13. 1970 World Champion Baltimore Orioles v. 57. 2013 World Champion Boston Red Sox
The top remaining seed in Region 4 is the '70 Orioles. Round 2 has not been kind to Baltimore so far, the '71 and '79 teams have been eliminated. This is the first Red Sox team we've seen in this round - and another is coming in the next series.
14 teams are in. Who will be #15?
Orioles 108-54 Mgr Earl Weaver
1st in AL East
d. Twins in ALCS
d. Reds in WS
d. #116 1958 Yankees (MVP-Eddie Watt)
All-Stars SP Mike Cuellar (4th AL Cy Young) 2B Davey Johnson, SP Dave McNally (2nd AL Cy Young) SP Jim Palmer, (5th Cy Young) 1B Boog Powell (AL MVP) OF Frank Robinson, 3B Brooks Robinson
Hall of Famers: Jim Palmer, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Earl Weaver
Red Sox 97-65 Mgr. John Farrell (2nd AL Mgr of the Year)
1st in AL East
d. Rays in ALDS
d. Tigers in ALCS
d. Cardinals in WS
d. #72. 1941 Dodgers (MVP: David Ortiz, Matt Carp)
All-Stars SP Clay Buchholz, DH David Ortiz, 2B Dustin Pedroia
Red Sox-John Farrell
CF Ellsbury (29) (LH) 113 4.9
RF Victorino (32) (SH) 118 5.5
LF Carp (27) 139 1.3
1B Nava (30) (SH) 127 2.8
C Saltalamacchia (28) (SH) 118 3.1
SS Drew (30) (LH) 111 3.5
2B Pedroia (29) 115 5.6
3B Iglesias (23) 115 1.6
P Buchholz (28) 237 4
Bench:
1B Napoli (31) 128 3.4
DH Ortiz (37) (LH) 159 4.7
C Ross (36) 85
3B Middlebrooks (24) 87
LF Gomes (32) 110
OF Bradley (23) (LH) 68
IF Ciriaco (27) 76
3B Holt (LH) (25) 43
C Lavarnway (25) 106
IF Snyder (26) 53
SP2 Lester (29) (LH) 110 3.3
SP3 Lackey (34) 117 3.4
RH Palmer going for the Orioles in game 1 so we see Boston's LH heavy lineup, McNally and Cuellar are both lefties going in games 2-3, so Napoli plays first, Ross might catch, Middlebrooks might play third with Iglesias moving to short. Both Gomes and Nava are in play for an OF spot. Ortiz can't play the field at all, so he will only see starts in Boston.
Orioles-Earl Weaver
CF Rettenmund (27) 156 4.3
RF Robinson (34) 151 4.3
1B Powell (28) (LH) 163 5.1
LF Buford (33) (SH) 126 4.4
3B Robinson (33) 109 3.3
2B Johnson (27) 107 3.8
C Hendricks (29) (LH) 92 1.5
SS Belanger (26) 56 1.9
P Palmer (24) 134 6.3
Bench:
C Etchebarren (27) 82 .6
SS Salmon (29) 86 .1
CF Blair (26) 114 5.3
1B Crowley (23) (LH) 116
2B Grich (21) 55
LF Motton (29) 110
SP2 McNally (27) (LH) 113 4.7
SP3 Cuellar (33) (LH) 105 3.5
Orioles have 4 OF for 3 spots - against the RH in game 1 it'll be Buford in and Blair out, that'll switch in game two against a LH, with Blair playing CF. When the series goes to Boston, Buford will DH. Probably platoon behind the plate. Salmon has a better bat than Belanger and might see some action.
WAR Advtantage
C-Sox
1B-Orioles
2B-Sox
SS-Sox
3B-Orioles
LF-Orioles
CF-Push
RF-Sox
DH-Sox
SP1-Orioles
SP2-Orioles
SP3-Sox
Bullpen-Sox
Sox 7 Orioles 5, so Orioles have seed advantage, Sox have WAR advantage, it's Pedroia, just by a tick, who is the best position player in the series. Baltimore is the top seed in the Region..this is so, so close...let's say that home field advantage takes Ortiz's bat away just enough to make...by the narrowest of margins, the Orioles are the favorites. This could be a super competitive series. One to definitely look forward to.
