
Tommy Pham Is Batting .600 Against Dodgers In NLDS
Tommy Pham’s hot bat has lifted the underdog Arizona Diamondbacks a 2-0 NLDS lead over the LA Dodgers.
Tommy Pham’s hot bat has lifted the underdog Arizona Diamondbacks a 2-0 NLDS lead over the LA Dodgers.
Mark Gray was live at the ballpark for Game 2 of the American League Division series between the Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers. The Bro Bats came alive.
For the first time in 19 years the Baltimore Orioles hosted a playoff game despite the rain which delayed the start of their American League Division Series against the Texas Rangers.
It had also been seven years since the franchise played a role in the hunt for October glory.
However, once the rain moved out, the Rangers took control of the best of five series with a 3-2 win that turned the bedlam of Baltimore into a funeral procession by the time the shadows took over the ballpark.
Orioles Park at Camden Yards was an electric orange sea as one of the new school legends of Charm City baseball threw out the day’s first pitch.
Adam Jones, who officially signed a temporary contract then retired as an Oriole last month, sent the crowd into a frenzy that lasted until the Rangers figured out Orioles starter Kyle Bradish as their offense went into a post season slumber.
The MLBbros in both uniforms struggled mightily at the plate.
Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien went 0-for-5 following his 2-for-17 performance in the wildcard series.
Semien still remains at the top of the order as Texas continues to win without his offense.
However, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde needs to light a fuse under a team that stumbled to the finish line offensively after clinching the American League East Division title and the top seed in the junior circuit’s playoffs.
Aaron Hicks and Cedric Mullins were slotted in the 6th and 8th holes in the lineup and couldn’t deliver on Saturday. Collectively, they finished the game 0-for-5 with two walks.
“We just need to get some early runs,” Hyde said. “Even the last week or so of the season we’ve just had a tough time kind of scoring early.”
The Rangers could’ve made things easier for themselves, but they couldn’t break the game open in the fourth inning.
With the bases loaded and two outs Semien, a player with seven career grand slams, struck out.
Overall, Texas left 10 runners on base. Despite his struggles, however, Manager Bruce Bochy remains confident in his slumping second baseman.
Suddenly, the Orioles magical season could turn into a nightmare quickly if they lose to the Rangers again on Sunday.
Traditionally, teams that lose game one in the Division Series at home win that series less than 30 percent of the time.
However, if the regular season proves to be any indication, this will be a long series. Baltimore is very resilient team and the squads solid their six games earlier this year.
The New York Yankees are tied in the American League Divisional Series against the Cleveland Guardians. This is largely due to little help from the American League MVP favorite, MLBbro Aaron Judge. Judge has struggled mightily in this series striking out seven times in 9 at-bats with one walk. Regardless of how the first two games have gone, the Yankees will need more from Aaron Judge, who has put just one ball in play so far this series.
Aaron Judge today:
0-4
4 Strikeouts
It's his first 4-strikeout game of the season 😬pic.twitter.com/QCvOWggXuN
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) October 14, 2022
The MLBbro knows despite his miraculous regular season, he must deliver in October.
Judge’s name has been more in the news for his upcoming free agency than his playoff performance. Reports have been claiming that he is destined to leave in the Winter. This speculation seems to be a distraction to the slugger and his teammates. Even if the Yankees are able to get by the Guardians, unless Judge is able to get back on track (.125 OBP in the series) it is hard to see the Bronx Bombers achieving their ultimate goal. Overcoming past playoff struggles is one of the things that Judge needs to boost his all-time resume.
At the beginning of his playoff career Judge was considered a dynamic hitter, batting .267 with seven homers and 15 RBIs in this first 16 playoff games. Since then, he has gone 15 for his last 83, including this year’s dismal playoff performance. Things will not get any easier as Judge has struggled on the road against the Guardians this season, batting .143 in road games against Cleveland this year.
But what’s wrong with Judge? How does he go from a guy no one wants to pitch against to an easy out in the playoffs?
“I’m not too concerned about it, he’s going to figure it out,” said former Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa, who spent one seasons in the Twin Cities before opting out last week. What made him great during the season is he was not chasing (pitches). When he was getting good pitches to hit in the middle, he was hitting it.”
Correa went on to mention that Judge is facing nothing but ace pitchers now in the playoffs and Shane Bieber was like Picasso painting the corners and forcing Judge into uncomfortable hitting situations.
“It’s a little unlikely to see that number of strikeouts, but you have to tip your hat. Bieber was amazing,” said former MLBbro player and TBS analyst Curtis Granderson.
Judge can right the ship in an instant. He has the talent and when he gets hot, he’s unstoppable as evidenced by the AL -record 62 homers he slugged this season. If he can become not only a contributor, but regain his regular season from, the narrative will change completely.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone knows that the team’s chances to win are much higher when Judge is performing at a high level. Although the offseason is sure to be a momentous one for Aaron Judge the MLBbro does not need to look ahead and overlook a prime opportunity to improve upon his already historic season. The contract will be there for him in the offseason regardless, his playoff legacy will not.
The Padres evened up their series with the Dodgers at a game apiece Wednesday night thanks in part to them being able to keep both Mookie Betts and Trayce Thompson in check through the first two games.
.@mookiebetts & Trayce Thompson Provide LA Dodgers With The Athletic Edge Entering NL Division Series Against San Diego @Padres @_teammill gives us the breakdown in today’s Lead Off.
🔗: https://t.co/3McaM3jpaP pic.twitter.com/EpPDF6ox4y
— MLBbro.com (@MLBbrodotcom) October 11, 2022
What we thought could be a pitching duel in Game 2 of the N.L.C.S. turned into a slug fest with each team combining for six runs in the first three innings. The teams traded runs back-and-forth until the sixth inning when San Diego broke the tie and had their bullpen put the rest of the game on lock. After going 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Game 1, Betts reached base for the first time this series by way of a fifth inning walk.
Austin Nola HOSE to snag Mookie Betts 🔥
🎥 @Padres pic.twitter.com/t38q8g4qfm
— The Athletic MLB (@TheAthleticMLB) October 13, 2022
He then attempted to steal second base, but his try was thwarted due to a perfect throw from the Padres catcher. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts decided to challenge the play, which on replay looked extremely close, but ultimately there was not enough evidence to overturn the call.
With one out in the seventh inning, Betts got his first hit of the series, a double to center field that got past a diving Trent Grisham.
Mookie Betts records his FIRST hit of the postseason at the perfect time!!#WinForVin #CaptureTheMoment #Dodgers #Padres #Postseason
— Brian Y (@byysports) October 13, 2022
That put runners on second and third with just one out with Los Angeles trailing 4-3, however they would not be able to drive the run in.
The third “Splash Brother” Trayce Thompson who went 0-3 with a walk in Tuesday’s Game 1 also did so again in Game 2, this time striking out twice, one time with two runners on base. With the series shifting to San Diego for two games this weekend, it is important for both to start making an impact if the Dodgers want to make good of Dave Roberts guaranteeing a World Series, especially with all the star power there is in this matchup.
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