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.