REGIONAL #63:  A decent chance for an all-Red Sox final in this regional, although the division-winning 2013 Braves might have something to say about that.

First Round Action:

Two pretty bad teams in this first round matchup, the 92-loss 1951 Senators against the 87-loss 2017 A's.  The A's might have won the first name battle, 3 Matts to 2 Sams, but the Senators won the game 5-1, led by a 3 run shot from Mickey Vernon and a CG 4-hitter from starter Bob Porterfield.

A heavily favored, 96-win 1948 Red Sox team easily outdistanced the 101-loss 1962 Senators in a 6-1 first round win.  The Sox didn't get much from Ted Williams (0-4 with a walk), but they didn't need much, as Dom Dimaggio homered and drove in 3, and Mel Parnell pitch an efficient 5-hit complete game.

Although the 95-win 2005 Red Sox team has plenty of punch in the form of David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, the 74-win 1984 Mariners trotted out Mark Langston to the mound, Rookie of the Year runner-up and owner of a deadly 6-column.  Boston's Graffanino put the Sox up with an RBI single in the 2nd, although an additional run was thwarted when Johnny Damon (1-17) was cut down at the plate trying to score from first on an Ortiz missed split HR/DO.  Meanwhile, the knuckler was working for Tim Wakefield, who took a perfect game into the 7th inning, when he walked Jack Perconte, and then Phil Bradley shot one past first on a gbA+ with Perconte held.  Boston turned to Timlin to try to keep the runs from scoring, but a sac fly from Alvin Davis tied the game 1-1--and there it stayed through regulation.  By this time, Langston was flagging and a solo HR by Trot Nixon to lead off the 10th sent Langston to the showers, but Mike Stanton couldn't prevent Boston from adding another insurance run.  Taking the 3-1 lead into the bottom of the 10th, a tiring Timlin allowed a 2-out solo HR to Ken Phelps, but regrouped to retire the side and earn a hard fought 3-2 win for the Red Sox.

To wrap up first round action, the NL East champ 2013 Braves handle the 76-win 2014 Reds in a sloppy 4-1 win.  Braves catcher Brian McCann hits two homers, both off Reds SP Homer Bailey's card, which provides the winning margin; the Braves make four errors but the Reds are unable to capitalize, hitting repeatedly into double plays.  For the Braves, BJ Upton and Dan Uggla both go down to 6-game injuries, which in this single elimination format is pretty much permanently, but perversely this is actually good luck for the Braves, as in both cases their replacements are arguably better.  See, the ground rules dictate that teams must start players with the most ABs at their primary position, but when there is an injury, anyone who plays the position can substitute--hence, the Braves are now able to bench two sub-.200 regulars in favor of better options. 

The survivors

In semifinal game 1, the underdog 1951 Senators get off to a quick start, scoring two in the top of the first on a Clyde Kluttz double.  However, the 1948 Red Sox respond with two runs of their own, and then add another seven runs in the bottom of the second, anchored by a three-run shot from Vern Stephens that chased Washington starter Connie Marrero after 1.1 innings.  From there on, the Sox are on cruise control and move into the finals with an 11-2 blowout win. 

The second semifinal matchup looked far less lopsided, with two teams that reached the postseason facing off.  After three scoreless innings, the 2005 Red Sox broke the ice with Ortiz doubling home a 1-12 Trot Nixon from first with 1 out, a chance that I thought long and hard about with Manny Ramirez up next.  But I took the chance, Nixon scored, but my self-congratulations ended quickly when Ramirez hit a 2-run homer that put the Sox up 3-0.  Boston added another run in the 6th on a solo Ortiz HR, but the 2013 Braves finally got on the board in the bottom of the inning with a Gattis 2-run shot.  The Red Sox answered by loading the bases and chasing Braves starter Mike Minor, but Kimbrel salvaged the inning with only one run allowed.  Injury replacement Ramiro Pena drove in a run for the Braves in the bottom of the 8th to bring the score to 5-3, but Mike Myers (recently acquired from Wayne's World) shut down Atlanta to preserve a 5-3 Boston victory and set up an all-Red Sox final.

The all-Red Sox Regional #63 final lived up to expectations, with neither team willing to lose.  The 2005 Red Sox version started strong with a 2 run Manny Ramirez HR in the bottom of the 1st, but 1948 Red Sox matched them with two in the top of the second, and then took the lead in the top of the 4th on a 2-run Wally Moses shot over the Green Monster.   Trot Nixon answered with an RBI single in the bottom of the 4th, and then in the 5th the 2005 squad broke open the floodgates against '48 starter Jack Kramer.  '48 manager Joe McCarthy looked to his bullpen, and seeing absolutely nothing there but certain disaster, opted to stay with Kramer, but the 5th inning ended with a 6-4 lead for the '05 team.  Kramer did reward McCarthy's confidence/desperation by shutting out '05 the rest of the way, and in the 7th Birdie Tebbetts doubled in a run to greet '05 relief ace Mike Timlin.  However, Timlin retired the side and would not allow another hit to earn the save and the Regional win for the 2005 Red Sox, 6-5.