Playoff Recaps and Pitching Matchups

Sunday's Games

Auburn over Tri-City 5-2 (Game 2; Series tied 1-1 in best of three)
Brady Rodgers got the start and only lasted three innings as he allowed three runs on six hits and was charged with the loss as Tri-City couldn't keep up in the run column. Rodgers was followed by a five and two-thirds relief appearance from Lance Day who held Auburn scoreless through his first three innings of work but then allowed one run in the seventh and one in the eighth. Scott Zuloaga walked the one batter he faced and Jamaine Cotton struck out his one batter for the final out of the ninth. Joe Sclafani singled in a run in the fifth and Dan Gulbransen did the same in the sixth, but those were the only runs that Tri-City scraped across as the 'Cats were 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position. All but one starter had a hit with Austin "Catfish" Elkins getting two. Emilio King was one-for-four with a double and a run scored and Jesse Wierzbicki was one-for-three with two walks and a run scored. Tri-City must win Monday's game to advance to the League Championship Series.

High Desert over Lancaster 1000-1 (Game 2: Series tied 1-1 in best of five)
Okay, not really but it might as well be 1000-1 as Lancaster got off to a terrible start in this one and then rapidly went downhill from there culminating in a 16-3 loss. It all started with Colton Cain's three innings in which he allowed nine runs (seven earned) on 11 hits and a walk and then continued on with another seven runs (six earned) on seven hits and two walks in two and two-thirds innings from Brad Dydalewicz. Carlos Quevedo then came in to stop the bleeding and went on to pitch two and a third perfect innings. And did I mention the five errors? Or the 13 strikeouts? Oh, and when Lancaster finally did score the first run in the top of the sixth, it was on a ground ball double play so even that was painful. The 'Hawks added on two additional runs in the top of the eighth on a Jonathan Meyer RBI double and a Chris Epps RBI single. Andrew Aplin was three-for-five and scored a run; Jonathan Meyer was three-for-four with a double and an RBI, and Chris Epps was two-for-three with an RBI and a walk. Also of note were Domingo Santana's Golden Sombrero and Jed Lowrie as he is still 0-for-the post season. The good news is that an ugly loss still only counts as one loss and Lancaster is headed home for the next game in the series.

Monday's Pitching Matchups

5:00 CST - Auburn at Tri-City (Game 3; win or go home)
LHP Brian Holmes is scheduled to start for Tri-City. Holmes was 7-2 in 13 games (12 starts) with a 2.57 ERA and a 0.960 WHIP this year. He did not face Auburn during the regular season. LHP Nicholas Lee is slated to take the mound for Auburn. During the regular season, Lee was 3-1 with a 3.77 ERA and a 1.355 WHIP in 13 games (11 starts), but did not face Tri-City.

9:00 CST - High Desert at Lancaster (Game 3)
RHP Tyson Perez is expected to start for Lancaster. Perez made four starts against High Desert during the regular season and was 1-2 with a no-decision, a 6.94 ERA and a 1.714 WHIP in those games. He has made one very good post-season appearance in which he allowed only one run over seven innings but was charged with loss. RHP Taylor Stanton is the scheduled starter for High Desert. In four starts against Lancaster this season, he was 1-1 with two no-decisions, a 5.54 ERA and a 1.231 WHIP.