The 2013 BoS World Series: Game 3

Game 3 is a must-win for the Portland Microbrewers, coming back from a 2-0 deficit has far better chances than trying to recover from a 3-0 deficit. The good news the Microbrewers are back home for this one, in front of a packed house.

Game 3 - Scott Diamond - S.S. (12-9, 3.54 ERA) vs Chris Tillman (9-3, 2.93 ERA).

The South Shore Fighting Imps jump off to a big lead early on. After back-to-back singles by David Wright & Matt Holliday, A.J. Pierzynski takes advantage of a pitch left up by Chris Tillman, sending a deep blast to center field to make it 3-0.

Top of the 3rd, David Wright (with two outs) hits his second single of the day. The next batter, Matt Holliday sends a double down the left field line, the Imps send Wright around third in an attempt to score, but Austin Jackson once again throws out a runner at the plate -- bringing up memories of the NLCS against Urbana.

The Imps' Pierzynski: 3 hits & 3 RBI.

The Brew Crew would not get their first hit off of Scott Diamond until the 5th inning, a single by Alfonso Soriano with two outs -- Portland would be unable to do anything else with that, as the score still remains 3-0. Diamond pitched a no-hitter earlier in the season (Game #71) against the Washington Filibusters.

A.J. Pierzynski gets a two-out double in the top of the 6th with two outs, knocking out Portland's starting pitcher Chris Tillman; Portland calls on Nick Vincent. Vincent would not allow South Shore to score that inning. During the bottom half, Portland finally gets on the board with a solo home run by Austin Jackson.

South Shore would tack on a few more runs, with Matt Lindstrom as their reliever, so he'll earn a save with 2.2 innings of relief. Scott Diamond records the win, Chris Tillman the loss. The Imps would record 14 hits, while Portland struggles once again offensively with 3 hits -- while scoring only one run in the first 3 games.

SOUTH SHORE 5, PORTLAND 1

Portland finds themselves in a huge 3-0 hole, will South Shore go undefeated this post-season, and finish the World Series with a sweep? Or does the Microbrewers have some fight left in them?

The 2013 BoS World Series: Games 1 & 2

The 2013 Boys of Summer World Series for the Boys of Summer APBA Baseball League is finally here (It actually has been done for a few weeks, a little behind in my blogging). You may have seen some of the results on the APBA Facebook Group and The APBA Blog.

2013? You ask. Yes, for us it is the Boys of Summers' 2013 Season, featuring the 2012 MLB Statistics. We are playing a bit of catch-up after the APBA Online fiasco, APBA Online apparently has made many changes to their site, but we felt it was better to go the old-fashioned BBW way. We will be drafting for our upcoming 2014 Boys of Summer season on November 1st, and will be starting the season hopefully by mid-November.

If you have not read any of the action, just check out any of my posts labeled 'BoS Playoffs' or scroll down on the home page to find out the highlights. I will tell you this, this year's inaugural World Series will take place between the American League Champion - South Shore Fighting Imps (managed by Bill Gillam) and the National League Champion - Portland Microbrewers (managed by Brad Stark).

The two teams set league firsts for the League Championship Series, South Shore became the first team to sweep a series, while Portland & the Urbana Locomotives went the distance in seven hard-fought games.

We start this year's series in South Shore, the leagues will alternate year to year on the host, this year is the A.L. Champions that will get home-field advantage.

Game 1 - Cliff Lee - POR (11-9, 3.93 ERA) vs Doug Fister - S.S. (14-6, 3.59 ERA)

Bottom of the 1st - Shin-Soo Choo of the Imps smacks a HR to right, off of Cliff Lee, giving South Shore the early lead.

The Imps would add to their lead in the bottom of the 4th. David Wright would hit a ball over Austin Jackson's head in center to drive in Joey Votto to make it a 2-0 lead.

Fister was on cruise control for South Shore.

