2009 Postseason Series Recaps

World Series: California Angels vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Freeway Series. The SoCal Showdown. The eyes of the baseball world were on Southern California this week, as the Los Angeles Dodgers squared off against the California Angels in the 2009 NASBL World Series. Dodgers owner Kris Dufour had raised the franchise from the depths of the NL West to a league-best 112 wins and their first-ever World Series appearance. In contrast, this was the Angels' fifth trip to the World Series in the last six years -- but with free agency looming on the horizon for their major stars, there was a sense of urgency to make this one count.

GAME 1: Seven months after being traded for each other, lefties Cole Hamels of the Angels and Jon Lester of the Dodgers squared off in Game 1 of the Fall Classic. The Angels threatened in the top of the first, loading the bases with one out, but failed to push a run across. In the third, the Dodgers' Jody Gerut slugged a 2-run homer to draw first blood. The score remained that way until Jason Bay added an insurance run with an RBI single in the sixth. Meanwhile, the Angels could not find that big hit, as Lester scattered seven hits and two walks over 7.1 scoreless innings. They finally got on the scoreboard with a sac fly in the ninth, but it was too little too late. DODGERS 3, ANGELS 1

GAME 2: The Angels' Greg Maddux and the Dodgers' Ervin Santana took the hill in Game 2. The Angels took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on an unearned run. They tacked on another in the sixth on a Jimmy Rollins double. Greg Maddux pitched a brilliant seven innings, allowing no runs and only two hits. Then Angels manager Michael Liu decided to bring in Steven Shell to start the eighth, and the move immediately backfired -- the Dodgers "shelled" Steven, and RBI singles by Grady Sizemore and Ryan Ludwick tied the game at 2. The game moved into extra innings. Then in the eleventh, Rollins led off with a single, stole second and third, and scored on a John Baker single. Albert Pujols pushed the lead to 4-2 with an RBI single later in the inning. Francisco Rodriguez closed the door in the bottom of the inning to even the series at one game apiece. ANGELS 4, DODGERS 2 (11 innings)

GAME 3: The Dodgers sent veteran Derek Lowe to the mound in Game 3, as the Angels countered with rookie Chris Volstad. Jimmy Rollins put the Angels on top with a 2-run blast in the fourth, but Jody Gerut answered with a 2-run shot in the sixth. In the eighth, the Angels regained the lead on an Alex Cora sac fly and Carlos Beltran RBI groundout. In the ninth, the Dodgers put the tying runs on second and third with two outs, but Albert Pujols snared a Doug Mientkiewicz liner to end the game. ANGELS 4, DODGERS 2

GAME 4: Lester and Hamels matched up again in Game 4, but this time the offenses were ready for them. The Dodgers scored in the top of the first, and the Angels answered with two in the second. Doug Mientkiewicz hit an RBI single in the third inning and Jody Gerut followed with a 2-run homer (his third of the series), and the Angels answered with two runs in the bottom half of the frame to even the score at 4. Placido Polanco laced a 2-run single in the fifth to put LA ahead again, and once again the Angels came back on solo home runs by Carlos Quentin in the fifth and Albert Pujols in the seventh. The game remained deadlocked until a Ryan Ludwick blast and Ty Wigginton RBI double in the eleventh put the Dodgers ahead once again. This time, the Angels had no answer against Matt Capps, and the series was knotted at two games each. DODGERS 8, ANGELS 6 (11 innings)

GAME 5: The Dodgers threatened in the top of the first against Greg Maddux, but Jay Bruce cut down Doug Mientkiewicz at the plate to keep LA off the board. Albert Pujols then hit a solo shot in the bottom of the inning. Alex Rodriguez hit an RBI single to make it 2-0 in the fourth. Mientkiewicz and Ryan Ludwick tied the game with singles in the fifth, but Carlos Beltran immediately got those runs back with a 2-run rocket in the bottom of the inning and then Rodriguez made it 5-2 with an RBI double in the sixth. The teams exchanged runs in the seventh. The Dodgers pushed across another run in the ninth, but it was not enough as the Angels moved just one win away from the title. Amazingly, all five games thus far in the Series had been decided by exactly two runs. ANGELS 6, DODGERS 4

