Dixie bracket: 2019 Cardinals defeat 2019 Braves in five games

Game One: Cardinals 4, Braves 1
WP: Flaherty (3-1)
LP: Foltynewicz (1-1)
Save: C Martinez (4)
HR: Goldschmidt (4)

Game Two: Cardinals 5, Braves 2
WP: Mikolas (2-1)
LP: Keuchel (0-1)
Save: C Martinez (5)
HR: Goldschmidt (5), Wieters (2), Ozuna (2), DeJong (2)

Game Three: Cardinals 4, Braves 2
WP: Hudson (2-1)
LP: Teheran (3-1)
Save: C Martinez (6)
HR: Goldschmidt (6), Swanson (6)

Game Four: Braves 6, Cardinals 2
WP: Soroka (3-0)
LP: Wainwright (1-1)
HR: DeJong (3), Albies (5), Freeman (2)

Game Five: Cardinals 4, Braves 3 (10 innings)
WP: Gallegos (3-0)
LP: Blevins (0-1)
HR: Goldschmidt (7), Ozuna (3), Donaldson (3)

Paul Goldschmidt homered in each of the Cardinals' wins as St. Louis out-homered Atlanta 10-2 in the series.

The Cardinals took control of Game One, in Atlanta, early. Goldschmidt clubbed a three-run homer in the first inning. In the third, he singled, stole scond and scored on Tommy Edman's double. Edman gave that run back in the seventh when he played Ozzie Albie's fly to right into a double and two-base error. That was the only run, and third hit, Jack Flaherty surrendered in seven innings.

Goldschmidt's homer in Game Two came in the fourth inning and briefly even the score at 1. The Braves took the lead back in the bottom of the inning, but the Cardinals took the lead for good in the seventh, when Marcel Ozuna led off with a homer and, with two outs, pinch-hitter Matt Wieters hit a two-run shot off Dallas Keuchel. Paul DeJong capped the scoring with a homer leading off the eighth. Miles Mikolas allowed five hits in six innings for the win.

The series moved to Busch Stadium III for Game Three. Goldschmidt homered in the first again, this one good for two runs, and the Braves never caught up. Dakota Hudson went 5.2 innings for the win. John Gant, Giovanny Gallegos, Andrew Miller and Carlos Martinez combined to retire the final 10 Atlanta hitters.

The Braves battered Adam Wainwright for four runs in the first and drove him from the mound with two more in the fourth to stave off elimination. Albies and Freddie Freeman each hit two-run homers in the first inning. Mike Soroka allowed two runs in five innings for the win.

Marcel Ozuna homered with two out in the 10th inning of Game Five to win the game and end the series. Atlanta scored twice in the top of the first, with one run scoring on a rare error by shortstp DeJong. Goldschmidt's two-run homer in the sixth evened the score at three. St. Louis relievers Daniel Ponce de Leon, Miller, Jordan Hicks and Gallegos combined to retire the final 12 Atlanta hitters, with Gallegos getting credit for his third win of the tournament.

Player availability: The St. Louis bullpen will be fully rested for the fifth round.

Projected rotation: Flaherty-Hudson-Mikolas-Wainwright-(Flaherty)-(Hudson)-(Mikolas)

Dixie bracket: 2019 Cardinals defeat 1961 Cardinals in seven games

Game One: 61 Cardinals 9, 19 Cardinals 4

WP: Simmons (1-0)
LP: Brebbia (1-1)

HR: Musial 2 (2), Wieters (1)

Game Two: 19 Cardinals 5, 61 Cardinals 0

WP: Hudson (1-1)
LP: Sadecki (2-2)
Save: Wacha (1)

Game Three: 19 Cardinals 8, 61 Cardinals 2 (12 innings)

WP: Brebbia (2-1)
LP: McDaniel (1-1)

HR: Goldschmidt (3), White (6)

Game Four: 19 Cardinals 4, 61 Cardinals 1

WP: Gallegos (1-0)

LP: L Jackson (1-2)

Save: C Martinez (2)

Game Five: 61 Cardinals 8, 19 Cardinals 0

WP: Simmons (2-0)

LP: Flaherty (2-1)
HR: Cunningham (2), Sawatski (5)

Game Six: 61 Cardinals 4, 19 Cardinals 3

WP: Broglio (1-0)
LP: Webb (0-1)
Save: C Anderson (1)

HR: Schoendienst (1), J Martinez (1)

Game Seven: 19 Cardinals 6, 61 Cardinals 3

WP: Gallegos (2-0)
LP: Gibson (2-1)

Save: C Martinez (3)

HR: Fowler (2)

The 2019 Cardinals prevailed in this contest for St. Louis, a bullpen battle in which only two starting pitchers got credit for wins.

One of those two, Curt Simmons got two win, and the first came in the opener in 2019's Busch Stadium III. The 1961 team, helped by a Stan Musial homer, led 3-0 going into the bottom of the fourth, when Matt Wieters pinch-hit a three-run homer to tie it. Musial hit a two-run homer in the seventh to retake the lead, Bob L. Miller stranded three inherited runners in the bottom of the seventh, and the 61 team scored three in the eighth and another in the ninth to pull away.

Dakota Hudson and Michael Wacha combined for a six-hit shutout in Game Two. Hudson went five innings, allowing four hits and two walks; Wacha faced just 13 men in his four innings. The 2019 team scored three runs in the fifth on a hit batter, two walks, an error and a two-out two-run double by Yadier Molina.

For Game Three, the series moved to 1961 and Busch Stadium I, better known to history as Sportsman's Park. Bob Gibson allowed two runs in nine innings; he staggered through the first five innings, allowing six walks and seven hits, but yielded just a walk in the next four innings. Adam Wainrwright scattered eight hits in 5.1 iniings before handing the ball off to a realy of relievers who combined for 6.2 scoreless innings. Lindy McDaniel had two scoreless innings before the roof caved in on him and Mickey McDermott for six runs in the 12th in which Paul Goldschmidt clubbed a three-run homer.

Miles Mikolas walked the first four men he faced in Game Four, and that turned out to be the only run he allowed in six innings. It threatened to be enough to beat him: Larry Jackson carried that 1-0 into the ninth,. But he couldn't get an out in that inning, but the time Miller got the final out the 2019 team led 4-1. Ken Boyer committed a critical two-base error in the inning.

