128 Team MLB Tournament - Region 8 Semi-Final : 1938 World Champion New York Yankees v. 2001 AL West Champion Seattle Mariners

 Indians v. Yankees

#24. 1938 World Champion New York Yankees v. #56. 2001 AL West Champion Seattle Mariners

The 1995 Indians await the winner of this one, the last Regional Semi-final remaining.  Here's the last Yankee team, the last chance for Gehrig and DiMaggio to make the Elite 8.  They take on the Mariners team that won 116 games and then lost to the Yankees in the ALCS.  Their manager is Lou Piniella, already in the next round with the '77 Yankees (who will meet the winners of this Region).  If the Yankees win this one, they'll have home field advantage in the Regional Final against Cleveland - if Seattle wins, the Indians will host game 1.  

Yankees 99-53 (Pythag 97-55) Mgr Joe McCarthy

Won AL Pennant

d. Cubs 4-0 to win World Series

d. #105 1957 Braves 2-0 (MVP-Joe Gordon)

d. #41   2019 Dodgers 3-1 (MVP-Frankie Crosetti/Joe Gordon)

All-Stars Bill Dickey (2nd AL MVP)  Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Lefty Gomez, Johnny Murphy, Red Rolfe, Red Ruffing (4th AL MVP)

Hall of Fame: Bill Dickey, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Lefty Gomez, Joe Gordon, Red Ruffing, Joe McCarthy

Another Joe McCarthy team, third straight World Championship for the Yankees, it hadn't been done before.  They win it again next year.  Won the AL by 9.5.  

Mariners 116-46 (Pythag 109-53) Lou Piniella (AL Mgr of Year)

1st in AL West

d. Indians 3-2 ALDS

lost to Yankees 4-1 ALCS

d. #73 1913 A's 2-1 (MVP-Ichiro Suzuki)

d. #9   1905 Giants 3-1 (MVP-Freddy Garcia)

All-Stars: 2B Bret Boone (3rd AL MVP) OF Mike Cameron, SP Freddy Garcia (3rd NL Cy Young) DH Edgar Martinez, RP Jeff Nelson, 1B John Olerud, RP Kazuhiro Sasaki OF Ichiro Suzuki (AL MVP, AL RoY)

Hall of Famers: Edgar Martinez

Randy Johnson was traded in '98, Ken Griffey after the '99 season, ARod left after the 2000 seasons and this year they had 116 regular season wins, tied the major league record.  Ichiro's rookie season. They started off 20-5.   Freddy Garcia got the win in the All Star game.  

Mariners-Lou Piniella

RF Suzuki (27)  (LH) 126    6

1B Olerud (32)  (LH) 136    5.2

2B Boone (32)   153    8.1

3B McLemore (36)  (SH) 115  3.6

CF Cameron (28)  123   5.7

LF Martin (33) (LH)   93     .7

SS Guillen (25)  (SH)   87    2.7

C Lampkin (37)  (LH) 78    1.1

P Garcia (24)     135    5.3

Bench

DH Martinez (38)   160   6.1

C Wilson (32)   90       2.3

3B Bell (28)       92      3.3

LF Javier (37)   109 (SH)   2.1 

SP2 Moyer (38) (LH)  120   3.5

SP3 Sele (31)       115   2.7

Platoons at C-LF-and Bell/Guillen is a platoon, with McLemore shifting to short against LH.  Abbott is the 4th starter if they advance. 

Yankees-Joe McCarthy

CF DiMaggio (23)  139  5.9

1B Gehrig (35)  (LH)  132   4

C Dickey (31)  (LH)   143    5.6 

RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120   3.4

3B Rolfe (29)  (LH)    107    4.1

LF Selkirk (30) (LH)   99    1.3

2B Gordon (23)   109   3.9

SS Crosetti (27)   89    4.4

P Ruffing (33)     138   6.1

Bench

C Glenn (29) 67

2B Knickerbocker (26) 73

LF Hoag (30) 75  

LF Powell (29) 76

SP2 Gomez (29) (LH) 136   4.6

SP3 Chandler (30) 113

The 3 LF share the position and DH when the series moves to Seattle. Otherwise, this is it. Pearson is the 4th starter if they advance. 

Lineups:

C-Dickey

1B-Olerud

2B-Boone

SS-Crosetti

3B-Rolfe

LF-Push

CF-Push

RF-Suzuki

DH-Martinez

SP1-Ruffing

SP2-Gomez

SP3-Push

Pen-Mariners

WAR: Yanks 5 Mariners 5 -- despite all the Hall of Famers it's actually the Mariners who have the position player advantage, the Yanks the rotation advantage.  And it's Boone who is the best position player in the series.  Yanks have the better seed and homefield, they're slight favorites.  

GAME ONE

1st: Here we go, last Regional Semi Final in the tournament; of course it kicks off at Yankee Stadium.  Red Ruffing on the hill; 33 year old RH, 21-7, 3.31. Ruffing spent his first 7 seasons in Boston; this is his 9th with the Yankees and he was 4th in the MVP, leading the AL in wins. Ichiro Suzuki greets him with a single and an out later Bret Boone hits one over the wall in left - and the Mariners leap out in front.  Mariners 2 Yankees 0

1st: Freddy Garcia was the Mariners MVP in round 2 and gets the ball here. 24 year old RH, 18-6, 3.05. Garcia's in his 3rd season, he was 3rd in the Cy Young, led the AL in ERA and HR/9. Bill Dickey singles with 2 out.  Tommy Henrich singles. That's it.

2nd: Al Martin doubles; Martin's platooning in left, he's 33, spent his first 8 seasons with the Pirates, then 1 in San Diego before coming to Seattle last year.  This is his last year with the Mariners. An out later Tom Lampkin singles home a run.  After the second out, Ichiro doubles home another run. Mariners off and running in game one.  Mariners 4 Yankees 0

2nd: Frankie Crosetti walks with 2 away; Crosetti's 27, he's in his 7th of what will be 17 Yankee seasons.  He led MLB in steals and hit by pitches this season. That's all.

3rd: After an out, Mark McLemore singles.  McLemore's at third today, he'll move around a little bit.  The Mariners utilityman is 36, spent 5 seasons with the Angels, brief stops in Cleveland and Houston, 3 years in Baltimore and 5 in Texas.  He came to Seattle last season. Mike Cameron singles. That's it.

3rd: Joe DiMaggio walks.  This is DiMaggio's last remaining team in the tournament.  DiMaggio's 23, his third season, he was 6th in the MVP. In his 13 year career, DiMaggio finished out of the top 10 three times in the MVP vote.  That's all.  

4th: Carlos Guillen walks. Guillen's in a platoon; he's 25, it's his 4th season. Ruffing gets two and then Ichiro triples - Ichiro is a homer short of the cycle through 4 innings in game 1 and the Mariners add another run.  Mariners 5 Yankees 0

4th: George Selkirk walks with 1 out. It's Selkirk's 5th season of a 9 year Yankee career.  That's it.

5th: McLemore singles with one out, Al Martin singles with 2 out - and Carlos Guillen singles home the 6th Mariner run of the day.  Ruffing is gone, 28 year old RH Steve Sundra comes on, 4.80 and ends the inning.  Mariners 6 Yankees 0

5th: Gehrig singles with 2 out - this is Gehrig's last team standing; Lou's 35, it's his final full season, he plays in 8 games next year.  

6th: Olerud's hit with 2 out, that's it.  

6th: Garcia hits Selkirk with 2 out - and that wakes up the Yankee dugout; that sure looked like a receipt for the top of the inning and there's some chirping going on now.  

7th: 1-2-3

7th: Garcia's given up just 3 hits. He gets one and then DiMaggio blasts a homer to left - huge roar for DiMaggio as he breaks up the shutout.  Mariners 6 Yankees 1

8th: 30 year old RH Wes Ferrell is the next Yankee pitcher; he's got an 8.10 ERA, that has to be the worst ERA in the tournament.  He walks Lampkin with one out and that's all.

8th: 1-2-3, Garcia, Mariner MVP in the last round, is 3 outs from a complete game win in Yankee Stadium.

9th: 27 year old RH Joe Beggs for the Yanks; 5.40. 1-2-3

9th: Jeff Nelson enters for the Mariners; 34 year old RH, 2.76 - he walks Crosetti with one out and then walks a pinch hitter, Bill Knickerbocker, but thats the end.

Mariners 6

Yankees 1

WP Garcia

LP Ruffing

4 hits allowed by Garcia over 8 innings; a triple/double/single for Ichiro and the Mariners cruise in game one.