GAME 6: Derek Lowe and Seth McClung took the mound in Los Angeles for Game 6. After five intense, nail-biting, back-and-forth battles between the Dodgers and Angels, fans expected more of the same. Unfortunately for the home team, the Angels lineup showed up determined to end the suspense early. They jumped on Lowe before most of the crowd had even gotten to their seats -- a 2-RBI double by Alex Rodriguez, an RBI double by Jay Bruce, and a 2-run home run by Jimmy Rollins put the Angels up 5-0 after half an inning. From there, the Angels continued to pound the vaunted Dodgers pitching staff. They scored a run in the third, a run in the fourth, and three in the sixth. They scored again in the seventh, making it 11-0 heading to the seventh inning stretch. The Dodgers finally touched up McClung with back-to-back jacks by Ryan Ludwick and Greg Dobbs in the bottom of the seventh and Grady Sizemore added another homer in the eighth, but this was no contest. With two outs and a runner on in the ninth, Francisco Rodriguez punched out Ty Wigginton to end the game, and the Angels rushed the mound to celebrate their World Series title. ANGELS 11, DODGERS 3

The Dodgers were led in the World Series by Ryan Ludwick (.462, 2 HR, 4 RBI), Jody Gerut (3 HR, 8 RBI), and Matt Capps (2.25 ERA, 2 SV). Stars for the Angels included Albert Pujols (.385, 2 HR, 4 RBI) and Greg Maddux (1-0, 1.38 ERA, 13 IP). But the MVP of the Series was SS Jimmy Rollins. In addition to his gold-glove defense, Rollins hit .471 with 2 HR, 6 RBI, and 3 SB.

ALCS: California Angels vs. Toronto Blue Jays
For the second year in a row, the Toronto Blue Jays and California Angels squared off in the ALCS. Would the Blue Jays exact revenge for last year's Angels sweep or would California once again have Toronto's number?

GAME 1: Toronto's Dan Haren and California's Cole Hamels took the hill in Game 1, and both lived up to their staff ace monikers. A two-out RBI single by Carlos Quentin in the fourth staked the Angels to a slim 1-0 lead. The score remained there until the Toronto half of the eighth, when Ramon Santiago singled and Gabe Kapler homered, putting the hometown Jays up 2-1. In the top of the ninth, Haren and reliever Joey Devine got the first two outs -- putting the Jays one out away from taking the all-important first game -- but then Alex Rodriguez launched a clutch solo homer to tie the game. Then in the eleventh, Carlos Beltran walked, stole second, and scored on a Brian McCann single to put the Angels up 3-2. In the bottom of the inning, Toronto loaded the bases with one out, but Francisco Rodriguez struck out Matt Holliday and Maicer Izturis to seal the victory. ANGELS 3, BLUE JAYS 2 (11 innings).

GAME 2: After a nail-biter in Game 1, the Angels made sure Game 2 was not nearly as suspenseful. Albert Pujols had an RBI single in the first, Carlos Quentin hit a solo homer in the second, and then Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run blast in the fourth to put California up 4-0. Chipper Jones hit a homer in the fourth to get Toronto on the board, but Beltran answered with a homer in the fifth. The Angels tacked on two more in the sixth and then Quentin finished the scoring with his second homer of the day in the eighth. Toronto starter Justin Duchscherer absorbed most of the punishment, allowing 7 runs in 7 IP. Angels starter Greg Maddux was hittable but effective (6 IP, 2 ER) and got the win. ANGELS 8, BLUE JAYS 2.

GAME 3: The Blue Jays staked starter Gil Meche to an early lead with two runs in the third. But in the fourth, Carlos Quentin answered with three-run blast and then Jay Bruce homered on the very next pitch to put California up 4-2. The Jays cut the lead on a Matt Holliday RBI single in the seventh, but Ichiro Suzuki and Chipper Jones stranded the tying run on third. Then the Angels' Aubrey Huff delivered a clutch two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the frame to extend the lead to 6-3. Francisco Rodriguez retired the final four Toronto hitters in order to put the Angels one game away from a return trip to the World Series. ANGELS 6, BLUE JAYS 3.