The 5th inning, the Imps' Shin-Soo Choo hits a one-out liner over Jason Kipnis at second, Joe Mauer grounds out to third to advance Choo to second, for out number two. Melky Cabrera would hit a ball to right to drive in Choo. Cabrera successfully steals second base. Joey Votto would come up to ground the ball to Marco Scutaro at short, who throws it pass Freddie Freeman, allowing Cabrera to make it 4-0 Imps, E-6 on Scutaro. Allen Craig would single to left-center, but would be stranded by David Wright. The Brewers just couldn't get that third out to get out of the inning in time to avoid the two additional runs by the Imps.

Doug Fister would be in total control in this one, pitching a three-hit shutout against Portland. Fister would strike out 10 Microbrewers, while allowing 3 walks.

South Shore 4, Portland 0

Game 2 - Jonathan Niese - POR (16-8, 2.61 ERA) vs Jake Peavy - S.S. (18-11, 3.08 ERA)

We have another great pitching match-up in Jonathan Niese (who had one of the lowest ERA's in the N.L.) and tough, veteran Jake Peavy -- an 18-game winner this season. Portland hopes to tie this one up before heading back west to their home stadium.

The Microbrewers looked as if they were about to strike first in the first inning, when Marco Scutaro reached first safely on a fielding error by J.J. Hardy. Mike Trout followed that with a single to right, advancing Scutaro to second -- but nothing more comes of it, as Peavy gets Dave Ortiz and Freddie Freeman to pop out. During the bottom half, with two outs, Melky Cabrera of the Imps beats out a nubber to the mound -- that was all the Imps needed as Joey Votto, in a hit-and-run play, ends up reaching second on a double, scoring Cabrera to draw first blood, 1-0.

Portland threatens again in the 4th, after a Mike Trout strike out, David Ortiz singles to right center. The very next batter Freddie Freeman is plunked by Jake Peavy, Freeman trots down to first as he gives Peavy a dirty look. Runners on 1st & 2nd, as Jason Kipnis steps up to the plate. He laces a single to right, Ortiz is rounding third, they are sending him home, as he is gunned down! Freeman advances to third on the play, as Kipnis stays put at first. Colby Rasmus ends the threat by popping up to J.J. Hardy at short.

The Imps once again answer back in the bottom half of the 4th. Allen Craig led off the inning with a double, and would eventually score off of a two-out single by J.J. Hardy, making it 2-0.

Joe Mauer would lead off the bottom of the 5th, with a single. The next two Imps players manage to do nothing. With two outs, Allen Craig draws a walk from Jonathan Niese. David Wright follows up the at-bat, with a single that parachutes into left, scoring in Mauer & moving Craig up to third. Portland's manager goes to the pen for Alfredo Simon (2.84 ERA). Simon gives up a single to Matt Holliday, driving in Craig, as the Imps take a 4-0 lead.

David Wright & Ben Zobrist would cushion a commanding 6-0 lead, during the bottom of the 7th, with RBI doubles.

Both teams would leave a ton of players on base in this one, Portland had their opportunities (8 Left-on-base) and managed a few more hits in this one (7 hits in this one), but they could not keep up with South Shore's bats who managed 14 hits (yet stranded 11 base-runners).

Peavy picked up where Fister left off, as Portland has not found any answers.

The Imps also had another complete game shutout by one of their starting pitchers, as Jake Peavy follows Doug Fister's Game 1 masterpiece, with a shutout of his own. The Fighting Imps are known for their bats, but their arms are the stories in this young series.

South Shore 6, Portland 0

South Shore leads the BoS World Series, 2-0 -- as the series shifts to Portland for a possible three games. Portland will hope their bats wake up, as Jason Kipnis seems to be the only player doing a thing in this lineup; Mike Trout and Freddie Freeman have both been quiet, who were both having an impressive post-season entering the classic.

BoS: NLCS Game 7

The Portland Microbrewers owned a 2-0 & 3-1 series lead at one point, now it's all knotted up at 3-3, can the Brew Crew derail the Urbana Locomotives' recent rally?

Game 7 - Matt Harrison - T.C./POR (13-13, 3.73 ERA) vs Hiroki Kuroda - URB (21-11, 3.13 ERA).

