WS Game 4. Boston takes 3-1 lead in Series as LA blows late 4-0 lead.

A few years back, the Yanks were having some problems and I recommended that they bring up a certain journeyman who was tearing it up at SWB. A certain writer for a NY paper (who now works for MLB) criticized me for suggesting it.

Sometimes, all you need is to be given a chance.

The players’ name was Steve Pearce. Last night, Pearce drove in 4 runs to enable Boston to go up 3 games to 1 over the Dodgers in the World Series.

Funny how things turned out.

It’s a painful loss for L.A. Not only are they one loss from losing the WS for the second year in a row, but they blew a late 4-0 lead in losing 9-6.

They scored 4 runs in the sixth, highlighted by a 3-run HR by Yasiel Puig. Boston entered the top of the seventh with only one hit.

Then they woke up. Rich Hill, pitching so great to that point, walked the first batter, struck out the next, and was pulled from the game. The Dodgers’ bullpen imploded.

A walk. Another pitching change. A popup.

And once again, Boston struck with two out. PH Keith Moreland hit a 3-run HR to make it 4-3.

Ryan Madson has allowed EVERY inherited runner to score in this WS. So why was he on the mound with two on in a 4-0 game only to give up a 3-run HR?

Yes, Hill may have been tiring in the seventh. But he was still working on a one-hit shutout!

I swear, sometimes teams—in every sport—don’t win games as much as the other team’s coach or manager blows it.

In the eighth, Dodgers’ closer Kenley Jansen gave up a game-tying HR for the second straight night. Pearce’s blast tied the game.

Then Boston put it away with five runs in the top of the ninth, highlighted by a bases-clearing 3-run double by Pearce. Pearce’s double, and another hit that drove in Pearce after that, came with…. you guessed it, two out.

Enrique Hernandez hit a 2-run HR for L.A. in the bottom of the ninth, but the final was 9-6, Boston.

WS MVP if Boston wins tonight? Interesting. Pearce has to be considered, but as of now, I might go with Boston reliever Joe Kelly as a frontrunner. He has pitched in all four games, has one win (in last night’s game 4), has pitched five scoreless innings and has struck out seven.

Kelly the winning pitcher last night, Floro the loser.

Seattle’s Edwin Diaz won the Mariano Rivera Award for best reliever in the A.L., and Josh Hader of Milwaukee won the Trevor Hoffman Award for best N.L. Reliever.

Once the WS is over, I’ll take a look at how Yankees’ prospects are doing in the Arizona Fall League.

 

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Minor League Report. SWB gets walkoff win in Game 1 while Trenton loses.

AAA: Mark Payton hit a walkoff HR as SWB beat Lehigh Valley 3-2 in Game 1 of their division series. Payton had 2 RBI in the game. SS Gio Urshela 3 hits. 2 hits for C Francisco Diaz.

Swanson 3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 W, 3 K.
Lail 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Sheffield (BS) 1 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 H, 0 W, 1 K.
R. Espinal 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 4 K.
J. Harvey 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.

AA: Trenton lost Game 1 of their series, 8-0. SS Kyle Holder 3 hits. C Jorge Saez 2 hits. 3 hits for 3B Angel Aguilar.

Keller (L) 7 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 1 W, 6 K
Reeves 2/3 IP, 4 R, 1 H, 3 W, 1 K.
Harris 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 0 K.

 

Minor League Report. SWB continues bid for playoffs.

AAA: SWB (71-64) won 3-1.  C Francisco Diaz 2 hits, RBI. SWB has a 1/2 game lead for the WC spot. Only 3 more games are scheduled before the playoffs start next Wednesday.

Swanson (W, 3-2, 3.86) 6 1/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 W, 8 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Espinal (H, 4) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 4 k.  3.12
J. Harvey (S, 8) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.  1.70

AA: Trenton (76-61) won 3-2. They’ve already clinched a playoff spot. I don’t know if there was an injury with Nelson, or just ineffectiveness.

Nelson 2/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 2 W, 0 K.  5.19   2 WP
Foley (W, 4-4, 2.98) 4 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 5 K
Diehl (H, 4) 2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 4 K.  1.35
Wivinis (S, 4) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K.  5.40

Tampa and Charlestown, listed below, will not be in the playoffs.

High A: Tampa (69-66) won 19-2 in a game that was started on August 12th and completed yesterday. The regularly scheduled game was rained out.  DH Estevan Florial 4 hits. LF Clint Frazier 2 RBI. CF Dom Thompson-Williams 2 Hits, HR, 3 RBI.  RF Isiah Gilliam 3 hits. LF-2B-LF Ben Ruta 4 hits. 1B Steven Sensley 3 hits, HR, 5 RBI. 2b/SS Angel Aguilar 2 HR, 5 RBI. C Chace Numata 3 hits, HR, 2 RBI. Tampa had 19 runs, 22 hits, and hit 5 HR.

