Metroplex bracket: 2019 Nationals defeat 1969 Yankees in five games

Game One: Yankees 5, Nationals 3
WP: Peterson (3-2)
LP: Doolittle (0-2)
Save: Aker (4)
HR: Rendon (5)

Game Two: Nationals 3, Yankees 1
WP: Strasburg (4-0)
LP: Stottlemyre (5-3)
Save: Doolittle (6)
HR: Kendrick (4)

Game Three: Nationals 5, Yankees 1
WP: Corbin (4-0)
LP: Bahnsen (2-2)

Game Four: Nationals 7, Yankees 4
WP: Sanchez (1-0)
LP: McDaniel (1-1)
Save: Hudson (2)
HR: Turner (4)

Game Five: Nationals 3, Yankees 2
WP: Scherzer (4-0)
LP: Stottlemyre (5-4)
Save: Doolittle (7)
HR: Bi Robinson (2), Rendon (6)

The Yankees Cinderella run ended as the Nationals bullpen, after a collapse in the opener, shut them down in the next four games. The Yankees did not homer until there were two out in their final inning.

The Nationals led 3-0 going into the eighth inning of the opener in Nationals Park. Reliever Fernando Rodney, after retiring the first hitter, walked the next three. Sean Doolittle entered and gave up three straight hits, with Bobby Murcer and Joe Pepitone each driving in a pair, and the Nats had to go to a third bullpenner, Javy Guerra, to get out of thefive-run inning. Jack Aker threw two scoreless innings in relief of winner Fritz Peterson.

There was no bullpen collapse in the second game. Howie Kendrick broke a 1-1 tie with a fourth-inning homer off Mel Stottlemyre, and the Nats added an insurance run in the eighth off Steve Hamilton. Guerra, Tanner Rainey and Doolittle combined for three scoreless innings of relief behind winner Stephen Strasburg.

The series shifted to 1969's version of Yankee Stadium. Patrick Corbin yielded one run in seven innings for the win. Trea Turner scored three runs for Washington, and both he and Adam Easton had three hits.

Peterson started Game Four on short rest and left after six innings with a 4-3 lead. The Nats took the lead three batters into Lindy McDaniel's outting -- single by Victor Robles and a homer by Turner -- and tacked on two more in the eighth after Brian Dozier led off with a triple. Relievers Guerra and Daniel Hudson worked three scoreless innings to close it out.

Max Scherzer, who got a no-decision in the opener, allowed just one run in six innings and handed a 2-1 lead to the bullpen. This time the bullpen held, with Rodney and Matt Grace each working a scoreless inning. Anthony Rendon's eighth-inning homer gave the Nats a 3-1 lead, and the extra run proved valuable when Bill Robinson, pinch-hitting against Doolittle, homered with two outs in the ninth. Gene Michael followed with a triple, but pinch-hitter Thurman Munson flew out to left and the game and series was over.

Player availablity: Plenty of off days for the Nats bullpen.

Projected rotation: Scherzer-Strasburg-Corbin-Sanchez-(Scherzer)-(Strasburg)-(Corbin)

Metroplex bracket: 2019 Nationals sweep 1973 Orioles

Game One: Nationals 6, Orioles 5
WP: Scherzer (3-0)
LP: Palmer (1-1)
Save: Doolittle (5)
HR: Br Robinson (1), Kendrick (2), Adams (1)

Game Two: Nationals 6, Orioles 5
WP: Strasburg (3-0)
LP: McNally (2-1)
Save: Hudson (1)
HR: Baylor (2), Soto (3), Rendon (4)

Game Three: Nationals 4, Orioles 1
WP: Corbin (3-0)
LP: Cuellar (1-1)
Save: Suero (2)
HR: Kendrick (3), Zimmerman (1), Crowley (2)

Game Four: Nationals 8, Orioles 7 (13 innings)
WP: Fedde (1-0)
LP: Reynolds (0-1)
Save: Suero (3)
HR: Rettemund (1), Gomes (1), Parra (1)

The games were close; the series was one-sided.

The host Nationals opened Game One by scoring two in the first, one in the second and two more in the third off Jim Palmer. Howie Kendrick hit a two-run homer and Adam Eaton scored twice in those innings. The Orioles pulled within one after the top of the seventh, but Matt Adams pinch-hit a homer in the bottom of the inning. The Orioles got three runs in the final three innings against the Washington bullpen, but Sean Doolittle retired Brooks Robinson with the tying rnn on third and the go-ahead run on second to end it.

Game Two followed much the same pattern, right down to the final score. Juan Soto hit a two-run homer in the first inning,and Anthony Rendon hit a two-run homer in the fifth for a 5-2 lead. The Orioles rallied late against the Nats' bullpen but never caught up. 

The series shifted to Baltimore's Memorial Stadium, where lefties Patrick Corbin and Mike Cuellar matched scoreless frame for seven innings. In the eighth Kendrick hit a two-run homer with two outs off Cuellar, and Ryan Zimmerman followed with a solo homer. Terry Crowley hit a pinch-hit homer in the bottoms of the inning, but the Nats added a run in the ninth for the widest winning margin of the series.