On the verge of elimination, the 1961 Cards turned again to Simmons, and the veteran lefty delivered a complete game four-hit shutout. Curt Flood led off with a triple and Musial singled him home for the first run, and Joe Cunningham hit a three-run homer in the third,

That sent the series back to 2019. Jose Martinez hit a three-run homer in the fourth off Ray Sadecki, and Hudson carried a 3-1 lead into the seventh. After Alex Grammas singled to open the inning, the 1961s sent up Red Schoendienst to hit for Sadecki. John Gant relieved for the 2019s, and Schoendiest tied it with a homer. The 2019 team took the lead in the eighth on a Tim McCarver base hit that plated Bill White. Craig Anderson threw two scoreless innings for the save.

And that set up a Gibson-Wainwright rematch for Game Seven. They matched zeros for four innings until Dexter Fowler hit a three-run homer in the fifth. Andrew Miller loaded the bases in the top of the sixth, and ater Gant gave up a sac fly, Gibson hit a triple to tie the score. The game stayed a 3-3 into the eighth, when Gibson walked three men and left with the bases loaded and one out. Anderson and McDermott combined to allow all three inherited runners to score, and Carlos Martinez breezed through the top of the ninth to secure the win and the series.

Player availability: The 2019 bullpen will be fully available for the opener of the fourth round.

Projected rotation: Flaherty-Mikolas-Hudson-Wainwright-(Flaherty)-(Mikolas)-(Hudson)

Dixie bracket: 2019 Braves defeat 2009 Marlins in six games

Game One: Marlins 8, Braves 3
WP: J Johnson (3-0)
LP: Fried (0-2)
HR: Swanson (3), Uggla (4)

Game Two: Braves 6, Marlins 4
WP: Teheran (3-0)
LP: Lindstrom (0-1)
Save: Jackson (4)
HR: H Ramirez (3), Swanson (4)

Game Three: Braves 4, Marlins 1
WP: Greene (1-0)
LP: Volstad (0-2)
Save: Jackson (5)
HR: Swanson (5), H. Ramirez (4)

Game Four: Braves 6, Marlins 5
WP: Swarzak (3-1)
LP: West (0-1)
Save: Jackson (6)
HR: Albies (4)

Game Five: Marlins 3, Braves 2 (11 innings)
WP: Nunez (1-0)
LP: Tomlin (1-1)

Game Six: Braves 8, Marlins 4
WP: Tomlin (2-1)
LP: Nolasco (1-3)
HR: Hechavarria (2), Markakis 2 (4), Coghlan (1)

In the end, the Atlanta bullpen was less leaky than that of the Marlins.

Florida opened the series with an emphatic 8-3 win in Sun Trust Park. Chris Coghlan doubled home three runs in the fourth, and Jorge Cantu and Wes Helms each drove in a pair with singles. Cody Ross gunned down Ozzie Albies at the plate on what appeared to be a certain sac fly in the fifth. Josh Johnson went five innings for his third win.

The Marlins led Game Two 4-0 going into the bottom of the third, but there the Fish stopped hitting. Atlanta scored two in the third and four in the sixth, blasting three extra base hits off relievers Dan Meyer and Matt Lindstrom. Julio Teheran went six innings for the win.

The series moved to 2009 and Land Shark Stadium. Shortstops Dansby Swanson and Hanley Ramirez swaped solo homers and the score was 1-1 after six innings. In the top of the seventh, Atlanta loaded the bases against Florida starter Chris Volstad, and Meyer entered with two out to face Ender Inciarte, who drove in all three runs with a double. Shane Greene, who got the last two outs of the sixth, was credited with the win.

Albies homered and doubled twice in Game Four, scoring three runs and driving in three, as the Braves took a 3-1 series lead. Dallas Keuchel, staked to a 5-0 lead after three innings, was pulled in the fifth after allowing five straight men to reach base. Anthony Swarzak stranded the inherited runners and was credited with the win. Atlanta went through five relievers.

Florida staved off elimination with an 11-inning win in Game Five. Atlanta took a 2-0 lead in the fifth with Tyler Flowers hitting a triple. Cantu drove in a pair in the sixth to even the score. The two bullpens kept the hitters at bay for four innings until Nick Markakis committed a rare error in the bottom of the 11th to make Josh Tomlin a hard-luck loser.

But Markakis and Tomlin made up for it in the clinching Game Six. Markakis homered twice, in the sixth and eighth innings. Tomlin was the first reliever in for the Braves and was credited for the win when Adeiny Hechavarria clubbed a pinch-hit three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth. Loser Ricky Nolasco three five shutout innings but did not get an out in the sixth.

Player availability: Even with two off days, Sean Newcomb should be avoided in Game One of the fourth round.

Projected rotation: Foltynewicz-Keuchel-Teheran-Soroka-(Foltynewicz)-(Keuchel)-(Teheran). It's Fried's turn to sit out a series.

Dixie bracket: Round 2 recap

Advancing: 2019 Atlanta Braves, 2019 St. Louis Cardinals, 2009 Florida Marlins, 1961 St, Louis Cardinals.

Eliminated in the second round: 2019 Houston Astros, 2019 Tampa Bay Rays, 1973 Kansas City Royals, 1973 Houston Astros.

The 1924 team lost its only series.
The 1961 team has won both of its series and remains.
1973 teams have so far won two series and lost five, and none remain.
2009 teams have won two series and lost one, and one remains
2019 teams have won six series and lost five, and two remain

The remaining teams were seeded second, fourth, sixth and eighth. Eliminated in this round were the No 1, 3, 5 and 10 seeds. 

No DH teams remain in the Dixie bracket. 

Dixie bracket: 2019 Braves defeat 1973 Astros in five games

Game One: Astros 11, Braves 7
WP: Reuss (2-1)
LP: Swarzak (1-1)
HR: Riley (1), Hechavarria (1), Wynn (2)

Game Two: Braves 6, Astros 5
WP: Swarzak (2-1)
LP: York (0-1)
Save: Jackson (1)
HR: Freeman (1), Cedeno (2), Wynn (3), McCann (2)

Game Three: Braves 7, Astros 5
WP: Teheran (2-0)
LP: Roberts (2-1)
Save: Jackson (2)
HR: Helms (1), Wynn (4), Swanson (1), Riley (2)

Game Four: Braves 10, Astros 6
WP: Foltynewicz (1-0)
LP: Wilson (1-2)
HR: Albies 2 (3), Swanson (2)

Game Five: Braves 6, Astros 3
WP: Soroka (2-0)
LP: Reuss (2-2)
Save: Jackson (3)
HR: L May (2)

There was only one quality start in the five games -- Mike Soroka in the finale -- and the deeper Atlanta lineup ultimately overpowered Houston.