Deivi Garcia 0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.  0.77
R. Garcia (W, 1-3, 3.34) 7 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 0 W, 8 K. Gave up 1 HR.
A. Severino 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 W, 3 K.  0.00

Low A: Charleston (62-71) scored two in the bottom of the 10th to win 4-3. SS Oswaldo Cabrera 2 hits. DH Welfrin Mateo 2 hits. CF Leonardo Molina 2 hits, RBI.

Contreras 6 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 3 W, 6 K.  3.38
Kriske (BS, 1) 2 Ip, 2 R, 3 H, 1 W, 3 K.  4.50
C. Espinal (W, 1-2, 2.51) 2 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K.

Juan DePaula was the second minor leaguer going to SF in the McCutchen deal. He was a pitcher for short-season Staten Island.

 

 

Minor League Report.

AAA: SWB (60-56) scored five in the top of the ninth to take a 9-8 lead, but coughed up two in the bottom of the ninth to lose 10-9. CF Mark Payton 2 hits. SS Abiatal Avelino 2 RBI. 1B Ryan McBroom 3 hits, HR, 4 RBI. DH Mike Ford 3 hits, RBI. C Francisco Diaz 2 hits.

Adams 3 1/3 IP, 7 R, 8 H, 4 W, 5 K. Gave up 2 HR. 4.97. Poor outing by Adams.
Tarpley 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K.  2.52
Kahnle 1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 W, 4 K.  4.01
Coshow (L, 1-3, 4.69) 2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR.

AA: Trenton (65-52) lost 9-1. 2B Brandon Wagner 2 of Trenton’s 4 hits.

Foley (L, 2-4, 3.57) 3 IP, 3 R, 7 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Reeves 1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 2 W, 0 K.  2.47
Lail 1 2/3 IP, 4 R, 4 H, 1 W, 3 K.   5.59
Diehl 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K.  1.80
Hodson 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K.  10.80

HIgh A: Tampa (58-61) won 5-2. RF Estevan Florial 2 hits. SS Diego Castillo 2 hits, 2 RBI. LF Dom Thompson-Williams 2 hits, HR, 2 RBI. DH Isiah Gilliam 3 hits.

Abreu 4 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 1 W, 4 k.  4.30
Whitlock (W, 5-3, 2.42) 5 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 8 K.

Low A: Charleston (54-61) lost 4-3. They were up 3-2 but gave up runs in the eighth and ninth. CF Carlos Vidal 2 hits. SS Oswaldo Cabrera 2 hits. 3B Welfrin Mateo 3 hits.

Contreras 5 2/3 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 2 W, 1 K.  3.22
DeCarr 2 IP, 1 R, 0 H, 2 W, 1 K.  3.76
Alvarez (BS, 2; L, 0-2, 1.59) 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 3 K.

Minor League Report.

AAA: SWB (59-53) won 10-8. RF Tyler Wade 2 RBI. SS Abiatal Avelino 2 hits, 1B Ryan McBroom 3 hits, RBI. DH Mike Ford 2 hits. 3 hits, 2 doubles, 4 RBI 2B Ronald Torreyes. 2 hits 3B Gio Urshela. 2 hits, RBI C Francisco Diaz. LF Devyn Bolasky 2 hits, RBI.

Cessa 4 2/3 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 2 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR.  2.55
Feyereisen 1 2/3 IP, 5 R, 4 H, 1 W, 2 K. Gave up 2 HR  2.83
Kontos (W, 3-0, 1.45)  1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K
Coshow (S, 5) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.  4.50

AA: Trenton (63-50) lost 5-1. 2 hits C Ryan Lidge.

Rosa (L, 0-1, 5.40) 5 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 8 H, 0 W, 1 K. (1st AA game, was 12-3, 3.84 at Tampa)
Foley 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K.  3.24
Frawley 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 0 K.   2.31
Hodson 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.  12.00

High A; Tampa (55-60) lost 4-3. 2B Diego Castillo 2 hits, RBI.

R.Garcia (L, 0-3, 3.54) 2 R, 3 H, 5 W, 5 K.
Ort 1 2/3 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 3 W, 0 K. 6.23
Schwaab 2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 3 K   5.88

Low A: Charleston (52-59) lost 2-1. 3B David Metzgar 3 hits. LF Carlos Vidal 2 hits.

Martinez (L, 0-1, 3.00) 6 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 1 W, 4 K.
Higgins 3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K.  1.99

Minor League Report. Sheffield good….

AAA: SWB (55-47) won 11-1. 3B Bruce Caldwell 2 hits, solo HR. LF Mark Payton 4 hits, HR, 3 RBI. 1B Mike Ford 2 hits, HR, 2 RBI. SS Abiatal Avelino 2 hits, RBI. 2 hits, RBI RF Zach Zehner. C Francisco Diaz 3 hits, 2 RBI.

