ALCS - Angels bombard Bosox in 5

Angels were firing on all 6 cylinders this series.  Pitching and hitting were all fantastic.  Red Sox scored 5 runs total in the last 4 games, while the Halos scored 27 during the same time.   Angles launched 8 HRs during the 3 games in Anaheim.  Vernon Wells scraped himself off the scrap heap with 3 homers in the series.  Boston won game 1, then sat back and continued their late season swoon by taking it on the chin as the Halos offense showed no mercy.

HF NLCS - Nats dispatch Jints in 5

GAME 1 - AT&T Park
Zimmermann vs Cain
Nats 2, Giants 1
Neither starter made it out of the 6th thanks to the cursed 100 pitch count plateau, still pitching dominance was the story today.  An unearned run caused by a throwing error by shortstop Brandon Crawford led to Washington's first run off Matt Cain.  The second run came in the 5th when Ryan Zimmerman doubled home pitcher Jordan Zimmermann.  Neither team scored the rest of the way.  Drew Storen pitched a perfect 9th for the save.
Nats lead series 1-0

GAME 2
Lannan vs Lincecum
Nats 4, Giants 3
The great Tim Lincecum was merely average, which will not cut it when your team averages just 2 runs or less a game.  Washington scored 2 big runs in the 6th and 8th to take a 4-1 lead.  The Jints rallied back for 2 in the bottom of the 8th to make it a 1 run affair, but could not get any closer.  Jason Werth's 369 foot homer off Lincecum in the 6th gave the Nats the lead.  Washington scored 4 runs on 5 hits.
Nats lead series 2-0

GAME 3 - Nationals Park
Bumgarner vs Marquis
Giants 3, Nats 2
Pablo Sandoval's 2 run homer in the top of the 5th put the Giants up by 1 run.  Madison Bumgarner gave up just 1 unearned run and the pen carried the day to get the Jints back into the series.
Nats lead series 2-1

GAME 4
Sanchez vs Gorzelanny
Nats 2, Giants 0
Tom Gorzelanny fanned 9 over 7 shutout innings before handing the ball off to Tyler Clippard (8th) and Drew Storen (9th) to close out the win.  Light hitting shortstop Danny Espinosa paced the so called offense with a 3 for 3 day as both teams each had 5 hits and once again pitching reigned supreme.
Nats lead series 3-1

GAME 5
Vogelson vs Strasburg
Nats 5, Giants 2
Phenom Stephen Strasburgh returns from injury to go 7 innings and give up ust 2 runs, while fanning 5.  Washington scored 5 thanks to two Rick Ankiel homers.  Ankiel had 3 RBI's on the day as the Nats banged out 12 hits to dispatch the punchless Jints in 5.
Nats win series 4-1

Round 2 - Nats come back from 0-2 deficit to win series over Bucs in 5

GAME 1 - National Park
Karstens vs Marquis
Pirates 15, Nationals 9

The Bucs battered Staten Island native Jason Marquis from pillar to post.  Marquis was gone after giving up 7 runs (6 earned) in just 1 1/3 innings of work.  As evidenced by the score the 5 relievers who took his place didn't do much better.  The Bucs looked like the 1970's Lumber Company with this 18 hit barrage.  Leftfielder Alex Presley had Washington hurlers "All Shook Up" with his 4 for 5 day.  Presley scored 5 runs and had 4 hits to go along with his 2 homers and 2 doubles.  Garrett Jones and Neil Walker complimented Presley with 3 hit apiece.
Pirates lead series 1-0

GAME 2
Morton vs Zimmermann
Pirates 4, Nationals 3

Catcher Michael McKenry's 1 out double scored Presley to cut Washington's lead to 2-1.  Brandon Wood followed that up with an RBI single to tie the game at 2-2.  Wood would score on Cedeno's fly to deep center to put the Bucs up 3-2.  In the 3rd a Neil Walker Sac fly plated Andrew McCutchen to make it 4-2.  Starter Charlie Morton would recover from his rocky start (2 runs in the 1st) to shut the Nats out for the next 5 innings before giving way to the pen.  Two scoreless innings by Jose Veras got the Bucs to closer Joel Hanrahan, who made things interesting.  After getting Bernadina to ground out weakly to second to start the inning Hanrahan gave up a triple to Ian Desmond who hit a 1 hopper off the left field wall.  Rick Ankiel grounded to first to score Desmond to make it a 1 run ball game, but the Bucs gladly exchanged the run for an out with 1 out to go.  Zimmerman lined out to right to end it and the Cinderella Bucs now had a commanding 2-0 series lead heading home to PNC.
Pirates lead series 2-0

