20. 2018 World Champion Boston Red Sox v. 45. 1947 World Champion New York Yankees
The top half of the bracket ends here. We just saw the Sox from five years prior lose - here's the 2018 version. Boston does not have a team in the next round; they will have one more shot in the bottom half of the bracket. 3 Yankees teams have advanced, 1943, 1953, 1977. Losing this round: '41, '21, '52, '37, '49, '78. They've got 8 teams still to come.
Red Sox 108-54 Mgr. Alex Cora (2nd AL Mgr of Year)
1st in AL East
d. Yankees in ALDS
d. Astros in ALCS
d. Dodgers in WS
d. #109 1934 Tigers (MVP-Brock Holt)
All-Stars OF Mookie Betts (AL MVP) RP Craig Kimbrel, DH JD Martinez (4th AL MVP) 1B Mitch Moreland, SP Chris Sale (4th AL Cy Young)
Yankees 97-57 Bucky Harris
Won AL Pennant
d. Dodgers in WS
d. #84 1989 A's (MVP-Tommy Henrich/Allie Reynolds)
All-Stars SP Spud Chandler, OF Joe DiMaggio (AL MVP) OF Tommy Henrich, 3B Billy Johnson, OF Charlie Keller, 1B George McQuinn, RP Joe Page (4th AL MVP) C Aaron Robinson, SP Spec Shea (3rd MLB RoY)
Hall of Famers: Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Phil Rizutto, Bucky Harris
Yankees
3B Johnson (28) 114 2.2
CF DiMaggio (32) 154 4.6
LF Keller (30) (LH) 165 2
RF Henrich (34) (LH) 138 4.9
1B McQuinn (37) (LH) 132 4.2
DH Robinson (32) (LH) 118 1.6
C Berra (22) (LH) 115 1.3
SS Rizzuto (29) 100 4.2
2B Stirnweiss (28) 96 3.4
P Chandler (39) 144 3.4
Bench:
3B Brown (22) (LH) 114 .8
OF Lindell (30) 104
OF Clark (24) 153
C Houk (27) 91
SP2 Reynolds (30) 110 2.3
SP3 Shea (26) 115 2.9
Lefties going for the Sox in games 1-2, Brown will be in the lineup in game 3. Probably Robinson sits in New York, but he might catch with Yogi sitting.
Red Sox
LF Benintendi (23) (LH) 123 4.2
RF Betts (25) 186 9.8
DH Martinez (30) 173 7
1B Pearce (35) 141 1.2
SS Bogaerts (25) 135 5.1
2B Holt (30) 109 (LH) 1
3B Devers (21) (LH) 94 1.5
CF Bradley (28) 92 (LH) 2.1
C Leon (29) (SH) 37 .3
P Sale (29) (LH) 209 6.9
Bench:
C Vazquez (27) 46 .3
1B Moreland (32) (LH) 102
2B Nunez (31) 81
2B Kinsler (36) 64
SS T-W Lin (LH) (24) 100
1B Ramirez (34) 90
C Swihart (26) (SH) 65
SP2 Price (32) (LH) 123 3.7
SP3 Porcello (29) 103 3
All the Yankees starters are RH, that probably means the same starting 8 goes out every day; if Pearce doesn't hit, Moreland is ready at first. Swihart also might get a shot behind the plate. In New York, the current plan is Martinez to left, Benintendi to center with Bradley on the bench, but that's subject to change.
WAR Advantage:
C-Yankees
1B-Yankees
2B-Yankees
SS-Sox
3B-Yankees
LF-Sox
CF-Yankees
RF-Sox
DH-Sox
SP1-Sox
SP2-Sox
SP3-Push
Bullpen-Sox
WAR: Sox 7 Yankees 5 --- so, Sox have the seed advantage (but its close) and the WAR advantage (but its close) and the best player (Betts) - that's enough...we'll say Boston is favored to take this one and close out the top half of the bracket.