Game One,  played in suburban Atlanta's SunTrust Park, went to the Astros, however. Both starters, Soroka and Jerry Reuss, gave up five runs in the first two innings. Adeiny Hechavarria hit a three-run pinch-hit homer to help the Braves even the score. But Jim Wynn promptly untied it with a homer off Anthony Swarzak, and even though there were still plenty of runs scored, the Braves never again caught up. Wynn scored three runs for the Astros.

Houston jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two innings of Game Two, with Wynn and Cesar Cedeno each hitting two-run homers off Max Fried. Fried managed to get though six innings -- the Atlanta bullpen was vulnerable after working six innings in the previous game -- but Astros starter Ken Forsch carried a 5-1 lead into the seventh. But the first three men reached in the seventh, and Forsch departed with the bases loaded. Dansby Swanson greeted Jim York with an RBI single, and Brian McCann followed with a grand slam to take the lead. Shane Greene and Luke Jackson each worked a hitless inning to preserve the lead.

The series moved to the Astrodome for Game Three. The Braves scored two in the top of the first; the Astros scored four in the bottom of the inning, with Wynn hitting a solo homer to lead off and Tommy Helms a three-run shot with two outs. The Braves evened the score in the second and took the lead in the third on an Austin Riley homer, and the Astros never caught up. Julio Teheran held the Astros scoreless from the second inning until there were two outs in the seventh.

The Astros again scored early in Game Four, and the Braves knocked Don Wilson from the game in the second, with Swanson and Ozzie Albies each hitting a homer. Albies hit another homer in the third. Houston scored three in the fourth to make the score 8-5 Atlanta, but the Braves scored two more in the sixth and held the Astros to one run in the final five innings.

Soroka held Houston to one hit and two walks in five innings of Game Five, leaving for a pinch-hitter (who drove in a run with a single) in the top of the sixth. He turned over a 5-0 lead. Jacob Webb and Josh Tomlin combined to allow three runs, but the Braves got one run back in the top of the ninth, and Jackson wrapped up the game and the series with his third save, all of them 1-2-3 innings with one strikeout.

Player availability: No injuries, rested bullpen for Atlanta going into the third round

Projected rotation: Fried-Teheran-Foltynewicz-Kuechel-(Fried)-(Teheran)-(Foltynewicz). Keuchel replaces Soroka; If Atlanta advances, whoever starts the final game of the series is deactivated and the new pitcher works Game Four of the following series. 

Dixie bracket: 2019 Cardinals sweep 1973 Royals

Game One: Cardinals 2, Royals 1
WP: Flaherty (2-0)
LP: Splittorff (1-2)
Save: C Martinez (1)
HR: Mayberry (4)

Game Two: Cardinals 3, Royals 2 (12 innings)
WP: Hicks (1-0)
LP: Simpson (0-2)
HR: Goldschmidt (2)

Game Three: Cardinals 4, Royals 0
WP: Wainwright (1-0)
LP: Busby (0-1)
HR: Molina (1)

Game Four: Cardinals 9. Royals 1
WP: Mikolas (1-1)
LP: Drago (1-1)
HR: Carpenter (2), Schall (2)

Kansas City totaled just 16 hits and four runs for the series and scored just one run against the St. Louis bullpen.

Jack Flaherty went seven innings for the Cardinals in the opener at Busch Stadium III, allowing one run on four hits. Marcell Ozuna tripled in a run in the first inning and drove in the other in the third with a sac fly. Giovanny Gallegos and Carlos Martinez each worked a hitless inning for finish the game

The Royals came closest to a win in Game Two. Al Fitzmorris turned a 2-0 lead over to the bullpen after seven innings. Gene Garber pitched a scoreless eighth, but Paul Goldschmidt led off the bottom of the ninth with homer. Kelten Wong followed with a single and moved up on a grounder. Steve Mingori relieved to get a popup from Matt Carpenter, and Doug Bird entered with one out to get. But Yadier Molina singled in Wong to tie the score. The Royals came close in the 11th -- Lou Piniella fanned with two men in scoring position and two out --  and the Cardinals broke through in the 12th on a walk, a single and an RBI grounder.

The series moved to Royals Stadium for Game Three. Adam Wainwright allowed one hit in five innings, then Jordan Hicks, Gallegos, John Brebbia and John Gant each worked a hitless inning. Molina homered, doubled, singled and scored a pair of runs.

The first three hitters of Game Four scored for the Cardinals against Dick Drago, and Miles Mikolas held the Royals to one run in six innings. St. Louis broke the game open with five runs in the eighth, with Carpenter hitting a three-run homer, and four relievers combined to shut out the Royals in the final three innings.

Player availability: Plenty of time off before Round Three

Projected rotation: Flaherty-Hudson-Wainwright-Mikolas-(Flaherty)-(Hudson)-9Wainwright)

 

Dixie bracket: 2009 Marlins defeat 2019 Rays in six games

Game One: Marlins 4, Rays 3 (12 innings)
WP: Sanches (1-0)
LP: Beeks (0-1)
Save: Miller (1)

Game Two: Rays 7, Marlins 3
WP: Poche (1-0)
LP: Volstad (0-1)
HR: Uggla (2), Choi (2)

Game Three: Rays 6, Marlins 1
WP: Yarbrough (1-1)
LP: Nolasco (1-2)
HR: Meadows (3), Adames (1), Zunino (1)

Game Four: Marlins 8, Rays 2
WP: Vandenburk (1-0)
LP: Snell (2-1)
HR: Maybin (2), Cantu (2), Uggla (3), Paulino (2)

Game Five: Marlins 3, Rays 2
WP: Pinto (1-0)
LP: Morton (1-2)
Save: Nunez (3)
HR: Ramirez (2), Meadows (4)

Game Six: Marlins 5, Rays 3
WP: Sanches (2-0)
LP: Chirinos (0-1)
Save: Lindstrom (2)
HR: Pham (1), Cantu (3), Ramirez (3), B Lowe (2)

Three of Florida's wins were credited to relief pitchers, and three different Marlins picked up saves in the series.

For all the bullpen reliance to follow, the Marlins opened the series with strong start by Josh Johnson, who held the Rays to two runs, one earned, on four hits in eight innings. The game, in St. Petersburg's Tropicana Park dome, went 12 innings. Jalen Beeks threw three scoreless innings for the Rays until cracking in the top of the 12th, when Cody Ross doubled, Jeremy Hermida walked  and John Baker singled to start the inning; Hanley Ramirez later singled off reliever Ryne Stanek. Andrew Miller allowed a run in the bottom of the inning but got the save.