GAME ONE
1st: Here's Jim Palmer. We've talked about him a bunch in this round; this year he's 24 with a 2.71 ERA. He walks Jacoby Ellsbury but that's all.
1st: 28 year old RH Clay Buchholz gets the call for the Sox; 12-1, 1.74 ERA. Buchholz came up in '07, was 6th in the Cy Young in '10, he made his 2nd All Star team this year. He'll stay in Boston through '16, then be sent to the Phillies for a prospect. It appears that '19 is his final season, as a Blue Jay. He gets the first two - then Boog Powell sends the Memorial Stadium crowd into a frenzy with a rocket shot - a bomb to dead center. Sox 0 Orioles 1
2nd: Stephen Drew draws a two out walk. Drew's 30, up in Arizona in '06, this is his first season in Boston, signing as a free agent, the Sox deal him at next year's deadline to the Yankees for Kelly Johnson. His last season is '17 with Washington. That's all.
2nd: Davey Johnson singles, he will be the second baseman next year as well, so we've discussed him. '72 will be his last season in Baltimore. After an out Mark Belanger walks, that's all.
3rd: Jose Iglesias singles. Iglesias is a 23 year old rookie, he finished 2nd this year in the AL Rookie of the Year - but not with Boston; he was dealt away to the Tigers at the deadline in a deal that also included the White Sox. Jake Peavy came back to Boston, Peavy is in the bullpen for this series. In 2020 - Iglesias is playing for these Orioles. He's standing at second two outs later when Shane Victorino singles him home, tying the score. Sox 1 Orioles 1
3rd: Frank Robinson singles - he'll be on next year's team and so has been discussed. He's stranded.
4th: Jordan Saltalamacchia singles with one out - Salty came up with the Braves as a 22 year old in '07, he came over from the Rangers in a deadline deal in '10 and he signs as a free agent after this season with the Marlins. He ends his career as a Tiger in '18. Drew singles and after the second out Pedroia singles, but Palmer leaves it there.
4th: Johnson doubles - but is left.
5th: Jacoby Ellsbury singles with one out, Ellsbury's 29, came up in '07, third in Rookie of the Year in '08, led the league in stolen bases in both '08 and '09, finished second in the MVP in '11. This is his last year in Boston, he signs with the Yankees as a free agent and his final big league season will be '17. That's it.
5th: Boog Powell walks with two outs, he's next year's first baseman as well. Don Buford singles and Brooks Robinson walks. Bases loaded. Two out. And Buchholz escapes.
6th: Salty singles with one out, after the second out, Pedroia doubles -- Salty rounds third -- and is gunned down at the plate with a rifle shot by Don Buford! The Sox do not score - and the game remains tied.
6th: Ellie Hendricks singles, we've seen him with next year's Orioles and he's already moved forward as the backup for the '77 Yankees. Two outs later Merv Rettenmund doubles -- and it's Baltimore who is able to take advantage and score the go ahead run. Frank Robinson then walks and the inning ends. Sox 1 Orioles 2
7th: After an out - Farrell calls on David Ortiz to hit. Ortiz is going to the Hall of Fame; he's 37 years old and broke in 16 years prior with the Twins. They release him after the '02 season and he's signed by Boston. Over the next 5 years he finished in the top 5 in the AL MVP every season. He's an All Star in all of those seasons and then also makes the team in '08, '10, '11, '12. This year he finished 10th in the MVP race, his final season is 2016, when he finishes 6th in the MVP race. Ortiz singles - but that's all Palmer allows.
7th: Both teams have strong pens, the Sox rolls thick - 32 year old lefty Craig Breslow had a 1.81 ERA, he gets an out, then gives up a Brooks Robinson single - that's all.