GAME ONE
1st: The last series of the top half of the bracket starts with Chris Sale. 29 year old lefty, 12-4, 2.11, Up with the White Sox in '10, 6th in the Cy Young in '12, 5th in '13, 3rd in '14, 4th in '15, 5th in '16 -- then dealt to the Red Sox for Yoan Moncada and Michael Kopech - Sale was 2nd in the Cy in '17, 4th this year. He is out with injury in 2020. Billy Johnson singles, Sale gets the next two - but then Tommy Henrich jacks one over the wall in right center -- Henrich was MVP for the Yankees in Round One and gives them a lead here. Yankees 2 Sox 0
1st: 39 year old Spud Chandler gets the call for the Bombers. 9-5, 2.46. Chandler had already advanced, with the '43 team; he was MVP that season. This is his final year in the bigs. Chandler had a good postseason career, a 1.62 ERA in 33 innings. He only threw 2 innings in the '47 World Series. Mookie Betts singles with one out, that's it.
2nd: Aaron Robinson and Yogi Berra double back to back and it's 3-0. Robinson's on the bench for the '43 team that has already advanced - it was his rookie season. He's going to finish his career with Boston in '51. Yankees 3 Sox 0
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: 1-2-3
3rd: Jackie Bradley singles. Bradley was on the bench for the '13 Sox we saw in the previous series. That was his rookie season, Bradley made the All Star team in '16 and remains the Sox center fielder in 2020. An out later Andrew Benintendi walks, that's all.
4th: 1-2-3, 9 straight for Sale.
4th: Steve Pearce singles. Pearce is 35 and a backup, but has so much bat that Cora's got him in the lineup even against a RH. He came up with Pittsburgh in '07, spent 12 games with the Yankees in '12, Boston bought him from the Jays during this season and next season is his last. He's stranded.
5th: Phil Rizzuto walks - he's already advanced as the shortstop for the '53 team; he gets 183 at bats in 52 postseason games in his career and hits .246. He was better than that this year, 8-26 in the '47 World Series. After an out, Johnson walks and after the second out, Sale hits Charlie Keller to load the bases - but the Yanks don't score.
5th: Bradley singles again, two outs later Betts walks, but that's all - the Sox have yet to score.
6th: George McQuinn singles. McQuinn's 37 years old - came up with the Reds back in '36, most of his career was spent with the Browns - the Yankees picked him up off the street prior to this season and he finished 6th in the AL MVP race and next season is his last. That's all.
6th: 27 year old RH Karl Drews enters with a 4.91 ERA - he walks Brock Holt with two outs, Holt was the MVP for the Sox round one win. He's a utilityman getting the second base nod for the series against the Yankees all RH staff, broke in with the Pirates in '12, 8th in the AL Rookie of the Year for the Sox in '14, his only All Star selection was '15, in 2020, he's a Brewer. That's it.
7th: Sale's day is done, 29 year old RH Heath Hembree enters carrying a 4.20 ERA. He gives up a 1 out single to Stuffy Stirnweiss. He's shares the shortstop job with Frankie Crosetti on that '43 team which advanced and has top 5 AL MVP finishes in '44 and '45. He's dealt to the Browns during the '50 season and finishes in Cleveland in '52. That's all.
7th: Sandy Leon singles with one out, the Sox have multiple catchers who can't hit, Leon came up with the Nats in '12, the Sox bought him in '15, he's an Indian in '20. That brings on 29 year old RH Randy Gumpert to pitch and he ends the inning.
8th: After an out - Tommy Henrich homers. That might wrap up game one - Henrich hits his second homer of the day and the Yanks lead 4-0. 30 year old RH Joe Kelly enters and ends the inning. Yankees 4 Sox 0
8th: Pearce singles with one out, but that's all - only 5 hits today for Boston; the favored Sox go quiet in game one.
9th: Rizzuto singles with one out, nothing else.
