Re: MLB 11 The Show "Franchise/Season" Progress Thread
NLCS Game 1: Nationals (user) @ Rockies
The fans attending game 1 of the NLCS were treated to what seemed like two different games. The first half of the game was the anticipated pitcher’s duel between Strasburg and Jimenez – both pitchers striking out their fair share of batters and allowing very few base runners. The last half turned into an absolute slugfest.
The Nationals got on the board first with an Ian Desmond homerun, his 2<sup>nd</sup> of the postseason. He turned on a 98mph FB from Jimenez to send it 4 rows up into the LF stands. The Rockies tied the game up in the bottom of the 5<sup>th</sup> with a Troy Tulowitzki double to RCF followed by a seeing eye singe to RF by Carlos Gonzalez. The Nationals quickly retook the lead in the top of the 6<sup>th</sup> with back to back 1-out doubles by Adam LaRoche and Wilson Ramos. After a ground out by Strasberg, Danny Espinosa singled hard to CF to score Ramos and the Nationals built a 3-1 lead. The Nationals added 3 more runs in the top of the 8<sup>th</sup> with a 2-out 2 RBI double off the bat of Mike Morse followed by LaRoche’s second double of the night to score Morse.
The Nationals allowed Strasburg to head out for the 8<sup>th</sup> inning with a 6-1 lead and because he had been cruising throughout the game. Eric Young Jr – part of double switch and batting in the 9-hole - led off the inning with a hard knock to CF and Dexter Fowler followed up with a 5-pitch walk. This prompted the Nationals to get Tyler Walker and Doug Slaten warming up in the pen. Todd Helton came up and hopped into a FC choice, 3-6. With runners on first and third with 1-out, Tulo dumped a single down the RF line that allowed the not so fleet of foot Helton to slide safely into third. Nationals now led 6-2. With the pitchers still not warmed up and having already burned a trip to the mound, Strasburg had to face CarGo . Gonzalez rips a double down the LF line that allows both Helton and Tulo to score to make it 6-4. Ian Stewart joins the hit parade and hits another single to CF and CarGo scores to make it 6-5 Nationals. The throw from Rick Ankiel to home plate allows Stewart to stroll into second base without a throw. With the tying run on second base and Strasburg still on the mound, Chris Iannetta comes up and laced another single to CF, but Ankiel made a gorgeous throw (btw, Ankiel is ripping the ball for me, but his arm has saved by tuches numerous times with amazing throws to home plate) and Stewart was out by 3 steps. Slaten finally relieved Strasberg – the manager’s ego playing a major role in allowing Strasburg to continue while essentially pouring gasoline on the fire – and got Seth Smith to fly-out to RF. What was a seemingly comfortable 6-1 lead turned into a tightly contested 6-5 game heading into the 9<sup>th</sup>.
The Nationals received a bit of breathing room in the top of the 9<sup>th</sup> with back to back HRs from Ryan Zimmerman and Ankiel – both were bombs off Rafael Betancourt. The HRs took the steam out of the Rockies faithful and Colorado was unable to bounce back. Drew Storen came in for a 1-2-3 9<sup>th</sup> inning for his 3<sup>rd</sup> save of the postseason.
Nationals 8, Rockies 5
Nationals lead 1-0
NLCS Game 1: Nationals (user) @ Rockies
The fans attending game 1 of the NLCS were treated to what seemed like two different games. The first half of the game was the anticipated pitcher’s duel between Strasburg and Jimenez – both pitchers striking out their fair share of batters and allowing very few base runners. The last half turned into an absolute slugfest.
The Nationals got on the board first with an Ian Desmond homerun, his 2<sup>nd</sup> of the postseason. He turned on a 98mph FB from Jimenez to send it 4 rows up into the LF stands. The Rockies tied the game up in the bottom of the 5<sup>th</sup> with a Troy Tulowitzki double to RCF followed by a seeing eye singe to RF by Carlos Gonzalez. The Nationals quickly retook the lead in the top of the 6<sup>th</sup> with back to back 1-out doubles by Adam LaRoche and Wilson Ramos. After a ground out by Strasberg, Danny Espinosa singled hard to CF to score Ramos and the Nationals built a 3-1 lead. The Nationals added 3 more runs in the top of the 8<sup>th</sup> with a 2-out 2 RBI double off the bat of Mike Morse followed by LaRoche’s second double of the night to score Morse.
The Nationals allowed Strasburg to head out for the 8<sup>th</sup> inning with a 6-1 lead and because he had been cruising throughout the game. Eric Young Jr – part of double switch and batting in the 9-hole - led off the inning with a hard knock to CF and Dexter Fowler followed up with a 5-pitch walk. This prompted the Nationals to get Tyler Walker and Doug Slaten warming up in the pen. Todd Helton came up and hopped into a FC choice, 3-6. With runners on first and third with 1-out, Tulo dumped a single down the RF line that allowed the not so fleet of foot Helton to slide safely into third. Nationals now led 6-2. With the pitchers still not warmed up and having already burned a trip to the mound, Strasburg had to face CarGo . Gonzalez rips a double down the LF line that allows both Helton and Tulo to score to make it 6-4. Ian Stewart joins the hit parade and hits another single to CF and CarGo scores to make it 6-5 Nationals. The throw from Rick Ankiel to home plate allows Stewart to stroll into second base without a throw. With the tying run on second base and Strasburg still on the mound, Chris Iannetta comes up and laced another single to CF, but Ankiel made a gorgeous throw (btw, Ankiel is ripping the ball for me, but his arm has saved by tuches numerous times with amazing throws to home plate) and Stewart was out by 3 steps. Slaten finally relieved Strasberg – the manager’s ego playing a major role in allowing Strasburg to continue while essentially pouring gasoline on the fire – and got Seth Smith to fly-out to RF. What was a seemingly comfortable 6-1 lead turned into a tightly contested 6-5 game heading into the 9<sup>th</sup>.
The Nationals received a bit of breathing room in the top of the 9<sup>th</sup> with back to back HRs from Ryan Zimmerman and Ankiel – both were bombs off Rafael Betancourt. The HRs took the steam out of the Rockies faithful and Colorado was unable to bounce back. Drew Storen came in for a 1-2-3 9<sup>th</sup> inning for his 3<sup>rd</sup> save of the postseason.
Nationals 8, Rockies 5
Nationals lead 1-0
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