30. 1904 New York Giants v. 99. 1925 Pittsburgh Pirates
The 1912 Giants have advanced; there's not a Pirate team moving forward as of yet. This Pirate team is the underdog, but they're the ones who won the World Series, the Giants infamously chose not to participate in what would have been the second ever World Series.
Pirates-Bill McKechnie
CF Carey (35) 126 4.4
RF Cuyler (26) 152 7
1B Grantham (25) 125 1.8
C Smith (28) 109 2.2
LF Barnhart (29) 109 2.5
3B Traynor (26) 108 4.2
SS Wright (24) 102 5.2
2B Moore (26) 98 2.7
P Aldridge (31) 123 2.9
Bench:
1B McInnis (34) 129 1
Gm 2 SP: Meadows (30) 121 3.4
Gm 3 SP: Kremer (32) 120 2.6
Morrison (29) (115) 1.7
Platoon at first with Grantham and McInnis, but it's really unlikely the Pirates will see a lefty starter here.
Giants-John McGraw
CF Bresnahan (25) 139 3.5
RF Donlin (26) 130 .6
1B McGann (32) 124 4.4
LF Mertes (31) 123 3.7
2B Dunn (31) 132 1.7
3B Devlin (24) 119 5.3
SS Dahlen (34) 100 5.2
C Warner (31) 47 1.1
P McGinnity (33) 170 7.5
Bench:
C Bowerman (35) 83 1.6
2B Gilbert (28) 94 3.3
RF Browne (28) 105 1.7
Gm2 SP: Mathewson (23) 134 7
Gm3 SP: Taylor (29) 117 3.8
McGraw's got a catching platoon, but the Pirates probably go all right handed pitching, Bowerman's a much better bat, so he might get a start even against a right hander. Dunn is the utility man for the Giants, he's got a better bat than Gilbert so draws the first start, but that can be revisited. Browne has been the starter in right, but he's also being replaced by a better bat. Giants rotation is set for the series.
Favored Giants have the WAR advantage at 1B (If Gilbert plays at 2B) SS is a push 3B-LF- and probably each game's pitching matchup.
Let's go to the Polo Grounds for game 1.
1st: Iron Man McGinnity won 35 games in '04 with an ERA of 1.61; that earns him the ball in game 1; he just blows through the Bucs in the opening inning.
1st: Vic Aldridge went 15-7 with a 3.63 ERA; he takes the mound for Pittsburgh, Roger Bresnahan opens with a base hit, but that's all.
2nd: Jack Dunn's starting at second instead of Billy Gilbert to get a little more bat in the lineup, he boots a grounder here, but it doesn't lead to anything.
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: With two out, Max Carey gets the first Pirate hit of the day, but that's all.
3rd: 1-2-3 and we're scoreless through 3.
4th: Clyde Barnhart singles with two out, but that's all.
4th: Mike Donlin took the right field job for the tournament; he opens with a base hit but is erased on a double play. Sam Mertes follows with a single, but that's all. Through 4, there hasn't been a runner in scoring position for either team.
5th: Glenn Wright opens with a walk, the first time the Bucs have gotten the leadoff man aboard, after an out, Aldridge bunts him over and the Pirates have a man in scoring position - Carey then walks. 2 on, 2 out, Kiki Cuyler coming to the plate - and he singles to center. Wright scores - Pittsburgh is on the board. Pirates 1 Giants 0
5th: Art Devlin singles, Bill Dahlen doubles him to third and the Giants have runners in scoring position and nobody out. Jack Warner is an objectively bad hitter, but his sac fly ties the score. That's where it ends Pirates 1 Giants 1
6th: Barnhart gets his second hit of the day with one out, after a second out, Wright singles - the Pirates have two on - but do not score.
6th: Mertes draws a two out walk, that's all - we head to the 7th in a pitcher's duel - Pirates 1 Giants 1
7th: 1-2-3
7th: 1-2-3. Aldridge and McGinnity continue locked in this battle.
