The Traverse City Panthers will be sending Yu Darvish to the mound to face the Portland Microbrewers' Bartolo Colon; Colon was excellent against the Panthers. Let's get on down to the action, shall we?
GAME 5 (at Traverse City)
Top of the 1st - Mike Trout with one out, hits the ball deep at short, Jordy Mercer's throw was wide, pulling Brandon Belt off the bag (E6). Carlos Gonzalez follows by hitting a single up the middle, moving Trout up to third base; Portland has trouble brewing early for the Panthers. Freddie Freeman hits a fly to left, Trout tags up & scores -- Freeman picks up a sac fly & RBI; Gonzalez holds at first. Alfonso Soriano steps up to the plate with two outs, he started to go around, but checks it just in time -- bases on balls to Soriano. Juan Uribe with men on 1st & 2nd, hits a blooper to right, it might fall in, and it does, Freeman scores, Soriano is going for home, here is the relay, and he's SAFE! Juan Uribe pulls up to second; Early trouble for T.C., as Darvish is frustrated -- he doesn't appear to have his best stuff today, as the pitching coach is on the phone already. Darvish delivers the pitch to Colby Rasmus, this is poked to left, this could be trouble as Giancarlo Stanton & Yasiel Puig converge, it's through, another run scores, as Rasmus has himself a double -- back-to-back doubles! Russell Martin would end the early bleeding with a fly to left. Portland 4, Traverse City 0
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| Darvish being consulted by the pitching coach, during early issues with Portland. |
This just in, from our clubhouse reporter, it appears that Traverse City had benched Julio Teheran, and that his arm will not be used in this game -- they may have to go with Darvish a little longer, this may end up being a big blow, while Alex Cobb & Matt Harvey are both worn out -- Harvey of course will be saved for a possible Game 7. Darvish comes to the plate, Carlos Gonzalez foul-tips it into Jason Castro's glove, strikeout -- two away. Freddie Freeman comes to the plate, unlike last season, he has been quiet in this year's League Championship Series; The pitch from Darvish, and Freeman is out on strikes.
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| Uribe delivers a big two-run double during the first inning off of Darvish. |
Top of the 3rd - Juan Uribe collects his 2nd hit of the game, with a single to left -- his 6th hit of the series. Colby Rasmus hits a double into right field corner, runners on 2nd & 3rd, with one out. The Panthers call on Tanner Scheppers, after only 2.1 innings of work by Yu Darvish; Scheppers will try to help the Panthers get back in this one. Russell Martin hits a fly to center, Yasiel Puig is under it, caught -- but no one dares to tag up on that arm. Two down, the #9 hitter Brad Miller comes to the plate, the pitch, it's blooped towards deep second, shallow right, Brian Dozier races back and has it.
Score remains: Portland 4, Traverse City 0
Bottom of the 3rd - One-out single by Brian Dozier, his first hit of the series. Matt Carpenter hits one hard at short, it bounces off the ground & off Brad Miller's chest, he's up with it, the throw to first, in time, Dozier is now on second. Yasiel Puig comes to the plate, softly hit liner towards center, Mike Trout races in & steals a hit from Puig.
Top of the 4th - Lead-off walk to Jason Kipnis. Mike Trout smacks one to center, Yasiel Puig has to run in, fields it on the bounce, Kipnis is going for third, the throw from Puig to third, and he's out -- by inches! Trout holds first. Tanner Scheppers against Carlos Gonzalez, lofts it to center, Puig has it, no advancement from the runner -- two down. Freddie Freeman bloops one to right, Hunter Pence takes it on the bounce, Trout tries for third, the throw, and he's safe -- this time the base-running paid off for the Brewers. Runners on the corners with two outs for Alfonso Soriano, flies out to right.
Bottom of the 5th- Lead-off single by Hunter Pence, only the 4th hit for the Panthers in this game. Giancarlo Stanton with the check swing, they check with the First Base ump, he punches him out. Jordy Mercer, a swing & a miss, two down, a pair of strikeouts by Bartolo Colon here. Brian Dozier gets a hold of this one, down the left field line, it could go... foul, just beyond the left foul pole. The next pitch, wide of the mark, Dozier moves on down towards first. Runners on 1st & 2nd, with two outs for Matt Carpenter, the pitch, it's a looped single over the shortstop Brad Miller's head, Pence will score, Dozier to third, he hesitates, now goes towards third, the throw from Mike Trout and he's safe, just under the tag. Runners on the corners for T.C., for Yasiel Puig to a suddenly-awake Panthers crowd -- the pitch, paints the black, strike three called -- that's the final out. Portland 4, Traverse City 1
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| Colon continues to have an impressive NLCS, keeping the Cats at bay. |
Top of the 6th - Mike Trout draws a one-out walk, by Tanner Scheppers. Scheppers turns around and walks Carlos Gonzalez as well, for back-to-back walks. Traverse City's manager Shawn Baier signals to the bullpen, he'll call on Sean Doolittle, the southpaw, to face Freddie Freeman. Freeman grounds it towards third, Josh Donaldson with the long throw, and they get him, but the runners move up. Two outs for Alfonso Soriano, and Doolittle catches the corner, strike three, side retired.