Yan Gomes and Geraldo Parra each drove in four runs in the 13-inning finale. Gomes hit a three-run homer in the second, and Parra hit a two-run homer in the fourth and drove in two more with a double in the sixth. Gomes also had an RBI single in the 13th to put the Nats in front. Eric Fredde worked three scoreless innings for the win, and Wander Suero closed it out for his second straight save. Merv Rettemund hit a game-tying pinch-hit homer in the ninth off Doolittle.

Player availability: Washington's pitchers will be fully rested for the opener of Round Four.

Projected rotation; Scherzer-Strasburg-Corbin-Sanchez-(Scherzer)-(Strasburg)-(Corbin)

Metroplex bracket: 1973 Expos sweep 1973 Red Sox

Game One: Expos 3, Red Sox 1

WP: Renko (3-0)

LP: Tiant (1-1)

Game Two: Expos 4, Red Sox 1

WP: Rogers (1-0)
LP: Lee (1-1)

Save: Marshall (4)

Game Three: Expos 5, Red Sox 4 (12 innings)
WP: Marshall (2-0)
LP: Veale (0-1)

Game Four: Expos 3, Red Sox 2

WP: Moore (1-0)
LP: Pattin (1-1)
Save: Marshall (5)

HR: Bailey (3)

The two teams combined for just one homer in the four games, and the Red Sox totaled eight runs for the series.

Game One, in Boston's Fenway Park, set the tone. Steve Renko threw a three-hitter. Carl Yastzremski doubled home Tommy Harper in the first inning, and the Red Sox didn't get another man into scoring position. The Expos drew seven walks off loser Luis Tiant and three relievers.

Felipe Alou doubled in Ron Woods from first base and later scored on a Tommy Harper error in the second inning, and the Expos maintained the lead. Hal Breeden also doubled in a man from first, this on in the fifth inning, Mike Marshall relieved Steve Rogers with the bases loaded and two out in the eighth and retired Carlton Fisk, then navigated the ninth for the save.

The series moved to Montreal and Parc Jarry for Game Three. It ran long. The Red Sox held a 3-0 lead against Mike Torrez after five innings, but Montreal relievers Ernie McAnally and Pat Jarvis held the Sox scoreless for two inning apiece while the Expos chipped away at the lead. Breeden had a sac fly in the sixth and and Pepe Frias one in the seventh. Pinch-hitter Bob Stinson doubled in the ninth and scored on a Ron Woods double; Woods was ultimately thrown out at home by center fielder Reggie Smith to end the inning. Marshall gave up a run in 11th but the Expos tied it on another sac fly, this one from Ken Singleton -- after which Rick Miller threw out another runner at the plate. Finally, in the bottom of the 12th, Ron Fairly singled, went to third on John Boccabella's double and scored when Tim Foli's fly ball went over the drawn-in outfield for a base hit.

The one homer of the series provided all the runs for the Expos in the clincher. Bob Bailey hit a three-run homer off Marty Pattin in the third. Balor Moore allowed two runs in six innings for the win, with Tom Walker throwing two scoreless innings and ironman Marshall getting a double play in the ninth to end the game and the series.

Player availability: The Expos get to full rest before Round Three

Projected rotation: Renko-Torrez-Moore-Rogers-(Renko)-(Torrez)-(Moore)

Metroplex bracket: 2019 Nationals defeat 2019 Red Sox in five games

Game One: Nationals 4, Red Sox 3
WP: Scherzer (1-0)
LP: Hembree (0-1)
Save: Doolittle (2)
HR: Moreland 2 (2), Turner (1), Rendon (3)

Game Two: Nationals 6, Red Sox 3
WP: Strasburg (2-0)
LP: Sale (0-1)
Save: Suero (1)
HR: Eaton (1), Chavis (2)

Game Three: Nationals 2, Red Sox 1
WP: Corbin (2-0)
LP: Porcello (2-1)
Save: Doolittle (3)
HR: Turner (2)

Game Four: Red Sox 5, Nationals 4
WP: Taylor (1-0)
LP: Doolittle (0-1)
HR: Betts (1), Turner (3)

Game Five: Nationals 3, Red Sox 2
WP: Scherzer (2-0)
LP: E Rodriguez (1-2)
Save: Doolittle (4)
HR: Bogaerts (1)

Four of the five games were decided by one run, and the other was a one-run game going into the eighth.

Mitch Moreland hit a pair of homers in his first two at-bats to give the Red Sox a 2-0 lead after four innings of Game One in Washington. Anthony Rendon homered in the sixth to cut the margin to 2-1. Heath Hembree relieved Eduardo Rodriguez in the seventh and gave up three runs, including a two-run homer by Trea Turner. The Sox got one back in the eighth off Fernando Rodney, but Sean Doolittle pitched around a double in the ninth to nail it down. Winner Max Scherzer struck out 15 in seven innings of work.

Victor Robles hit a bases-loaded triple and scored on a sac fly in the fourth inning of Game Two to give Stephen Strasburg all the runs he needed. Adam Eaton hit a two-run homer in the eighth for breathing room. 

The series moved to Boston for Game Three, and Patrick Corbin outdueled Rick Porcello. Turner hit another two-run homer in the fifth. Mookie Betts singled in a run off reliever Fernando Rodney, but that was as close as the Sox could get.