8th: George Grantham leads off with a single, after an out, Barnhart gets his third hit of the day, two on - one out - big spot in the game. Traynor singles and we're loaded up. Wright grounds to short - they flip to second for one, Dunn is maybe a little slow (would Gilbert have made the play) in making the turn, Wright beats it out, the run scores and the Pirates have taken the lead. Eddie Moore singles - and that's another run for Pittsburgh. Stuffy McInnis comes on to hit for Aldridge and McGinnity's day is over, Billy Milligan is a 25 year old lefty who just pitched in 25 innings, and was actively bad, a 5.40 ERA - he gives up a single to McInnis and now it's 4-1 Pirates - and then a single to Carey and this inning will end Pirates 5 Giants 1
8th: 43 year old right hander Babe Adams gets the call for Pittsburgh, he's probably the least effective pitcher in the entire staff, The Giants counter with a left handed pitch hitter, Moose McCormick, he flies out - Adams gets the second out, and then Donlin gets his second hit of the day. That's it, though, we are heading to the 9th.
9th: McGraw makes a choice that could have real, real negative consequences. Christy Mathewson comes onto pitch. That's going to take him out of starting in the series, and given that this game is probably out of hand, that could be a fateful call. He gives up a two out single to Barnhart, his 4th hit, but that's all.
9th: 1-2-3 and its done.
Pirates 5
Giants 1
WP Aldridge
LP McGinnity
Aldridge just was great here, 7 innings, one run - only threw 80 pitches. Adams also strong in relief; Carey reached base 3 times and Barnhart had 4 hits. Donlin had two hits for the Giants, including a double.
We'll go to Pittsburgh for game 2 - Lee Meadows will look to lock the series up for the Bucs, the Giants will unexpectedly call on Red Ames. Again, right handers for both clubs.
Giants-John McGraw
CF Bresnahan (25) 139 3.5
RF Donlin (26) 130 .6
1B McGann (32) 124 4.4
LF Mertes (31) 123 3.7
3B Devlin (24) 119 5.3
SS Dahlen (34) 100 5.2
2B Gilbert (28) 94 3.3
C Bowerman (35) 83 1.6
P Ames (21) 121 1.2
Pirates-Bill McKechnie
CF Carey (35) 126 4.4
RF Cuyler (26) 152 7
1B Grantham (25) 125 1.8
C Smith (28) 109 2.2
LF Barnhart (29) 109 2.5
3B Traynor (26) 108 4.2
SS Wright (24) 102 5.2
2B Moore (26) 98 2.7
P Meadows (30) 121 3.4
McGaw slides Gilbert and Bowerman into the lineup; the Pirates don't make any changes. Let's go to Pittsburgh.
1st: Lee Meadows is 19-10 with a 3.67 ERA - if he wins today, the Pirates advance. Bresnahan leads off with a single, Mike Donlin had two hits yesterday - he singles, after two out, Mertes walks - the Giants have bases loaded here in the first inning - Bill Dahlen and Billy Gilbert single back to back, that scores all 3 runs. The Giants send 8 to the plate in the first inning and jump in front Giants 3 Pirates 0
1st: Red Ames is thrust into the huge start for the Giants with their star Mathewson only available from the bullpen; he was 4-6 with a 2.27 ERA, George Grantham singles with two out, then it appears that Ames has him leaning the wrong way and throws a pickoff attempt to first - but he throws it away; Grantham goes all the way to third - Earl Smith singles him home and the inning ends Giants 3 Pirates 1
2nd: Meadows hits Ames with the first pitch, he's clearly frustrated, he walks Bresnahan on four pitches and then throws one to the backstop. The Giants have a 2 run lead and the first two men are in scoring position. Meadows gets the next two - but Sam Mertes singles - everyone scores, this inning ends Giants 5 Pirates 1
2nd: Traynor leads off with a single, after two out, Art Devlin kicks a routine ground ball and the Pirates capitalize, Max Carey singles and the lead is cut Giants 5 Pirates 2
3rd: Devlin opens with a walk - an out later Billy Gilbert continues to show he needs to keep that second base job with his second hit of the inning, after a second out, Ames walks -- and the Giants have the bases loaded and are a big blow away from essentially ending this game -- but Meadows escapes.