GAME 4: Game 1 starters Dan Haren and Cole Hamels once again locked horns in Game 4, and once again both pitchers were brilliant. They shut down their opponents' powerful lineups for five innings. Then with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Alex Rodriguez crushed a two-run homer to put the Angels up 2-0. That was all Hamels needed -- he was simply dominant (2 H, 9 K). With two outs in the ninth, he retired David Ortiz on a deep fly to complete the shutout and give the Angels the American League pennant. ANGELS 2, BLUE JAYS 0.

The hitting star of the series was Alex Rodriguez, who batted .563 with 3 HR and 5 RBI and delivered clutch home runs in both Games 1 and 4. But the MVP was Cole Hamels, who went 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA (16 IP, 8 H, 1 BB, 17 K) in two masterful performances. Toronto's Dan Haren also deserved mention for a terrific series -- his stats were almost identical to Hamels' (1.65 ERA, 16 IP, 12 H, 2 BB, 16 K). Unfortunately for Haren and Toronto, their vaunted offense (which averaged nearly 6 runs per game during the regular season) did not show up.

NLCS: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs
GAME 1: Game 1 of the NLCS opened in Los Angeles, pitting Jon Lester, of LA, against Ricky Nolasco. The game was knotted at 1-1 until LA scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th, to take a 3-1 lead. The Cubs answered right back with two of their own in the top of the 8th inning to tie it at 3 a piece. Then, with a man on in the bottom of the eighth, Doug Mientkeiwicz hit a two-run bomb off Matt Lindstrom to give the Dodgers a 5-3 lead that they didn’t relinquish, as Matt Capps came in for LA in the top of the 9th to slam the door on Chicago and send the LA faithful home happy.

GAME 2: Game 2 was a very different story for LA and Chicago. The Cubs jumped on LA starter, Ervin Santana, early, for 5 runs in the 1st inning. The Dodgers fought back with 3 of their own in the bottom of the first and, for a while, it looked like the Dodgers might claw back and overtake the Cubs. Santana was starting to tire in the 7th, though, and allowed another run, and was replaced by Craig Breslow. Now, down 6-3 going to the bottom of the 7th, the Dodgers again fought back to within 6-5, but that’s where the scoring ended. Cubs starter, Mike Mussina, went 6 and a 1/3 innings and allowed all 5 runs as neither starter was particularly effective. The game was also marked by no homeruns having been hit at all in spacious Chavez Ravine, though Hunter Pence, of Chicago, did have 3 base hits and go 3 for 4 with an RBI. The Cubs brought in closer, Bobby Jenks, to slam the door on any potential LA uprising in the 9th with 2 out. Jenks was the 4th of 4 pitchers used by Cubs manager, Steve Sanger, as he played the “match-up game” to keep the Dodgers at bay…a tactic which seemed to work well on this particular occasion for Chicago.

GAME 3: Game 3 saw the series move to Chicago’s Wrigley Field for a match-up of Derek Lowe, for LA, and Scott Baker, for Chicago. The Dodgers pulled out front early, with 1 run in the top of the first off of Baker and then 2 more in the top of the 3rd. The Chicago bats had a tough time against Derek Lowe. They out-hit LA, 10 to 8, but on the scoreboard, they could manage only 1 run against Lowe, who pitched masterfully, going 7 innings, allowing 9 hits and 1 run. Lowe got relief help from closer, Matt Capps, to win by a final score of 4-1 and go up 2 games to 1 over Chicago.

GAME 4: Game 4 was a re-match of Game 1, with Nolasco going against Lester again. To start off, the teams traded 2-run frames – the Cubs in the bottom of the first inning and then LA in the top of the 2nd. After that it was all Chicago. The Cubs jumped on Lester for 3 runs in the bottom of the 3rd and they scored at least a run in 5 of the last 6 innings of the game. Lester lasted only 5 innings and allowed 8 earned runs on 13 hits. Nolasco went 6 innings, allowing 3 earned runs and getting relief help from Jason Grilli, who pitched particularly well and Renyal Pinto. Grilli allowed no base runners and struck out 4 LA batters in his 2 innings of work. The Cubs out-hit the Dodgers 18-7 and hit all the homeruns in the game – one each by Christian Guzman, Kelly Shoppach, Mark Reynolds (who was 3 for 5 with 3 RBI) and Hunter Pence. Chicago won, 10 – 3 and still left 8 other base runners stranded.