GAME 3 - PNC Park
Lannan vs McDonald
Nationals 3, Pirates 1

Down two games to none Washington's season was clearly on the shoulders on John Lannan, who did what he needed to do by giving up just 1 run on 3 hits in 7 strong innings of work.  Washington posted a 3 spot in the top of the 4th to make it 3-0.  Ryan Zimmerman led off the inning with a 398 feet solo shot to left center to make it 1-0.  Two outs later left fielder Laynce Nix hit a 2 run shot to make it 3-0.  The Bucs made it 3-1 in the top of the 7th when Ryan Ludwick scored on a Chase d'Arnaud ground out.  Pittsburgh would eventually load the bases with 2 out.  Lannan now faced Neil Walker in what would become the turning point of the game.  If Walker gets a hit the game is tied.  If he doesn't Lannan is done for the day after getting out of a big jam.  Walker grounded to Zimmerman at third forcing Tabata easily as Zimmerman picked up the ball and stepped on the bag at the same time.  Pittsburgh blew a golden opportunity.  Washington held tight with Craig Stammen pitching a perfect 8th and Drew Storen pitching a scoreless 9th to keep Washington's season alive for another day.
Pirates lead series 2-1

GAME 4
Gorzelanny vs Maholm
Nationals 9, Pirates 1
A 5-1 Nats lead became a 9-1 blowout after Washington scored 4 runs in the top of the 8th.  Rick Ankiel and Mike Morse both had 3 RBI days to pace the resurgent Nationals offense.  Everyone starter, including pitcher Tom Gorzelanny had a hit as the Nats posted 15 safeties in all.  Gorzelanny gave up just 1 run in 6 innings on the hill.  Johnny Gomes hit a 2 run shot in the 6th as the Nats clawed their way back to tie the series.
Series tied 2-2

GAME 5
Karstens vs Hernandez
Nationals 7, Pirates 1

Not a lot of drama in this decisive game 5.  After going up 2-0 in the series he Bucs lost their momentum with 2 straight losses to the Nats.  By game 5 the Bucs knew their Cinderella run was just about over.  Up 3-1 the Nats posted a 4 spot in the bottom of the 6th to wipe away all hope for the Steel-town 9.  Washington had a well balanced attack support veteran Livan Hernandez (6 1/3 IP), who gave up just 1 run, while scattering 8 hits.  Washington got homers from Ankiel, Morse and Espinosa in this series clincher.
Nationals win series 3-2

Round 2 - Halos come back down 2-1 to beat Jays in 5

GAME 1 - Angel Stadium
Romero vs Weaver
Angels 9, Blue Jays 7
Jered Weaver got lit up like a Christmas tree, yet the Angel offense rose to the occasion and bailed him out.  Toronto led 7-6 after 5 1/2 innings of play, but the Halos victimized Romero for 3 runs in the 6th and chased him from the box in the process.  Two runs scored off of wild pitches and the final run came on a single off of Howie Kendrick's bat.  4 Angel relievers combined to shutout the Jays over the final 3 1/3 innings with Jordan Walden pitching a perfect 9th for the save.  Kendrick (2-3) had 3 RBI's on the day.  Besides his 2 hits he also had 2 walks.  Mark Trumbo was 2 for 4 with 4 RBI's and 2 runs scored.
Angels lead series 1-0

GAME 2
Alvarez vs Haren
Blue Jays 4, Angels 3
Tori Hunter's 3 run blast in the bottom of the 4th held up until the Jays rallied to tie it with 3 runs of their own in the top of the 7th.  After tossing a scoreless 8th Bobby Cassevah took the hill for the Halos to start the top of the 9th.  After a leadoff walk to Johnson, Molina grounded back to the box, but the Halos were unable to turn a DP as Johnson slid in safely at second.  Edwin Encarnacion lined a single to center to score Kelly Johnson to put the Jays up by 1.  Shaky closer Frank Francisco got through the 9th to record the save and even up the series at 1 game apiece.
Series tied 1-1