9th: 20 year old RH Don Johnson gets the call to close this out - he walks Rafael Devers and two outs later walks Andrew Benintendi. That's enough for Harris - he brings in the hammer, 29 year old lefty Joe Page. Page was an All Star in his rookie season in '44, he was 4th this year in the AL MVP, two years from now he'll be third. He ends his career in '54 with the Pirates. He gets Betts to fly out - and the Yanks shut out the Sox to take game one.
Yankees 4
Red Sox 0
WP Chandler
LP Sale
5 Yankee pitchers combine on a 6 hitter and the Yanks take game one.
For the Yanks...
Johnson reached twice
Henrich had 2 HR
Rizzuto reached twice
For the Sox...
Benintendi reached twice
Betts reached twice
Pearce reached twice
Bradley reached twice
One more at Fenway...can the Sox even the series?
Yankees
3B Johnson (28) 114 2.2
CF DiMaggio (32) 154 4.6
LF Keller (30) (LH) 165 2
RF Henrich (34) (LH) 138 4.9
1B McQuinn (37) (LH) 132 4.2
DH Robinson (32) (LH) 118 1.6
C Berra (22) (LH) 115 1.3
SS Rizzuto (29) 100 4.2
2B Stirnweiss (28) 96 3.4
SP2 Reynolds (30) 110 2.3
Red Sox
LF Benintendi (23) (LH) 123 4.2
RF Betts (25) 186 9.8
DH Martinez (30) 173 7
1B Pearce (35) 141 1.2
SS Bogaerts (25) 135 5.1
2B Holt (30) 109 (LH) 1
3B Devers (21) (LH) 94 1.5
CF Bradley (28) 92 (LH) 2.1
C Swihart (26) (SH) 65
SP2 Price (32) (LH) 123 3.7
GAME TWO
1st Has to be some concern at Fenway today - in game one they threw their ace; DiMaggio went 0-4, and they got beat and pretty easily. There hasn't been (I don't think) an 0-2 comeback yet, so the Sox need this game or its almost certainly the end of their run. 32 year old lefty David Price gets the call - 16-7, 3.58. Price was 22 when he came up with the Rays a decade ago. He was second in the AL Cy Young in '10. Won the Cy in '12. 6th in '14. 2nd in '15. He signs here as a free agent before '16 and leads the league in starts; he and Betts are dealt to the Dodgers prior to the 2020 season. Price gets two and then walks Keller and Henrich, that's all.
1st: Allie Reynolds was a co-MVP in round one, 30 year old RH, 19-8, 3.20 -- he's with the '52 team that has already advanced. Reynolds pitched in 15 postseason games over 6 seasons, went 7-2 with a 2.79 ERA. He started two games against the Dodgers in the '47 Series, went 1-0 with a 4.76 ERA. He gives up a 2 out single with JD Martinez, that's all.
2nd: Aaron Robinson singles, Yogi Berra doubles. Robinson attempts to score but is gunned down at the plate by Jackie Bradley. Scooter follows with a double that scores Berra and the Yanks are again up. Yankees 1 Sox 0
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: Charlie Keller walks with one out and Tommy Henrich singles. Keller's already advanced with the '43 team, Henrich was part of two of the Yankee teams that lost in this round. The inning ends here.
3rd: Andrew Benintendi singles with 2 out. Benintendi was 21 when he came up in '16, was second last year in the Rookie of the Year, he's a part timer for the Sox in 2020. That's all.
4th: Robinson doubles. Yankees will have an interesting game 3 decision behind the plate when the DH goes away. That's all.
4th: 1-2-3, Reynolds has just given up two hits.