Sheffield (W, 4-3, 2.37) 5 2/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 W, 3 K. (Overall, AA/AAA 5-5, 2.34)
Tarpley 2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K.  1.80
J. Harvey 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 k.  1.67

AA: Trenton (58-47) won 3-2 in walkoff fashion. LF/RF Trey Amburgey 2 hits. 3B Brandon Wagner 3 hits, GW single. 1B Ryan McBroom 2 hits, RBI. RF Jhalen Jackson solo HR.

Acevedo 4 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 0 W, 4 k. Gave up 1 HR.   3.06
Lail 3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 4 K.  4.08
Sosebee (W, 2-2, 3.18) 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 k.

High A: Tampa (53-52) won 8-5. CF Estevan Florial 2 RBI. DH Dom Thompson-Williams 3 hits. 1B Steven Sensley 2 RBI. 3B Angel Aguilar 2 hits.

Nelson 5 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 4 W, 4 K.  3.33
Lane (H, 4) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.  3.97
Weissert (BS, 2; W, 1-0, 5.25)  2 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 W, 5 K.
Schwaab 1 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 2 H, 2 W, 2 K.  5.82

Low A: Charleston (50-52) lost 10-8. 2B Wilkerman Garcia 2 hits. C Jason Lopez 2 hits. DH Dermis Garcia 2 hits, HR, 2 RBI. CF Leonardo Molina 2 hits, 3 RBI.

Mauricio 4 iP, 6 R, 5 ER, 8 H, 3 W, 5 K.   12.83
Higgins 3 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 1 W, 2 K.  1.56
A. Severino (L, 2-3, 3.97) 1 1/3 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 2 W, 1 K.
Bristo 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.   1.93

Minor League Report.

AAA: SWB (54-47) won 9-3. SS Abiatal Avelino 3 hits, HR, 5 RBI. RF Tyler Austin 2 hits, solo HR. 1B Mike Ford 3 hits, 2 RBI. C Francisco Diaz 2 hits.

Swanson 4 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 7 K. Gave up 1 HR.  4.30
Coshow 2 1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 2 W, 3 K.  4.71
Espinal (BS, 2; W, 5-1, 2.13) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Kahnle 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K   2.66

SWB is 7 1/2 GB in their division and 1/2 game out of a wild card spot.

AA: Trenton (57-47) lost 5-1. 2 hits, C Jorge Saez.

Stephan 5 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 W, 7 K.  4.61
Koerner (H, 2) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 3.33
Diehl (BS, 1; L, 0-1) 2 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR. 2.57
Wivinis 1 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K.   18.00   1st game at AA, up from High A. Started season at Low A.

Trenton is 2 GB in their division, and would be the top wild card seed.

High A: Tampa (52-52) lost 12-11. SS Ronald Torreyes 2 hits. 1B Steven Sensley HR, 2 RBI. 3B Angel Aguilar 2 RBI. DH Ben Ruta 2 hits, 2 RBI. C Kellin Deglan 3 RBI.

Lehnen 4 1/3 IP, 7 R, 6 H, 6 W, 0 K.  5.25
Kamplain 1 2/3 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 2 W, 0 K.  5.09
Zurak (BS, 1; L, 0-1, 4.50) 2 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 2 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR. Just up from Low A.
Schwaab 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.  4.79

Tampa is 17-17, 4 GB in the second half. They were 35-35, 4 back in the first half.

Low A: Charleston (50-51) lost 4-2. 2 hits, RBI, C Jason Lopez.

Junk (L, 4-3, 4.18) 5 IP, 4 R, 6 H, 2 W, 3 K
DeCarr 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 3.66
Alvarez 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 6 K.  0.00 

Charleston is 17-16, 1 1/2 GB in the second half. They were 33-35, 6 1/2 out in the first half.

Since I have had some requests and inquiries about a hitter who had a high batting average this year at Trenton:

Devyn Bolasky, 25, Bats and throws lefty. Just promoted to SWB from Trenton. Yes, he was hitting .365 at AA, but in just 38 games, and he has no power. .365-0-11. He isn’t speedy, either, since he has 0 SB. In 272 minor league games, he has a .272 batting average, but has hit just 3 HR and has stolen just 25 bases. Last year, with 4 different minor league teams, from Low A to AAA, he hit just .235-2-26 with just 2 SB. So I am not sold on him yet. Because he was hitting in the .380s a few weeks ago, some people were asking me about him.

In the majors: The Yanks won’t have to worry about Mike Moustakas this weekend anymore. KC traded him to Milwaukee. Meanwhile the Mets traded Asdrubal Cabrera to the Phillies.  Astros get Ryan Pressley from the Twins to help their bullpen.