GAME 3 - Rogers Centre
Santana vs Villanueva 

Blue Jays 4, Angels 3 

For the second game in a row the Halos jumped out to a 3-0 lead.  Tori Hunter's 2 run double and Mark Trumbo's sac fly did the damage.  Unfortunately for the Halos those 3 runs were all that they were going to score on the day.  Toronto chipped away with solo runs in the 4th and 7th to make it a 1 run game.  closer Jordan Walden took the mound with a 1 run lead to start the bottom of the 9th.  He would leave the game 3 batters later having surrendered 2 runs with no outs being recorded.  Encarnacion led off the inning with a clean single right back through the originator.  Centerfielder Rajai Davis walked on 4 straight pitches to put runners on 1st and 2nd with nobody out.  With the count 3-2 Eric Thames lined a walk off triple down the first base line to put the Jays 1 game away from a series victory.
Blue Jays lead series 2-1

GAME 4
Pineiro vs Morrow
Angels 2, Blue Jays 1
Toronto banged out 11 hits, but left 13 runners on base.  Credit 6 Angel pitcher with keeping the Jays in check and manager Douglas Zaner for playing a beautiful game of mix and match.  Starter Joel Pineiro pitched a lot better than his regular season 5.13 ERA indicated.  He did give up 9 hits in 5 innings of work, but when he handed the ball off to Fernando Rodney in the 6th he didn't allow a Jay to cross the plate.  Jose Bautista's 2 out RBI single off of Takahashi in the 8th made it a 2-1 game.  This time there would be no miracle comeback for the Jays as Walden pitched a perfect 9th and k'd 2 batters to record his 3rd save of the tournament and even the series up a 2 all.  The Halos posted just 3 hits, but they sure did make them count.  Tori Hunter had an RBI single in the top of the first to score Bobby Abreu and Alberto Collaspo's sac fly in the 4th scored Hunter with what would turn out to be the winning run.
Series tied 2-2

GAME 5 - Angels Stadium
Romero vs Weaver
Angels 4, Blue Jays 1
Jered Weaver gave up just 3 hits and only 1 run and was 1 out away from a complete game victory before he gave way to Scott Downs who got Juan Rivera to ground out weakly to short to end the game.  The Jays jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st on a Jose Bautista 2 out solo shot that went 400 feet.  The Halos would bounce back with 3 in the home half of the 3rd and never look back.  A well balanced Halo attack saw only 2 hitters (Callaspo & Wilson) not hit their way on.  Shortstop Eric Aybar had two RBI's as the Halos advance to the LCS.
Angels win series 3-2

Round 2 - Red Sox outlast Chisox in 5

GAME 1 - 10/9 - Fenway Park
Floyd vs Beckett
White Sox 12, Red Sox 10
Shockingly only 1 homer, by A.J. Pierzynski, was hit all day in this run-fest.  Boston entered the bottom of the 9th down by 5 and rallied for 3 before Sergio Santos was able to come on board and stop the bleeding.  Chisox rightfielder Carlos Quentin (4-5) had a big day with the stick.  He scored 3 runs and knocked in 2 all without the aide of an extra base hit.  Marco Scutaro had 4 hits for the Bosox, while hitting out of the 9 hole.
Chicago leads the series 1-0

GAME 2 - 10/10
Humber vs Buchholz
Red Sox 3, White Sox 2
What a difference a day makes.  Today the pitchers exacted some revenge over the hitters.  Both starters left the game in the 7th with the score knotted up at 2-2.  With 1 out in the 9th Scutaro singled to left, but was forced at second on a force play.  That exchange of runners put Jacoby Ellsbury on 1st.  Boston's fleet footed center fielder stole second, then scored as Dustin Pedroia's grounder deep in the hole eluded Chisox shortstop Alexi Ramirez.
Series tied 1-1

GAME 3 - 10/12 - US Cellular
Lester vs Buehrle
Red Sox 6, White Sox 5 (10 inn)

When Boston layed a 5 spot on Buehrle in the top of the second to make it 5-1 most of the crowd at US Cellular felt the game was over.  If they saw how Boston's pen melted down in September they would have thought otherwise.  With 2 runs in the 4th and 2 more in the 6th the Chisox tied the game up a 5-5.  Neither team scored over the final 3 innings, so the game headed to extra innings.  Relieve Matt Thornton took the hill for the Pale Hose to start the top of the 10th.  Pedroia led off the inning with a clan single through the hole.  Adrian Gonzalez sliced one through the same place to put runners on the corners.  The ever clutch "Yooook" stepped to the plate and quickly fell into a 1-2 hole.  The 4th pitch that he saw was a mistake and he lined it into through that same magical hole to score Pedroia.  To his credit, Thornton got the next 3 batters out without giving up any more runs, but the damage was done.  Papelbon got the Chisox out in the 9th to notch the save.
Red Sox lead the series 2-1