Suzuki 3x/triple, double

Olerud 1x

Boone 1x/HR
McLemore 2x

Cameron 1x

Martin 2x/double

Guillen 2x/double

Lampkin 2x

DiMaggio 2x/HR

Gehrig 1x

Dickey 1x

Henrich 1x

Selkirk 2x

Crosetti 2x

SS McLemore (36)  (SH) 115  3.6

2B Boone (32)   153    8.1

CF Cameron (28)  123   5.7

1B Olerud (32)  (LH) 136    5.2

RF Suzuki (27)  (LH) 126    6

LF Javier (37)   109 (SH)   2.1 

3B Bell (28)       92      3.3

C Wilson (32)   90       2.3

SP2 Moyer (38) (LH)  120   3.5

2B Gordon (23)   109   3.9

CF DiMaggio (23)  139  5.9

1B Gehrig (35)  (LH)  132   4

C Dickey (31)  (LH)   143    5.6 

RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120   3.4

3B Rolfe (29)  (LH)    107    4.1

SS Crosetti (27)   89    4.4

LF Powell (29) 76

SP2 Gomez (29) (LH) 136   4.6

GAME TWO

1st: This might be the final game of the Regionals at Yankee Stadium; Joe McCarthy calls on 29 year old Lefty Gomez, 18-12, 3.35. Gomez spends all but the final 4 innings of his career as a Yankee.  This is his 9th season. He made his 6th straight All Star team. 1-2-3

1st: Lou Piniella is up a game and turns to his 38 year old lefty, Jamie Moyer. 20-6, 3.43. Moyer had a 25 year big league career, he pitched until he was 49. This is his 6th year in Seattle after stints with the Cubs, Rangers, Cards, Orioles, Red Sox, He finished 4th in the Cy Young this year.  He gives up a 1 out single to DiMaggio - but strikes out everyone else.  

2nd: John Olerud hits the first pitch of the inning over the wall in left and the Mariners are again out in front.  Olerud's 32, in his second season in Seattle after 8 in Toronto and 3 with the Mets.  Olerud is a future Yankee, for 49 games in '04. He made his second and last All Star team this season. Gomez gets the next 3.  Mariners 1 Yankees 0

2nd: Frankie Crosetti hits a 2 out single and then Jake Powell, getting the start against a LH today, hits a 2 run homer and the Yankees take their first lead of the series.  Powell's 29, spent his first 4 years in Washington, this is his third in New York, he hit two homers all year - but gives the Yanks a boost right now. Gomez helps himself with a double and then Joe Gordon singles. That's it.  Mariners 1 Yankees 2

3rd: 1-2-3, Gomez has 4 Ks

3rd: Bill Dickey hits a one out single.  17 big league seasons, all in New York. Dickey's 31, this is his 11th year in pinstripes.  He was 2nd in the MVP. That's it.

4th: Olerud draws a two out walk and then Gomez loses Ichiro - but that's all.

4th: Powell singles with one away and after the second out Joe Gordon doubles him home.  Like DiMaggio, Gordon is 23, he's in his rookie season.  DiMaggio walks, that's all.  Mariners 1 Yankees 3

5th: 1-2-3, Gomez has allowed just one hit.  

5th: Dickey walks and Tommy Henrich hits a 2 run homer and the Yanks extend this lead - huge roar in the Bronx, the Yankees fighting back from their game one loss.  Henrich's 25, in his second season of what will be an 11 year Yankee career.  Mariners 1 Yankees 5

6th: Gomez gets two and then Mike Cameron hits a line drive that just clears the left field wall.  Cameron's 28, spent portions of 4 seasons with the White Sox and this is his second year in Seattle.  Cameron made his only All Star team this year and won his first of 3 Gold Gloves. Mariners 2 Yankees 5

6th: 1-2-3

7th: Ichiro singles. Ichiro's a 27 year old rookie, won AL MVP and Rookie of the Year. For the first 10 years of his MLB career, Suzuki makes the All Star team and wins the Gold Glove. Ichiro led the AL in hitting this year and led MLB in hits and steals. Stan Javier walks. Gomez shuts it down here and the Yanks are 6 outs from tying this thing up.

7th: Jeff Nelson takes over for Seattle.  He pitched the 9th inning of game one; Nelson spent his first 4 years in Seattle - then 5 in New York, coming over in the Tino Martinez trade. Then back to the Mariners this year, where, at the age of 34, he makes his only career All Star team. And in the middle of '03 - Seattle deals him back to New York for Armando Benitez. If there's a guy who should be pitching in a Mariners/Yankees series it's Jeff Nelson. He gets 2 - then gives up Tommy Henrich's second homer of the day - the Yanks are going to take game 2 and head to Seattle with this series deadlocked. Mariners 2 Yankees 6

8th: McLemore walks with one out, Boone singles - Cameron walks and the Mariners have loaded the bases.  But Gomez escapes - he's given up just 4 hits and now is just 3 outs from the win.

8th: Arthur Rhodes is next for Seattle - 31 year old lefty, 8 wins and a 1.72 ERA. Crosetti greets him with a double, Two outs later he scores on a Gordon base hit.  Mariners 2 Yankees 7

9th: Ichiro is safe via error and two outs later scores on a Dan Wilson base hit.  McCarthy goes to the pen for his closer, Johnny Murphy.  29 year old RH, 8 wins, 11 saves, 4.24. Murphy spent the first dozen seasons of his career in NY, this is the 6th, he made the All Star team and led the league in saves. He ends the game.

Mariners 3

Yankees 7

WP Gomez

LP Moyer

Strong 8_ from Gomez (he threw 129 pitches, which maybe is a thing to be aware of if he pitches game 5) Henrich hits a couple of homers and the series heads to Seattle all even at 1.

DiMaggio 4x/HR

Gehrig 1x

Dickey 3x

Henrich 3x/2 HR, 3 game 2 RBI

Selkirk 2x

Crosetti 4x/double

Gordon 3x/double

Powell 2x/HR

Suzuki 5x/triple, double

Olerud 3x/HR

Boone 2x/HR
McLemore 3x

Cameron 3x/HR

Martin 2x/double

Guillen 2x/double

Lampkin 2x

Javier 1x

Wilson 1x

CF DiMaggio (23)  139  5.9

1B Gehrig (35)  (LH)  132   4

C Dickey (31)  (LH)   143    5.6 

RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120   3.4

3B Rolfe (29)  (LH)    107    4.1

DH Selkirk (30) (LH)   99    1.3

2B Gordon (23)   109   3.9

SS Crosetti (27)   89    4.4

LF Powell (29) 76

SP3 Chandler (30) 113

RF Suzuki (27)  (LH) 126    6

1B Olerud (32)  (LH) 136    5.2

DH Martinez (38)   160   6.1

2B Boone (32)   153    8.1

3B McLemore (36)  (SH) 115  3.6

CF Cameron (28)  123   5.7

LF Martin (33) (LH)   93     .7

SS Guillen (25)  (SH)   87    2.7

C Lampkin (37)  (LH) 78    1.1

SP3 Sele (31)       115   2.7

GAME THREE

1st: Safeco Field, a matchup Seattle fans have been waiting for  - in 2001 after a 116 win season they lost the ALCS to the Yankees, the Yankees return today, game 3 of the Region 8 Semi-Final.  Aaron Sele stands on the mound; 31 year old RH, 15-5, 3.60. Sele spent 5 years in Boston, 2 in Texas and arrived in Seattle last year. DiMaggio laces the first pitch into center for a base hit.  Gehrig then follows with a single to right center. Dickey then reaches on an error and a run scores.  After an out, Red Rolfe doubles everyone home.  It's the Yankees who jump out early in game 3.  Yankees 3 Mariners 0

1st: Spud Chandler takes the ball for New York. 30 year old RH, 14-5, 4.03. Chandler spends his entire 11 year career in New York, this is year two.  1-2-3

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: Bret Boone walks. Boone's 32. He spent the first two years of his career here in Seattle, then to the Reds, Braves, Padres before coming back this year for the best year of his career.  3rd in the AL MVP, most RBI in the league.  That's all Pearson allows.

3rd: Gehrig singles again, that's it.

3rd: Al Martin walks and steals second, moves to third on the first out and scores on a Tom Lampkin groundout.  Lampkin's 37, platooning behind the plate.  This is Lampkin's third year in Seattle after stops in Cleveland, San Diego, Milwaukee, San Francisco and St Louis. Yankees 3 Mariners 1

4th: Rolfe and Selkirk open with back to back singles. Rolfe then scores on a Gordon sac fly. After the second out Powell singles -- and then DiMaggio with the big blow - a triple that clears the bases and the Yankees are whipping the Mariners in game 3. Sele walks Gehrig and Dickey - but it ends here.  Yankees 6 Mariners 1

4th: Edgar Martinez is in the lineup for the first time as the series adds a DH and he singles with 1 out. Edgar's 38. He spends his entire 18 year career in Seattle. This is year 15, Edgar makes his 6th All Star team, it ends here.

5th: Rolfe singles, that's all.

5th: 1-2-3, just one hit allowed by Chandler.

6th: Powell singles and comes all the way around to score on a DiMaggio double; DiMaggio now just a homer away from a cycle. The Yankees are rolling here in game 3. 28 year old RH Ryan Franklin comes on now for Seattle, 3.56. He ends it.  Yankees 7 Mariners 1

6th: Lampkin reaches on an error and an out later Olerud gets hit for the second time in the series; Olerud can't continue - Ed Sprague will run for him and he's likely to play first base for the remainder of the series. Big blow to the Mariners.  Martinez walks to load the bases, Boone singles home a run - a second run scores on a McLemore groundout, Cameron walks to load the bases and then Martin walks - and the Mariners have 3 runs on the board.  Yankees 7 Mariners 4

7th: Selkirk walks with one out and an out later Crosetti walks - that's all.