3rd: Smith opens with his second single, after an out, Traynor adds his second hit - but that's all. We head to the 4th.
4th: 1-2-3
4th: 1-2-3
5th: Devlin singles and Dahlen walks to open it up - once again, the Giants have action, after two out - Bowerman grounds to Traynor - but he makes a wild throw, the Giants score again and the inning ends Giants 6 Pirates 2
5th: The first 3 men reach - Grantham and Smith walk, Barnhart singles. Loaded. Nobody out. Ames just guts through it and the Bucs do not score. That might be it.
6th: Ames gets taken down for a hitter, Dunn, Meadows gets him and then the next two Giants.
6th: The lefty Milligan gets the ball for McGraw's side; he gives up a one out single to Carey, and then McGraw goes back to get another lefty, his 5th starter, Hooks Wiltse - and he ends the inning - very aggressive use of the pitching staff for McGraw.
7th: 1-2-3
7th: Wiltse gets an out, but then walks Barnhart and Traynor - but that's all. Let's go to the 8th.
8th: 1-2-3 - Meadows has only allowed one hit since the 3rd.
8th: Moore leads off with a single; McInnish hits for Meadows - and he singles, Moore heads to third, and the Pirates have the first two on, still trailing by 4. A Carey sac fly gives the Bucs a run, Grantham's going get a walk after the second out -but it ends there. Giants 6 Pirates 3
9th: 43 year old Babe Adams gets the ball; after 2 out - Donlin homers - that's the insurance - time to book the travel back to New York. Giants 7 Pirates 3
9th: Wiltse gets an out - Traynor reaches on a Dahlen error - after a second out, Moore hits a 2 run homer - the Pirates are still alive, down 7-5; 32 year old Johnny Rawlings pinch hits for Adams -- he keeps the Bucs alive with a base hit and now the tying run comes to the plate. Wiltse walks Carey. And now the winning run comes to the plate. Kiki Cuyler runs the count to 3-2 --- and he hits a rocket -- a bomb to dead center field -- that Bresnahan catches at the base of the wall to end the game.
Giants 7
Pirates 5
WP Ames
LP Meadows
Two more hits for Donlin, he now has four with a homer. 2 hits for Gilbert; Devlin reached 3 times.
For the Bucs, Carey has now reached base six times, as has Barnhart. Smith, Traynor, Moore all had 2 hits, Moore hit that 9th inning homer.
So - we head to the Polo Grounds for the winner take all showdown. Dummy Taylor going for the Giants; Ray Kremer for the Bucs.
Pirates-Bill McKechnie
CF Carey (35) 126 4.4
RF Cuyler (26) 152 7
1B Grantham (25) 125 1.8
C Smith (28) 109 2.2
LF Barnhart (29) 109 2.5
3B Traynor (26) 108 4.2
SS Wright (24) 102 5.2
2B Moore (26) 98 2.7
P Kremer (32) 120 2.6
Giants-John McGraw
CF Bresnahan (25) 139 3.5
RF Donlin (26) 130 .6
1B McGann (32) 124 4.4
LF Mertes (31) 123 3.7
3B Devlin (24) 119 5.3
SS Dahlen (34) 100 5.2
2B Gilbert (28) 94 3.3
C Warner (31) 47 1.1
P Taylor (29) 117 3.8
Same Pirate lineup - the Giants return Warner to behind the dish.
1st: Dummy Taylor's 21-15 with a 2.34 ERA; he stands on the mound looking to advance the Giants forward. 1-2-3.
1st: Ray Kremer's 17-8 with a 3.69 ERA, couple of right handers going at it once again; he gives up a leadoff single to Bresnahan, but that's all.
