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Sports Extra
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MLB Playoffs - American League
Rays Take Down Guardians in Six, World Series Next
Game Recaps:
Game 1: Coming off their ALDS triumph over the White Sox, Cleveland took Game 1 of the NLCS at Tampa Bay by scoring all of their runs from the sixth inning onward for a decisive, 7-3, win.
The Guardians' 2-5 hitters were a combined 9-for-19, with six RBI. Jose Ramirez and Chase DeLauter each had three hits. DeLauter socked a solo homer in the sixth to get things started and scored three times.
Game 2: Tampa Bay scored three unearned runs off an untimely, 4th-inning error by Cleveland third baseman Jose Ramirez and Rays' starter, Freddy Peralta, delivered six innings of shutout ball to even the ALCS at a game apiece. The series heads to Cleveland for games 3, 4, and 5.
Game 3: Rookie center fielder, Petey Halpin, stunning the Tampa Bay Rays with a two-run, fifth-inning home run that put the Guardians up, 3-2, and the Cleveland bullpen made the one-run lead stand up with four shutout innings, allowing just one hit. Grant Williams took the win with five innings of work, allowing two earned runs and fanning nine. The win put the Guardians up two games to one in the series, with Games 4 and 5 to be played in Cleveland on Saturday and Sunday due to a Friday rainout.
Game 4: Tampa Bay's bats were booming Saturday in Cleveland as the Rays evened the ALCS at two games apiece with a 7-3 victory. The Rays banged out 11 hits against a parade of seven Cleveland pitchers, taking the lead for good in the sixth inning when Junior Caminero drove in Jonathan Aranda for a 2-1 lead. Aranda was again key in the three-run seventh with a single that padded the lead.
Game 5: Taking two of three in Cleveland, the Tampa Bay Rays Lead the ALCS, three games to two after Drew Rasmussen kept Guardian hitters off balance with seven strong innings from the mound, allowing one run on four hits, one walk, fanning six.
The Rays scored single runs in the first, second, and third innings, allowing Rasmussen some room in which to operate. A trio of Rays relievers finished the job with two scoreless innings. The series shifts back to Tampa on Monday, with the Guardians facing elimination and the Rays one win away from a trip to the World Series.
Game 6: It will be Tampa Bay versus Milwaukee in the World Series after the Rays won Game Six of the ALCS, 7-3, putting away the Cleveland Guardians, four games to two.
After the Rays took a 3-0 lead, Cleveland scored a single run in the sixth, but Tampa Bay surged in the seventh on Junior Caminero's two-run homer and Yandy Diaz put the game away in the eighth with another two-run dinger. Freddy Peralta picked up the win, allowing just one run in 5+ innings of work. Five Tampa Bay relievers finished the job from the mound. The best-of-seven World Series opens Friday in Milwaukee.
Rays Sweep Yankees, Head to ALCS
Game Recaps:
Game 1: Drew Rasmussen held the Yankees to one hit over eight solid innings, walking two and fanning 10 to put the Rays up one game to none in the ALDS Saturday in Tampa, Florida. Jonathan Aranda's 3rd-inning solo shot accounted for the game's only run.
Game 2: The Yankees threw away Game 2 at Tropicana Field, committing four errors as the Rays continue to play textbook small ball, taking a 2-0 lead in the series which shifts to New York for game 3 on Wednesday, the Yankees facing elimination.
Game 3: Tampa Bay completed its sweep of the Yankees Wednesday night in New York, topping the Bombers, 4-3, taking three straight in the ALDS. Victor Mesa's 6th-inning, two-run homer was the difference-maker. The Yankees never led in the series.
Guardians Wrap Series with 2-0 Win in Game 5
Game Recaps:
Game 1: Munetaka Murakami's 4th inning home run was all the offense Chicago needed to take Game One of the NLDS in Cleveland Saturday. Six White Sox pitchers combined on a three-hit shutout.
Game 2: Braden Montgomery drove in two runs with a sixth-inning double and scored on Chase Meidroth's scratch single, putting Chicago up 4-2 en route to a a 4-3 road win and a 2-0 lead in the series. Cleveland faces elimination when the teams meet in Chicago for Game 3 on Wednesday.
Game 3: Jo Adell's three-run double in the third inning and Jose Ramirez's two-run triple in the eighth were the big blows for the Guardians in their 9-3 win Wednesday in Chicago. The White Sox remain up, two games to one, with Game Four Thursday in the Windy City.
Game 4: For the second straight game, the Guardians put a nine-spot on White Sox, on Thursday winning 9-5 in Chicago to force a deciding Game 5 Saturday in Cleveland. The Guardians plated three in the fifth and six runs in the sixth, each time battling back from deficits. Jose Ramirez came through with three RBI. Jo Adell and Patrick Bailey each drove in a pair.
