I can't go against Greg this early.  He should have a date with San Antonio next round.   

The Los Angeles Halos have had the good fortunate of playing in a bunch of playoff series and the Houston franchise has been in the playoffs 7 of the last 8 years, yet, this is the first time these two franchises have faced each other. While Los Angeles is coming off a Sub League Division Series loss to Jersey in 2014 after 2 previous losing trips to the World Series, Houston is mired in a string of 5 consecutive loses in the Sub League Division Series.   

Los Angeles finished 2015 tied for 2^nd in the powerful AL East with a record of 95-67 while Houston finished 4^th with a record of 89-73 in the same division. Los Angeles won the season series 12-6, but Houston on paper seemed to have the better season as their run differential was +173 to only +99 for Los Angeles. Additionally, Houston was a combined 19-17 against Jersey and Toronto who were 1^st and t-2^nd in the division, while Los Angeles was only 13-23. For the season Houston out hit Los Angeles .261 verse .250, outscored them 765 to 688 and out homered them 200 to 143. Houston’s team ERA was 3.10 (1^st AL & 2^nd in TBBL) while Los Angeles finished at 3.36 (3^rd AL & 6^th in the TBBL). The teams were 1^st and 2^nd in the TBBL in complete games as Houston’s staff had 31 and Los Angeles 28. Houston also had a solid bullpen despite only 34 saves, as their save % was .756 (2^nd AL & 3^rd in TBBL) while their IR% was .266 (2^nd in the AL & 3^rd in TBBL). Los Angeles’ bullpen had 45 saves, save % of .738 (5^th in AL & 8^th in TBBL) and IR% of .287 (5^th in AL & 8^th in TBBL). 

Game 1 at Los Angeles

 Doug Fister (10-8) vs. Corey Kluber (22-8)

The Oil Barons tag Kluber for 11 hits and 7 runs in 6.1 ip as they win the opener easily 7-4. The Halos got back-to-back homers from Granderson and Teixeira in the 2^nd to take a short-lived 2-1 lead. Houston then scored 2 in the 3^rd, 2 in the 4^th & 1 in the 5^th to open a 6-2 lead and never looked back. Springer had a homer and 2 RBI. Fister got the win after 6 ip allowing 6 hits, 4 runs but only 2 earned.

WP – Fister (1-0)

LP – Kluber (0-1)

S – Davis (1)

Series - HOU 1, LAH 0 

Game 2 at Los Angeles 

Felix Hernandez (19-7) vs. Tyson Ross (12-11) 

Houston was first on the board early again, this time scoring a run in the 3^rd on a wild pitch. Los Angeles, again answered scoring a run in the bottom of the inning on a Gardner sac fly but this game got a better performance from their starting pitcher as Ross went 4 innings, allowed 4 hits, 2 runs with 4 k’s. Meanwhile, the offense added 2 more in the 4^th on a Freese 2-run shot which was just enough for a 3-2 win. Houston had a huge opportunity in the 8^th down by 1-run they loaded the bases with 1-out, but Rondon came on to K Upton and Gomes to snuff out the threat. 

WP – Ross (1-0)

LP – Hernandez (0-1)

S    - Rondon (1)        

Series - LAH 1, HOU 1 

Game 3 at Houston 

Shelby Miller (11-11) vs. Phil Hughes (19-7)                                   

For the 3^rd consecutive game, the road team got the scoring started early, this time Los Angeles scored 2 in the 2^nd which could have been 3 but Young gunned down Freese at the plate trying to score from 1^st on the Hill double. M. Cabrera who was hitting over .500 in the series cut the deficit to 2-1 with a home-run in the 3^rd. Miller took a 3-2 lead into the 6^th but gave way to Putnam after allowing 2 runners to reach with 2-outs and Putnam served one up to Gomez as Houston took a 4-3 lead. Hughes went 6.1 ip, allowed 7 hits, 3 runs with 6 k’s but also wasn’t supported by his bullpen. Sipp came on with 1-out in the 7^th and allowed 2 hits, a walk and 2-runs as Los Angeles retook the lead 5-4. Los Angeles’ bully holds on for the win.

WP – Putnam (1-0)

LP – Sipp (0-1)

S   - Rondon (2) 

Series - LAH 2, HOU 1 

Game 4 at Houston 

Jake Peavy (12-5) vs. Kevin Gausman (11-7) 

La Roche starts the series 0-11, but finally shows up with a 3-run homerun in his 2^nd at bat of the game and then a 2-run homerun in this 5^th at bat as Los Angeles scores 2 in the 7^th and 3 in the 8^th to break open a tight one to win 10-5.                                 

WP – Duke (1-0)

LP – Gausman (0-1)

Series - LAH 3, HOU 1

Game 5 at Houston 

Corey Kluber (0-1) vs.  Felix Hernandez (0-1) 

Kluber’s chance for redemption after a miserable opener doesn’t go so well as Houston scores 1 in the 1^st and 3 in the 2^nd. The big blow was a Seager 2-run shot. Meanwhile, King Felix on short rest (game 2 loser) is pitching well early with only blemish an Aaron Hill homer in the 3^rd.  Hernandez hits the wall in the 5^th as Los Angeles ties the game on a 2-out double by Suzuki. That is where it stood as both bullpens are tough until Blevins walks in the winning run in the 11^th as Houston pushes the series back to Los Angeles.  

WP – Herrera (1-0)

LP – Putnam (1-1) 

Series - LAH 3, HOU 2 

Game 6 at Los Angeles 

Doug Fister (1-0) vs.  Tyson Ross (1-0) 

Game 1 winner, Fister, does his job scattering 8 hits over 5 innings but allowing no runs as Houston takes a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the 7^th. Fister masterfully escaped trouble in the 2^nd after loading the bases with no-outs got Suzuki to line out to Machado and then K’d Granderson and Teixeira. The lone Houston run scored on a bases loaded groundball double play by Machado in the 3^rd. For the 2^nd time on the series, Sipp came on with a 1-run lead and couldn’t get the job done and this time it was fatal as Los Angeles scored 7 in the inning to win the series 7-1. Sipp’s line was 0.1 IP, 4 hits, 4 runs, 3 walks and 3 inherited runners scored.

WP – Storen (1-0)

LP – Neshek (0-1) 

Series - LAH 4, HOU 2 

Series MVP: J. Heyward (.545/.583/.545, 4 runs, 1 RBI). After going 0-3 in game #1 in the #2 spot, he moved into the lead spot in game #2 and went 12 for 19 (.632 batting average). 

Congrats to Scott for a great season and a hard fought series. It was a pleasure playing against him and I appreciate this patience in getting this series played. We were probably not a great match for him with all our lefties when his only lefty on the staff was Sipp. Several of his players had a really great series as Springer in limited action hit .462 (.846 Slg%) with 4 rbi, Gomes hit .440 with 3 rbi, and Cabrera hit .391 with a homerun.