BoS: NLCS Games 1 & 2

PORTLAND MICROBREWERS (94-68) vs. URBANA LOCOMOTIVES (104-58). The Brewers swept the Seattle Rainiers in the opening round, while Urbana got a first round bye.

GAME 1 - Hisashi Iwakuma - PORT (9-7, 4.18 ERA) vs. David Price (23-4, 2.35 ERA)

A back-and-forth battle between the two best teams in the National League. The Microbrewers would touch up Urbana's starting pitcher David Price with a barrage of 6 extra-base hits & 5 runs as he stays in for the complete game. It's only fitting that "Big Papi" David Ortiz hits a HR in the post-season to go along with Freddie Freeman's two-run game-changing home run in the top of the 6th. N.L. MVP-candidate Adrian Beltre tried his best by momentarily tying the game 4-4 in the 4th.

Portland 5, Urbana 4

Portland's Freddie Freeman is locked in.

GAME 2 - Matt Harrison - PORT (13-13, 3.73 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (19-10, 2.78 ERA)

Freddie Freeman shows Cole Hamels the same respect he had for Price's season record, as he got the Brewers off to a 2-0 start in the top of the 2nd, with a two-run blast. It would be Freeman's first of two HR's for the night, making it 3 HR's in this young series already -- 5 HR's during these playoffs! The Boys of Summer may have its first "Mr.October" in Freeman.

Urbana's bats were quiet (collecting only 4 hits). Nick Markakis did his best for the Locomotives, smacking a solo HR in the 6th, but unfortunately he made friends with the wall in right, as he slammed into the wall going for a ball. Carlos "Chooch" Ruiz (fitting that he plays for the Locomotives) tries to keep this close by hitting a two-run HR in the bottom of the 7th, making it 4-3 Portland. Ruiz and Adrian Beltre would collide in the top of the 8th, costing Beltre the rest of the game, thank goodness for Urbana fans' sake that they at least have a day of rest, even though it's a long travel to the Pacific to play Portland.

Glen Perkins locks down his 2nd save of the series, while Matt Harrison (acquired from the lousy Traverse City Panthers) pitched an effective game, allowing only 3 ER's & 4 hits in 8 innings -- he struck out 5, while walking 3. Cole Hamels struck out 6, while allowing 7 hits, 4 runs & 2 walks in 8 innings.

Portland 4, Urbana 3