GAME 5: An exciting series so far, tied at 2 a piece, Game 5 saw Ervin Santana, who was roughed up in Game 2, go back to the mound for LA against Chicago’s Mike Mussina. The Dodgers’ manager, Kris Dufour, consulted with his staff on whether or not to pitch Santana again, on short rest, after his horrible Game 2 start…and instead, go with Jesse Litsch. In the end, they settled on Santana again. The Dodgers were down 1-0 when, in the top of the 4th, they scored 2 runs on 4 base hits and then 2 more in the top of the 5th, on a 2-run home run by Fernando Tatis. As it turned out, that’s all the scoring the Dodgers were going to need, as they won by a final score of 6-3. Santana redeemed himself with an 8 IP/4 hit performance and got a 1-inning save from Grant Balfour. Manny Ramirez, conspicuously quiet – home run wise – to this point for Chicago, hit his first home run of the series.

GAME 6: The pivotal series Game 6 moved back to sunny California. Derek Lowe was matched against Kevin Slowey, who was making his first series appearance for the Cubs in this game. Lowe, making his second appearance, had pitched masterfully in Game 3 and was looking to send the Dodgers on to the “Hollywood Series” against the Angels. The Dodgers opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the 1st inning. Center fielder, Grady Sizemore doubled, shortstop, Derek Jeter singled, and Ryan Ludwick then laced a base-hit. As it turned out, that was all LA would need to go on to the World Series. The Cubs could manage no runs on 6 base hits off of Lowe, who went 7 and 2/3 innings, Balfour, who pitched 1/3 and Capps, who closed it out by pitching the 9th for his 3rd save of the series. The final score of Game 6 was 3 – 0.

The series MVP was Derek Lowe, who got two wins by pitching 14.1 innings and allowing only 1 run on 14 hits.

For the Cubs, Manny Ramirez hit .500 for the series and for LA, Ryan Ludwick hit .364, Placidio Polanco hit .500 and Doug Mientkiewicz hit .375 and had a game-winning 2-run homerun in Game 1.

AL Playoffs, First Round: California Angels vs. Chicago White Sox
GAME 1: Starters Felix Hernandez of the White Sox and Greg Maddux of the Angels matched zeros in the early innings of this game until Chicago's Brad Hawpe tripled in a run in the fourth. The score remained 1-0 until the seventh, when Chicago plated two more runs without recording a hit (thanks to four walks by Angels reliever Steven Shell). The White Sox then jumped all over Carlos Marmol in the ninth, with Hawpe launching a three-run homer to cap a six-run outburst and turn the tight game into a 9-0 laugher. Felix Hernandez was the star, pitching seven shutout innings and allowing only two hits. WHITE SOX 9, ANGELS 0.

GAME 2: Embarrassed in Game 1, the Angels sent Cole Hamels to the mound to face Ubaldo Jimenez. Carlos Beltran set the tone right away, leading off the bottom of the first with a solo shot. A few batters later, Aubrey Huff crushed a two-run homer to make it 3-0. Chicago pushed across a run in the third, but California answered with two in the fourth to make it 5-1. Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer in the seventh to finish the scoring. Cole Hamels went the distance for the Angels, allowing only one run and striking out eleven. ANGELS 7, WHITE SOX 1.

GAME 3: Both teams got off to fast starts in Game 3, with the Angels scoring a run against Matt Garza in the top of the first and the ChiSox scoring three against Chris Volstad in the bottom of the frame. A Josh Hamilton two-run blast in the third made it 5-1. The Angels, however, refused to roll over -- Jay Bruce doubled in two runs in the fourth and then Albert Pujols tied the game with a two-run shot in the seventh. But the Angels left Volstad in the game too long, and Kevin Kouzmanoff made them pay with a solo shot leading off the bottom of the seventh. In the top of the ninth, Brian McCann doubled with two outs. The White Sox then elected to intentionally walk Albert Pujols -- putting the go-ahead run on base -- to face Alex Rodriguez. Taylor Buchholz made Harold Sutton look like a genius, striking out ARod to end the game. WHITE SOX 6, ANGELS 5.