7th: Yankee closer Johnny Murphy is brought on - will McCarthy look to get 9 outs out of his right arm? 1-2-3

8th: Dickey walks with 2 out - that brings on Jeff Nelson, he's pitched in each game in the series and he ends it.  

8th: Edgar leads off with a double. Boone then reaches on error and scores on a McLemore groundout - that makes it 7-5 and this Safeco crowd is stomping their feet.  Cameron singles - tying runs on base, just one out.  Yankees go back to the pen for Ivy Andrews, 31 year old RH, 3.00 ERA, he's the best arm in their pen.  He gets the next two - just 4 hits today for Seattle Yankees 7 Mariners 5

9th: Selkirk walks with one away - that's it.

9th: Andrews stays on - 3 outs away from giving the Yanks a 2-1 lead.

Lampkin grounds to second.

Ichiro singles.  Tying run to the plate.

Ed Sprague -- grounds to Rolfe -- over to Gordon -- onto Gehrig --- double play!

Yankees 7

Mariners 5

WP Chandler

LP Sele

Sv Andrews

Combined 5 hitter by Yankee pitching; DiMaggio goes triple/double/single and the Yankees are one game away from the Region 8 Final.

DiMaggio 7x/HR, triple, double, 3 game 3 RBI

Gehrig 4x

Dickey 5x

Henrich 3x/2 HR, 3 game 2 RBI

Selkirk 5x

Crosetti 5x/double

Gordon 3x/double

Powell 4x/HR

Rolfe 3x/double

Suzuki 6x/triple, double

Olerud 4x/HR

Boone 4x/HR
McLemore 3x

Cameron 5x/HR

Martin 4x/double

Guillen 2x/double

Lampkin 2x

Javier 1x

Wilson 1x

Martinez 3x/double

CF DiMaggio (23)  139  5.9

1B Gehrig (35)  (LH)  132   4

C Dickey (31)  (LH)   143    5.6 

RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120   3.4

3B Rolfe (29)  (LH)    107    4.1

DH Selkirk (30) (LH)   99    1.3

2B Gordon (23)   109   3.9

SS Crosetti (27)   89    4.4

LF Powell (29) 76

P Ruffing (33)     138   6.1

RF Suzuki (27)  (LH) 126    6

DH Martinez (38)   160   6.1

2B Boone (32)   153    8.1

SS McLemore (36)  (SH) 115  3.6

CF Cameron (28)  123   5.7

1B Sprague (33)    119

LF Martin (33) (LH)   93     .7

3B Bell (28)       92      3.3

C Lampkin (37)  (LH) 78    1.1

P Garcia (24)     135    5.3

GAME FOUR

1st: Freddy Garcia shut the Yankees down in game one; if he can do it again today we head back to New York for game 5.  1-2-3

1st: Red Ruffing got knocked around back in game one; can he right the ship and pitch the Yankees into the last Regional Final?  Edgar singles with 1 out.  That's it.

2nd: Red Rolfe walks with one away. That's it.

2nd: 1-2-3

3rd: 1-2-3

3rd: David Bell singles.  Bell's 28, he's had two separate stints with Cleveland and one with the Cards before arriving in Seattle in '99. An out later Ichiro singles - that's all.

4th: Scoreless in Seattle as we go to the 4th. Gehrig walks - that's it.

4th: Bret Boone hits a 3-2 pitch over the wall in left center and the Mariners take the lead. There's a curtain call for Boone - this Seattle crowd starved to extend their Mariners life one more day.  Yankees 0 Mariners 1

5th: 1-2-3, Garcia's yet to allow a hit.

5th: Al Martin singles. 2 outs later Lampkin singles - that's all.

6th: With one out, Jake Powell punches a base hit to right.  That's it.

6th: Bret Boone again - doubling with one out, but Ruffing strands him at third.  Let's go to the 7th, super, super tight one here in game 4.

7th: Gehrig walks --- and then Bill Dickey hits a 2 run shot over the wall in right - and there's a jubilant Yanke dugout - the Bombers take the 2-1 lead on just their second hit of the day.  That's the end of Garcia's day - Jeff Nelson, who else? gets the call.  He gets two, walks Selkirk, and ends it.  Yankees 2 Mariners 1

7th: 1-2-3, stalwart effort for Ruffing today.

8th: Arthur Rhodes for Seattle - 1-2-3

8th: Near Panic at the Safeco, they need to find a run.  Edgar walks with 2 out, Boone singles and McLemore walks.  Bases loaded.  2 out.  Mariners down a run.  Bottom of the 8th.  

And Ruffing escapes.  

9th: Dickey singles with one away and that's all.

9th: Ruffing stays on.  3 outs from a complete game win that moves the Yankees to face the Indians in the Region 8 Final.

Ruffing strikes out Sprague.

Martin flies to left.  

Bell flies to left -- Powell has it.  Ballgame.

Controlled joy from the Yankees - it's a team with legends, they expect to win - they won - bitter, bitter disappointment in Seattle as the Mariners fall again to the Yankees.

Yankees 2

Mariners 1

WP Ruffing

LP Garcia

The Yankees got 3 hits.  3 hits!  But one of them was a 2 run Dickey homer and Ruffing's complete game wins the series.

DiMaggio 7x/HR, triple, double, 3 game 3 RBI

Dickey 7x/HR

Henrich 3x/2 HR, 3 game 2 RBI

Really 3 choices for MVP - Henrich the hitting star in game 2, DiMaggio in 3, Dickey in 4.

Let's say Dickey and DiMaggio share this one.

128 Team MLB Tournament - Region 8 Semi-Final : 1995 AL Champion Cleveland Indians v. 1951 World Champion New York Yankees

 Region 7 Final

#40. 1995 AL Champion Cleveland Indians v. #72. 1951 World Champion New York Yankees

1 spot remains in the Elite 8.  We've got 2 Yankees, 2 Orioles, Dodgers, Cubs, Astros.  Note, all of the teams left are AL teams, so the final count will be AL 6 NL 2.  This is the last shot for the Stengel Yankees - if Mantle/Berra don't advance here they do not advance.  

Indians 100-44  (Pythag 93-51) Mgr. Mike Hargrove (3rd AL Mgr of Year)

1st in AL Central

d. Red Sox 3-0 ALDS

d. Mariners 4-2 ALCS (MVP-Orel Hershiser)

lost to Braves 4-2 World Series

d. #89. 1923 Yankees 2-0 (MVP-Kenny Lofton)

d. #105 1955 Dodgers 3-2 (MVP-Manny Ramirez)

All-Stars: 2B Carlos Baerga, OF Albert Belle (2nd AL MVP) OF Kenny Lofton, SP Dennis Martinez, RP Jose Mesa (2nd AL Cy Young, 4th AL MVP) OF Manny Ramirez

Hall of Famers: Eddie Murray, Jim Thome, Dave Winfield

Short season, only 144 games, Indians first pennant since '54. Jose Mesa gave up 8 earned runs all year. Indians won the AL Central by 30 games. First season in Jacobs Field.

Yankees 98-56 (Pythag 94-60) Mgr Casey Stengel

Won AL Pennant

d. Giants 4-2 in World Series

d. #57 1931 Cardinals 2-0 (Allie Reynolds)

d. #8   1910 A's 3-2 (Joe Collins)

All-Stars: C Yogi Berra, OF Joe DiMaggio, SP Eddie Lopat, SS Phil Rizzuto

AL RoY: 2B Gil McDougald

Hall of Famers: Yogi Berra (AL MVP) Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Johnny Mize, Phil Rizzuto, Casey Stengel

DiMaggio's final year, Mantle's rookie year - Bob Sheppard's first year as Yankee PA Announcer. 

Yankees-Casey Stengel

CF Woodling (28)  (LH)    129     3.1

C Berra (26)    (LH)            130    5.5

RF Collins (28)  (LH)         126     1.4

2B McDougald (23)    142    4.3

LF Jensen (24)            137    1.2  

DH Mantle (19)    (SH)      117     1.1

3B Brown (26)   (LH)         108     1.3

1B Mize (38)     (LH)         102      1.1

SS Rizzuto (33)          92       3.1

P Lopat (33)   (LH)            132     5.1

Bench

CF DiMaggio (36)      116     2.5

RF Bauer (28)             127    2.3 

2B Coleman (26) 74

SP2 Reynolds (34)     126      4

SP3 Raschi (32)         117      4.4

All Cleveland's pitchers are RH, so Casey starts with the heavy LH lineup and we go from there. Morgan is the 4th starter if they advance.