After Portland's "Big Papi" David Ortiz scored in a run with a single in the first, the Locos' Adrian Beltre smacked a three-run homer in the bottom-half of the inning, for a quick 3-1 lead.

The consistent stud Mike Trout would tie the game for Portland, with a two-run double during the top of the 3rd. Adrian Beltre, once again answers back with a homer, this one a solo shot -- trying to get those extra MVP votes for N.L. MVP. Urbana up, 4-3.

Beltre puts on a offensive display in Game 7.

Freddie Freeman, quiet for basically a game this series (last game), decides that 5 HR's in a single-series is not enough, and ties it up with a solo HR in the 4th inning. A.J. Ellis would get thrown out attempting to score later in the inning; while Adrian Beltre hits a double in the 6th inning for his 9th hit of the series, but is stranded.

The game is tied 4-4 through 7 innings, both starters are out of the game by the 8th inning.

Top of the 8th, "Mr.October" of the Boys of Summer APBA League Playoffs - Freddie Freeman tacks on an important late-game run with a sacrifice fly off of Urbana reliever Jonathan Papelbon.

Portland calls on their closer, Glen Perkins to try and close out the Locomotives. Bottom of the 9th, Two outs, pinch-runner Nate McLouth on first, Yorvit Torrealba is up, Urbana can't pinch-hit since Torrealba is the team's only catcher with a hurt Carlos Ruiz. Torrealba gets his pitch, this one is sent to the gap, McLouth is heading towards third, Austin Jackson has the ball, McLouth is being waved around third, Jackson fires it from center, McLouth is going for home, the slide... and he's OUT!

The Portland Microbrewers are going to the World Series on a great defensive play from Austin Jackson. Jackson came over in a trade mid-season from Traverse City. Torrealba was almost the hero again, as a stunned crowd almost witnessed the game being tied to force extras.

Matt Harrison picks up his 2nd win of the series, as Freddie Freeman wins NLCS M.V.P. honors, batting .364 with 6 HR's & 10 RBI!

PORTLAND 5, URBANA 4

The league's inaugural WORLD SERIES will be between the....
South Shore Fighting Imps (110-52) and the Portland Microbrewers (94-68)

BoS: NLCS Game 6

The Urbana Locomotives have trimmed the series lead to 3-2, and will attempt to tie the series in Game 6 to force a Game 7 with the Portland Microbrewers.

Game 6 - Hisashi Iwakuma - POR (9-7, 4.18 ERA) vs Cole Hamels - URB (19-10, 2.76 ERA).

Urbana's Torrealba, one of the unlikeliest heroes.

Not much offense in this one. The Locomotives strike first against Portland, with a sac fly by Tyler Colvin scoring in Alex Rios, during the bottom of the 4th. Rios would collect 3 of Urbana's 8 hits for the night.

Portland's David Ortiz tied the game with an RBI single, as Mike Trout scores. Trout has two hits, and is having a good series, batting .304 -- but has been over-shadowed by the amazing series his teammate Freddie Freeman. Trout's great post-season included 8 RBI in the LDS against Seattle.

Coco Crisp stole second & third in the 7th inning, but got too aggressive stealing home, only to be called out with the tough tag by Yorvit Torrealba -- preventing the go-ahead run.

Everything came down to the bottom of the ninth. A dropped third strike by Portland's catcher A.J. Ellis allows runners on 1st & 3rd, after a lead-off double by Tyler Colvin. Jimmy Rollins would ground the runner to Garrett Jones over to second, Colvin has to hold third, one out. The Brewers' reliever Luis Avilan intentionally walks Justin Maxwell, trying to set up a double-play opportunity. The next batter would be Yorvit Torrealba, who earlier prevented Portland's Coco Crisp from stealing home. Torrealba would hit it deep enough, to have Colvin tag up -- a walk-off sac fly for the Locomotives! We are going to 7 games.