GAME 4: Felix Hernandez and Greg Maddux again took the mound in Game 4, but this was no repeat of Game 1. Carlos Beltran once again started things off with a solo shot, and the fireworks continued from there. The Angels exacted revenge on King Felix, battering the young righty for eleven runs in 4 2/3 innings. The veteran Maddux didn't shine either, yielding five runs and also not lasting through the fifth inning. In all, the two teams combined for seven home runs and 21 runs scored, with the Angels winning the slugfest and evening the series. ANGELS 14, WHITE SOX 7.

GAME 5: For the fourth consecutive game, the Angels scored in the first inning to take an early lead. They added a run in the second to stake Cole Hamels to a 2-0 cushion. But the White Sox answered in the bottom of the second, as Jason Giambi, Brad Hawpe, and Josh Hamilton blasted back-to-back-to-back home runs to put Chicago on top 3-2. However, Hiroki Kuroda could not hold the lead, giving up a game-tying double and then throwing two consecutive wild pitches with the bases loaded in the third to make it 5-3 California. The White Sox cut the lead in half in the fourth, but the Angels answered with two runs in the sixth. K-Rod retired the side in the ninth to put the Angels up 3-2 in the series. ANGELS 7, WHITE SOX 4.

GAME 6: With their backs against the wall, the White Sox came out swinging in Game 6 -- with lots of help from Angels RF Jay Bruce. The rookie threw TWO balls into the stands in the first inning as the Sox jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead. A Brian McCann throwing error led to another Sox run in the second. The Angels answered with two in the bottom of the second, but then Bruce airmailed ANOTHER throw home in the third as the visitors pushed the lead to 8-2. The Sox punished the Angels bullpen in the seventh and eighth innings to make it 14-2. Bruce had a little redemption with a two-run home run in the eighth, but it was too little too late. WHITE SOX 14, ANGELS 6.

GAME 7: After Felix Hernandez's dismal outing in Game 4, the White Sox decided to bring back Game 3 starter Matt Garza in this deciding game. The Angels sent Greg Maddux back to the hill. Once again the offenses got off to a fast start. Mike Napoli singled to put Chicago up 1-0 in the first. The Angels answered with three in the second on a Jimmy Rollins blast and an RBI double by Jacoby Ellsbury (who started in RF after Jay Bruce's nightmare Game 6.) Both starters took control of the game from there, trading zeros through the sixth inning. The Angels played small ball in the seventh to manufacture an insurance run, but they wouldn't need it. The Angels bullpen backed up a strong performance by Maddux, and Carlos Marmol retired Carlos Guillen on a grounder to second to send California to the ALCS. ANGELS 4, WHITE SOX 1.

After all the back-and-forth blowouts, the Angels outscored the White Sox by a single run in the series. Carlos Beltran (3 HR, 11 RBI) was the MVP.

AL Playoffs, First Round: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Kansas City Royals
GAME 1: KC jumps out to an early lead behind the hot hitting Stephen Drew who goes 3 for 5 including a HR. Toronto tries to even it up, but KC extinguishes rally after rally as the Blue Jays strand 15 baserunners while KC behind AJ Burnett, with help from Wagner and Mariano, win the first game 5-3.

GAME 2: With Toronto needing a win to even the series, Toronto would get behind the solid arm of Justin Duchsherer who would go 7 innings allowing 4 earned runs. Meanwhile behind an offensive barrage lead by HRs from Chipper and Church (the killer C's?) Toronto would score double digits on their way to a 10-3 win, and even the series at 1-1.

GAME 3: The series would move to Kansas City. The Jays would take the early lead and jump out 4-0. However, KC would chip away and behind 2 solo HRs from Glaus and a solo HR from Fontenot to tie it at 4-4. In the bottom of the 8th, the red hot Stephen Drew came up against lefty specialist Matt Thornton and Drew had the biggest hit of the game as he would hit the 4th solo HR of the game for KC giving them the 5-4 lead. That would end up being the game winner as Rivera would hold the lead in the 9th, and KC would take a 2-1 series lead.

