Colorado have just earned a split from the opening two games in Philadelphia, edging a tense Game Two 5-4. The Dodgers and Cardinals have just started their second game as I write this and the Red Sox and Angels will start their ALDS at 2.37 a.m. in the early hours of Friday.
The two early games to start the Rockies-Phillies NLDS have made for great viewing/listening. I decided to listen to the Phillies’ WPHT radio feed via GamedayAudio at MLB.com and it once again drove home just how much fun it is to follow a ballgame that way. It’s certainly nice to watch the footage and no doubt that’s how I’ll take in the World Series, but listening is not a mere second-class option. The swell of excitement as Antonio Bastardo struck out Jason Giambi with the bases loaded, and those couple of seconds when time stood still as we waited to hear if Jayson Werth’s shot cleared the fence (it did) were perfect examples of how a radio commentary can leave you gripped to the action.
One of the masters of that art is Vin Scully and I’m listening to his dulcet tones while writing this article. He’s commentating on KABC’s coverage of Game Two of the Dodgers-Cardinals series and has just called Matt Holliday’s solo home run that gives the visitors a 1-0 lead in the second inning. No doubt there are plenty of twists and turns to come.
The Game One starters yesterday, Chris Carpenter and Randy Wolf, were both knocked around and forced from the game earlier than their respective managers would have hoped. That put the contest into the hands of the two bullpens and it was the Dodgers who came out on top with Jeff Weaver, Ronald Belisario, Hong-Chih Kuo, George Sherrill and Jonathan Broxton combining for 5.1 innings of one-run ball. ‘Weaver watch’ was in full effect as he ended up getting credited with an unlikely win as the Dodgers finished up 5-3 victors.
Needless to say, the onus will now be on Adam Wainwright and Clayton Kershaw to pitch deep into the game today. Both are capable of dominating and this could be an absolute classic. The same can be said for Jon Lester and John Lackey, who are the scheduled starters in the Red Sox-Angels game.
The Twins and Yankees have today off. It might be a new Yankee Stadium, but it was the same old Yankees playing in it yesterday. Derek Jeter and Hideki Matsui led the charge with a home run apiece as the Bronx Bombers prevailed in Game One 7-2. With all due respect to Brian Duensing, the match-up clearly favoured the home team and Sabathia struck out eight Twins over 6.2 innings. Game Two takes place tomorrow evening (Friday), beginning at 23.07 BST, with Nick Blackburn and A.J. Burnett on the mound.
Last night was an incredible night’s baseball. I can’t wait to see what happens next, postseason baseball hasn’t disappointed at all so far.
I thought the Rockies did well to hold on, but Madson’s ninth for the Phillies was a thing of beauty. If he keeps pitching like that, the Phillies will be a lot more comfortable late in the game.
As for the Dodgers/Cardinals game? Wow.
It certainly was another great night. Matt Holliday’s error was pretty devastating for the Cardinals due to the timing (2 outs in the 9th) and the series situation (Cards now trail 2-0). That’s why we love the playoffs though: one mistake or piece of brilliance can count for so much.