The Rays evened the series in Game Two with a bullpen game. Stanek opened and Colin Poche got credit for the win, but Yonni Chiniros did the bulk of the work, going 5.6 innings. Stanek, Poche and Chiniros combined to hold the Marlins scoreless until there was one out in the seventh inning. Tampa Bay scored six runs in the third off Chris Volstad. Ji-Man Choi drove in three runs for the Rays.

The series moved to suburban Miami for Game Three, where the Rays bopped three homers off Ricky Nolasco and Ryan Yarborugh threw six shutout innings. The Marlins had at least one baserunner in every inning against the lefty.

The Fish turned it around in Game Four. Jorge Cantu and Dan Uggla hit back-to-back homers in the first against Blake Snell, and Cameron Maybin capped a four-run sixth with a two-run homer. Rick Vandenhurk went five innings for the win, and relievers Miller, Kiko Calero and Matt Lindstrom combined to allow one hit in the final four frames.

Johnson left Game Five after five innings trailing 2-1. But Reynel Pinto, Burke Badenhop and Leo Nunez combined for four scoreless innings of relief, and Uggla singled in two runs in the sixth to put the Marlins ahead to stay, both in the game and in the series.

Florida wrapped it up in Tropicana Field in Game Six. Cantu's homer in the sixth put the Fish up 3-2. Sanches surrendered that lead in the seventh on a solo homer by Brandon Lowe, but Hanley Ramirez promptly homered off Chirinos to put the Marlins back in front, and Chris Coghlan doubled into Maybin in the ninth for a bit of insurance. Matt Lindstrom worked a perfect ninth, striking out two, to seal the win and the series.

Player availability: With two off days, the Marlins bullpen will be a full strength for the third round

Projected rotation: Johnson-Nolasco-Volstand-West-(Johnson)-(Nolasco)-(Volstad)

Dixie bracket: 1961 Cardinals defeat 2019 Astros in five games

Game One: Astros 10, Cardinals 2
WP: Verlander (1-0)
LP: Jackson (0-1)
Save: Peacock (2)
HR: Sawatski (2), Springer (2)

Game Two: Cardinals 12, Astros 5
WP: Anderson (1-0)
LP: Pressly (1-1)
HR: Reddick (1), White (4), Brantley (1)

Game Three: Cardinals 4, Astros 3
WP: Sadecki (2-1)
LP: Miley (0-1)
Save: McDaniel (2)
HR: Altuve (1)

Game Four: Cardinals 3, Astros 1
WP: Gibson (2-0)
LP: Sanchez (1-1)

Game Five: Cardinals 9, Astros 5
WP: Jackson (1-1)
LP: Verlander (1-1)
Save: McDaniel (3)
HR: Sawatski 2 (4), Cunningham (1), White (5), Chirinos (3)

The wild-card entrants weren't expected to make a splash in Tournament Three, but the 1961 Cardinals made one by ousting the top-seeded 2019 Astros.

Game One, in Houston's Minute Maid Park, followed the expected pattern. Justin Verlander held the Cards to two runs (a two-run homer by Carl Sawatski in the second) in six innings, and the Astros scored multiple runs in four different innings. George Springer hit a three-run homer, and Houston garnered 11 extra base hits.

Houston seemed to have Game Two under control as well. Josh Reddick clubbed a three-run homer off Curt Simmons, and Gerrit Cole handed a 3-1 lead to the bullpen after seven innings. But the first three men to face Ryan Pressley all singled. Pressly gave way to Will Harris; he faced five men and retired only one of them. Hector Rondon came in, and he eventually ended the inning -- but only after giving up four hits himself. The Cardinals batted 14 men in the eighth and scored 10 runs. They added another in the ninth and won going away.

The tied series shifted to 1961 and Busch Stadium I, aka Sportsman's Park, for Game Three. St. Louis starter Ray Sadecki struggled early -- the Astros scored single runs in three of the first four inning -- but didn't allow a hit after the fourth. The Cards scored three runs in the bottom of the third on three singles, a walk and a double, and that was enough.

Bob Gibson went the distance in Game Four, allowing an unearned run on six hits. He walked four and struck out 13, including the final three hitters of the game. Alex Grammas hit a two-run double off loser Aaron Sanchez in the second inning. 

The Cardinals wrapped up the series by barraging Verlander with longballs in Game Five. Sawatski hit a pair of solo homers, the second one coming back-to-back with a Joe Cunningham homer. Bill White hit a three-run homer in the seventh off Joe Biagini, and Stan Musial drove in two with a double in the eighth. Lindy McDaniel inherited a jam in the eighth and got out of it, and was credited with the save despite allowing two runs in the ninth.

Player availability: No bullpen issues or injuries entering Round Three

Projected rotation: Simmons-Sadecki-Gibson-Jackson-(Simmons)-(Sadecki)-(Gibson)

Dixie bracket: 2019 Astros sweep 1973 Rangers

Game One: Astros 4, Rangers 3
WP: Pressly (1-0)
LP: Bibby (0-1)
HR: Chirinos (1), Burroughs (1), Y Gurriel (1)

Game Two: Astros 4, Rangers 1
WP: Cole (1-0)
LP: Merritt (0-1)
Save: Osuna (1)
HR: Y Gurriel (1), Chirinos (1), Sudakis (1)

Game Three: Astros 8, Rangers 6
WP: Harris (1-0)
LP: Paul (0-1)
Save: Osuna (2)
HR: Correa (1), Springer (1)

Game Four: Astros 5, Rangers 2
WP: Sanchez (1-0)
LP: Clyde (0-1)
Save: Peacock (1)
HR: Alvarez (1)

It was a four-game sweep for Houston, but all four games were competitive.

The Rangers jumped out to an early lead in the opener in Minute Maid Park as Jeff Burroughs hit a two-run homer in the first off Justin Verlander. The Astros tied it in the fourth on a Yuri Gurriel homer, but Alex Johnson put the Rangers back in front with a solo homer inthe sixth. Jim Bibby held the lead until, with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, he walked Josh Reddick and Robinson Chirinos followed with a walk-off homer.

Houston needed no such dramatics in Game Two. Gurriel and Chirions each homered again and Gurriel had a second RBI with an eighth-inning single. Gerrit Cole took a perfect game into the seventh inning, when Toby Harrah singled. Bill Sudakis homered in the eighth off Ryan Pressly.

The series shifted to 1973's Arlington Stadium, and the Astros outslugged the home team in Game Three. Neither starter, Wade Miley for Houston and Sonny Siebert for Texas, got through the fourth inning. The Astros took the lead for good in the seventh on Carlos Correa's two-run homer. Will Harris was given credit for the win for a scoreless eighth inning.