8th: Mike Carp singles. Carp, along with Ortiz, were co-MVPs in Round one. Carp's a career part timer, the Sox bought him from Seattle prior to the start of the season and next year is the last of his career. Daniel Nava walks and Salty gets hit and suddenly the Sox have loaded the bases with no one out. And then there's a passed ball - and it ties the score and there still is no one out. 30 year old lefty Pete Richert enters with a 1.98 ERA - he gives up a Drew sac fly that gives Boston the lead. After the second out, Iglesias singles and now it's 4-2. Sox 4 Orioles 2
8th: 27 year old RH Junichi Tozawa has a 3.16 ERA and he's next for Boston. With one out Belanger singles. That's it.
9th: 29 year old RH Eddie Watt was the MVP of the last round and he enters for Baltimore - 1-2-3
9th: 3 left. Koji Uehara is a 38 year old RH with a 1.09 ERA and 21 saves and he needs 3 outs.
Rettenmund is first. Strikeout.
Frank Robinson is next. Flies to right.
Powell is next - flies to center and it's done
Sox 4
Orioles 2
WP Breslow
LP Palmer
The wheels fell off tor the Orioles in the 8th and they've lost their home field advantage.
For Boston...
Ellsbury reached twice
Salty reached twice
Drew reached twice
Pedroia reached twice
Iglesias reached twice
For the Orioles..
Frank reached twice
Powell reached twice w/HR
Buford reached twice
Brooks reached twice
Johnson reached twice
Belanger reached twice
One more in Baltimore - can the O's even this up?
2B Pedroia (29) 115 5.6
SS Iglesias (23) 115 1.6
LF Carp (27) 139 1.3
1B Napoli (31) 128 3.4
RF Nava (30) (SH) 127 2.8
CF Victorino (32) (SH) 118 5.5
3B Middlebrooks (24) 87
C Ross (36) 85
SP2 Lester (29) (LH) 110 3.3
LF Rettenmund (27) 156 4.3
RF Robinson (34) 151 4.3
1B Powell (28) (LH) 163 5.1
CF Blair (26) 114 5.3
3B Robinson (33) 109 3.3
2B Johnson (27) 107 3.8
C Etchebarren (27) 82 .6
SS Belanger (26) 56 1.9
SP2 McNally (27) (LH) 113 4.7
GAME TWO
1st: 27 year old lefty Dave McNally gets the ball for the Orioles, down a game in this series - 24-9, 3.22, he will also pitch for next year's team, so we've discussed him. McNally is second in the Cy Young this year and 4th next McNally was an excellent playoff pitcher - 90 innings pitched, a 2.49 ERA. He started twice in the '70 postseason and won both of them. He gives up a one out single to Jose Iglesias then walks Mike Carp. That's all.
1st: Boston turns to Jon Lester, 29 year old lefty, 15-8, 3.75. Lester came up in '06, was 4th in the Cy Young in '10, he'll be 4th again next year - during which he and Johnny Gomes are sent to Oakland for Yoenis Cespedes. Lester has 2 more top 10 Cy Young finishes as a Cub, for whom he still pitches in 2020. He gives up a leadoff triple to Rettenmund and a run scoring double to Frank Robinson - Boog Powell then hits a two run homer and Baltimore has bounced to a quick 3-0 lead. Sox 0 Orioles 3
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Andy Etchebarren singles - he's catching today against the lefty Lester, largely a backup catcher throughout his 15 year career, Etchebarren came up when he was 19 in '62, was an All Star in both '66-67, he'll be sold to the Angels during the '75 season and finish with the Brewers in '78. After an out he's on second and then sores on a McNally single. Sox 0 Orioles 4
3rd: 1-2-3, 8 straight for McNally
3rd: Powell doubles - man, the Orioles are pounding Lester - Paul Blair then doubles him home. Blair is the center fielder today against a lefty; he was 20 when he broke in in '64, picks up 8 Gold Glove awards in Baltimore - he's on that '77 Yankee team that already advanced, the Yankees got him for Elliott Maddox. Sox 0 Orioles 5
4th: 1-2-3, 11 straight.