5th: DiMaggio doubles, the first time he's reached in the series. DiMaggio has yet to advance, he was on the '37 and '41 teams that lost. Was in the War in '43 and that team advanced, and then was on the '49 team that lost. DiMaggio has lost 3 series in this round already - but maybe not this one - Charlie Keller hits a two run homer, the Yanks are now up 3. Henrich doubles, McQuinn walks - and then after an out -- Yogi hits a 3 run bomb -- that makes this one 6-0, the Yanks already won game 1 - now are up 6-0 and Price is gone. 33 year old RH Steven Wright enters and that's all. Yankees 6 Sox 0
5th: Rafael Devers homers with one out. Devers is 21, came up last year, he'll lead the league in doubles next year and is still Boston's third baseman in 2020. Blake Swihart singles after the second out. Benintendi then singles - that's it. Yankees 6 Sox 1
6th: 1-2-3
6th: After an out, Pearce and Bogaerts walk. Holt singles. Bases loaded. Can the Sox crawl back into this? After the second out - Bradley singles to score two. Bradley then swipes second, giving the Sox men on second and third -- and they both score on a Swihart single and the Sox have crawled back. Yankees 6 Sox 5
7th: Tommy Henrich singles and then George McQuinn hits a 2 run homer -- the Sox have their first sign of life in the entire series - and the Yanks just immediately step on their throat. Heath Hembree enters, ends it. Yankees 8 Sox 5
7th: JD Martinez singles with one out - and after another out the Sox follow with singles by Pearce and Bogaerts - and that's where it ends.
8th: DiMaggio singles with 2 out, that's it.
8th: After an out, Bradley singles and Swihart walks - but Reynolds strands them and we head to the 9th.
9th: Joe Kelly is the new Sox pitcher, Henrich singles, that's it.
9th: Joe Page enters - he closed game one and he looks to do the same here - Bogaerts singles with 2 out, but that's the end of the game.
Yankees 8
Red Sox 5
WP Reynolds
LP Price
Boston's dead. They drop the first two games of the series at home and now head to Yankee Stadium where they lose their DH and have to win both games to force a return to Fenway.
For the Yanks...
Johnson reached twice
DiMaggio has reached 2x
Keller reached 3x in game 2 w/HR
Henrich has reached 7x w/2 HR
McQuinn reached 2x w/HR
Robinson reached 2x in game 2
Yogi reached 2x in game 2 w/HR
Rizzuto reached 3x
For the Sox...
Benintendi reached 4x
Martinez reached 2x in game 2
Betts reached twice
Pearce reached 4x
Bogaerts reached 3x
Devers homered in game 2
Bradley reached 4x
Swihart reached 3x
GAME THREE
Red Sox
LF Benintendi (23) (LH) 123 4.2
RF Betts (25) 186 9.8
1B Pearce (35) 141 1.2
SS Bogaerts (25) 135 5.1
3B Devers (21) (LH) 94 1.5
CF Bradley (28) 92 (LH) 2.1
2B Nunez (31) 81
C Swihart (26) (SH) 65
SP3 Porcello (29) 103 3
Yankees
LF Keller (30) (LH) 165 2
RF Henrich (34) (LH) 138 4.9
CF DiMaggio (32) 154 4.6
1B McQuinn (37) (LH) 132 4.2
C Berra (22) (LH) 115 1.3
3B Johnson (28) 114 2.2
SS Rizzuto (29) 100 4.2
2B Stirnweiss (28) 96 3.4
SP3 Shea (26) 115 2.9
GAME THREE
1st: Spec Shea is a 26 year old RH, 14-5, 3.07 and he can end this series in a very unexpected Yankee sweep. Shea was 3rd in the AL Rookie of the Year this year, He's dealt to the Senators in '52, Jackie Jensen is part of that deal headed to Washington and he stops after '55. 1-2-3
1st: The Sox lost the first two at home and are really, really up against it. They turn to 29 year old RH Rick Porcello 17-7, 4.28. Like Shea, Porcello also finished 3rd in the AL Rookie of the Year, in '09 with the Tigers. He's dealt to the Sox after the '14 season for Yoenis Cespedes and wins the Cy Young in '16. In 2020, he's a Met. He gives up a two out single to DiMaggio, that's all.