Indians-Mike Hargrove

CF Lofton (28) (LH)    110  3.4

3B Thome (24)  (LH)   157  5.6

LF Belle (28)        177  8.2

RF Ramirez (23)  147  3.7

DH Murray (39) (SH) 129  2.7

1B Perry (25) 117

2B Baerga (26)  (SH)   108  3.4

C Alomar (29)      107  1.7

SS Vizquel (28) (SH)   78     2.4

P Martinez (41)   152   4.3

Bench

C Pena (38) 75

OF Kirby (31) (LH) 45

1B Sorrento (29) (LH) 116  1.1 

IF Espinoza (33) 51

DH Winfield (43) 49

SP2 Hershiser (36)  121  3.5

SP3 Ogea (24)      154   2.3

Platoon at first, Nagy will be the 4th starter if they advance.

Lineups:

C-Berra

1B-Push

2B-McDougald

SS-Rizzuto

3B-Thome

LF-Belle

CF-Push

RF-Ramirez

DH-Murray

SP1-Lopat

SP2-Reynolds

SP3-Raschi

Pen-Indians

WAR: Yanks 6 Indians 5 - This looks close; Indians have the better seed, they get home field, Yanks edge them out on the strength of superior starting pitching (Indians have enormous bullpen advantage) Indians also have Belle, easily best position player. Indians are slight favorites.  

GAME ONE

1st: Hey, look - it's Region 8.  Three series from now only 8 teams will remain in the field.  We will finish by the end of 2020.  Standing on the Jacobs Field mound - Dennis Martinez, 41 year old RH, 12-5, 3.08. Martinez spent the first 11 seasons of his career in Baltimore; then 8 in Montreal.  This is his second year in Cleveland and he made his 4th and final All Star team. He hits Gene Woodling with the first pitch of the game. 2 outs later Gil McDougald singles but the Yankees do not score.

1st: This is the last Casey Stengel team standing; we've seen many of these players in this round already; including Eddie Lopat, who pitched in the Region 7 Final three years from now. Lopat's a 33 year old lefty, 21-9, 2.91. Lopat spent his first four seasons with the White Sox, this is his 4th season with the Yankees and he makes his only career All Star team, leading the AL in WHIP. Kenny Lofton works a walk and an out later steals second, but that's all.

2nd: Bobby Brown singles with one out.  Brown spends his entire 8 year career with the Yankees, mainly splitting time at third.  He's 26, this is his 6th season.  Johnny Mize follows with a base hit and that's all.

2nd: Eddie Murray singles. Murray is 39; he spent a dozen seasons with the Orioles, he and Martinez teammates. Then three with the Dodgers and two with the Mets. He came to Cleveland last season.  An out later Carlos Baerga walks. After the second out, Omar Vizquel walks. That's it.

3rd: 1-2-3

3rd: 1-2-3

4th: Martinez gets one and then Jackie Jensen ropes a homer to right.  Jensen's 24, its his first full season in the league and his last full season with the Yanks. After the second out Brown singles and that's that.  Yankees 1 Indians 0

4th: Herbert Perry is platooning at first and he singles with one out.  Perry's 25, it's his first full season and his 117 OPS+ is the best he'll ever have. Carlos Baerga follows with a two run homer to left that lights Jacobs Field up, the Indians moving on top.  Sandy Alomar then reaches on an error and after the second out Lofton singles.  Jim Thome then laces a double down the left field line - it clears the bases - Yankees 1 Indians 4

5th: Gene Woodling singles with 1 out.  Woodling's 28, he spent his first two seasons with Cleveland - then a year in Pittsburgh and then to New York; it's his third Yankee season. Woodling comes back to Cleveland for three more seasons so he's in a familiar city today. It ends here.

5th: Manny Ramirez and Eddie Murray single back to back. Manny's 23, went to HS in NYC, so he'll be headed home when the series shifts to New York. He was 2nd in Rookie of the Year last year and made the All Star team this season. Lopat escapes.

6th: Joe Collins singles. Collins is 28, spends his whole 10 year career in New York, largely splitting time at first, although he's in RF today.  This is his 4th season. Gil McDougald doubles him home and the Yankees draw closer. Martinez gets one and then Mickey Mantle singles. That's it. Yankees 2 Indians 4

6th: Kenny Lofton singles with 2 out, he's now reached 3 times.  Lofton's 27, he broke in with Houston, but finished 2nd in the Rookie of the Year with the Tribe. This is his 4th season in Cleveland, he made his 2nd All Star team, led MLB in triples, led the AL in steals for the 4th straight season and won his 3rd straight Gold Glove. That's all.

7th: 1-2-3

7th: Casey goes to the pen.  Bob Kuzava is his best relief arm, 28 year old lefty, 8 wins, 2.40. 1-2-3

8th: Collins singles. That's it.  Dennis Martinez getting it done here in game 1.

8th: Sandy Alomar singles with 2 out. Alomar's 29, splitting time behind the plate for the Indians, but given his bat, likely to play in every game in this series. He spent parts of 2 seasons in San Diego but was Rookie of the Year with Cleveland back in '90. This is his 6th Indians campaign.  Omar Vizquel singles - it ends here. 

9th: Jose Mesa had a monster year and he gets the ball.  29 year old RH, 46 saves, a 1.13 ERA. Mesa spent 4 seasons in Baltimore, this is his 4th in Cleveland, it is easily -- easily his best ever season.  Mesa was 2nd in the Cy Young, 4th in the MVP. 

Brown grounds to second.

Johnny Mize rips a single to right center.  

Mesa strikes out Rizzuto

Woodling harmlessly flies to center.  That's it.

8 solid for Martinez, Baerga hits the 2 run homer and the Tribe take game one.

Yankees 2

Indians 4

WP Martinez

LP Lopat

Sv Mesa

Lofton 3x

Thome 1x/double

Ramirez 1x

Murray 2x

Perry 1x

Baerga 2x/HR

Alomar 1x

Vizquel 2x

Woodling 1x/double

Collins 2x

McDougald 2x/double

Jensen 1x/HR

Mantle 1x

Brown 2x

Mize 2x

C Berra (26)    (LH)            130    5.5

RF Collins (28)  (LH)         126     1.4

2B McDougald (23)    142    4.3

LF Jensen (24)            137    1.2  

DH Bauer (28)             127    2.3 

CF DiMaggio (36)      116     2.5

3B Brown (26)   (LH)         108     1.3

1B Mize (38)     (LH)         102      1.1

SS Rizzuto (33)          92       3.1

SP2 Reynolds (34)     126      4

CF Lofton (28) (LH)    110  3.4

3B Thome (24)  (LH)   157  5.6

LF Belle (28)        177  8.2

RF Ramirez (23)  147  3.7

DH Murray (39) (SH) 129  2.7

1B Sorrento (29) (LH) 116  1.1 

2B Baerga (26)  (SH)   108  3.4

C Alomar (29)      107  1.7

SS Vizquel (28) (SH)   78     2.4

SP2 Hershiser (36)  121  3.5

GAME TWO

1st The MVP of the 1995 ALCS was Orel Hershiser and he stands on the mound.  36 year old RH, 16-6, 3.87. Hershiser spent the first dozen years of his career in LA, this is his first year in Cleveland. Yogi was hitless in game one - but hits the first pitch of game 2 over the wall in right center.  Yankees 1 Indians 0

1st: Allie Reynolds gets the ball for New York.  34 year old RH (4 old men pitching in games 1 and 2 for these 2 clubs; 33 year old Lopat the youngest) 17-8, 3.05. Reynolds broke in with Cleveland - spent the first five seasons of his career right here.  This is his 5th season as a Yankee and the only season of what will be an 8 year Yankee career that he didn't make the All Star team.  Despite that - Reynolds finished 3rd in the MVP led MLB in H/9 and shutouts. Lofton lines a single to center. An out later Albert Belle walks, that's all.

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: Reynolds gets Sorrento on a called third strike -- and Sorrento just explodes - getting right into the umpire's face, pointing his finger -- and Sorrento gets run - Paul Sorrento is ejected in the second inning of game 2. Carlos Baerga had the big blow to win game 1 and he singles here.  Baerga's 26, it's his 6th big league season and he made his 3rd All Star team this year. That's it.

3rd: Yogi walks with 2 away.  This is the last shot for Yogi, as it is for many of these Yankees; if they don't win Region 8, Yogi is (as a player) out of the tournament. Yogi's 26, in year 6 of what will be 18 with the Yankees.  He won his first of 3 MVPs this year.  That's it.

3rd: 1-2-3

4th: Gil McDougald walks and then Jackie Jensen hits a 2 run homer; Jensen homered in game 1 and puts New York up 3-0 today.  After an out, DiMaggio singles.  DiMaggio is 36, wasn't in the lineup in game 1 (Mantle, 19, isn't in the lineup today) DiMaggio's in his 13th and final season.  As he did every single season of his career - he made the All Star team.  That's all.  Yankees 3 Indians 0

4th: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Reynolds

5th: Yogi doubles with 2 away, that's all.

5th: Baerga singles, that's it.