Betts prevented a Washington sweep with a three-run walk-off homer off Doolittle. The Nats carried a 4-1 lead into the eighth, but the Red Sox picked up a run off Rodney in the eighth and Javy Guerra and Doolittle didn't retire a man in the bottom of the ninth. Turner hit a two-run homer in the fifth to put the Nats in front.

The Nats didn't homer in the fifth and final game, but they turned a walk and three singles into two runs in the fourth and added a third run in the seventh when Eaton scored from first base on Rendon's double. Scherzer, Mike Grace and Guerra held the Sox scoreless into the ninth, when Rafael Devers walked in front of Xander Bogaert's homer. That brought in the hard-used Doolittle, who retired three men in order to end the game and series.

Player availability: Everybody will be ready for Round Three. Daniel Hudson is to be activated.

Projected rotation: Scherzer-Strasburg-Corbin-Sanchez-(Scherzer)-(Strasburg)-(Corbin)

Metroplex bracket: 1973 Orioles sweep 1973 Pirates

Game 1: Orioles 10, Pirates 7
WP: Jefferson (1-0)
LP: B Johnson (0-1)
Save: Watt (1)
HR: Robertson (1), Bumbry 2 (3), Stinnett (3)

Game 2: Orioles 4, Pirates 2
WP: McNally (2-0)
LP: Rooker (1-1)
Save: Pena (1)

Game 3: Orioles 4, Pirates 3 (11 innings)
WP: Pena (1-1)
LP: B Johnson (0-2)
Save: Jackson (1)
HR: Oliver (2), Bumbry (4)

Game 4: Orioles 9, Pirates 5 (13 innings)
WP: Jackson (1-0)
LP: R Hernandez (1-1)
HR: Crowley (1), Stinnett (4)

Although it was a sweep, every game was competitve, with two of them going multiple extra innings.

The Pirates got off to a strong start in Game One in Baltimore's Memorial Stadium. Bob Robertson's three-run homer in the second gave the Buccos a 4-1 lead, and Palmer issued a pair of bases loaded walks in the fourth to make the score 6-2. But Al Bumbry's two-run homer in the fifth helped chase Nelson Briles, and Bumbry hit a three-run homer in the sixth off Bob Johnson as the Orioles took the lead.  Eddie Watt threw three scoreless innings to get the save for Jesse Jefferson.

Dave McNally scattered 10 hits and three walks in 7.2 innings in Game Two, and Orlando Pena retired all four men he faced. Paul Blair had an RBI triple in the fourth and the Orioles scored two runs in the fifth on four straight two-out singles.

The series moved to Three Rivers Stadium, where Mike Cuellar dominated for six innings (two singles, no walks) before leaving with a minor injury. Al Oliver hit a three-run homer off Bob Reynolds in the eighth to tie it at 3. That score held into the 11th, when Don Baylor led off with a walk, stole second, went to third on a Jackie Hernandez error and scored on Tommy Davis' pinch-hit single.

Game Four took even longer. Pittsburgh scored three runs off Doyle Alexander in the first two innings and held a 5-2 lead after five. That score held until the eighth, when the Orioles scored a pair of runs off Bob Moose, and then in the ninth Terry Crowley tied it with a pinch-hit homer off Dave Giusti. Grant Jackson worked four scoreless innings and left for a pinch-hitter in Baltimore's four-run top of the 13th, and Reynolds nailed it down in the bottom of the inning.

Player availability: Cuellar will be recovered from his injury, and the bullpen will be rested for Round Three.

Projected rotation: Palmer-McNally-Cuellar-Alexander-(Palmer)-(McNally)-(Cuellar)

Metroplex bracket: 1969 Yankees defeat 2019 Yankees in seven games

Game One: 2019 Yankees 3, 1969 Yankees 2
WP: Britton (1-0)
LP: Stottlemyre (1-2)
HR: Tauchman (1), Judge (3)

Game Two: 2019 Yankees 10, 1969 Yankees 3
WP: Tanaka (2-1)
LP: Peterson (1-1)
HR: LeMahieu (1), C Frazier (1), Hicks (2)

Game Three: 1969 Yankees 3, 2019 Yankees 2
WP: Bahnsen (2-0)
LP: Happ (0-2)
Save: McDaniel (1)

Game Four: 1969 Yankees 3, 2019 Yankees 2
WP: Stottlemyre (2-2)
LP: Sabathia (2-1)
HR: Sanchez (4)

Game Five: 2019 Yankees 3, 1969 Yankees 0
WP: Paxton (2-0)
LP: Peterson (1-2)
Save: Chapman (1)

Game Six: 1969 Yankees 10, 2019 Yankees 8
WP: Aker (1-0)
LP: Kahnle (0-1)
HR: Gregorius (2), B Robinson (1), Ellis (1)

Game Seven: 1969 Yankees 5, 2019 Yankees 2
WP: Stottlemyre (3-2)
LP: Happ (0-3)
HR: Judge (3)

The 1969 Yankees were down two games to none and three games to two, but they outsluged the 2019 powerhouse in Game Six to even the series and then played an ace to take the decisive Game Seven.

That ace was Mel Stottlemyre, who in all three starts and won two of them.

The loss came in Game One in new Yankee Stadium. Stottlemyre took a 2-0 lead into the eighth inning, but Brett Gardner singled to lead off the inning and Aaron Hicks followed with a game-tying homer. In the bottom of the ninth, Mike Tauchman homered with one out for the win. Zack Britton, the third bullpener to work behind starter James Paxton, was the winner.