Game 5: The Guardians completed their comeback from a 2-0 series deficit, taking the last three games, including a 2-0 triumph in Game 5, Saturday in Cleveland. Jose Ramirez socked a 2-run homer in the 4th, which was all that was needed by Cleveland starter, Gavin Williams, who allowed one hit in 5 1/3 innings of shutout ball, fanning 12. A trio of Guardians' relievers finished the whitewash. The Guardians head to Tampa Bay to take on the Rays in a best-of-seven ALCS, starting Monday.
White Sox wipe out Houston, 2-0 in Wild Card series.
Game Recaps:
Game 1: The White Sox came out swinging in Game one, peppering Houston pitching for five runs in the first four innings. The Astros came back with two in the bottom of the fifth, but Chicago added another run in the seventh for a 6-2 lead. Houston plated a run in the eighth, but Chicago reliever, Grant Taylor, closed out the Astros for the 6-3 win.
Game 2: The White Sox have done the impossible. After losing 100+ games in each of the past three seasons, the Sox, who led the AL Central for much of the regular season, reached the playoffs as the third wild card and now have eliminated the Houston Astros, champions of the AL West, in two straight.
Chicago made quick work of Houston starter, Hunter Brown, chasing him in 2/3rds of an inning with four runs (3 earned). Houston battled back to make it 4-3 with single runs in the first, second, and third.
Chase Meidroth's three-run homer in the sixth provided the 7-3 cushion and relievers Jordan Hicks and Erick Fedde finished the job with two innings of perfect pitching each, sending the White Sox on to the NLDS against their division rivals, Cleveland, starting Saturday.
Game Recaps:
Game 1: Cam Schlittler blanked the Red Sox over 6 1/3 innings and the Yankee bullpen finished the job as Ben Rice went 4-for-6, with a pair of homers, a 5th inning solo shot and a grand slam in the 8th, driving in six runs in an epic post-season performance and a 9-0 New York victory.
Game 2: Cody Bellinger's three-run homer highlighted a six-run sixth inning that blew the game wide open for the Yankees, who went on to defeat the Red Sox, 9-2, taking the best-of-three series in two.
New York heads to Tampa Bay for the opener of the ALDS best-of-five series on Saturday.
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MLB Playoffs - National League
Brewers Sweep Dodgers, Head to World Series
Game Recaps:
Game 1: The Milwaukee Brewers touched up Dodger starter, Tarik Skubal for single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take Game 1 of the championship series, 2-1. Skubal surrendered a solo homer to Brice Turang in the fourth and light-hitting Luis Lara scorched an RBI single up the middle after Skubal had walked Garrett Mitchell to lead off the fifth and Cooper Pratt's sac bunt moved him to second.
Milwaukee starter Jacob Misiorowski gave up a lone second-inning run in 4 1/3 innings, but the Brewer's relief staff held the Dodgers scoreless over the final 4 2/3rds for the 1-0 series lead.
Game 2: Milwaukee hitters got to Dodger ace, Yoshinobu Yamamoto early, sending him to the showers after just 2 2/3rd innings and 75 pitches. After that, LA emptied its bullpen, using seven relievers in a failed effort to stop the Milwaukee offense.
William Contreras tied the game at 4-4 with a solo shot in the fifth inning and put the Brewers up with an RBI single in the sixth. Brice Turang and Jake Bauers added insurance, each driving in a run in the eighth. The Milwaukee bullpen was magnificent, setting an MLB record by retiring every batter from the fifth through ninth innings, striking out seven without allowing a hit or a walk.
Game 3: Milwaukee went long ball on the Dodgers Wednesday for a 6-2 win in Game 3 of the NLCS, setting up a possible series sweep when the two teams meet on Thursday. Home runs by Jackson Chourio (1st, solo), Jake Bauers (7th, 2-run), and Garrett Mitchell (7th, solo) accounted for four of Milwaukee's six runs.
The Dodgers appear to be totally outplayed by the Brewers. The lack of hitting by LA is a serious issue, especially without the power from Shohei Ohtani. Milwaukee, businesslike in their approach, sees destined for the World Series.
Game 4: Milwaukee completed an historic sweep of the Dodgers with a 6-4 win in Game 4 at Los Angeles. The Dodgers got off to a 4-0 start, highlighted by Shohei Ohtani's three-run homer in the second, but after that it was all Brewers, as they tid the game in the fifth inning and sealed the deal with solo shots from Garrett Mitchell in the sixth and David Hamilton in the ninth.