In the league's inaugural season, we have two League Championship Series first, a sweep (South Shore sweeping Boston) and a seven-game series now between Urbana and Portland.

Both starting pitchers Hisashi Iwakuma (POR) and Cole Hamels (URB) pitched good games. Iwakuma allowed 1 ER (2 runs) & 8 hits through 8 innings of work, plus 6 K's. Even though Hamels allowed only 4 hits & a run, he had some control issues with 5 walks.

URBANA 2, PORTLAND 1

2014 BoS Player (Pre-Draft) Releases

BOSTON BRAVOS release -
John Buck (C), Shelley Duncan (1B), Tyler Greene (2B), Omar Infante (2B), Kevin Youkilis (3B/1B), Chris B. Young (OF), Brian Bogusevic (OF), Scott Hairston (OF), Corey Hart (OF/1B) [NC], Juan Rivera (OF/1B) [NC], Eric Thames (OF), Luis Mendoza (SP), Scott Atchison (RP), Jeremy Horst (RP), Jonny Venters (RP) [NC], and Jason Motte (RP [NC].

BRONX BOMBERS release -
Jesus Flores (C) [NC], Bryan LaHair (1B) [NC], Casey McGehee (1B/3B) [NC], Jose Lopez (3B/OF) [NC], John McDonald (SS/IF), Rafael Furcal (SS) [NC], Edwin Maysonet (SS) [NC], Alex Gonzalez (SS), Nyjer Morgan (OF) [NC], Jordany Valdespin (OF/2B), Dayan Viciedo (OF), Shaun Marcum (SP), Josh Johnson (SP), Joe Saunders (SP), and Wade Davis (RP).

BROOKLYN METS release -
Steve Clevenger (C), Rod Barajas (C) [NC], Orlando Hudson (2B) [NC], Brent Lillibridge (3B/OF), Ian Stewart (3B) [NC], Cliff Pennington (SS), Wilson Valdez (IF) [NC], Roger Bernadina (OF), Jordan Schafer (OF), DeWayne Wise (OF), Chris Denorfia (OF), Juan Pierre (OF), Bobby Abreu (OF) [NC], Jose Valverde (RP), and Joel Hanrahan (RP).

BUFFALO YANKEES release -
Ty Wigginton (1B/3B), Adam Kennedy (3B/IF) [NC], Tony Campana (OF), Laynce Nix (OF/1B), Andres Torres (OF), Andruw Jones (OF) [NC], Gorkys Hernandez (OF) [NC], Paul Maholm (SP), Ross Detwiler (SP), Brett Myers (P), Kevin Millwood (SP) [NC], Tom Wilhelmsen (RP), David Hernandez (RP), Cristhian Martinez (RP), and Mitchell Boggs (RP).

CHICAGO NINE release -
Yasmani Grandal (C), Ramon Hernandez (C), Ryan Lavarnaway (C), Carlos Maldonado (C) [NC], Miguel Olivo (C), Bobby Wilson (C) [NC], Scott Rolen (3B) [NC], Chad Tracy (3B/1B), Clint Barmes (SS), Nick Punto (SS), Darin Mastroianni (OF), Cameron Maybin (OF), Carlos Villanueva (P), Roy Halladay (SP), Shawn Camp (RP), and Jared Hughes (RP).

FAIRGROVE TIGERS release -
Drew Butera (C), Ryan Hanigan (C), Jim Thome (DH/1B) [NC], Eric Hinske (1B), Emilio Bonifacio (2B/IF), Maicer Izturis (2B/IF), Hernan Perez (2B/IF), Chris Heisey (OF), Skip Schumaker (OF/2B), Tyler Moore (OF/1B), Erasmo Ramirez (P), Tom Gorzelanny (P), Ryan Vogelsong (SP), Jose Ortega (RP), and Casey Kelly (SP) [NC].