The 2019 Yankees pounded Fritz Peterson for seven runs in 3.2 innings in Game Two, with Clint Frazier hitting a homer and a double, scoring twice and driving in a pair. The 2019 Yankees had more extra base hits (eight) tham the 1969 Yankees had hits (seven).

The series shifted to the original Yankee Stadium for Game Three. The 2019 Yankees scored two runs on one hit in the first inning (there were two walks, an error and a passed ball) and none after that. The 1969 Yankes scored three runs in the sixth. sll unearned, and that was enough. Stan Bahnsen allowed two hits in six innings and retired 16 in a row at one point. Lindy McDaniel allowed a single in three innings for the save.

Game Four repeated Game Three's final score (3-2 for 1969). Roy White doubled in two runs in the fifth for a 3-0 lead, and Stottlemyre shut out the 2019 team until Gary Sanchez hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth. Stottlemyre then struck out Luke Voit to end the game and even the series.

James Paxton and four relievers combined to shut out the 1969 Yankees on four hits in Game Five, never allowing more than one runner in an inning. Aaron Hicks hit a two-run double in the fifth off Fritz Peterson, who was pitching on short rest and allowed three runs in six innings.

Game Six, inthe 2019 version of Yankee Stadium, it was a wild one. Joe Pepitone tripled in a pair of runs in the first inning and the 1969 Yankees scored five runs off Masahiro Tanaka. Didi Gregorius hit a three-run homer in a five-run fourth as Bahnsen, also on three days rest, was driven from the mound. The 2019 Yankees took an 8-6 lead off Al Downing in the sixth, but the 1969 team came back with four runs in the top of the seventh, with Bill Robinson hitting a three-run homer off Tommy Kahnle to cap the rally. Jack Aker threw three scoreless innings and was awarded the win even though Downing was the pitcher of record when they took the lead.

Workhorse Stottlemyre took the ball again for Game Seven, this time against J.A. Happ. The 1969 Yankees scored three runs in the third with two sacrifice flies and added two more in the fourth to knock out Happ. Aaron Judge homered in the bottom of the fourth as 2019 got two runs back. But Stottlemyre allowed no more runs; he finished with an eight-hitter, with one walk and two strikeouts.

Player availability: Aker should not pitch multiple innings in Game One of the third round, and if he pitches in that game should be out for Game Two.

Projected rotation: Peterson (full rest)-Downing-Stottlemyre-Bahnsen (full rest)-(Peterson)-(Stottlemyre)-(Bahnsen with penalty or Downing on full rest)

 

Metroplex bracket: Round 1 recap

Advancing (seed): 2019 New York Yankees (1); 2019 Washington Nationals (2); 1973 Baltimore Orioles (3); 1973 Boston Red Sox (5); 2019 Boston Red Sox (7); 1969 New York Yankees (8); 1973 Pittsburgh Pirates (11); 1973 Montreal Expos (13)

Eliminated: 1973 New York Mets (4); 2019 New York Mets (6); 1961 Pittsburgh Pirates (9); 2019 Philadelphia Phillies (10); 1973 New York Yankees (12); 1973 Philadelphia Phillies (14);  2019 Pittsburgh Pirates (150; 2019 Baltimore Orioles (16)

2019 teams won three series, lost four
1973 teams won four series, lost three
1969 teams won one series, lost none
1961 teams won no series, lost one
(there were no 2009 teams in this bracket)

Two lower seeds advanced.

Yankees advanced two of three teams. Red Sox and Expos/Nationals advanced two of two; Orioles advanced one of two; Pirates advanced one of three. Mets and Phillies had all of their teams eliminated.

Second-round matchups: 1969 Yankees (8) vs 2019 Yankees (1); 2019 Red Sox vs. 2019 Nationals (2); 1973 Pirates (11) vs. 1973 Orioles (3); 1973 Expos (13) vs. 1973 Red Sox (5

Metroplex bracket: 1969 Yankees defeat 1961 Pirates in five games

Game One: Pirates 12, Yankees 4
WP: Friend (1-0)
LP: Stottlemyre (0-1)
HR: Hoak (1), Virdon (1)

Game Two: Yankees 5, Pirates 3
WP: Peterson (1-0)
LP: Gibbon (0-1)
Save: Aker (1)
HR: Stuart (1), Hall (1)

Game Three: Yankees 12, Pirates 3
WP: Bahnsen (1-0)
LP: Haddix (0-1)
HR: Clemente (1), Mercer (1)

Game Four: Yankees 5, Pirates 2
WP: Stottlemyre (1-1)
LP: Law (0-1)
Save: Aker (2)

Game Five: Yankees 2, Pirates 0
WP: Peterson (2-0)
LP: Friend (1-1)
Save: Aker (3)

After a rough first game, the 1969 Yankees dominated the series.

Game One, in Yankee Stadium, was all Pirates. Don Hoak hit a three-run homer in a four-run first inning and Bill Virdon hit a two-run shot in the fourth. The Yankees committed seven errors. Virdon scored four runs and Bob Skinner drove in three runs. Bob Friend pitched into the ninth inning for the win.