2nd: Devers walks with one out, Eduardo Nunez is a 31 year old second baseman getting his first start of the series - and he doubles into the right field corner -- Devers comes all the way around to score and its the Sox who take the game 3 lead. Nunez spent the first four seasons of his career as a Yankee, he came to Boston from the Giants in '17, Shaun Anderson headed to San Francisco. Like Porcello, in 2020, he's a Met. Swihart walks, that's all. Sox 1 Yankees 0
2nd: Yogi ties the score with a first pitch homer to left center. His second homer of the series - Yogi's already advanced with the '53 Yankees; Yogi will play in 14 postseason series in his career, he hits .274 in 259 at bats with a dozen homers. He struggled in the '47 World Series, hitting .158 against the Dodgers. Bill Johnson follows with a single and an out later Stuffy Stirnweiss walks. That's all. Sox 1 Yankees 1
3rd: Andrew Benintendi doubles - but nothing results.
3rd: Henrich and DiMaggio single back to back - but Porcello keeps them off the board.
4th: Bradley walks with one out, after the second out Blake Swihart singles. Swihart reached 3 times in game 2 and he is now the Boston catcher. Swihart was never an everyday player in his 5 year big league career, his last season, as of 2020, was in Arizona in '19, he was released from the Rangers system last week. Nothing eventuates.
4th: 1-2-3
5th: Benintendi singles - but he's stranded.
5th: Shea walks, that's it.
6th: Bradley's hit with one out - and then Nunez comes through again, doubles to left center and Bradley comes all the way around to score the tiebreaking run. Sox 2 Yankees 1
6th: Alex Cora goes to the pen for Heath Hembree, he's pitched in each game, 1-2-3
7th: 27 year old RH Karl Drews enters for the Yankees - he gives up a Benintendi single, his third hit of the day, but that's it.
7th: Billy Johnson walks and Rizzuto doubles him to third. Johnson's already advanced with that '43 team, Rizzuto with the '52 team. Joe Kelly has pitched in each game - and he comes on now with the potential tying and go ahead runs in scoring position with nobody out -- and he holds the line, Boston keeping that lead.
8th: 29 year old RH Randy Gumpert gets the ball; 1-2-3
8th: Charlie Keller walks - 2 outs later George McQuinn singles - 28 year old RH Matt Barnes comes on - tying run at second - go ahead run at first --- but again the Sox escape and we head to the 9th.
9th: Swihart singles - two outs later Betts walks and that's where it ends. Bottom.
9th: 30 year old RH Craig Kimbrel is the closer. 42 saves and a 2.74 ERA. Kimbrel came up with the Braves in '10, Rookie of the Year in '11. 5th in the NL Cy Young in '12, 4th in '13, 9th in '14. The Sox got him from the Padres after the '15 season; he was 6th in the AL Cy Young in '17 - this is the end of his Sox career, he signs with the Cubs in '19 and remains there in '20.
Billy Johnson is first. Walk. Winning run to the plate.
Rizzuto pops to second. One away.
Stirnweiss strikes out. Two away.
Bobby Brown comes on to hit -- and he flies to right and the Sox are alive.
Sox 2
Yankees 1
WP Porcello
LP Shea
5 Sox pitchers scatter 7 hits and Boston gets their first win.
For the Sox...
Benintendi has reached 7x
Martinez reached 2x in game 2
Betts has reached 3x
Pearce reached 4x
Bogaerts reached 3x
Devers homered in game 2
Bradley has reached 5x
Nunez has reached 2x and won game 3
Swihart has reached 6x
For the Yanks...
Johnson has reached 5x
DiMaggio has reached 4x
Keller reached 3x in game 2 w/HR
Henrich has reached 8x w/2 HR
McQuinn reached 2x w/HR
Robinson reached 2x in game 2
Yogi has 2 HR
Rizzuto has reached 4x
The Game one starters return - that means Chris Sale - if he can beat the Yankees this series is suddently all tied up and headed back to Boston.