Bottom of the 6th - Brandon Belt smacks a lead-off double to the gap in right. Josh Donaldson steps to the plate, hits a pop fly back of second, Mike Trout is coming on, coming on & catches it front of Brad Miller; Belt tags up, but stays at second. High & tight, ball four, Jason Castro will go to first, that is only the second walk issued by Bartolo Colon. The Panthers will call on a pinch-runner for Castro, it'll be Jean Segura. Colon facing Hunter Pence, delivers the pitch, struck him out -- two down! This brings up Giancarlo Stanton, two outs, with two men on board, can he deliver the tying blow? It's a line drive off Stanton's bat, Colby Rasmus runs in on it, and it stays up for him. Stanton really thought it might drop. Traverse strands two runners, trailing by three.
Top of the 7th - Tyler Clippard will come in to pitch for Sean Doolittle, while Devin Mesoraco will take over behind the plate for the Panthers. Clippard walks the lead-off man in Juan Uribe. Colby Rasmus lashes one to right, this one could be trouble, as it rolls to the wall, Uribe will have to stay at third, while Rasmus pulls up with a double. No outs, Russell Martin at the plate, foul tip -- strike out! Brad Miller's turn to try to score the extra insurance, but flies out to center, the runners stay put -- two down. Clippard walks Jason Kipnis to load up the bases for (who else?) Mike Trout.
Soft liner towards first, one-hops to Brandon Belt, under toss to Clippard at first, to retire the side. Panthers avoid the Microbrewers from breaking this game wide open.
Bottom of the 7th - Matt Carpenter hits a two-out single to right. Portland calls on a reliever for Bartolo Colon, who pitched 6.1 innings, with 7 strikeouts for the night; The reliever will be Joaquin Benoit. Benoit with the pitch to Yasiel Puig, and it's outside -- ball four! Runners now on 1st & 2nd, with two outs to Brandon Belt, the pitch, Belt hits a liner to center, it bounces off Mike Trout's chest, Carpenter is well around third, but holds, bases loaded for Josh Donaldson. The pitch, it's a single to right, Carpenter scores, Puig is rounding third, he's coming in, the throw to home, and he's safe! Belt holds at second, Donaldson at first, for Devin Mesoraco. The Tying run is at second, while the go-ahead run is at first; Traverse City will go to the bench for Ryan Raburn. Benoit still in the game, the pitch, it's bounced towards second, and he boots it! No play anywhere, an error on Jason Kipnis. Bases loaded for Hunter Pence, the runners take their lead, the pitch, it's a fly ball to the gap in right, Carlos Gonzalez races over, reaches over his shoulder, and makes the catch -- Panthers go down, but not before they tack on some runs. Portland 4, Traverse City 3
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| Matt Carpenter does everything he can to spark a Panther rally. |
Bottom of the 8th - Joaquin Benoit is still in there, after a taxing 0.1 innings (5 batters faced) last inning -- he'll be facing Giancarlo Stanton first. Benoit delivers to Stanton, he goes down swinging, one away. Jordy Mercer hits a routine fly to right for out number two. Benoit strikes out Brian Dozier to retire the side.
Top of the 9th - Colby Rasmus hits a shin-burner off Luke Gregerson's right leg, Jordy Mercer is up with it, bang-bang play at first, for out number one; Gregerson is fine, shaking off the pain. Gregerson misses the strike zone & walks Russell Martin. Brad Miller up, Martin is up & running, the strong throw from Wilson Ramos, and Martin is thrown out at second -- two down! Gregerson strikes out Miller, third out,
Bottom of the 9th - Numerous changes for the Microbrewers, a double-dose of Ellis, Mark Ellis takes over at second, while A.J. Ellis is the new catcher behind the plate; Glen Perkins comes in to try to lock down the save against the Panthers -- he has to face Matt Carpenter, Yasiel Puig & Brandon Belt. Perkins catches the outside corner, strike three to Carpenter for out number one. Perkins, wheels and deals, and Yasiel Puig sneaks a single past Ellis at second. Puig well off first, Perkins rocks & fires, this one is hit by Belt, it may carry, it's way back, Colby Rasmus makes the catch at the track -- two down, as Puig gets back to first, the crowd all answers with a big "AWWWW!". It's all up to Josh Donaldson, Perkins stares him down, the pitch, Donaldson doesn't offer, and he's down on strikes -- Brewers win a close one! All three games at Panthers Park were decided by one run.
FINAL SCORE: Portland 4, Traverse City 3
The NLCS goes back to Portland, with the Portland Microbrewers leading the series, 3-2! Does the "Cardiac Cats" of Traverse City have one more fight left in them? Or will Portland make their grand return to the World Series? Stay tuned...
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