The '99 Braves and '09 Yankees have advanced; let's add two more teams for Region 7.
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. Neither squad won the Series; the Yankees finished third, the Astros won the pennant. Can New York place a full half of their teams from the 40s into the next round?
Yankees-Bucky Harris
DH Keller (31) 111 .9
RF Henrich (35) 151 5.7
CF DiMaggio (33) 164 7.6
LF Lindell (31) 139 2.4
C Berra (23) 120 2.7
2B Brown (23) 111 1.8
1B McQuinn (38) 102 1
3B Johnson (29) 114 2.3
SS Rizzuto (30) 79 1.5
P Lopat (30) 112 2.9
Bench
2B Stirnweiss (29) 87 2.4
DH Niarhos (27) 99 1.9
SP2 Reynolds (31) 108 2.6
SP3 Raschi (29) 106 3.5
Astros have a LH ready in game 3; Yanks will platoon at 2B/DH.
Astros-AJ Hinch
RF Springer (29) 150 6.5
3B Bregman (25) 162 9.2
DH Alvarez (22) 173 3.8
SS Correa (24) 137 3.3
2B Altuve (29) 131 3.7
1B Gurriel (35) 126 3.8
LF Brantley (32) 126 3.9
C Chirinos (35) 105 2.8
CF Marisnick (28) 80 1.4
P Verlander (36) 179 7.6
Bench
RF Reddick (32) 89 1.6
SP2 Cole (28) 185 7.5
SP3 Miley (32) 116 1.6
Reddick/Marisnick is a platoon; Yanks going RH in games 2-3. Astros are seed favorites; they are WAR favorites at C-1B-2B-SS-3B-LF-RF and the first two SP; that is real war dominance.
1st: 36 year old RH Justin Verlander stands on the Minute Maid mound; 21-6, 2.58 -- he gives up a leadoff single to Charlie Keller, getting what is likely his only start of the series - and then after an out, he gives up a moon shot - just an absolute bomb - to Joe DiMaggio - deep into the LF sky. Yankees 2 Astros 0
1st: New York sends 30 year old lefty Eddie Lopat to the hill; 17-11, 3.65. 1-2-3
2nd: George McQuinn leads off with a triple but Verlander leaves him at third.
2nd: Altuve/Gurriel single with one out but Lopat keeps Houston off the board.
3rd: Tommy Henrich walks with one out, nothing else.
3rd: Marisnick and Springer reach on back to back Yankee errors; Bregman singles to score a run - and after the first out, a Lopat wild pitch scores the second to tie the game. Correa then singles to score the third run and just like that, Yankees 2 Astros 3
4th: Berra singles to start - that's all.
4th: Brantley doubles and an out later Marisnick singles him home; after the second out Bregman singles home the 5th Houston run. Yankees 2 Astros 5
5th: Henrich walks with two out and then DiMaggio doubles - Johnny Lindell then singles both home and it's Yankees 4 Astros 5
5th: 1-2-3
6th: Billy Johnson hits a two out single, nothing else.
6th: Brantley singles and an out later Marisnick singles; Springer then singles and the Astros add a 6th run; Yankees 4 Astros 6
7th: Houston goes to the pen. 34 year old right hander Will Harris; he's got a 1.50 ERA - he walks Charlie Keller, but the Yanks don't threaten.
7th: Yordan Alvarez hits Lopat's first pitch over the wall and the Astros are now up 3. 28 year old lefty Tommy Byrne comes on for New York - he gives up a one out Altuve double, but we head to the 8th, Yankees 4 Astros 7
8th: 31 year old right hander Hector Rondon is next - he walks Bobby Brown with one out and gives up a Billy Johnson single after the second out -- tying run to the plate -- but Rondon keeps New York off the board.
8th: 1-2-3...and it's the 9th.
9th: 24 year old right hander Roberto Osuna has 38 saves and a 2.63 ERA - after an out, Henrich singles - then DiMaggio singles - Osuna gets the second out - tying run to the plate - and Yogi Triples! Yogi hits a bases clearing Triple - all of the sudden it is 7-6 and the tying run is 90 feet away!