4th: 1-2-3
5th: Will Middlebrooks, playing today against the lefty, singles with one out. Middlebrooks is 24, came up last year, he's dealt to the Padres for Ryan Hanigan after next season and his last year in the bigs will be '17 in Texas. David Ross then walks, Lester, hitting for himself - doubles home Boston's first run. Pedroia follows with a single that clears the bases and just like that it's 5-3 and McNally is out of the game. Weaver brings in 26 year old lefty Marcelino Lopez, he gives up a run scoring double to Iglesias. It ends here, but the 4 run inning puts the Sox right back in this one. Sox 4 Orioles 5
5th: Powell singles with one out, Blair singles him to third and a Brooks Robinson sac fly gives Baltimore back a run. That ends the day for Lester - Jake Peavy 32 year old RH gets the call and ends it. Sox 4 Orioles 6
6th: 1-2-3
6th: Belanger doubles with one out, that's all.
7th: Pedroia hits a 2 out single, that's all - nice work by Lopez.
7th: Powell keeps it going with a single - Blair keeps it going with a double -- and then Brooks Robinson ends this one with a 3 run jack -- that gets this Memorial Stadium crowd back up - now they have a five run lead and are about to tie this series. 27 year old lefty Franklin Morales comes on to pitch, he walks Johnson, that's all. Sox 4 Orioles 9
8th: 1-2-3, Lopez continues his big outing.
8th: Rettenmund walks with one out and Frank Robinson singles -- Boog Powell does it again with a run scoring single. 30 year old RH Alfredo Aceves enters - and gives up a run scoring Paul Blair double. Sox 4 Orioles 11
9th: 34 year old RH Moe Drabowsky looks to end it - gives up a Victorino single, that's all.
Sox 4
Orioles 11
WP Lopez
LP Lester
Oriole bats just open up on this Sox staff - and this series heads to Fenway all tied up.
For the Orioles..
Frank has reached 4x
Rettenmund reached twice in game 2 w/triple
Powell has reached 7x w/2HR
Blair had 4 hits, 3 doubles in game 2
Buford reached twice
Brooks has reached3x w/HR
Johnson has reached 3x
Belanger has reached 3x
For Boston...
Ellsbury reached twice
Salty reached twice
Drew reached twice
Pedroia has reached 4x
Iglesias has reached 4x
The DH will be in play for games 3-4 - let's go to Fenway.
Orioles
LF Rettenmund (27) 156 4.3
1B Powell (28) (LH) 163 5.1
RF Robinson (34) 151 4.3
DH Buford (33) (SH) 126 4.4
CF Blair (26) 114 5.3
3B Robinson (33) 109 3.3
2B Johnson (27) 107 3.8
C Hendricks (29) (LH) 92 1.5
SS Belanger (26) 56 1.9
SP3 Cuellar (33) (LH) 105 3.5
Sox
2B Pedroia (29) 115 5.6
3B Iglesias (23) 115 1.6
DH Ortiz (37) (LH) 159 4.7
1B Napoli (31) 128 3.4
LF Gomes (32) 110
RF Victorino (32) (SH) 118 5.5
C Saltalamacchia (28) (SH) 118 3.1
CF Ellsbury (29) (LH) 113 4.9
SS Drew (30) (LH) 111 3.5
SP3 Lackey (34) 117 3.4
GAME THREE
1st: Fenway Park. Game 3. Series tied at one. On the mound for the Sox - John Lackey. 34, RH. 10-13, so probably the worst record of any pitcher we'll see get a tournament start, 3.52. Lackey was 4th in the AL Rookie of the Year with the Angels back in '02. 3rd in the Cy Young in '07. Signs as a free agent with Boston before '10, this is his last full year with the Sox, they move him at the deadline in '14 to the Cards for Allen Craig and Joe Kelly. His last year is '17 with the Cubs. With two outs, he walks Frank Robinson and gives up a Don Buford base hit - that's it.
1st: 33 year old lefty Mike Cuellar takes the ball for Baltimore; 24-8, 3.48. Cuellar won the Cy Young in '69, 4th this year and makes the All Star team for the '71 club we've already seen. Strong in the postseason for his career - 85 innings, 2.85 ERA. He wasn't great this year - the Twins banged him around in the ALCS (4 innings, 6 earned) but he went 11 innings with a 3.18 ERA and went 1-0 in the World Series. He hits Iglesias with one out, that's all.
