I'm in the second year of a planned three year Brave franchise. I only add free agents to my lower levels, and I only promote within. So minus McCann, Huddy, and Maholm, I've kept the roster pretty much intact. Ramiro Pena is still my utility guy, I mean.
Fast forward to game seven in Cincinnati. I'm throwing Teahean (85 OVR) cause I'm going with the hot hand. In two previous starts, like my bullpen, largely not scored upon. In fact, my bullpen only gave up one run the whole post season leading up to game 7.
1st - (0-0) I get Schafer aboard with a leadoff single. (Uggla got benched two games ago after a brutal cold streak, and B.Upton took his spot at second) I decide to steal on a 1-1 pitch to J.Upton only to be thrown out by a perfectly called pitchout and throw. Omen. Three hits in the inning no runs.
5th Inning - (0-0) Starting with a Jay Bruce double, the Reds finally break through. Well placed hits by Haisley and Cozart put them up by 2. The last coming off a two-seemer low and away, off the plate, with a 0-2 count. Why?
6th Inning - (2-0) Runners at the corners following a Heyward walk, Freeman takes the box. Cueto runs 2 out of 3 nasty sliders up and in through the strike zone, no chance Freddie. Strikes out, sit down. Then, with 2 outs, Upton gets robbed my journey man turned platoon stud Ryan Sweeny on a shot to the gap.
7th Inning - (2-0) Gattis ropes a shot up the middle. Baker probably thinking about Mark Prior and Steve Bartman, takes to the mound. Cueto is removed. Chris Johnson strikes out. 1 down. Simmons draws a walk. Baker pulls the plug on reliever #1. I counter Manny Parra with switch hitting Joey Terdoslovich. Who draws a walk on a 3-2 slider low and away. Bases loaded for Jordan Schaffer. The man who came through with the walk off double in the NLDS clinching victory. I stay with him on a lefty-lefty matchup. Sac Fly cuts the deficit to 2-1. Then Justin Upton clears the bases with his third jack of the series. 4-2 Atlanta.
8th Inning - (4-2) Freeman pats the lead with a solo shot. 5-2.
Bottom 8th - (5-2) The mighty bullpen that only gave up 1 run all post-season
is in full effect. Walden strikes out Phillips to record his 4th and final out. Calling upon Venters to shut the door on Votto and Bruce with favoring lefty matchups. Votto crushes a bomb on his third pitch. It almost leaves the ballpark. (5-3) Kimbrel is called to start throwing. Bruce delivers a two strike single down the third base line. Aaaaaand it's mishandled by Justin backhanding it, WTF. Jay takes second. Haisley smokes one to the gap, 5-4. Time to call upon Kimbrel to stop the bleeding, now. Kimbrel strikes out Frazier. Then Mr. Bleepin Zach Cosart goes oppo for the tying single. 5-5. Then Hannigan singles off of Kimbrel, not good. Runners on the corners, 2 outs. Hannahan at the plate. I catch him off balance with a slider, slow bouncer to BJ, who looks like he's going to tag the bag to force out slow footed Hannigan... PSYCH! He throws off his back foot. A two-hopper to Freddie Freeman, I have a mini-stroke, who digs it out for the final out. New ballgame. 5-5.
9th Inning- Simmons reaches on a walk (again). In comes Broxton. I sub in Pena with the intentions of stealing, then sac bunting him to third with one out. Broxton sniffs it out, picks off Simmons. D'oh! 1 out. I counter with a Hail Mary... Dan Mr .091 Uggla. Second pitch after after coming out of shoes on a slider in the dirt... a shot that barely makes it over the right field wall. Son of a bitch. 6-5. 3 out till the Series!
9th Inning- My bullpen is depleted. And the Reds have the top of the order up. So I turn to Luis Avilan, who has seen three outings all post-season long. He quickly takes care of Sweeny and Phillips. Tips toes around Votto, putting him on. I fell behind 2-0 on a missed call. Can't tempt fate. One on, and the biggest Brave killer of them all Jay Bruce at bat. Flashback to game 3, Luis disposes of him on three straight curve balls. So walking Votto made sense, sort of. An 8 pitch battle ensues. With Bruce finally relenting on a 2-2 curve ball. Game. Series. Pennant.