Houston wrapped up the series behing Aaron Sanchez (5.3 innings) and Brad Peacock (3.6 innings.) David Clyde went six innings for Texas, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk in the third but  holding the Astros to two hits in his other five innings of work. 

Player availability: All Astros are available for Game One of the second round

Projected rotation: Verlander-Cole-Miley-Sanchez-(Verlander)-(Cole)-(Miley)

Dixie bracket: 1961 Cardinals defeat 1924 Browns in six games

Game One: Browns 8, Cardinals 7
WP: Shocker (1-0)
LP: Sadecki (0-1)
Save: Vangilder (1)
HR: Sawatski (1)

Game Two: Cardinals 5, Browns 3 (11 innings)
WP: McDaniel (1-0)
LP: Vangilder (0-1)
HR: Boyer (1)

Game Three: Cardinals 9, Browns 2
WP: Jackson (1-0)
LP: Wingard (0-1)

Game Four: Browns 7, Cardinals 5
WP: Pruett (1-0)
LP: McDermott (0-1)
HR: Sisler (1), White (1), K Williams (1)

Game Five: Cardinals 8, Browns 6
WP: Sadecki (1-1)
LP: Lyons (0-1)
Save: McDaniel (1)
HR: White (2), K Williams (2)

Game Six: Cardinals 7, Browns 1
WP: Gibson (1-0)
LP: Danforth (0-1)
HR: White (3)

There were injuries and unearned runs aplenty in this St. Louis series, with all games played in the same park, albeit under different names.

The Browns won the opener in 1961's Busch Stadium. The Cardinals scored two runs in the first, but the Browns replied with three runs in the top of the second, with two of them scoring on Julian Javier's two-base error. The Cards responded with three runs on their own, all unearned. The Browns replied with another three-spot in the top of the third, with two of them again unearned. The sloppiness abated after that. Urban Shocker allowed four earned runs in seven innings for the win. Browns stars Marty McManus and Ken Williams were both injured in this game, McManus for the duration of the series.

Ken Boyer's two-run homer in the bottom of the 11th in Game Two evened the series. Bob Gibson carried a 3-2 lead into the ninth but couldn't hold the lead; George Sisler walked to lead off the inning and went to third on a single by Baby Doll Jacobson. Herschel Bennett brought Sisler in with a ground ball. Lindy McDaniel held the Browns hitless in the 10th and 11th to give Boyer his opportunity.

The series shifted to 1924, when the park was called Sportsman's Park. The Cardinals roughed up Ernie Wingard for a run in the first, three in the second and another in the third and were never challenged. Alex Grammas drove in three runs for the Cards. Larry Jackson went seven innings for the win, allowing one earned run. Stan Musial was injured in the game for the Cardinals and did not again appear in the series.

Shocker took the hill on short rest in Game Four for the Browns, and the home team was trailing when he departed. But Syl Simon, playing because of McManus' injury, tripled home two runs off McDaniel in the eighth to cut the deficit to 5-4. In the ninth, the Cardinals brought in Mickey McDermott to face a string of left-handed hitters; he retired none of them. Harry Rice, pinch-hitting, walked; Jack Tobin singled; and Sisler homered to end the game. Hub Pruett picked up the W.

Game Five went to the Cardinals. Carl Warwick, filling in for Musial in left against the right-handed Dixie Davis, went 3-for-4 with a walk, and scored four times. Bill White homered and drove in four runs. Ken Williams returned from his injury to hit a two-run homer off Sadecki and set up McDaniel's save.

The series reverted to Busch Stadium for Game Six, and Bob Gibson never let the Browns in the game. Sisler singled in the first and Wally Gerber walked in the the fifth; those were the only baserunners Gibson allowed inthe first eight innings. Meanwhile, the Cards scored two runs in the third off Dave Danforth and another in the fourth on White's third homer of the series. The Cards broke it open in the sixth with four runs off Ray Kolp. Gibson left after allowing consecutive doubles to open the ninth, and Ernie Brogilo retired all three men he faced to end the game and the series.

Player availablity: Musial is available for the second round, and the Cardinal bullpen will be at full strength for Game One.

Projected rotation: Jackson-Simmons-Sadecki-Gibson-(Jackson)-(Simmons)-(Sadecki)

Dixie bracket: 2019 Rays defeat 2019 Royals in six games

Game One: Rays 4, Royals 0
WP: Morton (1-0)
LP: Junis (0-1)
HR: A Garcia (1)

Game Two: Rays 6, Royals 1
WP: Snell (1-0)
LP: Duffy (0-1)
HR: Sogard 2 (2), Meadows (1), d'Arnard (1)

Game Three: Royals 4, Rays 2
WP: Keller (1-0)
LP: Yarbourgh (0-1)
HR: Dozier (1), Choi (1), Wendle (1)

Game Four: Rays 11, Royals 7 (10 innings)
WP: Drake (1-0)
LP: Kennedy (0-1)
HR: Choi (2), Meadows (2), O'Hearn (1), Merrifield (1)

Game Five: Royals 5, Rays 3
WP: Junis (1-1)
LP: Morton (1-1)
Save: Kennedy (1)
HR: Soler (1), Lowe (1)

Game Six: Rays 4, Royals 0
WP: Snell (2-0)
LP: Duffy (0-2)
HR: Sogard (3)

The Tampa Bay Rays opened and closed the series with multi-pitcher shutouts, and in between generally stifled the Kansas City lineup.

Charlie Morton allowed a single to the second hitter he faced in the Tropicana Field opener. That was the only safety the Royals got all game. Ryne Stanek pitched the seventh and Oliver Drake the eighth and ninth innings for Tampa Bay. Morton walked one and struck out nine. Austin Meadows singled in two runs and also doubled and scored.

Eric Sogard hit a pair of solo homers in Game Two, the first one leading off the game, to give Blake Snell plenty of support. Meadows hit a three-run homer in the eighth to open up the margin. Snell left in the sixth inning having allowed three hits. Four Rays relievers allowed one hit apiece.

The series shifted to Kaufmann Stadium in Kansas City, and Brad Keller did unto the Rays as Morton and Snell had to the Royals: 7.2 scoreless innings with five hits allowed. Ryan Yarborough threw five scoreless innings but left after consecutive doubles by Aldaberto Mondesi and Whit Merrifield to open the sixth. Hunter Dozier hit a three-run homer in the eighth, and solo homers by Ji-Man Choi and Joey Wendle in the ninth weren't enough.