2nd: Brooks Robinson singles. He was 7th in the AL MVP this year; we've discussed him with the '71 team. Good playoff career - hit .303 in 145 at bats with 5 homers. And this year - he was World Series MVP, hitting .429 against the Reds. That's all.
2nd: Salty hits a 2 out double - he sat in game 2, but catches today and that's likely to continue the rest of the way. Nothing results.
3rd: Belanger gets hit - probably coincidental that Iglesias got hit a couple innings prior, but something to monitor - Boog Powell stays hot, singling him to third after the first out and when Frank Robinson hits a sac fly - it's the Orioles who break through with the game's first run. Orioles 1 Sox 0
3rd: Pedroia singles and then Iglesias is hit again. Iglesias will not be able to continue in the series - Middlebrooks will enter. The crowd is now buzzing - given the circumstances, it doesn't really make sense that any of this is intentional - but 3 hit batsmen in 3 innings is a lot and there's definitely some chirping going on. Ortiz then singles to load the bases and Mike Napoli singles home two runs and now Boston takes the lead. Victorino singles home a run. Saltalamacchia doubles home two -- big, big inning for the Sox - Orioles 1 Sox 5
4th: Blair singles - then steals second - then scores on a Brooks Robinson double to get a run back. Davey Johnson walks. Ellie Hendricks singles. Still no one out -- Belanger the singles and now it's 5-3 and a Rettenmund groundout makes it 5-4. Book Powell singles home the tying run -- here's where it ends; the Orioles come all the way back and tie this up. Orioles 5 Sox 5
4th: One out and then- Pedroia singles. Dustin Pedroia is 29, he'll spend his entire 14 year career in Boston. Rookie of the Year in '07, MVP in '08, Top 10 finishes in both '11 and this year. His last season is '19. It ends here.
5th: 1-2-3
5th: David Ortiz hits Cuellar's first pitch off the Pesky pole to give Boston the lead -- thunderous - thunderous roar at Fenway as Ortiz circles the bases. Napoli then walks, an out later Victorino singles and Salty singles home another run. Marcelino Lopez was strong in relief in game 2 - he gives up a run scoring groundout to Ellsbury and then a double to Drew - it ends here, Orioles 5 Sox 8
6th: Belanger singles with one out - Belanger hit just .218 this year (his career BA was .228) in ten postseason series for his career he hit .183 and while he was bad in the World Series this season (.105) his best ever playoff series was the '70 ALCS, when he hit .333 against the Twins. After the second out Lackey walks Powell -- and then Frank Robinson ties it up with one swing - a 3 run homer over the Monster in LF --- huge, huge, huge moment here in game 3 - the Hall of Famer hits a 3 run homer and the score is all tied up. Craig Breslow enters and ends the inning. Orioles 8 Sox 8
6th: Lopez gets the first -- and then it's Papi Ortiz - with another home run -- David Ortiz homers to left center - and Boston - Boston is back in front -- a massive curtain call for Ortiz - the hometown crowd ecastic as the Papi chants fill all of New England. Pete Richert comes on for Baltimore and ends it. Orioles 8 Sox 9
7th: Paul Blair singles/Brooks Robinson walks and the Orioles are back at it. An out moves both men up a base - and Ellie Hendricks singles them both home -- and it's Baltimore who has taken the lead. Belanger then singles - back to the pen Boston goes for Junichi Tazawa to end it. Orioles 10 Sox 9
7th: Salty singles with one out - but Richert holds the lead. We head to the 8th in a slugfest at Fenway.
8th: After one out -- Don Buford homers -- Baltimore adds a run to the lead -- Blair then reaches on an error - and Brooks Robinson, who homered back in game 2 -- does it again right here -- a two run shot and now the Orioles have a big lead in the 8th inning. Davey Johnson doubles and that ends Tazawa's day - 29 year old RH Andrew Bailey enters - Hendricks walks, after the second out Rettenmund walks -- the bases are loaded - that's where it ends. Orioles 13 Sox 9
8th: Eddie Watt gets the call from Weaver -- can they get 6 more outs. He gives up a one out single to Middlebrooks, that's all.