6th: McDougald doubles and here's Jackie Jensen again - doubling McDougald home.  Yankees 4 Indians 0

6th: Lofton singles. Steals second.  Jim Thome lines a ground ball into right field and Lofton scores.  Thome's 24, it's his 5th season getting some time with the Indians, but the first one where he played 100 games. He'll be an Indian through '02.  Albert Belle follows with a double and Manny Ramirez walks to load the bases with nobody out.  Eddie Murray sac fly scores a run and that's all.  Yankees 4 Indians 2

7th: 1-2-3

7th: Bob Kuzava comes on again for the Yanks - Baerga greets him with another base hit; that's it.

8th: Hershiser gets 2 - and then it's Jackie Jensen again - a bomb to center; his second of the day, third of the series - Jackie Jensen carrying the Yankee offense right now.  Yankees 5 Indians 2

8th: 1-2-3

9th: Eric Plunk comes on for the Indians; 31 year old RH, 2.67. Plunk knows New York, drafted by NY and later spent 3 seasons with the Yankees. Plunk was twice part of deals where Rickey Henderson went back the other way.  He walks Johnny Mize with 2 out but tht's it.

9th: Kuzava stays in - he's 3 outs from tying up this series at a game each.

Ramirez walks.  

Murray walks.

Herb Perry singles - the Indians have loaded the bases -- Casey decides to leave Kuzava in - the real disparity between these two teams is the bullpen, the Indians have a deep pen with an elite closer and the Yankees just don't, Kuzava being their top arm.  But after a couple of innings in both games 1 and 2 - here he is now, bases loaded.  Nobody out.

Baerga singles again and now its 5-3.  That's it - Stengel goes to the pen for Joe Ostrowski, 34 year old lefty, 3.49. 

Alomar flies to left -- too shallow to score a run.

Vizquel gets ahold of one - deep - deep - deep to center, but the old Yankee Clipper tracks it down for out number two - that scores the second run, it's 5-4.

Runners on the corners.  2 out.  Yanks clinging to the 5-4 lead.

And Kenny Lofton singles!  Lofton singles to center - it scores the tying run - this Jacobs Field crowd - all of Northern Ohio - has exploded - 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th to tie the score and now the winning run stands on third base.

And Thome lines a shot to center -- but DiMaggio makes an incredible play, a full dive to take away the game winning single from Thome -- the 36 year old DiMaggio saving game 2 for the Yankees with a remarkable diving catch.  But the Indians come all the way back to tie this score.  Yankees 5 Indians 5

10th: Plunk stays on for Cleveland - he gets one and walks Collins. Hargrove is out of the dugout and makes the call to the pen for Julian Tavarez, 22 year old RH, 10 wins, 2.44.  He ends the threat.

10th: Ostrowski stays on for the Yanks, he gets one then gives up a Manny single. After the second out Eddie Murray singles.  Herb Perry, who replaced Sorrento at first - singles and the Indians have the winning run at 3rd.  Two outs.

And Carlos Baerga singles - and the game is over.

14 hits for the Indians - they score 3 in the 9th, 1 in the 10th, Cleveland gets both games at home and heads to Yankee Stadium one game away from the Regional Final.

Yankees 5

Indians 6

WP Tavarez

LP Ostrowski

Carlos Baerga's 2 run homer was the big blow in game 1 - today he has 5 hits including the game winner in the 10th.

Lofton 6x

Thome 2x/double

Ramirez 4x

Murray 4x

Perry 3x

Baerga 7x/HR

Alomar 1x

Vizquel 2x

Belle 2x/double

Woodling 1x/double

Collins 3x

McDougald 4x/2 double

Jensen 4x/ 3HR, double 4 game 2 RBI

Mantle 1x

Brown 2x

Mize 3x

Berra 3x/ HR, double

DiMaggio 1x

CF Lofton (28) (LH)    110  3.4

3B Thome (24)  (LH)   157  5.6

LF Belle (28)        177  8.2

RF Ramirez (23)  147  3.7

1B Murray (39) (SH) 129  2.7

2B Baerga (26)  (SH)   108  3.4

C Alomar (29)      107  1.7

SS Vizquel (28) (SH)   78     2.4

SP3 Ogea (24)      154   2.3

CF Woodling (28)  (LH)    129     3.1

C Berra (26)    (LH)            130    5.5

1B Collins (28)  (LH)         126     1.4

2B McDougald (23)    142    4.3

LF Jensen (24)            137    1.2  

RF Mantle (19)    (SH)      117     1.1

3B Brown (26)   (LH)         108     1.3

SS Rizzuto (33)          92       3.1

SP3 Raschi (32)         117      4.4

GAME THREE

1st: No core group of players had more entrants in this 128 team tournament than did Stengel's Yankees, but now they're down to their final game, needing to win 3 straight to avoid elimination at the hands of the Indians. 32 year old RH Vic Raschi gets the ball for New York.  21-10, 3.27. This is Raschi's 6th season in the bigs, he was 8th in the MVP and led MLB in Ks. He gets 2 - and then Albert Belle rockets a homer deep into left field. Are we about to see a sweep? Indians 1 Yankees 0

1st: Chad Ogea takes the ball for the Tribe, first time we've had a starter under the age of 30 in the series; the RH is 24, 8-3, 3.05. It's his first full season, easily the best he'll ever have. Gene Woodling walks and that's it.

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: 1-2-3

3rd: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Raschi.

3rd: Bobby Brown walks, that's all.

4th: Belle slaps a single to right with 1 out. Belle's 28, it's his 7th season, he finished 2nd in the MVP. He led the AL in runs and RBI and led all MLB in doubles, homers, slugging and total bases. That's all.

4th: 1-2-3

5th: Baerga singles, he's reached 8 times. That's it.

5th: 1-2-3, Ogea has yet to allow a hit.

6th: Raschi gets 1 - then walks Thome and Belle. Ramirez then walks, bases loaded - only 1 out - Cleveland has a chance to end the series right here -- but Raschi escapes.  

6th: Rizzuto walks; Scooter's 33, it's his 8th season in pinstripes of what will be 13. He made his 3rd All Star team and led MLB in sacrifices for the third straight year. Still - no hits for the Yanks.

7th: Alomar singles and then Omar Vizquel hits a two run homer that sets off a celebration in the Indian dugout as they can feel the sweep is just about to happen. The Indian shortstop is 28, he spent his first 5 seasons in Seattle and this is his second in Cleveland. Vizquel won his third of what will be 11 Gold Gloves this year. An out later Lofton walks -- and then Jim Thome hits a 2 run bomb and that's it -- this Yankee team is headed home and the Cleveland Indians are going to the Region 8 final.  Johnny Sain comes on for the Yanks - the 33 year old RH had a 4.14 ERA. He gets the second, then Manny doubles - all that's left in this one is to see if New York can get a hit.  Indians 5 Yankees 0

7th: 1-2-3 --- the story is now Chad Ogea as the Yankees do not have a hit.  

8th: Alomar hits a one out single and Ogea singles with 2 away, that's all.

8th: This series has ended, the Indians will advance to the Region 8 final - but Chad Ogea comes into the 8th having yet to allow a hit, looking for a feat yet to occur in the tournament.

Ogea strikes out Mantle.  That could be Mantle's final at bat in the tournament.

Brown fouls out just in front of the screen behind home plate.

Rizzuto can of corn to Lofton.  1-2-3, 9 straight for Ogea.  

9th: 1-2-3

9th: Can Chad Ogea get 3 more?

Hank Bauer comes off the bench to hit - and he rips a double off the wall in left.  That's it for Ogea, Eric Plunk comes on - he gets two and then Collins doubles to end the shutout.  But McDougald flies to Lofton - and the Indians celebrate at Yankee Stadium - the 1995 Cleveland Indians have made the Sweet 16, they head to the Region 8 Final.

Indians 5

Yankees 1

WP Ogea

LP Raschi

Cleveland takes it to the Yankees, close wins in both games 1 and 2 with Baerga leading the way and Ogea giving up just 1 hit in 8 innings today.  

Lofton 7x

Thome 4x/double, HR

Ramirez 6x/double

Baerga 8x/HR

Vizquel 3x/HR

Belle 5x/double, HR

So - the best individual performance was Ogea's, he's going to earn half of this MVP and Baerga's got to get the other half.

128 Team MLB Tournament - Region 7 Final : 2019 AL Champion Houston Astros v. 1954 New York Yankees

 Yankees v. Yankees

#26. 2019 AL Champion Houston Astros v. #54. 1954 New York Yankees

Astros 107-57 (Pythag 107-55) Mgr AJ Hinch (5th AL MoY)

1st in AL West

d. Rays 3-2 in ALDS

d. Yankees 4-2 in ALCS (MVP-Jose Altuve)

lost to Nationals 4-3 in World Series

d. #103 1948 Yankees 2-0 (MVP-Michael Brantley)

d. #90   1949 Red Sox 3-0 (MVP-Yuli Gurriel)

d. #122  1999 Braves 3-0 (MVP- Carlos Correa/Josh Reddick)

All-Stars: OF Michael Brantley, 3B Alex Bregman (2nd AL MVP) SP Gerrit Cole (2nd AL Cy Young) RP Ryan Pressly, OF George Springer, SP Justin Verlander (AL Cy Young)

Third straight 100 win season, best record in MLB. Everyone fired in offseason for sign stealing. First team ever to both lead in most pitching Ks and fewest hitting Ks.