Fast forward to game seven in Cincinnati. I'm throwing Teahean (85 OVR) cause I'm going with the hot hand. In two previous starts, like my bullpen, largely not scored upon. In fact, my bullpen only gave up one run the whole post season leading up to game 7.
1st - (0-0) I get Schafer aboard with a leadoff single. (Uggla got benched two games ago after a brutal cold streak, and B.Upton took his spot at second) I decide to steal on a 1-1 pitch to J.Upton only to be thrown out by a perfectly called pitchout and throw. Omen. Three hits in the inning no runs.
5th Inning - (0-0) Starting with a Jay Bruce double, the Reds finally break through. Well placed hits by Haisley and Cozart put them up by 2. The last coming off a two-seemer low and away, off the plate, with a 0-2 count. Why?
6th Inning - (2-0) Runners at the corners following a Heyward walk, Freeman takes the box. Cueto runs 2 out of 3 nasty sliders up and in through the strike zone, no chance Freddie. Strikes out, sit down. Then, with 2 outs, Upton gets robbed my journey man turned platoon stud Ryan Sweeny on a shot to the gap.
7th Inning - (2-0) Gattis ropes a shot up the middle. Baker probably thinking about Mark Prior and Steve Bartman, takes to the mound. Cueto is removed. Chris Johnson strikes out. 1 down. Simmons draws a walk. Baker pulls the plug on reliever #1. I counter Manny Parra with switch hitting Joey Terdoslovich. Who draws a walk on a 3-2 slider low and away. Bases loaded for Jordan Schaffer. The man who came through with the walk off double in the NLDS clinching victory. I stay with him on a lefty-lefty matchup. Sac Fly cuts the deficit to 2-1. Then Justin Upton clears the bases with his third jack of the series. 4-2 Atlanta.
8th Inning - (4-2) Freeman pats the lead with a solo shot. 5-2.
Bottom 8th - (5-2) The mighty bullpen that only gave up 1 run all post-season
is in full effect. Walden strikes out Phillips to record his 4th and final out. Calling upon Venters to shut the door on Votto and Bruce with favoring lefty matchups. Votto crushes a bomb on his third pitch. It almost leaves the ballpark. (5-3) Kimbrel is called to start throwing. Bruce delivers a two strike single down the third base line. Aaaaaand it's mishandled by Justin backhanding it, WTF. Jay takes second. Haisley smokes one to the gap, 5-4. Time to call upon Kimbrel to stop the bleeding, now. Kimbrel strikes out Frazier. Then Mr. Bleepin Zach Cosart goes oppo for the tying single. 5-5. Then Hannigan singles off of Kimbrel, not good. Runners on the corners, 2 outs. Hannahan at the plate. I catch him off balance with a slider, slow bouncer to BJ, who looks like he's going to tag the bag to force out slow footed Hannigan... PSYCH! He throws off his back foot. A two-hopper to Freddie Freeman, I have a mini-stroke, who digs it out for the final out. New ballgame. 5-5.
9th Inning- Simmons reaches on a walk (again). In comes Broxton. I sub in Pena with the intentions of stealing, then sac bunting him to third with one out. Broxton sniffs it out, picks off Simmons. D'oh! 1 out. I counter with a Hail Mary... Dan Mr .091 Uggla. Second pitch after after coming out of shoes on a slider in the dirt... a shot that barely makes it over the right field wall. Son of a bitch. 6-5. 3 out till the Series!
9th Inning- My bullpen is depleted. And the Reds have the top of the order up. So I turn to Luis Avilan, who has seen three outings all post-season long. He quickly takes care of Sweeny and Phillips. Tips toes around Votto, putting him on. I fell behind 2-0 on a missed call. Can't tempt fate. One on, and the biggest Brave killer of them all Jay Bruce at bat. Flashback to game 3, Luis disposes of him on three straight curve balls. So walking Votto made sense, sort of. An 8 pitch battle ensues. With Bruce finally relenting on a 2-2 curve ball. Game. Series. Pennant.
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