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Devlin leads with a single, after an out, Billy Gilbert singles to put men on the corners - and Jack Warner hits a sac fly to score Devlin. after 2 it's Pirates 0 Giants 1
3rd: Glenn Wright ties it up with a homer to left - Eddie Moore follows with a single, he's moved to second on a bunt - after the second out of the inning, Kiki Cuyler lines a double to left center, that's going to score Moore and this inning ends Pirates 2 Giants 1
3rd: After an out, Mike Donlin singles for his fifth hit of the series, after a second out, Sam Mertes singled - then Art Devlin has his second hit of the day; that scores Donlin and we're heading to the 4th Pirates 2 Giants 2
4th: With two out, Pie Traynor triples - but Taylor strands him at third.
4th: Taylor reaches on a two out error, but thats all.
5th: Moore opens with a double, it's his second hit of the day; Kremer bunts him to third and then Carey hits a sac fly and once again the Bucs take the lead, Pirates 3 Giants 2
5th: Donlin has his second single of the day, but that's it.
6th: Grantham leads off with a walk, after an out, Barnhart walked, but that's it.
6th: Bill Dahlen hits a 1 out double; after a second out, Warner walks to put men on the corners with two out - big spot here, pitchers spot up, Giants down a run - but McGraw lets Taylor hit for himself and he flies to right. We're headed to the 7th Pirates 3 Giants 2
7th: With two out, Carey singles - then steals second - and then scores on a Cuyler single; the Pirates are now up 2 runs - we head to the bottom of the inning Pirates 4 Giants 2
7th: Bresnahan and Donlin open with singles - the Giants again putting some pressure on Kremer, can they take advantage; they can - Dan McGann singles - Bresnahan scores - Donlin comes around to third - now it's 4-3 - still men on the corners and nobody out. Babe Adams has pitched in both games and now makes it three, he comes on for the Bucs in the huge spot. Mertes greets him with a first pitch single - that's going to tie the score and still - still nobody out. Devlin walks. Giants have the bases loaded and nobody out and the Polo Grounds fans are in a frenzy - Dahlen singles - thats going to score two runs - now it's 6-4 Giants and there are still no outs. 31 year old lefty Red Oldham comes on - and he hits Billy Gilbert to re-load the bases. There is still no one out. Warner hits a sac fly - now its 7-4; Taylor is left in again to hit for himself - again he's unsuccessful; this is the first inning of the tournament where a team has sent 10 men to the plate and it ends there. Pirates 4 Giants 7
8th: Taylor walks Smith to open the inning - after an out, Pie Traynor hits his second triple of the day to make it 7-5 but that's where it ends. Pirates 5 Giants 7
8th: 31 year old right hander Tom Sheehan enters; he walks Donlin to open the inning, but that's all. We go to the 9th.
9th: Stuffy McInnis hits for the pitcher- he flies to center, Max Carey singles - that brings Cuyler to the plate as the tying run - he flies out. Two away. The Giants one out from advancing - Grantham singles. Carey goes to third and the Pirates have the tying runs on base -- McGraw does not turn to the bullpen - Dummy Taylor is an out away from clinching the series for the Giants - he gives up a single to Smith; that scores a run - now it is 7-6 Giants. That's it for Taylor, McGraw calls on his lefty, Billy Milligan - the tying run is on third - the go ahead run is at first - there are two out. Milligan walks Barnhart. Oh man - here comes Pie Traynor with the bases loaded. Traynor has two triples - two triples on the day - the tying run at third - the go ahead run at second - two out -- and Traynor flies to left. And it's done.
Pirates 6
Giants 7
WP Taylor
LP Kremer
Couple hits today for Bresnahan, Donlin reached base four times; giving him 8 for the series; Mertes, Dahlen, Devlin all had two hits in game 3; it's Donlin, who McGraw slid into the lineup for the series, who wins the MVP.