The Yankees evened the series in Game Two. The Pirates had a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the sixth, but with two out and no one on, New York got a pair of singles followed by a two-run double by Roy White and an RBI single by Thurman Munson to take the lead. Pittsburgh tied it in the top of the seventh, but Jimmy Hall hit a two-run homer pinch-hitting for winner Lindy McDaniel in the bottom of the inning, and Jim Aker retired all six men he faced for the save.

The series moved to Pittsburgh and Forbes Field, and the Yankees drove Harvey Haddix off the mound in two innings. Horace Clarke scored four times for New York, getting three singles, a walk, two steals and an RBI. Bobby Mercer homered and drove in four runs, and Bill Robinson had three RBIs.

Mel Stottlemyre, victimized in the opener, shut out the Pirates for seven innings in Game Four. By the time the Pirates broke through against the Yankee ace, New York had scored five times, with Joe Pepitone driving two runs. Jerry Kenney had three hits and two runs scored.

Fritz Peterson got the ball for Game Five on short rest and throttled the Pirates. The lefty held the Buccos hitless for four innings and left with a three-hitter after seven innings. McDaniel and Aker each threw a perfect inning. Friend was almost as good, holding the Yankees scoreless for seven innings before the visitors broke through in the eighth for the only two runs of the game.

Player availability: All Yankees will be ready for Round Two.

Projected rotation: Stottlemyre-Peterson-Bahnsen-Stottlemyre-(Peterson with penalty)-(Bahnsen with penalty)-(Stottlemyre)

Metroplex bracket: 2019 Nationals sweep 2019 Pirates

Game One: Nationals 8, Pirates 5
WP: Guerra (1-0)
LP: Holmes (0-1)
HR. Me Cabrera (1), Soto (1), Rendon (1)

Game Two: Nationals 7, Pirates 3
WP: Strasburg (1-0)
LP: Tr Williams (0-1)
HR: Suzuki (1)

Game Three: Nationals 12, Pirates 2
WP: Corbin (1-0)
LP: Archer (0-1)
HR: Soto (2), Kendrick (1), Rendon (2)

Game Four: Nationals 4, Pirates 3 (12 innings)
WP: Ross (1-0)
LP: Kela (0-1)
Save: Doolittle (1)
HR: Robles (1)

The Nationals outhomered the Pirates 7-1 in the sweep, but one Washington win was a walk-off win and another required extra innings.

Game One, played in Nationals Park, was the walk-off: Anthony Rendon hit a three-run homer off Clay Holmes, who had struck out the side in the eighth inning. Juan Soto's homer in the first had staked Max Scherzer to a 4-0 lead, and he turned a 4-2 lead over to the bullpen after six innings, but the Pirates managed to even the score in the eighth as Melky Cabrera scored from first on Elias Diaz' two-out double.

The Nationals overcame a 3-0 deficit in the second game with a five-run outburst in the fifth inning. Washington got a triple from Victor Robles in the rally along with three walks, three singles and a hit batter. Kurt Suzuki, subbing for the injured Yan Gomes, homered in the eighth to widen the margin.

The series shifted to PNC Park, where the Nationals feasted off Chris Archer in Game Three. Rendon singled in a run in the thrid and hit a grand slam in in the fourth; he picked up another RBI in the ninth on a ground out. Soto and Howie Kendrick hit back to back homers in the sixth off Kyle Crick.

The Nats needed 12 innings to complete the sweep in Game Four. Victor Robles homered and doubled off Pittsburgh starter Steve Brault, scoring two runs and driving in two as the Nats carried a 3-2 lead into the eighth. Pittsburgh tied it with a pair of doubles off Fernando Rodney in the eighth. Joe Ross kept the Pirates off the board in the ninth, 10th and 11th innings, long enough for Rendon to double in a run in the top of the 12th. Sean Doolittle allowed a leadoff single and a steal in the bottom of the inning, but then struck out the next three men to end the series.

Player availability: Washington will have all available for the second round

Projected rotation: Scherzer-Strasburg-Corbin-Sanchez-(Scherzer)-(Strasburg)-(Corbin)

Metroplex bracket: 2019 Red Sox defeat 2019 Phillies in six games

Game One: Phillies 10, Red Sox 2
WP: Nola (1-0)
LP: E Rodriguez (0-1)
HR: Dickerson (1), C Hernandez (1), Benitendi (1), Hoskins

Game Two: Red Sox 7, Phillies 1
WP: Porcello (1-0)
LP: Arrieta (0-1)
HR: Chavis (1), C Hernandez (2)

Game Three: Red Sox 10, Phillies 8
WP: Walden (1-0)
LP: Suarez (0-1)
Save: Workman (1)
HR: J Martinez (1), Segura (1), Kingery (1), Franco (1)

Game Four: Phillies 5, Red Sox 4
WP: Eflin (1-0)
LP: Price (0-1)
Save: Neris (1)
HR: Benitendi (2), Realmuto (1), Kingery (2), Segura (2)

Game Five: Red Sox 6, Phillies 1
WP: E Rodriguez (1-1)
LP: Nola (1-1)
HR: J Martinez (2)

Game Six: Red Sox 8, Phillies 3
WP: Porcello (2-0)
LP: Arrieta (0-2)
Save: Cashner (1)
HR: Devers (1), Harper (1), Segura (3)

The Phillies hit more than twice as many homers (13 to 6) but were outscored by nine runs in the six games.