Yankees 103-51 (Pythag 101-53) Mgr. Casey Stengel

2nd in AL

d. #75 1913 A's 2-0 (MVP-Mickey Mantle)

d. #10 1907 Cubs 3-0 (MVP-Whitey Ford/Johnny Sain)

d. #23 1936 Yankees 3-2 (MVP-Mickey Mantle/Hank Bauer)

All-Stars: OF Hank Bauer, C Yogi Berra (AL MVP) SP Whitey Ford, OF Mickey Mantle, OF Irv Noren, SP Allie Reynolds

Hall of Famers: Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, Phil Rizzuto, Enos Slaughter

The '53 Yanks advanced to this round in Region 3, here's the sequel.  

Yankees-Casey Stengel

RF Slaughter (38) (LH) 102

CF Mantle (22)   (SH)  158   5.8

C Berra (29)  (LH)   137       5.7

DH Skowron (23)  167  1.9  

LF Noren (29) (LH) 138       3.5

1B Collins (31)  (LH) 125      1.9

3B Carey (22)  121       4.7 

2B McDougald (26)  117  3.8

SS Miranda (28)  79   (SH)  .1

SP3 Byrd (29)    104

Bench

RF Bauer (31)   127      2.7  

LF Cerv (29) 121

SS Rizzuto (36)  52       .3

LF Woodling (LH) (31) 98

2B Coleman (29)  55

1B Robinson (33) (LH) 103

P Ford (25)   (LH)   123       4.1 

SP2 Grim (24)   107     2.4

SP4 Lopat (LH) 

Stengel starts the series the way he started the regional semi-final, lots of platoons; there will be some short leashes though, given the way Bauer/Rizzuto performed in the comeback win over 1936. The veteran Lopat gets the call for game 4. 

Astros-AJ Hinch

CF Springer (29)     150  6.5  

DH Alvarez (22) (LH)    173  3.8

3B Bregman (25)    162  9.2

SS Correa (24)        137  3.3

2B Altuve (29)        131  3.7

LF Brantley (32) (LH)    126   3.9

1B Gurriel (35)        126  3.8

C Chirinos (35)       105   2.8

RF Reddick (32)  (LH)   89   1.6

SP1 Cole (28)         185  7.5

Bench

CF Marisnick (28)   80    1.4   

1B White (28)   72

3B Diaz (28)  114

2B Kemp (27) (LH)  88

SS Straw (24)  92

P Verlander (36)      179   7.6

SP3 Miley (32)   (LH)    116  1.6

SP4 Greinke (35) 154

Greinke didn't meet the minimum IP to start in the tournament - but only 3 Astros did - so as we move to a 4 man rotation, he gets the call and this undefeated Astros team gets even stronger. Marisnick will move into the lineup against LH.  

Lineups:

C-Berra

1B-Gurriel

2B-Push

SS-Correa

3B-Bregman

LF-Push

CF-Springer

RF-Bauer

SP1-Cole

SP2-Verlander

SP3-Grim

SP4-Greinke

Pen-Houston

WAR: Houston 8 NYY 3, the run should end for the Yankees, Astros are solidly better, Bregman is the best position player, they have the better seed and home field  Substantial favorites here.  

GAME ONE

1st: The 2017 LA Dodgers won Region 2 and that means they will meet the Region 7 winners in the Elite 8.  Either we will see a Yankee/Dodger matchup, which is always good for historical reasons - or we'll get what is pretty close to a rematch of the 2017 World Series with Astros/Dodgers.  Hoping for the latter is Gerrit Cole. 28 year old RH, 20-5, 2.50. Cole's from southern California, went to UCLA, on the same staff as Trevor Bauer. Taken first overall in the 2011 draft by the Pirates and came up mid '13. 4th in the Cy Young in '15, dealt to Houston before the '18 season and finished 5th in the Cy that season.  This year, Cole led MLB in Ks, K/9 and finished second in the Cy - behind Justin Verlander, who will be going in game 2.  No wonder the Astros are undefeated in the tournament thusfar.  1-2-3

1st: Its Harry Byrd on the mound for Stengel's Yankees. 29 year old RH, 9-7 2.99; he's from South Carolina, joined the Army after HS, signed with the A's in '46, first got the call in '50 and was Rookie of the Year in '52. Byrd lost 20 games in '53 and in the offseason was part of a 13 player trade with the Yankees. 1-2-3

2nd: Moose Skowron singles. The 23 year old is DH'ing today. Skowron's from Chicago, played baseball, basketball and football at Purdue (he played for Hank Stram). Signed with the Yanks in '50 and got called up this year, platooning at first base. Cole gets the next 3, he has 3 Ks.

2nd: Carlos Correa was Astros co-MVP in the semi-final and he walks to lead off the second. Correa's Puerto Rican, Houston took him first overall in '12 at the age of 17 and brought him up in '15, when he was Rookie of the Year.  Jose Altuve walks and Michael Brantley doubles to right center, scoring both.  Yuli Gurriel singles - Houston's off and running, 3-0. Robinson Chirinos walks, Byrd gets 2 - and then Yordan Alvarez singles home another run.  Big, big inning.  Yankees 0 Astros 4

3rd: Willy Miranda singles with 1 out.  Miranda got the first shot at shortstop in this series; the 28 year old is Cuban, signed with the Senators in '48, came up in '51 and was dealt to the White Sox after the season.  After a couple of short stints with the Browns, Miranda was sold to the Yankees in mid '53. Considered a defensive specialist, he backed up Rizzuto this year.  That's all.

3rd: Jose Altuve singles with one out.  The Astros 5'6 second baseman is 29. Altuve's Venezuelan, signed with the Astros at 16, called up in mid '11. An All Star in '12, '14, '15, '16, '17, '18. In '16, Altuve was 3rd in the MVP and won the award the following season. Altuve hit his 100th career homer this season, got his 1500th hit, was ALCS MVP and hit .303 in the World Series. That's all.

4th: 1-2-3

4th: Robinson Chirinos singles to right. The Astros catcher is 35. He's Venezuelan, signed with the Cubs in '10, dealt to the Rays and came up mid '11.  Chirinos was dealt to Texas early in the '13 season and before this year signed with Houston.  Two outs later Alvarez singles and Bregman walks and the bases are loaded. Byrd escapes. 

5th: Joe Collins walks. The Yankee first baseman is 31; born in Scranton, signed with the Yankees back in '39 and came up in '48. Career Yankee, often sharing at bats at first.  That's all, 5 Ks for Cole.

5th: Byrd's done - 27 year old RH Jim McDonald comes on, 4-1, 3.17. Michael Brantley doubles with one out.  The Houston LF is 32, went to HS in Ft Pierce, Florida, his dad played for the Mariners. The Brewers took him in the 7th round in '05 and dealt him to the Indians after the '08 season. Cleveland called him up in '09. In '14, Brantley was 3rd in the AL MVP and he made the '18 All Star team.  He signed prior to this season with the Astros. Gurriel singles home a run and it's 5-0.  Chirinos singles, Josh Reddick singles to score another run.  It's a rout.  Yankees 0 Astros 6

6th: Miranda doubles, just the third hit for the Yankees. Cole walks Enos Slaughter.  The 38 year old Slaughter is platooning in RF.  Slaughter's from North Carolina, after HS he played semi-pro and worked in a textile mill. Slaughter signed with the Cards in '36, came up in '38. In '42, Slaughter led the NL in hits and was 2nd in the MVP.  He then joined the Air Force and missed the next 3 seasons. In game 7 of the 1946 World Series, Slaughter scored from first on a double in the bottom of the 8th to break a 3-3 tie with the Red Sox; called "Slaughter's Mad Dash" it was one of the more famous baseball plays of the era.  Slaughter was purpotedly opposed to integration; he spiked Jackie Robinson in August, '47. Slaughter had 4 post-War top 10 MVP finishes and was dealt to the Yankees prior to this season. Mantle walks and the bases are loaded with nobody out. Cole induces a Berra double play, scoring a run. Yankees 1 Astros 6

6th: Alex Bregman walks. The Astros third baseman is 25, from Albuquerque, went to LSU. Houston took him second overall in '15 and called him up in '16. Bregman was 5th in the MVP last year, 2nd this year. An out later Altuve walks and Brantley singles, to add another Houston run. After the second out, McDonald hits Chirinos - with this game seemingly out of reach, is that a message?  We'll see how it plays out. Yankees 1 Astros 7

7th:  1-2-3

7th: Bregman singles with 2 out, Correa singles, that's all.

8th: 1-2-3, 9 in a row from Cole, Houston cruising to a game one win.  