The 1904 Giants move on - they'll face the winner of this one:
35. 1950 New York Yankees v. 94. 2017 Houston Astros
We've seen the '52 Yankees move on; this is our first look at Houston - both of these clubs won the World Series.
Astros-AJ Hinch
2B Altuve (27) 160 7.1
SS Correa (22) 155 5.5
CF Springer (27) 141 5.1
3B Bregman (23) 125 4.2
1B Gurriel (33) 121 1.9
RF Reddick (30) 130 3.8
LF Gonzalez (28) 146 3.8
C Gattis (30) 107 1.2
P Keuchel (29) 141 4.3
Bench:
C McCann (33) 106 2.4
LF Marisnick (26) 119 1.4
Gm 2: Peacock (29) 136 4.1
Gm 3: Morton (33) 113 2.9
McCann/Gattis is a strict platoon; Marisnick will play left, with Gonzalez DH'ing, in Game 2. Aoki and Beltran, who got a lot of at bats as regulars for this team will not start. Houston will have right handed starters for games 2 and 3, Keuchel is a lefty. Verlander did not pitch enough innings to start, maybe we see him in the bullpen.
Yankees-Casey Stengel
SS Rizzuto (32) 122 6.9
CF DiMaggio (35) 151 5.3
RF Bauer (27) 118 2.5
1B Mize (37) 142 2.1
C Berra (25) 135 6.3
LF Woodling (27) 105 2.6
3B Johnson (31) 87 .7
2B Coleman (25) 95 2.6
P Ford (21) 153 2.4
Bench:
3B Brown (25) 82 .6
DH Henrich (37) 136 .9
Gm 2: Lopat (32) 124 4.1
Gm3: Reynolds (33) 115 4
Brown/Johnson is a strict platoon; Henrich will be the DH in game 2; Collins/Mapes/Brown all left to pinch hit. Lopat and Ford are both lefties, Reynolds will be the Yankees sole right handed starter.
1st: 21 year old lefty Whitey Ford takes the mound for the Yankees, 9-1 with a 2.81 ERA, he gives up a leadoff single to Jose Altuve, then walks Carlos Correa - yeah, you should be concerned about this Astros offense if you're rooting for the Yankees here. After an out, Ford walks Alex Bregman and the Astros have the bases loaded with only one out - Yuli Gurriel bloops a double to left, that's going to clear the bases and this inning will end Astros 3 Yankees 0
1st: 29 year old lefty Dallas Keuchel throws for Houston here in game 1; 14-5 with a 2.90 ERA; he walks Phil Rizzuto to open the inning but that's all.
2nd: Evan Gattis walks to open the inning, Keuchel bunts him over, and after a second out Correa doubled to left center, and now it's 4-0 -- followed by a George Springer single, the Astros are just all over Ford Astros 5 Yankees 0
2nd: Yogi leads off with a double and then moves to third on a Gene Woodling single, Billy Johnson then doubles - Yogi scores, it's 5-1 now with two on and nobody out. Two outs then pass - Rizzuto comes through on an 0-2 pitch with a base hit - the Yankees have scored 3; the great Joe DiMaggio then gets ahold of one, nailing a 2 run shot to straightaway center. Is this what the series has in store? Astros 5 Yankees 5
3rd: Gurriel opens with a walk, but that's all.
3rd: 1-2-3, we head to the 4th.
4th: Gattis singles, the Astros have had the leadoff man aboard 2 outs later Correa singles, he's reached three times, but Ford ends the threat.
4th: Jerry Coleman singles with one out and then Casey makes the move on Ford, bringing in 37 year old Tommy Henrich to pinch hit, but he hits into a double play and we're headed to the 5th.
5th: 30 year old right hander Fred Sanford takes the ball; he gives up a leadoff single to Bregman, again, Houston had the lead man on. two outs pass and now Bregman's on third - Casey calls for an intentional walk of Marwin Gonzalez, but Sanford works out of it.