Red Sox
LF Benintendi (23) (LH) 123 4.2
RF Betts (25) 186 9.8
SS Bogaerts (25) 135 5.1
1B Moreland (32) (LH) 102
3B Devers (21) (LH) 94 1.5
CF Bradley (28) 92 (LH) 2.1
2B Nunez (31) 81
C Swihart (26) (SH) 65
P Sale (29) (LH) 209 6.9
Yankees
3B Johnson (28) 114 2.2
CF DiMaggio (32) 154 4.6
LF Keller (30) (LH) 165 2
RF Henrich (34) (LH) 138 4.9
1B McQuinn (37) (LH) 132 4.2
C Berra (22) (LH) 115 1.3
SS Rizzuto (29) 100 4.2
2B Stirnweiss (28) 96 3.4
P Chandler (39) 144 3.4
GAME FOUR
1st: A little less celebratory, a little more anxious, here at Yankee Stadium for Game 4. Spud Chandler back on the Yankee mound. 1-2-3
1st: Chris Sale is 9 innings away from tying up this series. He gets 2 - but then gives up a monster bomb to Charlie Keller. It's his second homer of the series and the Yankees take the lead. Sox 0 Yankees 1
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: McQuinn triples. After an out, Sale hits Rizzuto and they are on the corners - but that's where they stay.
3rd: 1-2-3, 9 up, 9 down for Chandler.
3rd: Keller walks with 2 out, but Sale leaves him at first.
4th: Benintendi doubles and Betts walks. 2 on, nobody out. And then Bogaerts walks. All loaded up. And Chandler escapes. Big spot here.
4th: 1-2-3
5th: 1-2-3
5th: Allie Clark hits for Chandler with one out and singles - but that's all.
6th: Chandler is pulled after 5 innings, as was he in game one, despite allowing 1 hit. Karl Drews takes over. He gives up a one out Benintendi single and then walks Betts...but the Sox still do not score.
6th: 1-2-3, Sale's given up just 3 hits but he's on the wrong side of the score as we go to the 7th.
7th: Bradley singles with 2 out, but that's all. Getting late for the Sox.
7th: Rizzuto singles with one out and then Sale hits Stirnweiss - but that's as far as it goes.
8th: The Yankees are 6 outs away from advancing. And they turn to the closer, Joe Page to go pick them up. He walks Swihart - and JD Martinez comes off the bench to hit for Sale.
He singles. Men on the corners and nobody out. Looks like this is the chance for Boston.
Ian Kinsler enters to run for Martinez. Benintendi grounds to McQuinn...he has no play at the plate, Swihart scores the tying run and now Kinsler's at second with one out.
Betts walks. Two on. 1 out. Tie score. Bogaerts flies to right -- Kinsler's able to get to third, but now there are two outs.
Page strikes Moreland out to end the inning. Sox 1 Yankees 1
8th: Heath Hembree again. He walks DiMaggio with one out and Keller singles Joe over to third. Henrich grounds to first -- throw on to get one -- but the throw to first is late and DiMaggio has scored the go ahead run. And then George McQuinn maybe ends this series with a 2 run shot -- Yankee Stadium explodes - it's 4-1 New York. Joe Kelly comes on - and Yogi hits his first pitch over the wall and that probably ends this. Huge roar in the Bronx - the Yankees are about to move their 4th team into the round of 32 - Sox 1 Yankees 5
9th: 1-2-3
And that's it.
Sox 1
Yankees 5
WP Page
LP Hembree
The Sox get only 4 hits in game 4 and are eliminated.
For the Yanks...
Keller hit 2 homers
Henrich hit 2 HR
McQuinn hit 2 homers
And Yogi hit 3.
Also, two strong (but short) Chandler outings...let's say it's Yogi who wins this MVP.
Half the field is set for the Round of 32.
Region One
1984 Tigers v. 1977 Yankees
1975 Reds v. 1943 Yankees
Region Two
1948 Indians v. 2017 Dodgers
1944 Cardinals v. 1912 Giants
Region Three
1904 Giants v. 2011 Phillies
1909 Cubs v. 1953 Yankees
Region Four
1922 Giants v. 1909 A's
1970 Orioles v. 1947 Yankees
