REGIONAL #48:   No pennant winners in this batch, with the ELO favorite being a 2006 Twins team that won 96 games and the AL Central but were quickly dispatched in the postseason.  The other main competitors were from quite different eras, with a Pirates squad from the 70s and an Indians team from the 40s.  The remaining teams were not terrible, but largely mediocre with pretty similar undistinguished rankings.

The first round game between the 1983 Royals and the 1973 Pirates began as a pitching duel between the Buc’s Bob Moose and KC’s Kevin Appier, but a Dave Parker solo homer gives Pittsburgh the lead in the 5th and from there Stargell, Hebner and Richie Zisk pound away and Moose completes the shutout in the 7-0 win.  The 1993 Reds punish 1948 Cubs’ starter Johnny Schmitz with 6 hits and four runs in the top of the 1st and coast from there to a 4-1 victory; meanwhile, the regional favorite 96-win AL Central champ 2006 Twins ride Johan Santana’s 3-hitter backed by solo homers from Luis Castillo and Torii Hunter to shut out the 1999 Cardinals, 2-0.   Finally, the 2012 Marlins jump to a lead on a 3-run homer from Omar Infante, and Mark Buehrle hangs on long enough to be relieved by Steve Cishek to save a 4-3 win over the favored 1941 Indians.

In the semifinal round, the 1973 Pirates and Dock Ellis take a 2-0 lead on solo homers from Parker and Zisk, but the 1993 Reds come back to tie it up and then take a lead in the bottom of the 8th on a 2-run shot from Reggie Sanders.  Zisk knocks in another run in the 9th but it’s not enough and the Reds gain the finals, hanging on to the 4-3 win.  The semifinal between the 2006 Twins and the 2012 Marlins proves to be a slugfest, with the Twins jumping to a 3-0 lead in the top of the 1st on a 3-run homers by Justin Morneau, but the Marlins grab the lead 5-3 by the end of two as Giancarlo Stanton hits homers in each of the first two innings.  However, from there the Twin offense is relentless and a parade of Marlins relievers can’t turn off the spout as Minnesota marches to the 14-6 win.

That sets up a final matchup between the #1 seeded 2006 Twins and the #6 seed 1993 Reds, a 73-89 team that got manager Tony Perez fired in midseason.  The Twins take a 1-0 lead on a Michael Cuddyer solo blast in the 2nd, but the Reds score two unearned in the 3rd against Twins starter Boof Bonser.  A 2-run homer by Twins DH Mike Redmond give the lead back to Minnesota in the 6th, but Kevin Mitchell responds immediately for the Reds with a two-run double in the top of the 7th, and Reds starter Tim Pugh hangs on to complete a 6-hitter and give the Reds the 4-3 upset and the regional win.