Archive for October 17th, 2009
Martinez, Padilla Dominate as Dodgers Top Phillies 2-1 to Even Series
Saturday, October 17th, 2009 | Andre Ethier, Charlie Manuel, Chase Utley, Jonathan Braxton, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, Pedro Martinez, Philadelphia Phillies, Ryan Madson, Sports, Vincente Padilla | No Comments
I was shocked – in a good way – with the starting pitching that I saw from Pedro Martinez and Vincente Padilla in Game 2 of the NLCS on Friday afternoon.
The Phillies Martinez – who had not pitched in a post-season game in 5 years – threw 7 scoreless innings giving up just 2 hits and no walks while striking out 3. Martinez was in line for the win when he left the game with a 1-0 lead courtesy of a Ryan Howard home run in the 4th inning.
The Dodgers Vincente Padilla was almost as good despite having a 4.46 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP during the 2009 MLB schedule. Padilla threw 7 1/3 innings, giving up just 1 ER on 4 hits and 1 walk with 6 K’s. Padilla defeated the Cards in Game 3 of the NLDS and he has given up just 1 ER and 8 hits in 14 1/3 post-season innings this October.
Pretty crazy stuff for some veteran pitchers.
The game turned against the Phillies in the bottom of the 8th inning. After an infield single and a bunt single, the Dodgers tied the game at 1 on Chase Utley’s fielding error that allowed Juan Pierre to score from 2nd base. After a Jim Thome pinch-hit single, Ryan Madsen entered the game and walked Rafael Furcal to load the bases. But Madsen struck out Matt Kemp to keep the game tied at 1 with Chase Utley coming to bat. Manager Charlie Manuel opted to go with lefty J.A. Happ to face left-handed hitting Andre Ethier. But the move backfired as Ethier drew the 2-out bases loaded walk to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.
Jonathan Broxton worked a perfect 9th inning against the top of the Phillies lineup to preserve the 2-1 lead and even the NLCS at 1 game apiece. The 2 teams resume the series on Sunday night in Philadelphia. Cliff Lee takes the bump for the Phillies against Hiroki Kuroda of the Dodgers.
Solid Yankees Pitching, Poor Fielding Doom Angels in ALCS Game 1 Loss
Saturday, October 17th, 2009 | A.J. Burnett, CC Sabathia, John Lackey, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Mariano Rivera, MLB, New York Yankees, Sports | No Comments
I must give CC Sabathia all the credit in the world. After struggling with the Cleveland Indians (10.45 ERA v. Boston Red Sox in 2007 ALCS) and the Milwaukee Brewers (12.27 ERA v. Philadelphia Phillies in 2008 NLDS), Sabathia has played large (almost as large as his midriff) in the 2009 playoffs for the New York Yankees. Last night in the Yankees 4-1 win over the Angels in Game 1 of the ALCS, he was simply outstanding. Sabathia needed only 113 pitches to throw 8 spectacular innings of 1-run ball. He gave up just 4 hits and walked only 1 batter, while striking out 7 Angels. The key was his command and keeping the speedy Angels baserunners off the bases. In the past, Sabathia has struggled with his control in the post-season. Last night, he was on his game the entire night against a patient Angels team that draws a lot of walks. Manager Joe Girardi could not have asked for a better outing from the ace of his staff.
The same could be said for Mariano Rivera. He is simply the closest thing to perfection when it comes to post-season performance. Rivera has an ERA of .074 in over 80 post-season appearances and he did not disappoint last night, even after the home plate umpire handed Torii Hunter a lead-off walk in the 9th inning with several close calls that went the Angels’ way. But it didn’t faze Rivera at all. He struck out Vladmir Guerrero and got Juan Rivera and Kendry Morales to fly out weakly to the outfield, and just like that the Yankees had a 1-0 lead in the ALCS. And just like that Rivera had another big post-season save – he has the coldest ice in his veins of any reliever that I’ve ever seen.
As for the Angels fielding – I know the conditions were not great, but 3 errors? Come on – this is playoff baseball, from a team that tied a record for best team fielding percentage in franchise history (.986) during the course of the 2009 MLB schedule. A team that committed 85 errors all season long commits 3 errors in 1 game? It was so disappointing and painful to watch. In addition to the 3 errors, Chone Figgins and Erick Aybar miscommunicated on an infield popup that allowed Johnny Damon to score the Yankees 2nd run in the 1st inning. John Lackey wasn’t great – 9 hits, 3 walks and 2 ER (4 runs total) in 5 2/3 innings – but he deserved better fielding behind him.
The 2 teams won’t have much time to react to the Game 1 outcome as they battle again tonight in the Bronx. Joe Saunders will pitch for the Angels while A.J. Burnett will toe the rubber for the Yankees. Saunders was not needed in the ALDS series sweep of the Red Sox, so it will be interesting to see how he fares against the Yankees with 2 weeks in between starts…
NHL Scores
Saturday, October 17th, 2009 | NHL | No Comments
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
MLB Playoff Scores
Saturday, October 17th, 2009 | MLB | No Comments
|
|
Great College Football Match-ups – Oklahoma-Texas; Notre Dame-USC & More!
Saturday, October 17th, 2009 | College Football, General, Iowa, Notre Dame, Oklahoma Sooners, Sports, Texas Longhorns, USC Trojans, Wisconsin Badgers | No Comments
What a great day for college football on Saturday. There are meaningful games all over the land with BCS implications galore.
Oklahoma and Texas will battle in the Red River Shootout on Saturday at 12 Noon EST at the Cotton Bowl. Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford will be back at the helm for Okalahoma (3-2, #20) after suffering an injury in the 1st game of the season. Heisman Trophy hopeful Colt McCoy leads the Texas Longhorns attack. At 5-0 ranked 3rd in the country, Texas controls its own destiny. If they win out, Texas will play for the national championship in the BCS Championship Game at the end of the year.
Also at 12 Noon EST is a road test for the #11 Iowa Hawkeyes (6-0) at Wisconsin in Madison. Iowa has its sights set on a BCS bowl game and a tough win on the road will go a long way for the Hawkeyes.
And at 3:30 EST, the USC Trojans will invade South Bend, Indiana to take on the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. USC still has hopes of winning a national championship despite losing a few weeks ago at Washington. The Trojans are still 4-1 and ranked 6th in the country and have one of the most formidable defenses in the land. Jimmy Clausen leads the Irish passing attack and has Notre Dame on the right track. With a 4-1 record and 25th ranking, the Irish are poised to pull off the upset on their home turf. USC Has had it’s way with the Irish during the last decade, so it will surely be a hard-fought battle in the trenches all day long.
We’ll keep you posted with how everything turns out over the weekend here at the Ticket Chest blog. Don’t forget to check back early and often for the latest team and player news…