HANNIBAL CAVEMEN release -
David Ross (C), Jose Lobaton (C), Matt Downs (1B) [NC], Brett Wallace (1B), Ronny Cedeno (2B), Stephen Lombardozzi (2B/IF), Paul Janish (SS), Munenori Kawasaki (SS), Ezequiel Carrera (OF), Scott Podsednik (OF) [NC], Travis Snider (OF), Mark Kotsay (OF), Jarrod Parker (SP), Felix Doubront (P), and J.A. Happ (SP).

HOLLAND HITCHHIKERS release -
Tyler Flowers (C), Todd Helton (1B), Mike Olt (1B) [NC], Jemile Weeks (2B/OF), Mike Fontenot (2B) [NC], Will Middlebrooks (3B), Chipper Jones (3B) [NC], Omar Quintanilla (SS/3B), Eduardo Nunez (SS/3B), Ryan Ludwick (OF), Dan Straily (SP), Lucas Harrell (SP), Carlos Zambrano (SP) [NC], Neftali Feliz (RP), and Nate Jones (RP).

KING ROAD KINGS release -
Lou Marson (C), Jesus Montero (DH/C), Casey Kotchman (1B), Greg Dobbs (1B), Jack Hannahan (3B/IF), Pete Kozma (SS), Brendan Ryan (SS), Andy Parrino (IF), Curtis Granderson (OF), Alex Presley (OF), Xavier Paul (OF), Luke Scott (OF/1B), Chone Figgins (OF/3B) [NC], Joe Blanton (SP), and Cory Luebke (SP) [NC].

PORTLAND MICROBREWERS release -
Gerald Laird (C), Lyle Overbay (1B), Marco Scutaro (2B), Scott Moore (3B/1B) [NC], Stephen Drew (SS), Jack Wilson (SS/IF) [NC], Aaron Cunningham (OF) [NC], Franklin Gutierrez (OF), Ryan Sweeney (OF), Nate Schierholtz (OF), Brandon Morrow (SP), Matt Harrison (SP), Luis Avilan (RP), Matt Albers (RP), and Brayan Villarreal (RP).

SAN DIEGO HEROES release -
Chris Snyder (C), Carlos Pena (1B), Carlos Lee (1B/OF) [NC], Alexi Casilla (2B/SS), Tyler Pastornicky (2B/OF), Shane Robinson (OF), Jason Bay (OF), Brennan Boesch (OF), Ben Francisco (OF), Blake Beavan (P), Clayton Richard (SP), Barry Zito (SP), Jake Westbrook (SP), Ryan Mattheus (RP), and Sean Marshall (RP).

SEATTLE RAINIERS release -
Rob Brantly (C), Justin Smoak (1B), Logan Forsythe (2B/IF), Willie Bloomquist (2B/OF), Emmanel Burriss (IF) [NC], Alex Rodriguez (3B), Josh Willingham (DH/OF), Bryan Peterson (OF) [NC], Jerome Williams (SP), Travis Blackley (P), Franklin Morales (P), Jonathan Broxton (RP), Brandon League (RP), Alex Burnett (RP), and Stephen Pryor (RP),

SOUTH SHORE FIGHTING IMPS release -
Erik Kratz (C), Logan Morrison (1B), Yuniesky Betancourt (IF/OF), Ike Davis (1B), Kevin Frandsen (1B/IF), Ryan Howard (1B), Ryan Flaherty (IF), Jeff Keppinger (2B/3B), Omar Vizquel (IF) [NC], Jose Tabata (OF), Kevin Correia (SP), Scott Diamond (SP), Matt Lindstrom (RP), and Brad Lincoln (RP).

SWATARA ELIMINATORS release -
Jeff Mathis (C), Jose Molina (C), Chris Jimenez (C), Paul Konerko (1B), Robert Andino (2B), Jerry Hairston (3B), Chris Nelson (3B), Jeff Bianchi (SS), Tony Gwynn (OF) [NC], Joe Mather (OF) [NC], Kirk Nieuwenhuis (OF), Jonny Gomes (OF/DH), Elian Herrera (OF), Chad Billingsley (SP), and Luis Ayala (RP).