9th: 26 year old RH Alex Wilson is the next Boston arm, After an out, Buford walks, Blair singles, and then Brooks walks and Baltimore has loaded the bases again - after the second out Hendricks ends this game with a bases clearing double. Baltimore just pounding - just pounding Boston pitching the last two games. Alfredo Aceves finishes up. Orioles 16 Sox 9
9th: 1-2-3
Orioles 16
Sox 9
WP Richert
LP Breslow
The Orioles score 27 runs in games 2 and 3 and grab the 2-1 lead.
One more at Fenway. The game one starters return. Can the Sox force game 5?
Orioles
LF Rettenmund (27) 156 4.3
1B Powell (28) (LH) 163 5.1
RF Robinson (34) 151 4.3
DH Buford (33) (SH) 126 4.4
CF Blair (26) 114 5.3
3B Robinson (33) 109 3.3
2B Johnson (27) 107 3.8
C Hendricks (29) (LH) 92 1.5
SS Belanger (26) 56 1.9
P Palmer (24) 134 6.3
Red Sox
CF Ellsbury (29) (LH) 113 4.9
RF Victorino (32) (SH) 118 5.5
DH Ortiz (37) (LH) 159 4.7
1B Nava (30) (SH) 127 2.8
LF Carp (27) 139 1.3
C Saltalamacchia (28) (SH) 118 3.1
SS Drew (30) (LH) 111 3.5
2B Pedroia (29) 115 5.6
3B Middlebrooks (24) 87
P Buchholz (28) 237 4
GAME FOUR
1st: Clay Buccholz is back, he's okay in his postseason career, 29 innings, 4.25, most of that was in 2013, he got 4 postseason starts. Rettenmund greets him with a single and then Boog Powell clubs his 3rd homer of the series - a bomb to dead center - the Orioles are at it again. After an out, Don Buford doubles and Paul Blair walks. After the second out Brooks Robinson singles home Buford. Is this the last game of the series? Orioles 3 Sox 0
1st: In the postseason, Palmer was 8-3, 2.61 in 124 innings. He got 3 postseason starts in '70, went 2-0, 11 earned runs in 24 innings. After an out, Victorino homers - Boston's not going down without a fight. Orioles 3 Sox 1
2nd: Rettenmund doubles with one out, and after the second out Frank Robinson doubles and that's another Oriole run. Buford/Blair then walk and the bases are loaded. That's all. Orioles 4 Sox 1
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: 1-2-3
3rd: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Palmer.
4th: Two outs in -- Frank Robinson homers. His second homer of the series, the MVP race looks to be the only competiton left in this series. Orioles 5 Sox 1
4th: 1-2-3, 11 straight for Palmer.
5th: 1-2-3
5th: Carp walks, Salty doubles and Drew drives both home with a double and now it's 5-3. Pedoria singles and they're on the corners and the Fenway crowd is alive - after an out an Ellsbury groundout scores the 4th run. Victorino walks - it ends here but the Sox live. Orioles 5 Sox 4
6th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Buchholz.
6th: Carp doubles with one out - and after the second out Drew drives him home with a double to tie the score. Orioles 5 Sox 5
7th: Craig Breslow is the new Sox pitcher. Tie score. Game 4. This series is still up for grabs. 1-2-3
7th: Ellsbury singles. That's all. We go to the 8th.
8th: Blair walks - that brings in Junichi Tazawa. Blair steals second. And Brooks Robinson singles him home. Baltimore's broken the tie - and just six outs from ending the series. Orioles 6 Sox 5
8th: 1-2-3, Palmer muscles up and we head to the 9th.
9th: Rettenmund singles. That's all. Bottom.
9th: Palmer remains in the game - Weaver trusting his ace to finish this off.
Drew is first - he flies to Blair. One.
Pedoria is next..foul pop...it's Robinson near the third base dugout...Two.
Middlebrooks grounds to Belanger. Onto Powell. Ballgame.
Orioles 6
Red Sox 5
WP Palmer
LP Buchholz
The Orioles put their first team through to the next round, the 15th team of 32 to advance.
Just a ton, a ton of Oriole bats throughout the series - let's say Boog Powell's 3 homers make him the MVP.