Cory Dickerson capped a four-run top of the first in the opener, and the Phillies cruised the rest of the way. Aaron Nola went six innings, allowing two runs on a homer by Andrew Benitendi and just two other singles. Mitch Moreland was injured in his first plate appearance and missed the rest of the series.

The Red Sox returned the favor in the second game, knocking Jake Arrieta out with six runs in the fifth inningon four singles, a double and two walks. Rick Porcello allowed one run on three hits in six innings for the win.

The series shifted from Fenway Park to Citizens Bank Park for Game Three. The Phillies jump on Chris Sale early and led 8-0 after five innings. Jason Vargas allowed one hit in five innings but left for a pinch hitter in the Phillies two-run fifth. Nick Pivetta didn't retire a man in the sixth; Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez each drove in a pair of runs as the Sox narrowed the margin to 8-5. Boston had another five-run rally in the seventh to take the lead; Sam Travis singled home two of the runs. Heath Hembree, Marcus Walden, Matt Barnes, Ryan Brasier and Brandon Workman combined for 4.6 scoreless innings out of the bullpen for the Red Sox.

The Phillies evened the series in Game Four, getting homers from Jean Segura, J.D. Realmuto and Scott Kingery. The go-ahead run was driven in by pinch-hitter Andrew Knapp, whose sixth-inning double knocked David Price out of the contest.

Edwin Rodriguez was in control of Game Five from the start. The lefty struck out 12 in six scoreless innings, while Mookie Betts drove in three runs and J.D. Martinez hit a two-run homer.

The Sox wrapped up the series with a home field win in Game Six, with Rafel Devers hitting a two-run homer off Arrieta in the first. Xander Bogaerts hit three doubles and a single. Rick Porcello allowed five runs in five innings, but only two of them were earned. Andrew Cashner earned a four-inning save, allowing one hit and striking out four.

Player availability: Cashner should not pitch until Game 3. The injured Red Sox players will be available for the opener of the second round.

Projected rotation: Rodriguez-Sale-Porcello-Price-(Rodriguez)-(Sale)-(Porcello)

Metroplex bracket: 1973 Red Sox beat 1973 Yankees in five games

Game One: Yankees 3, Red Sox 2
WP: Stottlemyre (1-0)
LP: Bolin (0-1)
Save: McDaniel (1)
HR: F Alou (1), Michael (1), Cepeda (1)

Game Two: Red Sox 10, Yankees 8
WP: Lee (1-0)
LP: Medich (0-1)
Save: Veale (1)
HR: Munson (1), Clarke (1), Miller (1), Petrocelli (1), Harper (1)

Game Three: Red Sox 6, Yankees 5
WP: Moret (1-0)
LP: Kline (0-1)
Save: Veale (2)
HR: White (1)

Game Four: Red Sox 3, Yankees 2
WP: Pattin (1-0)
LP: P Dobson (0-1)
Save: Bolin (1)
HR: White (2)

Game Five: Red Sox 5, Yankees 3
WP: Tiant (1-0)
LP: Stottlemyre (1-1)
HR: Miller (2)

The Red Sox made a short series with the Yankees, but every game was close.

Felipe Alou was the Yankees hero in Game One, lifting a two-run pinch-hit homer over Fenway Park's Green Monster in the top of the ninth to put the Yanks in front for the first time. Mel Stottlemyre allowed two runs in eight innings, scattering seven hits, for the win. Lindy McDaniel worked around a leadoff single for the save.

The Sox responded in Game Two by racking up Doc Medich for five runs in the fourth inning, with Tommy Harper hitting a three-run homer in the inning. Rick Miller hit another three-run homer off reliever Steve Klin in the fifth. The Yankees scored three runs in the final two innings off the Boston bullpen to make the final score close.

The series moved to the 1973 version of Yankee Stadium -- the last year of the classic configuration -- for a marathon Game Three. Orlando Cepeda scored three runs for Boston, which got 3.3 scoreless innings of relief from Dick Pole. Roy White hit a three-run homer in the seventh off John Curtis to put the Yankees ahead, but the Sox tied it in the eighth with two runs off McDaniel. Carl Yastrzemski doubled to open the top of the 12th and eventually scored on a Rico Petrocelli fly ball for the go-ahead run, and Bob Veale set down the Yanks in order in the bottom of the inning.

Marty Pattin outdueled Pat Dobson in Game Four, although neither starter reached the seventh inning. The Red Sox had just one RBI in the game -- the other runs scored on a wild pitch and an error -- but Veale and Bobby Bolin combined for three scoreless innings to protect the lead.

Luis Tiant needed no such help in Game Five, wrapping up the series with a five-hitter. Miller hit his second homer of the series in the sixth, and Yastrzemski drove in Reggie Smith for the go-head run in the eighth. Craig Nettles scored twice for New York.

Player availability: Plenty of rest makes all Red Sox players available for the opener of the second round.