TRAVERSE CITY PANTHERS release -
Hector Sanchez (C), Geovany Soto (C), Chris Stewart (C), Alexi Amarista (OF/IF), Daniel Descalso (IF), Ryan Theriot (2B/OF) [ NC], Brandon Inge (2B/IF), Pedro Ciriaco (IF), Jason Bartlett (SS) [NC], Pedro Florimon (SS), Eric Sogard (2B/SS), Quintin Berry (OF), John Mayberry (OF), and Derek Lowe (RP).

URBANA LOCOMOTIVES release -
John Baker (C), Yorvit Torrealba (C/1B), Travis Ishikawa (1B/OF), Chris Parmalee (1B/OF), Jamey Carroll (2B/IF), Jayson Nix (IF/OF), Wilson Betemit (3B/1B), Tyler Colvin (OF), Austin Kearns (OF/1B), Colby Lewis (SP) [NC], Tommy Hanson (SP), Johan Santana (SP) [NC], Wilton Lopez (RP), Javy Guerra (RP), and Carlos Marmol (RP).

2013 BoS Silver Slugger Award Winners

AMERICAN LEAGUE

C - Joe Mauer (South Shore)

1B - Adam LaRoche (Boston)

2B - Robinson Cano (Bronx)

3B - Miguel Cabrera (Buffalo)

SS - Elvis Andrus (Fairgrove)

LF - Melky Cabrera (South Shore)

CF - Shin-Soo Choo (South Shore)

RF - Carlos Beltran (Washington)

DH - Matt Holliday (South Shore)

NATIONAL LEAGUE

C - Buster Posey (Hannibal)

1B - Edwin Encarnacion (Sacramento)

2B - Aaron Hill (Urbana)

SS - Erick Aybar (Sacramento)

3B - Adrian Beltre (Urbana)

LF - Ryan Braun (Sacramento)

CF - Mike Trout (Portland)

RF - Josh Hamilton (King Road)

DH - Josh Willingham (Seattle)

BoS: NLCS Games 3-5

The Urbana Locomotives, the team with the best record of the National League, finds themselves down 2-0. Now the series moves out west to Portland, can the Locomotives regain steam and take this series back to Urbana?

They'll have to do it without Nick Markakis who slammed into a wall in Game 2, and has cost him 20 days. Adrian Beltre will play in Game 3, as he missed the remainder of Game 2, colliding into Carlos Ruiz.

Game 3 - Hiroki Kuroda - URB (21-11, 3.13 ERA) vs. Chris Tillman - PORT (7-5, 3.96 ERA).

Tyler Colvin smacks a two-run HR to right to get things rolling for the Locomotives in the 2nd, Garrett Jones follows that up with a homer of this own -- a quick 3-0 start for Urbana, as it has quieted this Portland crowd early. Carlos Ruiz added a RBI single in the 3rd inning, while Garrett Jones struck again for his second HR of the game; 5-0 Urbana.

Colvin doing his best to keep Urbana in the series.

Portland scores a couple runs in the 7th, to bring the Brewers within striking distance, an RBI single by Freddie Freeman. For Freeman, it was his 5th hit of the series, with 6 RBI's. A.J. Ellis would drive in Freeman a couple batters later.

Wilton Lopez would pitch 2.1 innings of relief to close out the game for the save, recording 3 K's.

Carlos Ruiz would get injured by getting hit by a pitch from Matt Albers late in this one, the report after the game is that he will be out for 8 days. This is the second time in the last few weeks that Ruiz got injured, talk about bad timing.

Urbana 5, Portland 2

Game 4 - Jeremy Hellickson - URB (8-14, 3.38 ERA) vs. Jonathan Niese - PORT (16-8, 2.61 ERA)

Freeman: Derailing Urbana's pitching.

The Locomotives couldn't figure out how to hit Jonathan Niese, and how to pitch to Freddie Freeman who has played party spoiler. Niese would hold Urbana to only five hits, while Freeman added two more HR's (making it 5 HR's for the series). Freeman hit HR's in the 3rd & 5th innings off of Hellickson, Freeman has had ice in his veins this series.