GAME 4 - 10/13
Wakefield vs Jackson
White Sox 10, Red Sox 6
Boston rallied late off of Chicago's pen, but that only served as window dressing as the Chisox battered Boston pitching.  Starter Tim Wakefield gave up 5 runs in 4 2/3 innings and reliever Bowden did the same in just 1 inning.  Chicago recorded 17 hits in total with Paul Konerko having a field day by hitting 2 homers and going 4 for 5.  Chicago's star 1st baseman had 4 RBI's and 2 runs scored.  Juan Pierre and Alexi Ramirez each posted 3 hits, with the latter getting 4 RBI's as well.
Series tied 2-2

GAME 5 - 10/14 - Fenway
Floyd vs Beckett
Red Sox 14, White Sox 0

The series shifted back to Boston for a decisive game 5.  The Red Sox headed home, but mysteriously he Chisox never made the return trip.  Game 5 was literally over in the bottom of the 1st as the Bosox pounded starter Gavin Floyd for 4 runs.  Floyd was removed from the game after getting just 1 out.  Boston followed that up by scoring early and often.  Josh Beckett, who has made a living coming up big in big games, did just that today even though a superb effort was not really needed.  Beckett went 6 1/3 and fanned 6, while allowing just 2 hits.  The Chisox were a complete no show in a game dominated completely by the Red Sox lineup.  Boston banged out 17 hits with Yooook and Reddick being the only 2 batters to not have a multi-hit day.  Carl Crawford, who has struggled all season to justify his hefty new contract, hit his 3rd homer of the tournament and knocked in 5 runs.  Pedroia knocked in 3, scored 3 and went 3 fo4 5.  Big Papi even got into the action with his 1st homer of the tourny.

Red Sox win series 3 games to 2

Round 2 - Jints eliminate Dodgers in 4

10/9 - AT&T Park
Kershaw vs Lincecum
Giants 4, Dodgers 3
The Freak wasn't dominant, but he was certainly better than the 2011 Cy Young award winner (Kershaw).  By not winning the opener Kershaw failed to set the tone and ensure that there was a chance that he would get a return visit to the hill in a decisive game 5.  He did fan 7 in 6 innings, but he gave up 4 runs (3 earned) and much more was definitely expected from him.  Pabolo Sandoval's sac fly in the bottom of the 3rd gave the Jints a 2-1 lead that they would never relinquish.  Aaron Rowand's 2 run single in the 4th supplied San Fran with just enough margin for error.  LA's 2 runs in the 7th made it close, but "the Beard" (Brian Wilson) closed it out with a perfect 9th to put San Fran up 1-0 in the series.

10/10
Lilly vs Sanchez
Dodgers 6, Giants 5
LA holds off a late San Fran comeback to win by one thanks to 2 scoreless innings from their pen.  Jansen and Guerra, who notched the save, were brilliant.  Ted Lilly was doing well until he lost his edge and gave up 3 runs in the 7th.  Jonathan Sanchez had a poor outing that lasted just 4 1/3.  Jerry Sands had a big 3 for 4 day with 3 RBI's, 2 runs scored and a 2 run homer that chased Sanchez in the 5th.  LA ties the series up at 1-1 and heads home.

10/11 - Dodger Stadium
Cain vs Kuroda
Giants 5, Dodgers 1
Give Matt Cain 5 runs and he'll win almost every time out.  That recipe worked to perfection as Cain kept the Dodgers off the board for 6 innings before LA was able to push across a solo run.  By that point the Giants had a 4 run lead.  The top of the Giants lineup (Torres, Sanchez & Posey) went a combined 7-13 vs Kuroda and company.  Freddy Sanchez had 3 hits and 2 RBI's.  Sandoval, who was 2 for 4 had a solo blas in the 4th.  The Giants now hold a 2-1 series lead.

10/12
Bumgarner vs De La Rosa

Giants 10, Dodgers 3
The Giants won this one on the strength of their pen.  5 relievers over the final 5 innings gave up just 1 run after starter Madison Bumgarner turned in a mediocre 4 inning performance.  With the score 2-1 in favor of the Giants, the road team put the coffin nail into the Dodgers season with 6 runs in the 7th.  Pablo Sandoval continued his hot hitting with a 2 for 4 day that produced 4 RBI's.  Both of Sandoval's hits were of the long ball variety.  LA managed to score just 2 runs despite banging out 17 hits.  Every Dodger starter had at least 1 hit.  Loney and Uribe each had 3, but LA could not piece together enough hits at the right times to light up the scoreboard.  The Giants came to LA needing 2 wins to take the series and they did just that to advance to the semi's.