Projected rotation: Tiant-Lee-Curtis-Pattin-(Tiant)-(Lee)-(Curtis)

Metroplex bracket: 1973 Orioles defeat 1973 Phillies in six games

Game One: Orioles 10, Phillies 1
WP: Palmer (1-0)
LP: Carlton (0-1)
HR: Luzinski (1), T Davis (1), E Williams (1)

Game Two: Orioles 4, Phillies 3 (11 innings)
WP: Watt (1-0)
LP: Wallace (0-1)
HR: Grich (1)

Game Three: Orioles 5, Phillies 0
WP: McNally (1-0)
LP: Brett (0-1)

Game Four: Phillies 5, Orioles 2
WP: Lonborg (1-0)
LP: Alexander (0-1)
HR: E Williams (2), Bumbry (1)

Game Five: Phillies 10, Orioles 9 (10 innings)
WP: Ruthven (1-0)
LP: Pena (0-1)
HR: Bi Robinson (1), Blair (1), Schmidt (1)

Game Six: Orioles 6, Phillies 4
WP: Cuellar (1-0)
LP: Twitchell (0-1)
HR: Grabarkewitz (1), Coggins (1), Baylor (1)

This series opened in Baltimore's Memorial Stadium with a matchup of chronic Cy Young winners and first ballot Hall of Famers: Jim Palmer for Baltimore, Steve Carlton for Philadelphia. The O's hammered Carlton for three runs in the second inning, with Andy Etchebatten driving in a pair with a double. Earl Williams doubled, homered and scored three runs. The Phillies didn't score until Greg Luzinski homered with two out in the eighth.

The Orioles made it two in a row with an extra-inning win in Game Two. Eddie Watt threw four scoreless innings of relief and pinch-hitter Merv Rettemund drove in the game-winning run with a sac fly in the bottom of the 11th. Bobby Grich hit a two-run homer in the eighth off Wayne Twitchell to tie the game at 3.  All three runs scored off Mike Cuellar were unearned,surprising given the quality of the Baltimore fielders.

The series moved north to Veterans Stadium for the next three games, and Dave McNally threw a four-hit shutout for Baltimore in Game Three. McNally drove in the first two runs with a bases-loaded single off loser Ken Brett. Bobby Grich drove in two more in the seventh with a bases-loaded double.

Jim Lonborg went the distance for the Phillies in Game Four, allowing solo homers to Williams and Al Bumbry but just five other singles. Doyle Alexander took the loss with four earned runs on 10 hits in six innings.

The Phillies took the series back to Baltimore with a 10-inning win in Game Five. Neither Palmer nor Carlton pitched well. Carlton was pulled in the sixth after allowing seven earned runs (and one unearned; Palmer was knocked out in the Phillies' six-run seventh. Bill Robinson hit a pinch-hit grand slam off reliever Grant Jackson to briefly give the Phillies the lead in that inning. Brooks Robinson evened the score in the eighth with his second RBI single of the game, and the Phillies won it after Mark Belanger committed a two-base error in the bottom of the the 10th and Mike Schmidt followed with a single, Schmidt's third RBI of the game.

The series went back to Baltimore for Game Six. Rich Coggins scored three runs, including a two-run homer in the eighth to put the Birds on top, and Cuellar went the distance despite conceding three runs in the first inning. He allowed only three hits the rest of the way, one a homer by Billy Grabarkewitz. Don Baylor homered, doubled, drove in a pair of runs and scored twice for Baltimore.

Player availability: The Baltimore bullpen will be fully rested for the second round.

Projected rotation: Palmer-McNally-Cuellar-Alexander-(Palmer)-(McNally)-(Cuellar)

Metroplex region: 1973 Expos defeat 1973 Mets in six games

Game One: Expos 3, Mets 2
WP: Renko (1-0)
LP: Seaver (0-1)
Save: Marshall (1)
HR: Bailey (1), Staub (1), Jones (1)

Game Two: Mets 3, Expos 0
WP: Koosman (1-0)
LP: Torrez (0-1)
HR: Jones (2)

Game Three: Mets 2, Expos 0
WP: Matlack (1-0)
LP: Rogers (0-1)
Save: McGraw (1)
HR: Milner (1)

Game Four: Expos 3, Mets 2
WP: Marshall (1-0)
LP: McGraw (0-1)
HR: Bailey (2)

Game Five: Expos 5, Mets 2
WP: Renko (2-0)
LP: Seaver (0-2)
Save: Marshall (2)
HR: Stinson (1)

Game Six: Expos 4, Mets 3
WP: Torrez (1-1)
LP: Koosman (1-1)
Save: Marshall (3)
HR: Breeden 2 (2)

Steve Renko -- a good pitcher but no Hall of Fame candidate -- twice outdueled Tom Seaver, and the Expos bullpen was charged with one run allowed in 11 innings.

Game One, in Shea Stadium, went to the visitors despite consecutive homers in the sixth from Rusty Staub and Cleon Jones. Montreal plated two runs in the fourth, one on a ground out and the other on a squeeze bunt by Boots Day. Bob Bailey homered off Seaver in the top of the sixth, a vital insurance run.

Jerry Koosman evened the series with a five-hit shutout in Game Two. Jones hit a two-run homer in the first off Mike Torrez and singled home the other run in the seventh.

The series moved to Montreal's tiny Parc Jarry for Game Three, and Jon Matlack and three relievers followed Koosman's shutout with one of their own. Matlack went six innings before leaving for a pinch-hitter; Ray Sadecki, Harry Parker and Tug McGraw divved up the other nine outs. John Milner provided the runs with a two-run shot off Steve Rogers in the second inning.