5th: Keuchel gets the first man, and then DiMaggio hits his second homer of the day - another bomb to dead center and the Yankees have their first lead of the day. Astros 5 Yankees 6
6th: 1-2-3
6th: Yogi singles to open the inning but that's all and we go to the 7th.
7th: Sanford hits Springer to open the inning, an out later Gurriel hits his second double, Springer is going to come all the way around and just score the tying run under Yogi's tag. 35 year old right hander Tom Ferrick comes on; he gets the second out - the Yankees intentionally pass Gonzalez again, and again it pays off. Astros 6 Yankees 6
7th: Rizzuto singles with one out, but that's all.
8th: 32 year old lefty Joe Page is the 4th Yankee pitcher; after an out, he gives up an Altuve single - he then steals second and takes third on a second out. Springer scores the tying run in the 7th - he now drives in the go ahead in the 8th, he singles to center and the Astros have taken the lead. Lefty Joe Astrowski now takes the ball for New York and the inning ends Astros 7 Yankees 6
8th: 26 year old right hander Chris Devenski comes on for Houston, he gets the first out -- and then the Big Cat - 37 year old Johnny Mize hits a bomb - a rocket to center that ties the score - the Yankees have 3 homers on the day and now it is 7-7. And on the next pitch - Yogi homers to right. Bedlam in the Bronx, back to back homers and New York is once again in front Astros 7 Yankees 8
9th: 3 outs away for the Yankees. Ostrowski gets the first - and then Josh Reddick hits a homer to center - an absolutely wild one here in Yankee Stadium the score is once again tied. Gonzalez singles - and then Evan Gattis does it - he hits a 2 run shot - a homer to left center - would you believe it's now 10-8 Astros. Jake Marisnick hits for the pitcher - and he singles - Casey then calls on presumptive Game 3 starter Allie Reynolds - that's going to eliminate him from starting in the series - he gets the second out - but then Carlos Correa doubles, he's been on base 4 times - that scores the 11th Astros run - Springer hits a fly ball to right -- but Bauer drops it - and now it's 12-8; and then Bregman singles - goddamn, quite an inning the Astros score 6 runs - we go to the bottom of the 9th, Astros 13 Yankees 8
9th: 33 year old right hander Luke Gregerson comes on to finish this up; he does.
Astros 13
Yankees 8
WP Devenski
LP Ostrowski
Lot of offense today.
Aluve: 2 hits
Correa: reaches 4 times, with 2 doubles and two RBI
Springer: reached 3 times, 2 RBI
Bregman: reached 3 times
Gurriel: 2 doubles, 4 RBI
Reddick: HR to tie the score in the 9th
Gattis: reached 3 times, hit the go ahead HR in the 9th
And for New York:
Rizzuto reached 3 times
DiMaggio had 2 homers, 3 RBI
Mize homered
Berra homered, doubled, 3 hits
We head to Houston, Brad Peacock will look to close the series out, while Ed Lopat tries to keep the Yankees alive.
Yankees-Casey Stengel
C Berra (25) 135 6.3
DH Henrich (37) 136 .9
1B Mize (37) 142 2.1
CF DiMaggio (35) 151 5.3
SS Rizzuto (32) 122 6.9
LF Woodling (27) 105 2.6
RF Bauer (27) 118 2.5
3B Brown (25) 82 .6
2B Coleman (25) 95 2.6
P Lopat (32) 124 4.1
Astros-AJ Hinch
2B Altuve (27) 160 7.1
SS Correa (22) 155 5.5
CF Springer (27) 141 5.1
3B Bregman (23) 125 4.2
1B Gurriel (33) 121 1.9
LF Marisnick (26) 119 1.4
RF Reddick (30) 130 3.8
DH Gonzalez (28) 146 3.8
C Gattis (30) 107 1.2
P Peacock (29) 136 4.1
1st: 29 year old right hander Brad Peacock stands on the mound at Minute Maid Park; he's 13-2 with an ERA of 3.00 on the dot. The Astros 9 innings away from advancing. 1-2-3.
