The Gamblers took on the mighty Champions this month and won a tough, hard fought series 5-4.
In game 1, it was C.C. vs. The Freak. The Gamblers struck quick with 2 in the first. A solo homer by Morneau halved the lead in the 4th. Sabathia went yard in the 5th to make it 3-1. But the Champions chipped away with one in the 6th and one in the 7th to tie it up. With C.C. and The Freak hitting the showers it was up to the bullpens. In the bottom of the ninth, Morneau doubled home Sizemore to end it as the Champs took game 1 4-3.
In game 2 it was all Gamblers as Mark Buehrle was a generous host serving up meatballs to the Gambler hitters. Both teams scored a run in the 1st but Three Rivers got four in the 4th and three in the fifth to put the game away as they went on to win 9-3 and even the series.
In game 3 the two teams matched each other run for run over the 1st three innings with both teams scoring a run in each of the first two innings and each scoring 2 in the third. A Prince Fielder RBI double in the 7th and a Shane Victorino RBI double in the 8th gave the Gamblers a two run lead going to the bottom of the 9th. However, Felipe Lopez hit a two-run shot off of Jose Arredondo to send the game into extra innings. The big man came through again for the Gamblers as Fielder singled home Pedroia and Craig Breslow came on to close it out in the 11th for the Gambler victory.
It was the Champions turn to strike early and often in game 4. They sent John Lannan to the showers in the 2nd inning after 7 hits and 6 runs. The Champs went to and easy 9-5 win to even the series at 2 games each.
Josh Beckett and the Champions bullpen shutdown the Gamblers in game 5 allowing just 4 hits and 1 run as the Gamblers wasted a good outing from Aaron Laffey losing 3-1.
After the Champs took 3 of 5 at their home park the series shifted to Iron City Field. It was round 2 for the Freak and C.C. The Champs held a slim 2-1 lead going to the bottom of the 4th when Bay singled to start the inning and Glaus followed with a double and Zaunie smacked a three run dinger to put Three Rivers up 4-2. In the bottom of the 6th Zaun doubled to get things going and C.C. followed with his second homer of the series to drive the Freak back to the shower tent. The Champs didn’t give up scoring one in the 7th and 2 in the 8th to close within one. But new Gambler closer Craig Breslow pitched a scoreless 9th to give the Gamblers the 6-5 victory.
Three Rivers came out swinging again against Mark Buehrle scoring 12 times in the first 4 innings. Armando Galarraga earned his 10th victory as the Gamblers won 12-4 and went up 4-3 in the series.
Matt Cain and Scott Kazmir had their A games going but the Champs had just a bit more ‘O’. Jose Guillen’s pinch single to score Bobby Crosby in the 7th put the Champs up 2-1 and the Champion bullpen did the job as they evened the series going into game 9.
Two 2-run homers, one by Pedroia and the other by Glaus gave John Lannan all he needed in game 9 as he bounced back from his game 4 shellacking to surrender just 6 hits and 2 runs over 8 innings to earn the victory and give the Gamblers the 5-4 series win.
The Gamblers are now 71-64 with 27 games left to play. There is no rest for the weary as Three Rivers faces the Kernels, Hitmen and Highlanders down the stretch. With the race so tight each series feels like the playoffs. It’s going to be an interesting stretch run!
Later,
Todd