GAME 4: Toronto would look to even the series on the road. They would take a 6-0 lead by the 6th inning, keyed by 3 hit nights by Chipper and Big Papi. Meanwhile Dan Haren was dealing, throwing 6 innings of 3 hit shutout baseball. That would end the scoring as Marte, Devine and Seay would combine for three more shutout innings as Toronto would win 6-0 and even the series at 2-2.

GAME 5: Toronto would go to Dave Bush for his first start, while Verlander would go for KC. The Royals would get on the board first with a lead off HR from Marlon Byrd. Bush would settle down, allowing Toronto to tie the game on a Dave Ross solo HR in the 3rd. The game would remain tied until the 6th, when Chipper would take Verlander deep to give the Jays a 2-1 edge. Bush would give Toronto 5 innings of 1 run ball, and turn the game over to the pen. Thornton would hold the game into the 7th, and Devine would take over to close out the 7th. In the top of the 8th, the Jays would rally for a run on an RBI double by Church to extend the lead to 3-1. Devine would throw a perfect 8th, and after Toronto went scoreless in the top of the 9th, would start the 9th for the Jays. Devine would get wild, and would walk two batters while recording two outs. With slugger Ryan Braun coming up as the winning run at the plate, Toronto would call Damaso Marte to try and get the final out. With the crowd on their feet, Marte would Braun to hit a comebacker that Marte would throw to first for the final out and the 3-1 victory, that would give Toronto the 3-2 series lead heading back to Toronto.

GAME 6: With their backs against the wall KC would ask Matt Cain to take the hill against game 2 winner Justin Duchscherer. The two hurlers would pitch well early, until KC drew first blood on a 2 run blast in the 3rd by Ryan Braun. Meanwhile, Matt Cain was untouchable until two 5th inning walks gave Toronto their first baserunners. Cain would retire Church and Snyder to end the inning and keep his postseason no-hitter intact. The 6th inning would be uneventful, and Cain would take his no-hit bid to the 7th. Chipper would lead off the inning with a walk, but Big Papi would strike out for the first out. Next up for Toronto was Miguel Cabrera, and Cain would make his first mistake -- and Cabrera would make him pay as the first Toronto hit of the game would be a big one, a 2 run game tying blast. Cain would lose his focus a bit, and it would be costly as Ramon Santiago would go back to back hitting a solo HR -- sending him to the showers allowing just the 2 hits, the no hit bid now forgotten. That would bring in the KC pen, and Toronto would keep hitting, getting an RBI double from pinch hitter Eric Hinske that would give them a 4-2 lead. Duchscherer would go 7 innings of 5 hit 2 run ball, and again it would be up to the Jays pen to hold the lead. Thornton would throw a scoreless 8th for Toronto sending the game to the 9th with a 2 run Toronto lead. Thornton would get Fielder to start the 9th, and then pass the ball of to Devine. He would get Hairston for out number 2, but Fontenot would single and bring up HR threat Ryan Braun as the tying run. The Toronto crowd would rise to its feet cheering for the last out -- and Devine would come through getting Braun to ground out giving the Blue Jays the 4-2 win and the 4-2 Division Series victory.

One guy who gave his all for the Royals was SS Stephen Drew. This guy was a terror all series and was constantly on base. His line of .320/.320/.600, 8 hits, 4 runs scored, 2 HR and 1 2B gave the Toronto pitchers fits all series.

The MVP of the series could have gone to Justin Duchscherer and his 2-0 record. Or even the Toronto pen that went 12 2/3 innings allowing only 1 earned run. Instead Chipper Jones was named MVP of this series. His slash line of .417/.464/.833 keyed the Toronto offense. His 2 HRs and 5 RBIs tied for the team lead, and his 10 hits, 8 runs scored and 4 2Bs lead the team in each category.

NL Playoffs, First Round: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres
GAME 1: At Dodger Stadium, the Los Angeles fans witnessed a great pitcher's duel. Derek Lowe(1-0) finally bested his San Diego opposite, Cliff Lee(0-1), by the score of 2 to 1. Los Angeles wasted no time and took the lead in the first inning scoring one runner on 2 hits. After an out was recorded, Doug Mientkiewicz laced a one-base hit. Ryan Ludwick came next and he doubled. Ty Wigginton then hit a sacrifice fly. Los Angeles had 7 hits for the night. Matt Capps got the save, his 1st. Lee took the loss. He pitched 6 innings allowing 7 hits and 1 walk.