Osuna pitches very carefully to Brown - walks him on 4 pitches. Go ahead run on base.
McQuinn hits a deep fly ball -- deep into RF -- Springer is all the way at the fence -
And he catches the ball and ends the game.
Yankees 6
Astros 7
WP Verlander
LP Lopat
2 hits and 2 RBI for Bregman; Alvarez hit what turned out to be a big home run; 2 hits each for Altuve/Brantley/Marisnick
For the Yankees, Keller reached twice, Henrich 3 times; DiMaggio had 3 hits, 3 RBI, two runs scored, Lindell and Yogi both had two hits and 2 RBI, Yogi nearly brought the Yanks back into this game in the 9th; Brown and Johnson both reached twice.
Let's go to Yankee Stadium for Game 2.
LF Brantley (32) 126 3.9
3B Bregman (25) 162 9.2
CF Springer (29) 150 6.5
SS Correa (24) 137 3.3
2B Altuve (29) 131 3.7
1B Gurriel (35) 126 3.8
C Chirinos (35) 105 2.8
RF Reddick (32) 89 1.6
SP2 Cole (28) 185 7.5
RF Henrich (35) 151 5.7
CF DiMaggio (33) 164 7.6
LF Lindell (31) 139 2.4
C Berra (23) 120 2.7
2B Brown (23) 111 1.8
1B McQuinn (38) 102 1
3B Johnson (29) 114 2.3
SS Rizzuto (30) 79 1.5
SP2 Reynolds (31) 108 2.6
1st: 31 year old RH Allie Reynolds stands between the Astros and the second round; 16-7, 3.77; Alex Bregman doubles with one out, that's all.
1st: 28 year old RH Gerrit Cole is going to get some time to get used to the Yankee Stadium mound, he's a visitor in this one, 20-5, 2.50 -- he gives up a leadoff walk to Henrich; two outs later he's standing at second - and he scores easily on a Yogi double down the RF line. Astros 0 Yankees 1
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: Michael Brantley singles with 2 out, nothing else.
3rd: Tommy Henrich walks again, with one out -- and then he scores again on a DiMaggio double. Astros 0 Yankees 2
4th: 1-2-3
4th: 1-2-3
5th: Yuli Gurriel walks and an out later so does Josh Reddick - Cole helps himself by punching a single to left and the Astros have them loaded up with only one away. Brantley lashes a base hit to right center, that scores two and ties this game up. Reynolds walks Bregman to load the bases again - and then he walks George Springer and the Astros have the lead. Here's the hook for Reynolds - 30 year old RH Red Embree enters; he walks Carlos Correa and now it's 4-2. Jose Altuve then smashes a double - that clears the bases and the Astros have scored 7 runs here in the 5th. Houston's batted around - Gurriel doubles and now it's 8 runs. Astros 8 Yankees 2
5th: 1-2-3
6th: After two out, Brantley singles and Bregman walks, 30 year old RH Randy Gumpert comes on - Springer doubles - it clears the bases; it's 10-2 and this series is over. Correa then triples - that makes it 11-2 and then Gumpert throws one away. Houston is pounding the Yankees Astros 12 Yankees 2
6th: 1-2-3
7th: 28 year old RH Karl Drews is the new Yankee pitcher; 1-2-3
7th: McQuinn walks with one out, nothing else Cole has only given up 2 hits.
8th: Tommy Byrne is next for the Yanks; 1-2-3
8th: 1-2-3
9th: Springer walks, an out later Altuve singles, but that's all the Astros get today.
9th: Cole gives way to 35 year old RH Joe Smith; he walks Lindell; two out later Brown singles, but it ends here.
Astros 12
Yankees 2
WP Cole
LP Reynolds
Cole goes 8, gives up just 2 hits and the Astros sweep the series. Brantley has 5 hits in the series; Bregman also reached 5 times, Springer reached 3 times today, had 3 RBI and scored 2. Correa had that triple today; Altuve reached 4 times in the series and had 3 RBI today. Let's say Brantley is the MVP of this one.
