada; 6 for Cano; 4 for Damon and 5 for Gardner.
We go back to Chicago - winner moves on to face the '99 Braves.
SS Jeter (35) 125 5.9
3B Rodriguez (33) 138 5
1B Teixeira (29) 141 5.6
C Posada (37) 125 1.8
RF Swisher (28) 122 3.1
2B Cano (26) 121 4.9
LF Damon (35) 118 3.4
CF Cabrera (24) 93 1.4
SP3 Burnett (32) 114 3.5
CF Slagle (31) 104 2.7
1B Chance (28) 159 6.4
LF Schulte (22) 103 1
RF Maloney (27) 98 2.4
2B Evers (23) 94 2
3B Casey (35) 79 2
SS Tinker (24) 79 4.2
C Kling (29) 61 .9
SP3 Weimer (31) 131 3.3
1st: 31 year old lefty Jake Weimer can pitch the Cubs into the next round; 18-12, 2.26, he gives up a one out single to ARod; this is his last chance to move forward, after the second out Jorge Posada singles and that's it.
1st: The Yankees hopes rest on 32 year old right hander AJ Burnett; 13-9. 4.04 -- he gives up a Jimmy Slagle single, but that's it.
2nd: Johnny Damon hits a one out double, that's all.
2nd: Billy Maloney singles, but that's all.
3rd: 1-2-3
3rd: 1-2-3 -- 6 innings to go; who will advance?
4th: Nick Swisher singles with one out - but nothing.
4th: Frank Chance opens with a base hit; an out later Frank Schulte walks, but we head to the 5th, still scoreless.
5th: 1-2-3
5th: Joe Tinker doubles with one out, just the Cubs third hit - but Burnett strands him and now we go to the 6th.
6th: ARod singles with one out; Teixeira follows with a single - and then Posada singles -- A Rod comes around - and he scores -- the Yankees break the seal - Yankees 1 Cubs 0
6th: 1-2-3
7th: Johnny Damon singles with one out, but it ends here - notably, Girardi lets Burnett hit for himself.
7th: 1-2-3 -- hell of a big time outing for AJ Burnett.
8th: After two out, Teixeira doubles; Posada follows with a walk and then Nick Swisher doubles off the wall in left center -- that clears the bases - it's a big blow and now its Yankees 3 Cubs 0
8th: 1-2-3 -- Burnett's retired 11 straight Cubs and now the Yankees are 3 outs from advancing.
9th: Melky Cabrera singles with one out -- Girardi again leaves Burnett in to hit for himself - after he grounds out, Jeter singles and ARod walks -- bases loaded now -- can the Yankees put this one out of reach? They can - Teixeira comes through again, he singles - that scores 2 - that's 5 runs and this one is over. Yankees 5 Cubs 0
9th: Frank Chance singles with one out -- but Burnett finishes it off.
Yankees 5
Cubs 0
WP Burnett
LP Weimer
4 hitter for Burnett to win the showdown game - Jeter reached 5 times in the series; Teixeira had the big game today; three hits and 2 RBI, those are his only hits of the series - Posada reached 7 times in the series and his RBI was the game's first - he also caught Burnett's game today; that's the answer - Posada and Burnett are the co-MVPs.