GAME 2: The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres by a score of 4 to 1 at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles tallied 3 runs in the 2nd inning when they had 3 base hits. That was all Ervin Santana(1-0) needed. After the 3rd inning, neither team was able to score. Grant Balfour recorded his 1st save. Tim Hudson(0-1) was the loser. He gave up 4 runs and 5 hits in 6 innings.

GAME 3: Third baseman Ty Wigginton jacked one out of the ballyard and had 3 RBI at Petco Park as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres in 13 innings by the count of 5 to 4. Both teams were tied at 4 runs apiece after nine innings. Finally, Los Angeles pulled the game out in the 13th inning. Derek Jeter cracked a solo homerun (his 1st of the season). Placido Polanco got his chance to keep things going, but he went down on strikes. Carlos Ruiz then drew a walk. Craig Breslow followed and he laid down a sacrifice bunt. The teams had been locked in a scoreless duel until the 6th inning. The win was credited to Breslow(1-0) who went 3 innings allowing no runs. Manny Delcarmen(0-1) was charged with the loss in relief. He allowed 1 run and 2 hits in 2 and 1/3 innings.

GAME 4: Mark Derosa had 4 hits and 2 RBI and Cliff Lee reeled off a total of 11 strikeouts as the San Diego Padres beat the Los Angeles Dodgers by a score of 10 to 4. Lee(1-1) delivered a fine performance for San Diego. He was reached for 6 hits and 2 walks in 8 and 1/3 innings. San Diego finished with 15 hits while Los Angeles ended up with 7.

GAME 5: In a close game it was the Los Angeles Dodgers 5, the San Diego Padres 3 at Petco Park. Derek Lowe(2-0) had a steady outing. He allowed 6 hits and 3 walks in 5 and 1/3 innings. Los Angeles banged out 9 hits on the night. Lowe got relief help from Matt Capps who gained credit for his 2nd save. Tim Hudson(0-2) was hit with the loss.

NL Playoffs, First Round: Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
GAME 1: The Cubs came out swinging against Pirates starter Brandon Webb, scoring a run and loading the bases with one out in the top of the first. But then Hunter Pence struck out and Todd Helton flew out, wasting a golden opportunity -- which would turn into a theme for the day. Meanwhile, the Pirates struck back immediately with a solo shot by Chase Utley in the first and then back-to-back jacks by Rick Ankiel and Raul Ibanez and an RBI triple by Alfredo Amezaga in the second to take a 4-1 lead. The Cubs scored a run in the sixth to make it 4-2. They scored again in the ninth and put the tying run on first with two outs. But Rafael Perez struck out Pence to end the threat and the game. PIRATES 4, CUBS 3

GAME 2: The Cubs once again scored in the top of the first, this time off Pirates starter Jake Peavy. They added two more in the second to take a quick 3-0 lead. Meanwhile, Cubs starter Mike Mussina was brilliant. The late season acquisition shut down the powerful Pittsburgh lineup for six innings before finally yielding a run in the seventh. In the eighth, the Cubs sent up pinch hitter Fred Lewis with two outs and the bases loaded, and Lewis came through a double off the wall to clear the bases and make it 6-1. In the ninth, Cubs closer Bobby Jenks made the game a little too interesting for Chicago fans, giving up four consecutive hits with two outs and bringing the tying run to the plate in the form of pinch hitter Jorge Posada. Posada lofted a deep fly, but it was not deep enough, and the Cubs evened the series at one game a piece. CUBS 6, PIRATES 3

GAME 3: Game 3 matched up Scott Baker of the Cubs and Chien-Ming Wang of the Pirates. The visiting Pirates took the lead on a Chase Utley home run in the fourth, but the Cubs answered back with three runs in the fourth and four more in the sixth. Once again the Pirates made it interesting in the ninth. Rick Ankiel blasted a three-run homer to make it 7-4 and then the Pirates put runners on second and third with one out. But then Bobby Jenks buckled down and fanned Alfredo Amezaga and Curtis Granderson to preserve the Cubs victory. CUBS 7, PIRATES 4