Jason Kipnis added 3 RBI on two hits, one of the hits, a two-run HR in the 8th off of Urbana reliever Javier Lopez.

The Urbana Locomotives now find themselves down 3-1 to the Portland Microbrewers.

Portland 6, Urbana 0

Game 5 - 

Garrett Jones hits a big three-run HR in the 4th off of Portland starter Cliff Lee. The Locomotives would thrive in this one with the long ball, hitting 4 HR's, 3 of them off of Lee. Adrian Beltre, Tyler Colvin (added another HR this series), Justin Maxwell hit a HR, and is batted .364 this series, after only batting .220. For Jones, he hit his 3rd HR of the series.

Portland's two runs both came off homers by David Ortiz and Todd Frazier in a losing cause, as Urbana trims down the Microbrewers series lead to, 3-2 -- bringing the series back to Urbana.

David Price looked like the Cy Young favorite we were used to seeing, with a strong 7-inning performance that allowed only 4 hits and two runs, with 8 strike outs.

Urbana 6, Portland 2

BoS: ALCS Games 3 & 4

The series heads to "Beantown", as the visiting South Shore Fighting Imps lead the Boston Bravos in this series, 2-0. Boston has last led in the first inning of Game 1, and failed to score in Game 2 -- We'll see if they have the answers to heighten their chances in this series.

Straight-up Impin' : Joe Mauer.

Game 3 - Tommy Milone - S.S. (18-8, 3.16 ERA) vs. R.A. Dickey (14-11, 3.08 ERA)

Getting things started in the first, the Imps' Shin-Soo Choo scores from third on Joey Votto's RBI single, that is Votto's first RBI of the series. Jarrod Saltalamacchia of the Boston Bravos, would tie the game up during the bottom of the 5th, with a solo HR to deep left -- it would be one of the few mistakes that Tommy Milone would make all night.

The game would stay knotted up one apiece until the top of the 8th. Joe Mauer leads the inning off with a single to right, Boston's Ichiro Suzuki just couldn't get to the corner in time, Mauer thought about second. Melky Cabrera would fly out for out number one. Joey Votto collects another hit, making it to second on a double, a roller into the right field corner, Mauer makes it over to third. Allen Craig would hit a liner that tips off of Omar Infante's glove, and rolls away from him, as Mauer scores to break the tie. David Wright comes to the plate, and Boston's manager makes the change for Jason Motte. Wright ends up flying out to right, as Votto tests Ichiro's arm by tagging up, and just makes it under the catcher's tag. A 3-1 lead, and big inning for the Fighting Imps.

The Imps would have Troy Patton pick up the save, with 2 K's. Tommy Milone, once again gets the job done with one earned run & 4 hits allowed in 8 innings, picking up 5 K's. R.A. Dickey didn't have ace material tonight, allowing 9 hits, 3 ER & 2 walks in 7.1 innings, by picking up the loss.

South Shore 3, Boston 1

The Boston Bravos have their backs against the walls, and are down 3-0 in the series. They have made impressive runs before, especially their record 15-game winning streak during an outstanding stretch where they went 29-3 in a 32-game span. The problem is the South Shore Fighting Imps went 14-8 against Boston in the season series, plus this series for a total of 17 wins.

Game 4 - Doug Fister - S.S. (14-6, 3.59 ERA) vs. Brandon Beachy (8-5, 3.38 ERA)

Doug Fister was in complete control, although allowing 10 hits. The Bravos would not help themselves, by stranding 9 base runners. Chris Johnson would score Boston's only run in the first inning, as Joe Mauer and Melky Cabrera would collect 3 hits each -- Cabrera got 2 RBI. Brandon Beachy was all over the place, allowing 10 hits, 6 ER's & a walk in 6.1 innings.

The South Shore Fighting Imps are the 2013 American League Champions and will be waiting for the winner of the NLCS between the Portland Microbrewers & Urbana Locomotives. Portland currently owns a 2-0 series lead.

South Shore 6, Boston 1