Tampa Bay trotted out the opener strategy in Game Four. Colin Poche gave up a homer in the first to Merrifield, then gave way to Yonny Chirinos, who allowed two runs in five-plus innings. But Stanek didn't retire any of the three men he faced in the eighth, and the game was tied after that frame. Meadows hit his second three-run homer of the series in the 10th, this one off Kansas City closer Ian Kennedy, and Oliver Drake threw two scoreless innings for the win.

The Royals forced the series back to Tampa Bay by beating Morton in Game Five. Jorge Soler hit a three-run homer in the third; he also doubled and scored in the eighth. Jakob Junis gave up a pair of runs in the first but followed with five scoreless innings to get the win.

Snell allowed three hits in seven innings in Game Six, while Sogard again led off the game with a homer off Danny Duffy. Meadows doubled and scored in Tampa Bay's two-run fourth, and Diego Castillo and Emilio Pagan each faced the minimum three batters in the eighth and ninth to wrap up the series.

Player availability: With two days off, Tampa Bay's bullpen will be rested for the second round.

Projected rotation: Morton-Yarbourgh(?)-Chirinos(?)-Snell-(Morton)-(Yarbourgh)-(Chirinos). Openers are possible in the Yarbourgh and Chrinos "starts"

Dixie bracket: 2009 Marlins defeat 1973 Cardinals in six games

Game One: Marlins 3, Cardinals 1
WP: J Johnson (1-0)
LP: B Gibson (0-1)
Save:  Lindstrom (1)

Game Two: Cardinals 4, Marlins 3
WP: Wise (1-0)
LP: Nolasco (0-1)
Save: Segui
HR: Brock (1)

Game Three: Marlins 10, Cardinals 8 (11 innings)
WP: A Miller (1-0)
LP: Murphy (0-1)
Save: Nunez (1)
HR: Maybin (1), Baker (1), Brock (2), Ramirez (1)

Game Four: Cardinals 8, Marlins 4 (10 innings)
WP: Hrbrosky (1-0)
LP: Badenhop (0-1)
HR: Paulino (1), Sizemore (1), Ross (1), Carbo (1)

Game Five: Marlins 7, Cardinals 1
WP: J Johnson (2-0)
LP: B Gibson (0-2)
HR: Uggla (1), Cantu (1), J Johnson (1)

Game Six: Marlins 7, Cardinals 5
WP: Nolasco (1-1)
LP: Wise (1-1)
Save: Nunez (2)
HR: Brock 2 (4), McBride (1)

The Marlins outslugged St. Louis and got just enough out of their bullpen to take the series.

The homestanding Marlins scored three unearned runs in the third inning of the opener in Land Shark Stadium. with help from errors by shortstop Mike Tyson and first baseman Joe Torre. That was all Florida got off Bob Gibson, but that was all it needed. Josh Johnson held St. Louis to one run in six innings, and Andrew Miller and Matt Lindstrom kept the Cards off the scoreboard over the final three frames.

Rick Wise retired the first 14 men he faced in Game Two and turned a 4-1 lead over to the bullpen after seven innings. It took three relievers to hold the Fish to two runs in the eighth, but Diego Segui got all three men he faced in the ninth, two on strikes. Jose Cruz drove in two runs for St. Louis and Lou Brock homered.

The series moved to Busch Stadium II in St. Louis  for Game Three, and the runs started coming in bunches. Hanley Ramirez homered in a three-run top of the third, but the Cards scored four in their half of the inning, with Bernie Carbo singling in two runs and Cruz following with a triple. Cameron Maybin's three run homer in the eighth gave Florida a 7-5 lead, but Brock tied it with a two-run homer off Burke Badenhop. In the 11th, Florida scored three runs off Tom Murphy, and that was two more than the Cards could get off Leo Nunez.

St. Louis evened the series with an extra-inning win of its own in Game Four, with Brock's two-out single bringing home Tim McCarver with the walk-off run. Florida scored five runs in the eighth on four doubles and a triple to overcome the Cardinals 7-2 lead.

Dan Uggla hit a two-run homer in the first off Gibson in Game Five, the first of three homers the Fish got off the Hall of Famer. Jorge Cantu and starter Josh Johnson each hit solo shots. Johnson went six scoreless innings for the win.

The Marlins wrapped up the series at home in Game Six, building a 7-1 lead after seven innings. Winner Rick Nolasco allowed three runs in 7.2 innings. When Lindstrom allowed back-to-back homers from Bake McBride and Brock in the ninth -- Brock's homer his second of the game -- Nunez entered to retire the Teds, Sizemore and Simmons, to secure the game and the series.

Player availablity: The Florida bullpen will be fully rested with the two days off for Round 2

Projected rotation: Johnson-Volstad-Nolasco-Sanchez-(Johnson)-(Volastad)-(Nolasco)

Dixie bracket: 2019 Braves defeat 2019 Marlins in five games

Game One: Braves 5, Marlins 4
WP: Tomlin (1-0)
LP: Kinley (0-1)
HR: McCann (1), Ramirez (1)

Game Two: Braves 6, Marlins 0
WP: Soroka (1-0)
LP: C Smith (0-1)
HR: Albies (1), Acuna (1), Donaldson (1)

Game Three: Marlins 2, Braves 1
WP: E Hernandez (1-0)
LP: Fried (0-1)
Save: Romo (1)

Game Four: Braves 9, Marlins 7
WP: Swarzak (1-0)
LP: Kinley (0-2)
Save: Melancon (1)
HR: Donaldson (2), Markakis (1), Alfaro (1), Acuna 2 (3), Carmargo (1), Flowers (1)

Game Five: Braves 6, Marlins 0
WP: Teheran (1-0)
LP: Alcantara (0-1)
HR: Markakis (2), McCann (2)

Atlanta won the series by having the better bullpen. The Marlins blew two late leads and had a close game get away with ineffective middle relief work.

Miami held a 4-1 lead going into the bottom of the seventh of the opener at the Braves' SunTrust Stadium. But after Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara walked three men to load the bases, Adam Conley entered. Ozzie Albies' grounder made it 4-2, and then Freddie Freeman doubled in two runs to even the score. Tyler Kinley pitched the eighth, and he allowed two singles and two walks for the go-ahead, and decisive, run. Josh Tomlin worked two innings for the win.

The Braves had an easier time of it in Game Two. Josh Donaldson hit a two-run homer in the second off Caleb Smith, and Ronald Acuna Jr and Albies hit back-to-back homers in the seventh. Mike Soroka went seven innings, allowing two hits, for the win.

The series moved to Miami for Game Three, and the Marlins never trailed in a pitchers duel. Brian Anderson drove in both runs for the Fish with a sac fly in the first and a single in the sixth. Elieser Hernandez got credit for the win with two scoreless innings, and Sergio Romo got the final out.

