REGIONAL #62:   The matchups for regional #62 in my endless single elimination tournament had the potential to continue a trend seen in the past four consecutive regionals--the winner has from post-2000.  In fact, in two of those regionals (both won by Mets teams), the winner was the ONLY post-2000 team in the bracket of eight--and regional #62 presents the same scenario.  Furthermore, that one post-2000 team happens to be the World Champion 2018 Red Sox, boasting serious firepower with the likes of Mookie Betts and JD Martinez.  Hard to say who else in this bracket would have much of a chance against Boston, although the 1949 Indians are only one year removed from their great '48 team that rattled off six consecutive wins in this tournament.  I have to admit that after all these wins by recent squads, I am pulling for someone to knock off the Red Sox as I don't want to have to admit that modern teams may be better than their predecessors!

First round action:

Management for the 2018 Red Sox thought about sitting out the formidable Chris Sale for their first round game, as Boston was heavily favored over the 60-win 1950 White Sox. However, they decided to go with Sale, and it looked like he wouldn't be needed when Benintendi led off with a walk and Xander Bogaerts put the next pitch into the left field stands at Old Comiskey. However, Chisox starter Billy Pierce was no slouch himself, and that would be the last run Boston scored. However, Sale was literally unhittable, taking a no-hitter into the 8th. In the 9th, the Sox rattled off two straight hits, and then scored their first run on a Sale error. However, with one out and the tying run on 3rd, Dave Philley hits the dreaded LOmax, and Boston escapes with a 2-1 victory to move on.

The next first round matchup was a battle of the 80's featuring the 1980 Reds and 1981 Padres, no doubt broadcast on the newfangled MTV network. 1981 was a strange strike year that had two "half" seasons separated by a work stoppage; the consistent Padres were terrible in both halves, finishing last in each. Granted that fewer total games were played that season (110 for the Padres), but when was the last time you saw a team that had NOBODY hitting in double figures for home runs? Yes, RF Joe Lefebvre was the big slugger for San Diego, with a grand total of 8 HR. On the other hand, their pitching largely stunk also, so there was plenty of blame to go around. Their chances against an 89-win 1980 Reds team didn't look good, but the Padres jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first when Juan Bonilla converted a HR 1-6/flyB off Mario Soto's card. However, that was the highwater mark for the Padres, as the Reds ground up the Padres pitchers for an easy 8-1 win.

Given the prior success of the 1948 Indians (winners of Regional #11 and more), hopes were running high for the 1949 Indians version, which featured many of the same players but only finished in 3rd place in the AL. They were facing the lowly 1924 Red Sox, the only year in a 9 year stretch when Boston did not finish in last place (they were next to last). However, the Red Sox jumped to a quick 2-0 lead on an Ike Boone homer (no relation to Ray Boone, who was playing for the Indians in this game). Cleveland retaliated with four runs in the 3rd, led by a Joe Gordon homer, although Ken Keltner was also lost for the game in that big inning. However, Bob Lemon appeared to be cruising for the Tribe until "triple play" Bill Wambsganss knocked a game tying 2 run double in the 7th. The workhorse Lemon insisted on staying in the game, but two singles, a walk and a sacrifice fly by Veach in the bottom of the 9th gave the Red Sox the upset 5-4 victory.

The final first round matchup featured a 90's Freeway Series, the NL West winner 1995 Dodgers faced the crosstown 80-win 1990 Angels. The Dodgers started their "rookie" phenom Hideo Nomo, while the Angels countered with Chuck Finley, also known as Mr. Tawny Kitaen. Although the Dodgers managed 12 hits against Finley, they could only scrape together two runs on RBI singles by Offerman and Brett Butler, but that proved to be enough as Nomo mystified the Angels, tossing a two-hit shutout to give the Dodgers the 2-0 victory. Speaking of Ms. Kitaen, this wouldn't be the last beating Finley would have to endure.

The survivors

In the semifinals, the WS champ 2018 Red Sox began exactly the way they did in their first round game: Benintendi gets on base and Xander Bogaerts homers for a 2-0 lead, two batters into the game. However, unfortunately for the Red Sox, the rest of the game also went the same way as round 1, with Boston unable to score again, this time thwarted by the 1980 Reds' Tom Seaver. And, this time Boston was facing a Reds team that had already demonstrated the ability to win, and win they did, squibbing out three runs on eight hits, with Sox closer Craig Kimbrel allowing the game winning RBI to Ken Griffey (Senior) in the bottom of the 7th for a 3-2 upset win for the 1980 Reds.

The second semifinal game saw another Red Sox squad, the 1924 Red Sox, scratch back to tie the game 3-3 in the 6th inning against the favored 1995 Dodgers. However, Boston starter Jack Quinn disintegrated in the 6th after a 2-base error by Boston SS Dud Lee opened the floodgate for six unearned runs. Final score: Dodgers 10, Red Sox 3, with Raul Mondesi and Jose Offerman each knocking in three runs. Perhaps Quinn could be forgiven because he WAS 40 years old in 1924; however, he went on to pitch in the majors for another NINE years!

That left two pretty good teams in the Regional finals, the division winning 1995 Dodgers and the 89-win 1980 Reds, with nary a 21st century team in sight. The Reds drew first blood off Ramon Martinez in the 2nd with a Junior Kennedy RBI single, but the Dodgers answered in the bottom of the inning with 3 runs, including a Raul Mondesi homer that positioned him nicely for regional MVP. However, Martinez falters in the 7th, and before closer Todd Worrell can stop the damage the Reds tie it at 3 apiece--but in the process, lose Johnny Bench for the rest of the game with an injury. The loss of Bench's arm behind the plate could prove costly as the Dodgers boasted two AA stealers, one of whom Bench had already thrown out. Nonetheless, a long Concepcion single in the 9th puts the Reds on top, and Reds starter Frank Pastore entered the bottom of the 9th intent on locking down the win for Cincinnati. After recording one out, Pastore allows a single to Tim Wallach and another to Brett Butler, Wallach heading to third and Butler promptly stealing second off replacement catcher Harry Spilman. With the winning run in scoring position, Reds manager John McNamara signals for closer Tom Hume, who shuts down the Dodgers, earning the save and the regional win for the Reds.