Friendship League

The Boston Bobcats finally made it back to the World Series with a thrilling seven game fight to the finish against the Minnesota Men.

Game 1 was a  4 hour 43 minute marathon that didn't deserve a loser.  Jake Odorizzi battled Marcus Stroman to a 3-3 tie after four innings.  They worth both long gone by the conclusion as we saw a total of 17 pitchers enter the game with the Men finally pushing a run across the 13th inning to win 4-3.  Allen got the win and Axford the loss with Neshek picking up a save.

Game 2 was a must for the Bobcats after the long battle of game 1 really could have chased the Bobcats home for the Winter.  David Ortiz didn't want his career to end that way and he provided all of the damage.  After a solo homerun in the 2nd he followed up with a two run blast in the 4th.  That was all the runs the Bobcats needed behind jokester Steven Wright and the bullpen shut the men down for the last 3 innings.  King Felix took the loss in this one.

Game 3 moved to Minnesota with the series tied.  The Men woke up the home crowd with a complete pounding of Dallas Keuchel.  After scoring 7 runs in the first they were on cruise control.  Andy Willnus was content on letting Keuchel get pounded to save his bullpen for later in the series.  The Men continued with 3 more runs in the 2nd and 3 more in the 5th.  They pounded out a whopping 23 hits in a 15-2 blowout.  Kinsler and Donaldson both had 4 hits and Melky and Abreu both had 3 RBI to put the Men up 2-1 in the series and give Ervin Santana the win.

Game 4 saw the Bobcats turn the tables and do some scoring early as well.  3 runs in the 1st and runs in 4 of the first 5 innings and we had another easy win.  Edwin Encarncion and Brock Holt homered for Boston as they knocked out Josh Tomlin in the 2nd inning.  Stroman pitched a strong 8 innings with 11 k's in a 7-2 win to tie the series back up at 2.

Game 5 was the final one in Minnesota.  With Odorizzi back on the mound for the Men and Drew Pomeranz with his only start for Boston.  The Men looked good early, opening a 3-1 lead through 5 innings, lead in part by a homerun by Steve Pearce.  However, the Bobcats would make the first stunning comeback of the series when David Ortiz and Brian Dozier both homered.  They got 3 in the 6th to grab the lead and added 3 in the 7th and 2 more in the 9th for an easy 9-3 win.  Daniel Otero was hit hard in the 6th and 7th by giving up 5 hits in 2/3 of an inning and adding 5 earned runs.  Michael Givins got the win in relief of Pomeranz.  The Bobcats lead the series for the first time 3-2.

Game 6 was back in Boston.  Stats are unavailable for this game due to contractual agreements (lost).  I can tell you that the Men won!  That ties the series up and forces the big game 7,

Game 7 saw Willnus and Mallon both jump right into the bullpen in the first inning.  Stroman left after 2/3 and Santana left without retiring a batter and allowing 2 hits and a HBP.  Santiago who ordered the code red entered and got David Ortiz to ground into a double play.  However, Dozier doubled in the 2nd run. Then the Bobcats added a run in the 2nd when James McCann dropped a sure foulout and  Andrelton Simmons  made them pay by ripping a triple into the gap with the 2nd chance.  Another error by Donaldson allowed him to score to make it 3-0.  Meanwhile the Bobcats bullpen coasted along with Rich Hill pitching 4 scoreless innings and Edwin Diaz only giving up one run over 3 innings.  That run coming on a conceded ground out by Tyler Naquin in the 8th inning as the Bobcats cruised home 4-1  to win the series.  Santana took the loss with the rough 1st inning and Rich Hill got the win in relief.

Thanks to Scott Mallon for a well played series and a great run for the Men.