The Marlins got a strong start in Game Four from Trevor Richards, who allowed one earned run on four hits in six innings. Kinley relieved with a 6-2 lead in the seventh; the Braves hit four homers and scored six runs in that frame to take the lead, and they never reliquished it.

Julio Teheran lead a three-pitcher shutout in Game Five to clinch the series. The score was 1-0 after seven innings, but again Alcantara grew weary in the seventh, and the Braves scored five times, highlighted by a grand slam by Nick Markakis off the beleagured Kinley.

Player availability: Atlanta has no injuries or workload issues.

Projected rotation: Soroka-Fried-Teheran-Foltynewicz-(Soroka)-(Fried)-(Teheran). Note: Teheran will be in the rotation for each series. The last used starter other than Teheran -- in this case Keuchel -- will be deactivated, and his replacement will start Game Four of the next series.

Dixie bracket: 1973 Astros defeat 2009 Rays in seven games

Game One: Astros 5, Rays 4
WP: Reuss (1-0)
LP: Shields (0-1)
Save: J Crawford (1)
HR: Wynn (1), Cedeno (1)

Game Two: Astros 4, Rays 2
WP: Roberts (1-0)
LP: Garza (0-1)
Save: J Crawford (2)
HR: Zahn (1), Metzger (1)

Game Three: Rays 6, Astros 2
WP: Niemann (1-0)
LP: Wilson (0-1)
HR: B Upton (1)

Game Four: Rays 5, Astros 1
WP: Price (1-0)
LP: K Forsch (0-1)
HR: Pena (1)

Game Five: Rays 14, Astros 6
WP: Shields (1-1)
LP: Reuss (1-1)
HR: Crawford (1), Navarro (1)

Game Six: Astros 5, Rays 4
WP: Roberts (2-0)
LP: Choate (0-1)
Save: J Crawford (3)
HR: L May (1)

Game Seven: Astros 6, Rays 3
WP: Wilson (1-1)
LP: Niemann (1-1)
Save: J Crawford (4)
HR: Pena 2 (3), Wynn (2)

The visitors won every game of the all-dome series, and Jim Crawford got the final out in all four of Houston's victories. Three of his saves were one-batter appearances.

Jim Wynn hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning of Game One in Tropicana Field, and Cesar Cedeno added a solo shot in the ninth for a vital insurance run. Jerry Reuss went 8.6 innings for the win. After Reuss and Cecil Upshaw allowed back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the ninth to allow the Rays to pull within a run, Jim Crawford entered to strike out Carl Crawford to end the game.

Roger Metzger hit an unlikely homer to cap a three-run rally in the second inning of Game Two, and Dave Roberts made the early support stand up. He allowed one run on five hits in seven innings. Jim Ray got five outs befor allowing two hits and a run in the ninth; once again, Jim Crawford entered to retire Carl Crawford for the final out, this time on a fly to center.

The series moved to the Astrodome and 1973 for Game Three, and the Rays turned it around. Jeff Niemann allowed 10 hits in 5.1 innings, but the Astros only got two runs out of all that action. B.J. Upton hit a two-run homer in the fourth, and Tampa Bay took advantage of three Houston errors to score three unearned runs.

David Price held the Astros hitless for eight innings in Game Four. The lefty walked four and struck out two. Meanwhile, Jason Bartlett drove in three runs with a single and a double and Gregg Zahn went 3-for-3 with a walk, a double and two runs scored. Cedeno led off the ninth with a infield single and thowing error; Price was immediately pulled for Russ Springer, who allowed a double to Lee May that plated Cedeno for the only Houston run.

The Rays took the series lead in Game Five, pounding Jerry Reuss for seven runs in the fourth inning. The first nine hitters reached in that inning on five singles, a double, a homer, a walk and an error. Carl Crawford had four hits, including a three-run homer, and scored three times.

That sent the series back to St. Petersburg, where Game Six was time for a change. The Rays scored four times in the first two innings, but Dave Roberts kept them off the scoreboard after that. Lee May drove in three runs, the last one putting the Astros ahead in the seventh. Jim Crawford again got the last out against a lefty hitter, this time getting Carlos Pena on a fly to right with the tying run on.

That sent the series to Game Seven. Pena homered in each of his first two at-bats against Don Wilson, but the fireballing righty didn't allow another run until the eighth. Wynn homered in the first off Niemann, Bob Gallagher capped a run of singles with an RBI knock in the fourth to tie the game, Lee May singled home the go-ahead run in the fifth and Doug Rader homered in the eighth before the Astros pieced together a two-run ninth on two walks, a hit batter, a stolen base, a single and an error. Jim Crawford got the last six outs for his fourth save.

Player availability: Crawford should not pitch more than an inning in Game One

Projected rotation: Reuss-Forsch-Roberts-Wilson-(Reuss)-(Forsch)-(Roberts)

Dixie bracket: 1973 Royals defeat 2019 Rangers in seven games

Game One: Royals 3, Rangers 2
WP: Splittorff (1-0)
LP: Minor (0-1)
Save: Dal Canton (1)
HR: A Cabrera (1), McRae (1), Otis (1), Mayberry (1)

Game Two: Rangers 6, Royals 4
WP: Sampson (1-0)
LP: Mingori (0-1)
Save: LeClerc (1)
HR: Mayberry (2)

Game Three: Royals 7, Rangers 5
WP: Drago (1-0)
LP: Jurado (0-1)
Save: Bird (1)
HR: Odor (1), Healy (1), A Cabrera (2)

Game Four: Royals 8. Rangers 3
WP: Fitzmorris (1-0)
LP: Allard (0-1)
Save: Mingori (1)
HR: Otis 2 (3), Mayberry (3), Schall (1)

Game Five: Rangers 5, Royals 3
WP: Minor (1-1)
LP: Splittorff (1-1)
Save: LeClerc (2)
HR: Healy (2), Choo (1)

Game Six: Rangers 3, Royals 2
WP: Sampson (2-0)
LP: Simpson (0-1)
Save: LeClerc (3)
HR: Choo (2)

Game Seven: Royals 6, Rangers 5
WP: Garber (1-0)
LP: Kelley (0-1)
HR: Rojas (1), Hovley (1), Healy (3)

The Royals, not known as a collection of sluggers, hammered 13 homers over the seven games, including a walk-off to win Game Seven.

The slugging started in Game One in the initial year of Royals Stadium; all three Kansas City runs came on solo shots from Amos Otis, Hal McRae and John Mayberry. Paul Splittorff allowed four hits in seven innings for the win, allowing a two-run homer to Asdrubal Cabrera in the sixth for all the Rangers' scoring.