The 2019 Astros move on - they face the winner of this one:
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. The White Sox are two years away from scandal - this is Ted Williams's last shot to advance. Boston finished 2nd in the AL and the White Sox won the whole thing.
Red Sox-Joe McCarthy
3B Pesky (30) 104 3.6
LF Williams (30) 191 9.2
SS Stephens (28) 137 7.1
2B Doerr (31) 127 5.3
CF DiMaggio (32) 111 4.1
RF Zarilla (30) 98 .7
1B Goodman (23) 91 1
C Tebbetts (36) 83 .9
P Parnell (27) 158 7.9
Bench
SP2 Kinder (34) 130 4.5
SP3 Stobbs (19) 109 2.1
SP3 Dobson (32) 114 3
McCarthy's rolling out the same 8 for each game; Chuck Stobbs is 19, the youngest player in the tournament, he and Dobson is a LH/RH choice if we get to game 3.
White Sox-Pants Rowland
CF Felsch (25) 128 4.4
2B Collins (30) 128 5.8
LF Jackson (29) 143 5.6
SS Weaver (26) 110 2.9
1B Gandil (29) 91 1.2
C Schalk (24) 89 3.8
RF Leibold (25) 94 1.2
3B McMullin (25) 81 .3
P Cicotte (33) 174 9.7
Bench:
SP2 Russell (28) 137 3.8
SP3 Faber (28) 139 2.2
A negative WAR for starting SS Risberg results in Weaver's sliding over and McMullin moving into the lineup. Rowland will send the same 8 out in each game. White Sox are seed favorites; they have WAR advantage at C-1B-2B-CF-RF-SP1(maybe SP3)
1st: 33 year old right hander Eddie Cicotte was 28-12, 1.53 ERA, he gives up a leadoff single to Johnny Pesky, an out later Vern Stephens singles - but that's it.
1st: 27 year old lefty Mel Parnell was 25-7, 2.77, Happy Felsch and Eddie Collins open with base hits -Shoeless Joe grounds into a double play but that scores a run; Buck Weaver doubles - the inning ends Red Sox 0 White Sox 1
2nd: Al Zarilla singles, that's it.
2nd: Ray Schalk walks, that's it.
3rd: Pesky singles again; again, Boston does not score.
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: Cicotte hits Joe's brother Dom. After an out, Billy Goodman doubles him home to tie the score. Red Sox 1 White Sox 1
4th: Jackson/Weaver single; two outs later Nemo Leibold singles home Jackson and it's Red Sox 1 White Sox 2
5th: Pesky's aboard again with a walk, after an out, Stephens doubles - and then Bobby Doerr triples both men home and Boston has their first lead of the day. DiMaggio singles for another run; Zarilla singles to put them on the corners - Goodman singles DiMaggio home and it's 5-2; Zarilla scores on a Tebbetts grounder - let's assume Cicotte is trying as hard as he can and just got hit today, as he exits for 31 year old RH Joe Benz. Big inning. Red Sox 6 White Sox 2
5th: Felsch singles with two out, nothing else.
6th: Pesky walks again, that's it.
6th: Chick Gandil hits a 2 out single and then Ray Schalk doubles him home. Red Sox 6 White Sox 3
7th: 1-2-3
7th: Fred McMullin singles, two outs later Felsch singles and Eddie Collins walks - but Parnell gets Jackson in the huge spot; we assume the White Sox are trying, but they are losing today.
8th: 27 year old lefty Dave Danforth is the new White Sox pitcher; 1-2-3
8th: Gandil hits a one out triple. Schalk walks - tying run comes to the plate, but Chicago can't capitalize.
9th: Pesky singles - he's reached 5 times and then Ted Williams singles for the first time, after an out, Pesky scores on an error and DiMaggio walks - Zarilla hits a bases clearing double and this one is done. Goodman singles Zarilla home. Tebbetts then singles, Boston's busted it open, Red Sox 11 White Sox 3
9th: Eddie Collins hits a two out single and Jackson doubles him home; but that's all.