1st: 32 year old lefty Ed Lopat is charged with keeping the Yankees alive; 18-8 with a 3.47 ERA. He gives up a leadoff single to Altuve; his third hit of the series. After an out, Springer singles, he's reached base 4 times now - the Yankees have men on the corners - and then a Bregman sac fly puts the Astros on the board. Yankees 0 Astros 1
2nd: The Astros are the 4th team from the 2010s to appear in the tournament - the rest of them all won - early returns support the strength of contemporary baseball. 1-2-3.
2nd: Reddick singles with one out - after a second out, Gattis singles, he's reached 4 times in the series - and then Altuve and Correa single back to back to score both of them. The Yankees were favored by seed coming into this one but they are getting blitzed. Springer was hit in game one - and he gets hit again in game 2. Springer stares hard - stares hard at Lopat before taking his base - Bregman singles, that scores 2, he's got 3 RBI on the day - and just as they did in game 1 - Houston has taken a giant lead Yankees 0 Astros 5
3rd: Bauer leads off with the Yankees first hit of the day; after a double play, Coleman singles, but that's all.
3rd: Bobby Brown boots a Marisnick grounder to open the frame, after an out, Gonzalez singles him over to third. Gattis keeps hitting - another base hit makes it 6-0. Yankees 0 Astros 6
4th: Henrich leads off with a walk, after an out, DiMaggio singles - Rizzuto follows with a single, Henrich's going to score on a close play at the plate, and both runners move up a base. So - two men in scoring position, only one out. But Peacock shuts it down. Yankees 1 Astros 6
4th: 1-2-3
5th: 1-2-3
5th: Marisnick draws a one out walk, but that's it.
6th: Tommy Henrich hits the first pitch of the inning over the wall in left center to draw the Yankees a run closer. An out later DiMaggio triples - can New York keep pecking away at this lead? Hinch isn't going to allow Peacock to find out, he brings on the right handed Chris Devenski. Rizzuto drives home his second run of the day with a base hit - the inning will close Yankees 3 Astros 6
6th: 1-2-3; Lopat's done a nice job in keeping the damage contained after the third.
7th: 1-2-3; the Astros are 6 outs away.
7th: Alex Bregman gives Houston some insurance with a homer to right - and now this Houston crowd believes they are about to move forward. The right hander Tom Ferrick comes on; he gets two out then gives up a double to Reddick but it ends there. We head to the 8th, Yankees 3 Astros 7
8th: Henrich walks with one out - that brings in right handed Luke Gregerson; he gets both Mize and DiMaggio in what might be the last gasp for these Yankees.
8th: Joe Page takes the ball for New York; after 2 outs, Correa singles, Springer follows with a single - he tries to stretch it to second, but Gene Woodling guns him down to end the inning.
9th: Rizzuto opens with a single, an out later, Bauer singles - Houston goes to their closer, right handed Ken Giles, who had 34 saves on the season, he gets the second out - then Coleman singles to score Rizzuto, it's 7-4, still two men on which means the tying run comes to the plate. But Yogi flies to right and its done
Yankees 4
Astros 7
WP Peacock
LP Lopat
4 hits this series for Altuve; Correa and Springer both reached 6 times; Bregman reached 3 times in game one, had two hits, including a homer, and 4 RBI in game 2. Reddick homered in game one and had a couple hits in game two - and Evan Gattis reached base 5 times and hit that big homer in game 1.
There just isn't a bad choice for MVP, so many huge bats for Houston in the series - let's go with Bregman.
So - Region 3 is half in the books; the 2011 Phillies and the 1949 Yankees have advanced and now we see the 1904 Giants and the 2017 Astros move forward.
We move to the bottom half of the bracket next - we'll see another Tinker/Evers/Chance Cubs team; a 21st century Red Sox club. Jackie Robinson's Dodgers; the Bronx Zoo; another 50s Yankees squad; an Astros team from the prior generation; Earl Weaver's Orioles, and a pre WWII Reds squad.