Once again, Milwaukee's bullpen was solid. JoJo Romero tossed two innings of shutout ball, followed by three blank frames from Aaron Ashby to close out the series. Milwaukee will open the World Series at home, having finished with the best record in either league. They will meet up with either the Cleveland Guardians or Tampa Bay Rays.
Brewers Finish off Padres with 3-1, Game 4 Victory
Game Recaps:
Game 1: William Contreras socked a 7th-inning solo homer to give the Brewers a 3-2 lead and Milwaukee's bullpen finished the job, blanking the Padres over the final two innings, leaving the Brewers a game up in the NLDS.
Game 2: Jackson Chourio's bases-loaded single in the bottom of the ninth plated the tying and winning runs, as the Brewers took a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five NLDS Sunday in Milwaukee. The series shifts to San Diego for games three and four.
Game 3: San Diego staved off elimination with a 4-3 win at home over the Brewers, who are still in the driver's seat with a two games to one lead in the series. Game 4 of the NLDS is Wednesday in San Diego.
Game 4: Sound offense and a superior effort by Milwaukee's relief staff sent the Brewers to the NLCS for the second straight year, knocking off the Padres, 3-1, Wednesday to take the series, three games to one. San Diego's only run came on a third inning, Fernando Tatis leadoff solo shot. After that, Milwaukee hurlers held the Padres hitless. The Brewers will face the Dodgers in the NDCS starting Sunday in Milwaukee.
Dodgers Advance with 4-1 win in Atlanta
Game Recaps:
Game 1: Two-run homers by Teoscar Hernandez and Kyle Tucker and a solo shot by Max Muncy led the Dodgers past the Braves in Game One of the NLDS in Los Angeles.
Game 2: Atlanta evened the NLDS at a game apiece with a 3-2 win at Los Angeles Sunday, getting timely hits and superior work from its bullpen. The Braves used six relievers to hold the Dodgers to six hits, the 3-2 win sending the series to Atlanta for games three and four.
Game 3: In Atlanta Tuesday, Dodger ace, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was at his post-season best, limiting the homestanding Braves to one earned run on four hits over seven spectacular innings. Yamamoto stuck out 10 and walked one, leaving the Dodgers ahead, two games to one in the best-of-five NLDS.
Game 4: Andy Pages drove in a pair of runs in the seventh to break a 1-1 tie and Max Muncy launched his third post-season home run - a solo blast - in the ninth to carry the Dodgers past the Braves, 4-1, and advance to the NLCS to meet the Brewers. The series starts Sunday in Milwaukee.
Home Runs Lead Atlanta Past Phillies to Win Wild Card Round
Game Recaps:
Game 1: Austin Riley's eighth-inning, three-run homer lifted the Braves to victory in the opener. Jesus Luzadro returned with a solid performance for the Phillies, allowing one run on five hits over the first five innings, out-dueling Atlanta's Chris Sale, who was tagged for three earned runs over 6 1/3 innings, despite striking out nine.
Game 2: Facing elimination, the Phillies used long balls to defeat the Braves and tie the best--of-three series at a game apiece.
The game was tied 1-1 until the 7th, when the Braves plated two for a 3-1 edge. Home runs by Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper tied it at 3-all in the 8th and Alec Bohm delivered a solo shot in the 10th, which proved the game winner as the Braves failed to muster a run in the bottom half. A decisive Game 3 is set for Thursday in Atlanta.
Game 3: A first-inning, three-run homer by Michael Harris II, a two-run shot in the 4th by Ozzie Albies, and a solo blast off the bat of Matt Olson sent the Atlanta Braves onto the next playoff round with a 6-2 win over the Phillies. The Braves will meet the Dodgers in a five-game series starting Saturday.
Game Recaps:
Game 1: Michael King took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, foiled by Nico Hoerner infield single that third baseman Manny Machado could not handle. King finished out the inning by striking out the next two batters. Leading off the home first, Fernando Tatis Jr. took the first pitch he saw over the wall in center. Machado followed with a solo homer in the first and Xander Bogaerts added a solo shot in the fourth.
The Padres' win completed the sweep by teams with the better record, the oddity in Houston, where the Astros, designated the home team by virtue of winning the AL West, were downed by the wild card White Sox, the third wild card, though with a superior regular season record (84-78) than Houston (81-81).
Game 2: The Padres advanced to the NLDS with a 4-1 win over the Cubs, taking the best-of-three series in two. There wasn't anything flashy about the way the Padres won, just solid baseball. San Diego pieced together five pitchers to hold the Cubs to five hits and one earned run. Gavin Sheets' two-run, pinch-hit home run provided a 4-1 cushion in the fourth inning and the bullpen took over after that. The Padres travel to Milwaukee Saturday to face the Brewers in the first game of the best-of-five NLDS.
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| idleguy.com October 2026 | Page 7a