Red Sox 11
White Sox 4
WP Parnell
LP Cicotte
Pesky reaches 5 times and scores twice; Stephens has 2 hits, DiMaggio reached 3 times and scores 3 runs, Goodman has 3 hits and 3 RBI,
For Chicago, Felsch has 3 hits, Collins reached 3 times, Jackson/Weaver/Gandil all had 2 hits, Schalk reached 3 times.
We go to Fenway - the Red Sox looking to end this thing.
2B Collins (30) 128 5.8
LF Jackson (29) 143 5.6
CF Felsch (25) 128 4.4
SS Weaver (26) 110 2.9
RF Leibold (25) 94 1.2
1B Gandil (29) 91 1.2
C Schalk (24) 89 3.8
3B McMullin (25) 81 .3
SP2 Russell (28) 137 3.8
CF DiMaggio (32) 111 4.1
2B Doerr (31) 127 5.3
LF Williams (30) 191 9.2
SS Stephens (28) 137 7.1
3B Pesky (30) 104 3.6
C Tebbetts (36) 83 .9
RF Zarilla (30) 98 .7
1B Goodman (23) 91 1
SP2 Kinder (34) 130 4.5
1st: 34 year old RH Ellis Kinder looks to push the first 20th C Red Sox team forward to the next round; 23-6, 3.36, 1-2-3
1st: Reb Russell is a 28 year old LH, 15-5, 1.95, 1-2-3
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Vern Stephens opens with a base hit; thats it.
3rd: 1-2-3 - Kinder moves easily through the lineup.
3rd: Billy Goodman doubles; and out later Dom DiMaggio walks - but Boston doesn't score.
4th: Happy Felsch doubles with two outs, Chicago's only baserunner through 4.
4th: Johnny Pesky singles with 2 out, thats all. Let's go to the 5th. Pitcher's duel.
5th: Nemo Leibold singles and then after an out, Ray Schalk walks - but Kinder gets through it.
5th: Al Zarilla hits one off the monster and he is running - never breaking stride he hits second and goes to third -- and he is running home - there has never been an inside the park homer in this tournament -- and it doesn't happen now - Shoeless Joe guns him down at the plate and the game remains scoreless. After the second out, Kinder singles, but we head to the 6th - still scoreless.
6th: Russell matches Kinder with a single of his own, but nothing results.
6th: Ted Williams singles with one out - but now we are going to the 7th, still scoreless.
7th: Felsch walks - steals second - and then scores on a Buck Weaver base hit. The White Sox are on the scoreboard and McCarthy goes right to the pen for 33 year old RH Ted Hughson; Kinder's only given up 4 hits but his day is over - and so is the inning. White Sox 1 Red Sox 0
7th: 1-2-3
8th: Eddie Murphy pinch singles with one out, but that's all.
8th: 27 year old RH Dave Danforth comes on for the White Sox - 6 outs from forcing game 3. He gives up back to back singles from DiMaggio and Doerr - and then Williams singles to tie the score. Still 2 on, still nobody out -- Joe Benz, 31 year old RH enters - he gets a Vern Stephens double play - the lead run moves up to third -- but he strands it there. White Sox 1 Red Sox 1
9th: Buck Weaver singles with two out and the Sox are back to the pen, 30 year old lefty Earl Johnson - and he ends it. Bottom of the 9th.
9th: Tebbetts singles. Zarilla singles. Fenway is up and shouting - series clinching run standing at second base. Goodman strikes out. One away. Billy Hitchcock comes off the bench and draws a walk.
Bases loaded. One out. Tie game. Bottom of the 9th.
Dom DiMaggio lines a base hit to left - and it's over. Joe's brother ends the series.
White Sox 1
Red Sox 2
WP Johnson
LP Benz
Dom DiMaggio reached 6 times in the series and drove in the clinching run in the bottom of the 9th; he's easily the MVP -
The 1949 Red Sox will face the 2019 Astros in the next round.
