This series really can go either way but the crystal ball says Kentucky will win out in 7 games.  I think the Wildcats will need a coupe of "luck" plays to help them win a game of two but in the end I think they have too much.  The question for Fresno is what will they do when Napoli is walked intentionally every at bat?

Fresno Grizzles (112-50) vs. Kentucky WildCats (103-59)

#1 October 4, 2012 at Chase Field.  The Wildcats squeaked by the Grizzlies 9-7 in a slugfest. With 2 twenty game winners on the mound this was not what was expected, Randy Wolf 23-6 2.76 and Roy Halladay 21-8 3.35.  After spotting the Grizzles a 3-0 1^st inning lead, the WildCats struck for 1 run in the 2^nd, 2 in the 3^rd, and SIX in the 4^th with 2 out and no one on. Mike Napoli made a game of it with a 3 run homer in the 7^th but it wasn’t enough as Kimbrel closed out the 9^th. Cats up 1-0.

#2 October 5, 2012 at Chase Field.  The Wildcats squeaked by the Grizzlies 5-3.  Josh Beckett 12-8 2.50 (15-11 2.75) got the victory allowing 3 unearned runs in his 7.2 innings of work.  On the losing end was Brett Myers 16-13 3.66 .  Travis Hafner’s 2^nd inning 2 run homer and Jerry Hairston’s 2 run 4^th inning homer along with a PH double by Jason Giambi spotted Kentucky a 5-0 lead until the 8^th. Jerry Hairston paced the winners with a 3-4, one HR, two RBI performance. 

#3 October 7, 2012 at Great American Ball Park.  The Wildcats edged the Grizzlies by a score of 4-3.  Fresno scored one in the 1^st but season MVP Mark Reynolds crushed a 2 run homer to put the WildCats ahead in the 2^nd.  After Kentucky scored another run in the 3^rd to go up 3-1, Willie Bloomquist hit a 2 out 2 run single to tie the in the 4^th. Heisey singled in a run in the 5^th to put Kentucky up 4-3.  Willie Eyre, in relief of Javier Vasquez 13-10 4.50, earned the victory, combining with 4 other WildCats relievers for 6.1 innings of shutout relief.  Trevor Cahill 19-7 3.35 threw a CG in taking the loss. Arredondo saved it.  Ruiz paced the Wildcats going 2-2 w/2B. 

#4 October 8, 2012 at Great American Ball Park.  The Grizzlies squeezed by the Wildcats 3-2 to avoid the sweep. Fresno scored a quick 3 in the 2^nd but 2 solo homers in the 3^rd cut the lead to 3-2. It was Ted Lilly 17-8 3.55 getting the victory, tossing 7 innings of 2 run ball.  He threw 115 pitches and struck out eight.  It was Jim Johnson earning the save as the Grizzlies staff. With their backs to the wall pitched a great game, holding the WildCats scoreless the last 9 innings.  Homer Bailey 6-7 5.05 takes this loss, 4 innings 3 runs. Andino paced the winners with a 2-3 day, w/ 2B and two RBI. 

#5 October 9, 2012 at Great American Ball Park.  The Grizzlies stay alive for another day by defeating the Wildcats 3-2.  Jason Grilli won this one in relief of Randy Wolf 23-6 2.76.  Wolf and WildCats starter Roy Halladay 21-8 3.35 engage in a great pitching duel that sees both starters allow only 2 runs each through 8. (One, a HR by Mike Napoli) Tagged with this defeat is Craig Kimbrel who allows a leadoff double to Zobrist in the 9^th and watches him score on a PH single by Cairo.  The save was credited to Javier Lopez, who recorded 1 out after a 2 out single and double THAT saw the runner held at 3^rd? Series 3 games to 2, WildCats, but the momentum has swung.

#6 October 11, 2012 at Chase Field.  The Grizzlies were held scoreless by the Wildcats 4-0 and Josh Beckett 12-8 2.50 (15-11 2.75), as the WildCats win the right to go on to face the Los Angeles Halos.  On the losing end was Brett Myers 16-13 3.66.  Both pitchers were locked up in a scoreless classic until 2 outs in the 6^th. After a 2 out walk, Joey Votto, mired in a 3-23 slump, cleared the left field wall at the 330 mark to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead. Two insurance runs were tacked on in the 7^th.  Motte and Kimbrel closed out the 9^th to save the victory.

It was a great series with Kentucky jumping out to a 3 game to 0 lead only to see Fresno win the next two games by 3-2 scores. Then, in game 6, and a scoreless deadlock, Joey Votto came through.

Josh Beckett, 2-0 0.00, (3 unearned runs in 17 innings, 9 hits) was the Series MVP.

After the game #1 slugfest, pitching took over. The big matchup between Napoli and Reynolds never really happen but Marco Scurato did hit .500 for the series, 9-18.

Thanks to Richard for exciting H2H and Phone play. Richard went the extra mile to play the games H2H, making a business deal to acquire a new computer. We also, played it over the phone, with all the frustrations of lack of clutch hitting. It was fun!

Rocky
Kentucky WildCats