The Mets carried a 2-1 lead into the ninth with McGraw on the mound in Game Four, but the lefty relief ace erred on Ron Hunt's leadoff grounder. After Ron Fairly bounced into a force out, Bailey homered to jolt the Expos into a tie for the series. Mike Marshall pitched the top of the ninth and was credited with the win.

The Mets were already trailing Game Five 2-0 when they imploded behind Tom Seaver in the fifth. Staub committed a two-base error on a leadoff flyball. After a sac bunt moved Jim Lyttle to third, Seaver walked Renko, and Felix Millan followed that by booting Hunt's grounder. Seaver then threw a wild pitch that Jerry Grote could not find, and the runners took two bases. Ron Fairly's base hit made it a three-run inning. The Mets did get four baserunners in the ninth, but Marshall got a double-play grounder off the bat of pinch-hitter Willie Mays to end the game.

The series returned to Shea for Game Six, but the Expos were not deterred. Hal Breeden homered twice and doubled. He scored three runs and drove in three. Torrez worked into the eighth inning; Joe Gilbert finished that inning with a one-run lead, and Marshall pitched a perfect ninth to end the series.

Player availability: With two days off, Marshall and the rest of the Montreal bullpen will be fully available when Round 2 opens.

Projected rotation: Renko-Rogers-Torrez-Moore-(Renko)-(Rogers)-(Torrez)

Metroplex bracket: 2019 Yankees defeat 2019 Orioles in six games

Game 1: Orioles 7, Yankees 6
WP: Means (1-0)
LP: Tanaka (0-1)
Save: Fry (1)
HR: Villar (1), Encarncion (1), Gregorious (1)

Game 2: Yankees 5, Orioles 0
WP: Sabathia (1-0)
LP: Bundy (0-1)
HR: Judge (1), Torres (1)

Game 3: Orioles 3, Yankees 1
WP: Wojciechowski (1-0)
LP: Happ (0-1)
Save: Givens (1)
HR: R Nunez (1), Santander (1)

Game 4: Yankees 9, Orioles 0
WP: Paxton (1-0)
LP: Ynoa (0-1)
HR: Sanchez 3 (3), Gardner (1), Torres (2)

Game 5: Yankees 8, Orioles 0
WP: Tanaka (1-1)
LP: Means (1-1)
HR: Encarncion (2), Maybin 2 (2), C Frazier (1), Urshela (1)

Game 6: Yankees 6, Orioles 1
WP: Sabathia (2-0)
LP: Bundy (0-2)
HR: Judge (2), Encarncion (3)

The Yankees blasted Baltimore pitching for 14 homers in the six games and outscored the O's 23-1 in the final three games of the series.

Baltimore did start off the series well, winning the first game at Yankee Stadium behind eight stellar innings by John Means. He allowed two runs, both on solo homers, in eight innings. His mates scored six runs in the fourth inning to knock Masahiro Tanaka out of the box. The Yankees scored four runs in the ninth to make the score close before Paul Fry stuck out Didi Gregorious and Brett Gardner with the tying and go-ahead runners on to end it.

CC Sabathia and three relievers combined to blank the Birds in the second game. Baltimore got just two singles off Sabathia in six innings, and Zach Britton, Chad Green and Adam Ottovino combined to allow one hit in the final three frames. Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres hit back-to-back homers in the fourth.

The series shifted to Baltimore for Game Three, and Asher Wojciechowski was stellar for the home team: 6.1 innings, four hits, one run. Richard Bleier and Michael Givens allowed no hits in relief. Baltimore got all its runs in the first inning off JA Happ, with Anthony Santander and Renato Nunez going deep.

That was the high point for Baltimore. James Paxton held the Orioles to one hit in seven innings in Game Four (he did walk six), and Gary Sanchez supplied plenty of power with three homers. Gardner and Torres also homered.

The scoreless run continued for Baltimore in Game Five, with Tanaka going the distance with a two-hitter. He walked none but hit a batter and struck out six. Cameron Maybin homered twice off John Means, and the Yankees totaled five long balls for the game.

The series returned to New York for Game Six, and Sabathia extended the scoreless streak to 30 innings. He allowed one run in five innings, and three relievers combined for four innings of one-hit scoreless ball. Encarncion and Judge homered for the Yankees.

Player status for second round: No injuries for Yankees. Bullpen will be fully rested after two off days.

Projected rotation for second round: Paxton-Tanaka-Happ-Sabathia-(Paxton)-(Tanaka)-(Happ)

Metroplex seeds and pairings

1) 2019 New York Yankees. 103-59, lost ALCS
16) 2019 Baltimore Orioles. 54-108.

8) 1969 New York Yankees. 80-81
9) 1961 Pittsburgh Pirates. 75-79

5) 1973 Boston Red Sox. 89-73
12) 1973 New York Yankees. 80-82

4) 1973 New York Mets. 82-79, lost World Series
13) 1973 Montreal Expos. 79-83

3) 1973 Baltimore Orioles. 97-65, lost ALCS
14) 1973 Philadelphia Phillies. 71-91

6) 2019 New York Mets. 86-76
11) 1973 Pittsburgh Pirates. 80-82

7) 2019 Boston Red Sox. 84-78
10) 2019 Philadelphia Phillies. 81-81

2) 2019 Washington Nationals. 93-69, won World Series
15) 2019 Pittsburgh Pirates. 69-93