THUNDER BAY --

Game 1 Newark 8, Rats 4

Wp buchholz
Lp lester

Eagles end any suspense or anticipation of a pitchers duel by jumping all over lester for 5 in the first. Encarnacion who had 2 HRs in the game was the big blow with a grand slam. Buchholz continues his great playoff form by shutting down the Rats who score 3 in the 8th after buchholz leaves on a 3 run Delmon Young HR.

Game 2 Newark 4, Rats 5

Wp Weaver
LP Billingsley

Weaver only allows 2 hits, but both are 2 run HRs by a Gonzalez. Carlos had one and so did Alex.
This gives the Bears a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the 5th when the Rats single Billingsley to death, scoring 4 of their own on 5 singles and a walk. WIgginton getting thrown out at the plate keeps it from being more. Peralta, Soriano and Wagner take it from there as the Rats hang on for the 1 run win to even the series.

Game 3 Rats 2, Newark 7

WP-Gallardo
LP Niemann

Again the Bears greet a Rats SP rudely, this time they jump on Niemann for 3 in the first. Alex Gonzalez singling home 2 is again in the mix. The 3 in the first are enough for Gallardo and 6 Bears RP. Alex Gonzalez also added a HR.

Game 4 Rats 8, Newark 4

WP Peralta
LP Hudson

Lester gets roughed up again by the Bears, but somehow only lets in 3 runs in 4 innings on 7 hits and 3 bbs. The Bears leave the bases loaded in both of the first 2 innings and leave 2 on in the 4th. Delmon Young and WIgginton hit solo HR and a 2 run HR by Holliday give the rats a 4-3 lead. In the top of the 5th the Rats add another on a Pagan 1B, SB and score on Holliday 1B, but the Bears get one in the bottom of the 5th to keep the lead 1 on a Encarnacion HR. Once again the Rats bullpen takes it from there Peralta, Soriano, Moylan and Wagner shut down the Bears. The Rats get a 3 run HR from Holliday in the 9th to add some cushion in an otherwise tight game.

Game 5 Rats 0, Newark 5

WP Buchholz
LP Weaver

Can any team win 2 in a row? So far no, this time Buchholz is even better going 7.2 innings of 2 hit shut out pitching. Utley and Alex Gonzalez HR and a Carlos Gonzalez 2 run 3B are more than enough with Buchholz in such great form.

Game 6 Newark 3, Rats 6

Wp Niemann
Lp Billingsley

Well good news for the Rats that the trend of no team winning 2 in a row continues. With their backs to the wall the Rats place their hopes on the #3 pitcher and the Bears look to Bilingsley to close things out.
Bears score in the 1st on a Carlos Gonzalez 1B, SB and score on Tulo 2B, but the Rats come right back with 3 against Billingsley in the 1st as Holliday and Jaso contribute rbi 1Bs. Niemann is looking up to the task as he shuts down the Bears and is within 1 out of turning a 3-1 lead over to the very tough bullpen when Braun takes him deep with a 2 run HR to tie things up in the 5th. Rats waste no time coming right back. They load the bases in the bottom of the 5th with 0 outs when Jaso infield single scores one and another scores as Wigginton hits into a DP. Rats bullpen again takes it over and shortens the game, this time Wagner then Soriano close out the win and send it to game 7.

Game 7 Newark 1, Rats 2

WP Lester
LP Gallardo

Can the Rats break the trend of no team winning 2 in a row or will the Bears be the champs. Game 7 lives up to the excitement. In the 1st Tulo singles home Kinsler to give the Bears a 1-0 lead, but the Rats come right back in the bottom of the 1st with Joyce scoring from 1st on a Holliday 2B. From there both pitchers shut things down as Lester finally finds his form after 2 poor starts and Gallardo is just as tough until the bottom of the 6th. Barton gets aboard for the Rats on an error and scores from 1st on a Delmon Young 2B. Rats hand things over to the bullpen with a 2-1 lead, but the excitement is not over. With Soriano on the mound, Kinsler knocks a leadoff 2B then Braun BB. Carlos Gonzalez grounds out, but moves the runners over. Tulo is at bat with runners at 2nd and 3rd, one out and the infield drawn in. Tulo hits a slow grounder to 2b and the speady Kinsler gives home a try. With all breaths held he is called out and from there the threat is over and the Rats bullpen of Soriano and Peralta holds on to the 2-1 win.


What an exciting, well matched and well played series, either team could have easily won as evidenced by the 7th game as the Rats had 2 runners score from 1st on 2Bs and the Bears had a runner caught at the plate. Any of those calls could have easily gone the other way and changed the result.

Costly for the Bears was Billingsley 0-2 who offset the stellar Buchholz who was 2-0 and almost unhittable. The Rats bullpen had carried them all playoffs and really did the job here in the Championship as Peralta, Soriano and Wagner combined for 14 innings of work and did not allow a single run. In contrast the Rats starters were terrible Lester 5.27 era, Weaver 7.00era, Neimann 6.00era.

Batting Highlights
Rats –Delmon Young .407 ba, .741 spc, 2hr, 9rbi probably the MVP
Rats- Holliday .346 ba, .400 obp, 2hrs, 9 rbi, 7 rs
Bears-Tulowitsky .357ba, .400 obp, 7rbi
Bears- Carlos Gonzalez .321ba, .367 obp, 2 hr, 6 rbi
Bears-Alex Gonzalez and Encarnacion both hit 3 hrs

Newark hit .227 as a team and Rats hit .243

Thanks Mike for the fun h2h congrats on a great season, as I said the series could have easily gone either way with a break one way or the other.