8th: 34 year old lefty Tommy Byrne for the Yankees.  2.70. Brantley singles again.  2 outs later Josh Reddick triples him home.  Reddick was co-MVP in the Astros semi-final win.  Reddick's 32, went to Middle Georgia College and drafted by the Red Sox in the 17th round in '06. came up in '09 and was dealt to the A's after the '11 season.  The Dodgers got him at the deadline in '16 and then he signed with the Astros before the '17 season. George Springer singles Reddick home; it's a laugher in Houston for the solidly favored Astros.  31 year old lefty Bob Kuzava is the new Yankee pitcher, 5.45. Alvarez and Bregman single, that scores another run.  Correa reaches on a run scoring error - just a wipeout today.  Yankees 1 Astros 11

9th: Cole gives way to 35 year old RH Joe Smith, had a 1.80 ERA in 25 innings pitched. 1-2-3

Yankees 1

Astros 11

WP Cole

LP Byrd

18 Astros hits just pound the Yankees in game one. Cole going 8, giving up 3 hits.

Springer 1x

Alvarez 3x

Bregman 4x

Correa 2x

Altuve 3x

Brantley 4 x/2 doubles, 3 game 1 RBI, 3 game 1 runs

Gurriel 2x

Chirinos 4x

Reddick 2x/triple

Slaughter 1x

Mantle 1x

Skowron 1x

Miranda 2x/double

CF Mantle (22)   (SH)  158   5.8

C Berra (29)  (LH)   137       5.7

DH Skowron (23)  167  1.9  

LF Noren (29) (LH) 138       3.5

1B Collins (31)  (LH) 125      1.9

RF Bauer (31)   127      2.7  

3B Carey (22)  121       4.7 

2B McDougald (26)  117  3.8

SS Miranda (28)  79   (SH)  .1

P Ford (25)   (LH)   123       4.1 

RF Springer (29)     150  6.5  

3B Bregman (25)    162  9.2

DH Alvarez (22) (LH)    173  3.8

SS Correa (24)        137  3.3

2B Altuve (29)        131  3.7

1B Gurriel (35)        126  3.8

LF Brantley (32) (LH)    126   3.9

C Chirinos (35)       105   2.8

CF Marisnick (28)   80    1.4   

P Verlander (36)      179   7.6

GAME TWO

1st: The Astros are now 9-0 in the tournament after blowing the Yankees out in game one of the Region 7 final.  Justin Verlander looks to make it a perfect 10. 36 year old RH, 21-6, 2.58. Verlander's from Richmond, went to Old Dominion; the Tigers took him 2nd overall in '04, came up in '05 and was Rookie of the Year in '06 and started game one of the World Series. In June, '07 Verlander no hit the Brewers; in '09 he led MLB in wins and Ks and finished third in the Cy Young. In May of '11, Verlander no hit the Jays and in a June game struck out 14 Diamondbacks. He led the AL in wins/Ks/ERA and won the MVP and Cy Young. Verlander started the All Star game in '12, threw a complete game 4 hitter to clinch the ALDS and finished second in the Cy Young.  Verlander struck out 10 A's to clinch the 2013 ALDS, he had a 0.39 ERA in the '13 postseason. In '16, Verlander was 2nd in the Cy Young and he was dealt to the Astros in late '17.  In the '17 ALCS, Verlander had a 0.56 ERA. In '18, Verlander was 2nd in the Cy Young, In a game this June, Verlander struck out 15 Brewers. In September he no hit the Jays.  In his final start of the regular season, Verlander recorded his 3,000th career K.  He won his 2nd Cy Young this year.  Mantle opens with a base hit.  Verlander gets the next two -- and then Irv Noren hits a 2 run homer to right -- the Yankees jump on top today.  Yankees 2 Astros 0

1st: Whitey Ford is given the 2-0 lead today.  25 year old lefty, 16-8, 2.82. Ford's a local, a NYC kid.  Grew up in Queens.  The Yankees signed him in '47, he was hospitalized with dysentery in '49, was 2nd in the Rookie of the Year in '50 and won the clinching game in the World Series. Ford served the next two years in the Army, came back in '53.  He started the All Star game this year. Ford walks George Springer, then Alex Bregman. After an out, Carlos Correa singles home a run. After the second out, Yuli Gurriel doubles home two -- and then Michael Brantley bombs a 2 run homer.  The Astros hang a 5 spot on Whitey Ford in the first inning.  Yankees 2 Astros 5

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: Jake Marisnick gets the start today against the lefty Ford - and he hits the first pitch he sees over the wall in left.  Marisnick's 28, from Riverside, California, the Jays took him in the third round a decade ago and dealt him to the Marlins before the '12 season. He got called up in '13 and was moved to Houston at the '14 deadline. Springer and Bregman walk, after an out, a Correa sac fly scores Houston's 7th run.  Yankees 2 Astros 7

3rd: Willy Miranda walks and Mickey Mantle doubles.  Mantle's 22, from Oklahoma, signed with the Yankees out of HS and called up when he was 18 and given the number 6, Ruth was 3, Gehrig 4, DiMaggio 5 (it was changed to 7 in late '51). Mantle was injured when he and DiMaggio both went after a Mays fly ball in the '51 Series, tearing his knee.  Mantle hit .300 this year. A Berra sac fly scores a run and a Skowron groundout scores a second. Yankees 4 Astros 7

3rd: Yuli Gurriel singles to center. The Astros first baseman is 35. He's Cuban, won a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics and a silver in '08. Gurriel defected in '16 and signed with the Astros. He hit 31 homers this year.  Brantley singles.  That's all.  

4th: Joe Collins doubles down the right field line and Hank Bauer follows with a run scoring double; the Yankee offense coming alive in game 2. Bauer's 31, co-MVP in the regional semi and probably going to start the rest of the way after sitting in game one.  Bauer's from East St Louis, spent 4 years in the Marines after HS and earned 2 Bronze Stars in the Pacific.  Bauer signed with the Yankees in '46 and came up in '48. Bauer started in the All Star game in '52, '53 and this year. After an out, Gil McDougald grounds out to score another run, Miranda walks - it ends here, but how about this Yankee attack?  Yankees 6 Astros 7

4th: Yordan Alvarez walks with 1 out.  Houston's DH is 22. He's from Cuba, defected in '16 and signed with the Dodgers.  Houston got him for Josh Fields in late '16. He came up in the middle of this season, hit 27 homers and won the Rookie of the Year.  Correa singles, Altuve doubles to score two and that chases Ford.  Jim McDonald is the new pitcher. He gets one then walks Brantley.  Chironis doubles home two. The Astros.  Man.  Yankees 6 Astros 11

5th: Verlander gets two and then Irv Noren hits his second homer of the day. Noren's 29, from Pasadena. Goes to Pasadena Jr. College and then to the military.  The Dodgers signed him in '46 when he also played a few games of professional basketball. The Senators buy him after the '49 season and he comes up in '50. Noren broke his jaw in '51 and was dealt to the Yankees in '52. He made his only ever All Star game this year and hit .319 on the season. Collins walks, Bauer singles - that's all.  Yankees 7 Astros 11

5th: McDonald gets 2 - Alvarez singles, Correa singles - Altuve doubles both of them home.  The Astros.  Man.  Yankees 7 Astros 13

6th: 1-2-3, Verlander strikes out the side.  

6th: 1-2-3

7th: Yogi doubles. The Yankee backstop is 29, from St Louis, played Legion ball with Joe Garagiola and signed with the Yanks in '42. Berra then served in the Navy, getting called up in '46. Berra was an All Star in '48, finished 3rd in the MVP in '50 and won it in '51. Yogi then finished 4th in '52, 2nd in '53 and won it again this year.  That's all.

7th: George Springer walks. Springer's 29, from Connecticut, went to UConn. Houston took him 11th overall in '11, came up in '14 and was 8th in the Rookie of the Year. Springer hit 5 homers in the 2017 World Series, winning the MVP. Bregman singles, an out later Correa singles home another run. 34 year old lefty Tommy Byrne enters, 2.70 ERA - Altuve and Gurriel have back to back run scoring singles.  Yankees 7 Astros 16

8th: Verlander's day is over, Joe Smith comes on.  Gil McDougald doubles with 2 out, thats all.

8th: 1-2-3

9th: Mantle walks - 24 year old Jose Urquidy gets the call from AJ Hinch. 3.95. He walks Yogi - but that's the end.

Yankees 7

Astros 16

WP Verlander

LP Ford

The Astros are 10-0.  How do you stop this group?  The series heads to Yankee Stadium for game 3.