GAME 4: Brandon Webb returned to the mound in Game 4 as the Cubs countered with Kevin Slowey. The visiting team scored first for the fourth consecutive game, thanks this time to a Lance Berkman solo shot in the second and a Chase Utley RBI double in the third. But Cristian Guzman tied the game with a 2-RBI single in the bottom of the third, and the Cubs plated three more in the fifth to take a 5-2 lead. For the third consecutive game, the Pirates made it interesting in the ninth, cracking two hits to bring the tying run to the plate with one out. And for the third consecutive game, Bobby Jenks managed to wiggle out of the jam and close the door on Pittsburgh. CUBS 5, PIRATES 2

GAME 5: With their season on the line, the Pirates turned to Joba Chamberlain in Game 5 while the Cubs sent Game 1 starter Ricky Nolasco back to the mound. Once again, the visiting team struck first as the Pirates scored three in the top of the second. Back-to-back homers by Dan Uggla and Hunter Pence in the bottom of the frame cut the Pittsburgh lead to one. The lead remained there until the seventh, when home runs by Chase Utley, Lance Berkman, and Rick Ankiel made it 7-2. This time, it was Chicago's turn to make it interesting in the ninth, as they plated two runs and brought the tying run to the plate with two outs. As in Game 1, Rafael Perez faced off against Hunter Pence with the game on the line -- and as in Game 1, Perez fanned Pence to seal the win. PIRATES 7, CUBS 4

GAME 6: It was deja vu all over again. Like every other game in this series, the visiting team scored first -- this time Chicago on back-to-back blasts by Todd Helton and Hunter Pence leading off the second inning. As in Game 2, Cubs starter Mike Mussina was brilliant, allowing only a single run (a Nelson Cruz home run in the sixth) in 7 1/3 innings. And once again, things got interesting in the ninth, as the Pirates loaded the bases with one out in a 2-1 game. Again as in Game 2, Jorge Posada came up as a pinch hitter to face Bobby Jenks with the game (and Pittsburgh's postseason) on the line. And once again Jenks got Posada to loft a fly ball. But this time the ball kept carrying, carrying, carrying in the cool Pittsburgh night -- all the way into the seats for a walk-off grand slam! The Pirates dugout mobbed Posada at the plate, the stadium was rocking, and suddenly the series was tied again. PIRATES 5, CUBS 2.

GAME 7: With momentum on their side, the Pirates sent out Brandon Webb in this deciding game while the Cubs asked Scott Baker to prevent perhaps the most epic collapse in a franchise history full of postseason disappointment. In the third, the Cubs put runners on second and third with one out. The Pirates elected to intentionally walk Todd Helton to load the bases and bring up Manny Ramirez, who was having a miserable series. Bad move. Angered by the perceived slight, Manny launched a bomb over the center field fence to put the Cubs up 4-0 (making it all seven games that the visiting team had scored first). But the Pirates had come this far and were not about to give up. They picked up a run in the fourth, another in the fifth, and then another on a Curtis Granderson homer in the sixth to cut the deficit to 4-3. In the top of the seventh, the first two Cubs were retired. Not wanting to waste their good pinch hitters with two outs and no one on, the Cubs sent up Jeremy Reed for the pitcher. Reed singled. Then Victorino walked. Then Cristian Guzman and Todd Helton followed with back-to-back blasts, suddenly making it 8-3 Cubbies and ripping out the hearts of the Pirates faithful. This time there was no late inning magic, no ninth inning theatrics, as Brian Bruney hurled three shutout innings to send the upstart Cubs to the NLCS. CUBS 8, PIRATES 3

There were many outstanding performances in this outstanding series. For Pittsburgh, Chase Utley hit .345 with 3 HR and 4 doubles. For Chicago, Shane Victorino was constantly getting on base (.484 OBP, 4 SB) and tracking down fly balls in center. But the MVP of the series was Mike Mussina, who went 1-0 with a sparkling 1.26 ERA in 14.1 IP.