The Rangers evened things in Game Two, batting around in the second inning against Steve Busby. After Mayberry's homer in the sixth evened the score at two, the Rangers scored a pair in the seventh off Steve Mingori and Bruce Dal Canton and kept that lead the rest of the way.

The series shifted to Arlington and the final season of Globe Life Field ofr Game Three. Dick Drago scattered 10 hits over six innings, allowing two runs, for the win. Roughned Odor hit a three-run homer in the eighth off Gene Garber to make the final score close.

The Royals won again in Game Four, with Al Fitzmorris allowing two earned runs and five hits in 5.2 innings. Otis hit a pair of homers and went 5-for-5; he scored three runs and drove in three. Mingori went the final 3.1 innings for the save.

On the brink of elimination, the Rangers came back for a 5-3 win in Game Five. Mike Minor allowed one run in six-plus innings for the win. Elvis Andrus went 2-for-3 with a walk, a run, a steal and an RBI.

Back in 1973 and the artificial turf of Royals Stadium for Game Six, Texas evened the series with a three-run inning in the eighth off Wayne Simpson and Dal Canton. Cabrera had the big hit, a two-run single with two outs that plated Andrus and Willie Calhoun.

That set up Game Seven. Texas scored two runs in the third and two more in the fifth off Drago, who went six innings but left with a 5-4 lead. Danny Santana tripled home the tying run in the seventh off Garber, who allowed just the one hit and run in three innings of work. Shawn Kelley pitched the ninth for Texas, and he retired the first two men, Fran Healy and Freddie Patek, but then Cookie Rojas lofted the game-winning and series-clinching homer.. It was the one game of the series that didn't end with a save.

Player limitations: Fitzmorris is limited to one start in the second round by the Pascual Perez rule. Garber should not pitch in Game One after his long stint in Game 7

Projected rotation: Splittorff-Fitzmorris-Busby-Drago-(Splittorff)-(???)-(Busby). Options for Game Six include Garber, Dal Canton, Simpson and Wright, depending on bullpen usage.

Dixie bracket: 2019 Cardinals defeat 1973 Braves in six games

Game One: Cardinals 1, Braves 0 (10 innings)
WP: Miller (1-0)
LP: Gentry (0-1)
HR: DeJong (1)

Game Two: Cardinals 3, Braves 0
WP: Brebbia (1-0)
LP: Dobson (0-1)
Save: Miller (1)

Game Three: Braves 5, Cardinals 1
WP: Schuler (1-0)
LP: Hudson (0-1)
HR: D Johnson 2 (2)

Game Four: Braves 8, Cardinals 6
WP: Harrison (1-0)
LP: Mikolas (0-1)
HR: Ozuna (1), Carpenter (1)

Game Five: Cardinals 10, Braves 6
WP: Flaherty (1-0)
LP: P Niekro (0-1)
HR: Goldschmidt (1), Evans (1), Lum (1)

Game Six: Cardinals 3, Braves 2 (14 innings)
WP: Wacha (1-0)
LP: House (0-1)
HR: D Johnson (3)

The games were competitive, but the Cardinals prevailed in large part because their glovework was sharper and their bullpen less leaky.

The first game was dominated by starters Jack Flaherty and Phil Niekro. Flaherty allowed just two singles in eight innings; Niekro one hit in nine innings. Carlos Martinez threw a hitless ninth for the Cards, and Andrew Miller pitched around a leadoff double in the 10th. Gary Gentry relieved Niekro, who had been pinch-hit for, in the bottom of the 10th and gave up a homer to Paul DeJong, the first man he faced.

The starters didn't go as deep in Game Two, but they were just as effective in putting up zeros. Adam Wainwright was in and out of trouble in his five innings of work for the hometeam; he allowed five singles and a walk but no runs. Carl Morton threw six scoreless innings before leaving for a pinch-hitter. Pat Dobson relieved him and gave up two runs in the seventh and another in the eight. St. Louis got scoreless relief work from Tyler Webb, John Brebbia, Michael Wacha and Miller; Brebbia was credited with the victory.

The series shifted to 1973 and the Launching Pad, homer-friendly Fulton County Stadium. Dave Johnson hit a pair of two-run homers for the Braves off Dakota Hudson, and Ron Schuler kept the vistors off the board until there were two outs in the ninth. Schuler finished with a six-hitter.

The Braves evened the series in a high-scoring Game Four. They battered Mile Mikolas for five runs in the third inning with four singles and three walks, and the Cardinals never quite caught up despite two-run homers from Marcel Ozuna in the fifth and Matt Carpenter in the ninth. Roric Harrison allowed four runs in six innings, but that was good enough for the win.

The Cardinals won Game Five's slugfest, with Paul Goldschmidt driving in six runs -- his only RBIs of the series, as it turned out. Flaherty threw six scoreless innings but came out after he allowed a single and a homer to the first two hitters in the seventh.

The series returned to 2019 and Busch Stadium III, and the Cardinals took the series with a 14-inning triumph. Morton held the home team to one earned run in eight innings, but that was only good enough to forge a deadlock. The Cardinals got 9.6 scoreless innings from their bullpen, and they broke through in the bottom of the 14th against Tom House: Harrison Bader was hit by a pitch to start the inning, was bunted to second and scored on a two-out single by Tommy Edman. Michael Wacha threw three scoreless innings for the win.

Player availiability: Jose Martinez is injured through Game Four of the second round. He has been deactivated and Jordan Hicks added to the active roster. Wacha must sit Game One.

Projected rotation: Flaherty-Hudson-Wainwright-Mikolas-(Flaherty)-(Hudson)-(Wainwright)

Dixie seeds and pairings

1) 2019 Houston Astros. 107-55. Lost World Series
2) 1973 Texas Rangers. 57-105

8) 1961 St. Louis Cardinals. 80-74
9) 1924 St. Louis Browns. 74-78

5) 1973 Kansas City Royals. 88-74
12) 2019 Texas Rangers. 78-84

4) 2019 St. Louis Cardinals. 91-71. Lost NLCS
13) 1973 Atlanta Braves. 76-85

3) 2019 Tampa Bay Rays. 96-66. Lost ALDS
14) 2019 Kansas City Royals. 59-103

6) 2009 Florida Marlins. 87-75
11) 1973 St. Louis Cardinals. 81-81

7) 2009 Tampa Bay Rays. 84-78
10) 1973 Houston Astros. 82-80

2) 2019 Atlanta Braves. 97-65. Lost NLDS
15) 2019 Miami Marlins. 57-105