Springer 4x

Alvarez 5x/3 runs scored game 2

Bregman 7x

Correa 6x/3 RBI, 3 runs, game 2

Altuve 6x/2 doubles, 5 RBI game 2

Brantley 7x/2 doubles, HR, 3 game 1 RBI, 3 game 1 runs

Gurriel 5x/double 3 RBI game 2

Chirinos 5x/double

Reddick 2x/triple

Marisnick 1x/HR

Slaughter 1x

Mantle 4x/double

Skowron 1x

Miranda 4x/double

Berra 2x/double

Noren 2x/ 2 HR, 3 RBI game 2

Collins 2x/double

Bauer 2x/double

McDougald 1x/double

CF Springer (29)     150  6.5  

3B Bregman (25)    162  9.2

SS Correa (24)        137  3.3

2B Altuve (29)        131  3.7

LF Brantley (32) (LH)    126   3.9

1B Gurriel (35)        126  3.8

C Chirinos (35)       105   2.8

RF Reddick (32)  (LH)   89   1.6

SP3 Miley (32)   (LH)    116  1.6

CF Mantle (22)   (SH)  158   5.8

1B Skowron (23)  167  1.9  

C Berra (29)  (LH)   137       5.7

RF Bauer (31)   127      2.7  

LF Noren (29) (LH) 138       3.5

3B Carey (22)  121       4.7 

2B McDougald (26)  117  3.8

SS Rizzuto (36)  52       .3

SP2 Grim (24)   107     2.4

GAME THREE

 1st: Bob Grim stands on the Yankee Stadium mound, looking to do anything to slow this Astros onslaught. Grim's a 24 year old RH, 20-6, 3.26. Like Ford; Grim's a New Yorker - he went to HS in Brooklyn, signed with the Yankees in '48, this was his rookie season and he won the Rookie of the Year. He gets two - then Correa singles. Aluve doubles him home, that's Alutve's third double of the series and then Brantley singles home Altuve.  Brantley's reached 8 times, leading both teams.  Astros 2 Yankees 0

1st: Wade Miley is a 32 year old lefty, 14-6, 3.98. Miley's from Louisiana, went to SE Louisiana. Arizona took him in the first in '08, called him up in '11. Miley was 2nd in the Rookie of the Year in '12. The Red Sox got him after the '14 season and a year later sent him to the Cubs. Miley went to the Orioles next and in '17 gave up Adrian Beltre's 3000th hit. Then the Brewers and he signed with Houston before this season.  1-2-3

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: Andy Carey singles with 2 away.  Carey's 22, from Oakland, went to St Marys. The Yanks signed him in '51, he came up in the next year. This was his first full season in the bigs. That's it.

3rd: Alex Bregman walks with 1 out. Altuve walks an out later.  That's all.

3rd: Mantle singles with 2 away, that's all.  

4th: Chirinos singles with one away, that's all.  

4th: We have some pitching early on in game 3.  1-2-3

5th: Springer singles but that's all.

5th: 1-2-3, 7 straight retired by Miley -- New York has got to hit the ball.

6th: 1-2-3, Grim and Miley, nice duel today.

6th: Skowron singles with two away; That's it -- Miley's allowed just 3 hits.  

7th: Chirinos singles. Two outs later Springer singles and then Bregman singles home a run and now it sure looks like Houston's about to virtually lock this series down.  Astros 3 Yankees 0

7th: Bauer singles. 2 outs later Gil McDougald singles. McDougald's 26, he's from San Francisco, signed with the Yanks in '48, Rookie of the Year in '51. McDougald hit two homers in the '53 World Series. That's it.

8th: Tom Gorman takes the ball for the Yankees. 1-2-3

8th: Miley's day is done - Walt Harris is a 34 year old RH with a 1.50 ERA. Skowron singles with 2 away but nothing else happens and Houston is 3 outs from a 3 games to 0 lead.  

9th: Allie Reynolds for the Yanks.  37 year old RH, 13 wins, 3.32. Alvarez comes off the bench with 2 outs and walks, thats all.

9th: 24 year old RH Roberto Osuna is on to finish this one up.  2.63.  

Bauer doubles.  Going to need a few of those.

Noren flies to center.

Carey pops to Skowron.

And McDougald flies to left -- routine for Brantley and the Astros have gone up 3 games to 0.

Astros 3

Yankees 0

WP Miley

Loss Grim

Sv Osuna

Miley goes 7, gives up 5 hits and doesn't walk anyone.  And now having won all 11 games in the tournament Zach Greinke is about to get the ball for the Astros.

Springer 6x

Alvarez 5x/3 runs scored game 2

Bregman 9x

Correa 7x/3 RBI, 3 runs, game 2

Altuve 8x/3 doubles, 5 RBI game 2

Brantley 8x/2 doubles, HR, 3 game 1 RBI, 3 game 1 runs

Gurriel 5x/double 3 RBI game 2

Chirinos 7x/double

Reddick 2x/triple

Marisnick 1x/HR

Slaughter 1x

Mantle 5x/double

Skowron 3x

Miranda 4x/double

Berra 2x/double

Noren 2x/ 2 HR, 3 RBI game 2

Collins 2x/double

Bauer 4x/ 2 double

McDougald 2x/double

Carey 1x

RF Springer (29)     150  6.5  

3B Bregman (25)    162  9.2

SS Correa (24)        137  3.3

2B Altuve (29)        131  3.7

1B Gurriel (35)        126  3.8

LF Brantley (32) (LH)    126   3.9

C Chirinos (35)       105   2.8

CF Marisnick (28)   80    1.4   

SP4 Greinke (35) 154

CF Mantle (22)   (SH)  158   5.8

C Berra (29)  (LH)   137       5.7

LF Noren (29) (LH) 138       3.5

1B Collins (31)  (LH) 125      1.9

RF Bauer (31)   127      2.7  

3B Carey (22)  121       4.7 

2B McDougald (26)  117  3.8

SS Miranda (28)  79   (SH)  .1

SP4 Lopat (LH) 

GAME FOUR

1st: The 128 greatest baseball teams ever put on a field made up this tournament - the Astros have won all 10 games they've played.  36 year old lefty Eddie Lopat tries - somehow - to prevent this sweep.  12-4. 3.55. Like Ford and Grim - Lopat's from New York.  Went to DeWitt Clinton HS, ushered at Radio City, signed with the Dodgers in '36, when he eventually made the bigs in '44 it was with the White Sox. The Yanks got him before the '48 season. In '52 he had a 2.53 ERA and in '53 it was 2.42. 1-2-3

1st: 35 year old RH Zack Greinke for the Astros.  8-1, 3.02. Greinke's from Orlando, the Royals took him in the first round in '02, he was just 20 when they called him up in '04. Greinke won the Cy Young in '09 and was dealt to the Brewers prior to the '11 season. The next season he was dealt to the Angels and then prior to '13 Greinke signed with the Dodgers.  He was 8th in the Cy Young that year, 7th the following.  And in 2015 Greinke was 19-3 with a 1.66 ERA and finished second in the Cy Young.  Following the season he signed with Arizona. He won his 200th game in '16. In '17 he finished 4th in the Cy Young and came over to Houston at this year's deadline.  Combined this year, Greinke was 18-5, 2.93. Mantle walks, that's all.

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: Collins doubles.  That's it.

3rd: 1-2-3, 9 up, 9 down for Lopat.

3rd: 1-2-3

4th: Lopat gets one - and then Alex Bregman homers to dead center - he's reached 10 times, leading both squads.  Astros 1 Yankees 0

4th: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Greinke

5th: Brantley singles with 1 out, he's reached 9 times, that's all.

5th: McDougald singles with one out, That's it.  Just 2 hits for both clubs so far today.

6th: 1-2-3

6th: 1-2-3 - veteran pitchers going at it in game 4.

7th: Correa and Altuve single with one out, Gurriel then singles and that's a run.  Lopat gives way to Tom Gorman, Brantley grounds out - that's another run.  Marisnick singles one more in -- this one is all over; the 7th team to advance to the Elite 8 - the hottest team in this tournament - is going to be the Astros.  Astros 4 Yankees 0

7th: Collins doubles. That's it -- Greinke's given up just 3 hits and is now 6 outs from the sweep.

8th: Springer singles, an out later Correa walks - Altuve singles home a run, and a Gurriel sac fly scores another.  Tommy Byrne comes on for New York to end it.  Astros 6 Yankees 0

8th: Miranda singles and then Skowron pinch singles.  Mickey Mantle then rocks one -- a 3 run bomb that hits high, high, high up on the foul pole.  Mantle trots around the bases to the roar of the faithful - it might be too late but it's the best moment of the series for New York. Walt Harris enters for Houston and retires the next 3.  Astros 6 Yankees 3

9th: Allie Reynolds for the Yanks, Chironis singles and then Marisnick ends the series with a homer to right center - the Astros are all out of the dugout now - they know the sweep is moments away - they know they are moving to the Elite 8.  Harris hits for himself and he singles-  an out later Bregman walks, Correa singles home a run and thats Astros 9 Yankees 3

9th: Harris gets the first two and walks McDougald - Hinch brings on Joe Smith - he strikes out Miranda and that's it.  Chironis runs out to the mound to hug Smith, the Astros just roll out to the diamond - the full roster celebrating on the Yankee Stadium infield - Houston is undefeated -- undefeated - they've swept their way to the Elite 8.

Astros 9

Yankees 3

WP Greinke

LP Lopat

Houston hit, they hit some more and then they hit.  12-0 in the tournament.  

Springer 7x

Bregman 11x/HR

Correa 10x/3 RBI, 3 runs, game 2

Altuve 10x/3 doubles, 5 RBI game 2

Brantley 9x/2 doubles, HR, 3 game 1 RBI, 3 game 1 runs

Chirinos 9x/double

Hard to pick, this really was spread up and down the lineup - let's say Brantley gets it.