Metroplex bracket: 1973 Pirates beat 2019 Mets in seven games

Game One: Pirates 8, Mets 7
WP: Briles (1-0))
LP: deGrom (0-1)
Save: Guisti (1)
HR: Sanguillen (1), Alonso (1), Conforton (1)

Game Two: Mets 8, Pirates 1
WP: Syndergaard (1-0)
LP: Moose (0-1)

Game Three: Pirates 3, Mets 1
WP: Ellis (1-0)
LP: Wheeler (0-1)
HR: Hebner 2 (2)

Game Four: Pirates 6, Mets 2
WP: Rooker (1-0)
LP: Metz (0-1)
HR: Stennett (1), Ramos (1), Zisk (1)

Game Five: Mets 6, Pirates 2
WP: deGrom (1-1)
LP: Briles (1-1)
Save: Diaz (1)
HR: A Rosario (1), Stargell (1), Conforto 2 (3)

Game Six: Mets 7, Pirates 4
WP: Syndergaard (2-0)
LP: Moose (0-2)
Save: Diaz (2)
HR: Oliver (1), Stennett (2)

Game Seven: Pirates 5, Mets 3
WP: R. Hernandez (1-0)
LP: Lugo (0-1)
Save: Guisti (2)

The Mets played most of the series without Robinson Cano, Brandon Nimmo (both injured in the opening game) and Todd Frazier (injured in Game Two) but came close to prevailing anyway. Nimmo returned for the final two contests; Cano and Frazier were out for the rest of the series.

Game One, played in Citi Field, was something of a see-saw affair. The Mets led 3-0 after three innings, with Michael Conforto contributing a two-run homer in the third. Jacob deGrom held that lead into the sixth, when the Pirates loaded the bases with one out and Richie Zisk tripled to tie the game. A strikeout later, Manny Sanguillen homered to give Pittsburgh a 5-3 lead. The Pirates tagged Jeurys Familia for three runs in the eighth, but the Mets replied in the bottom of the inning with four runs, all charged to Ramon Hernandez. Dave Guisti got three ground ball outs in the ninth to preserve the one-run win.

Noah Syndergaard allowed one run in six innings in Game Two as the Mets evened the series. Bob Moose retired just one man in the first inning for Pittsburgh; he was hurt by his own error, but also allowed five hits and a walk. Dominic Smith and Amed Rosario each drove in two runs for the Mets.

The series moved to 1973 and Three Rivers Stadium for Game Three, and Dock Ellis was stellar: one run on three hits in his complete game. He walked five, hit one and struck out eight. Richie Hebner hit a pair of homers to account for all three of Pittsburgh's runs off Zach Wheeler.

Game Four also went to Pittsburgh. Jim Rooker allowed a two-run homer to Wilson Ramos but otherwise kept the Mets off the scoreboard for eight innings, while Zisk and Rennie Stennett homered for the Pirates. Zisk totaled three RBIs in the game. The Pirates had five doubles and a triple to go with the two homers.

The Mets and deGrom got the series back to New York with a 6-2 in in Game Five. Conforto homered twice and Rosario hit a two-run shot to power the offense, and deGrom held Pittsburhg to two runs in seven innings on five hits, one a homer by Willie Stargell.

Back in Citi Field for Game Six, the Mets again erupted for a big first inning against Bob Moose, plating five runs. An error by Stennett made three of the runs unearned. The Pirates hit a pair of homers off Syndergaard (Stennett and Al Oliver) but never got closer than three runs.

The decisive Game Seven was turned over to the bullpens with the score knotted at 2 after six innings. Hernandez threw a pair of scoreless innings for Pittsburgh, while Seth Lugo gave up a pair of runs in the eighth (one unearned) and was charged with a third run in the ninth. Dave Guisti allowed a run in the bottom of the ninth but got Alonso to fly out with two on to end the game and the series.

Player availability: Pittsburgh's bullpen will be fully rested. Richie Hebner is out with injury until Game Four of the second round. Pittsburgh will activate Bruce Kison and deactivate Steve Blass and shift Moose to the bullpen. He will be eligible to pitch in Game One.

Projected rotation: Briles-Rooker-Ellis-Kison-(Briles)-(Rooker)-(Ellis)

Stat break: 2019 New York Yankees

Hitters

Name              AB   R   H   RBI  2B  3B  HR  BB  SB  Avg,
Encarncion     21     4     6    5        1    0    3     2      0    .286
C Frazier        10     0     1     0        0   0    0     0      0    .100
Gardner          21     5     7     4        1    0   1     1      1    .333
Gregorious     11     1     2     1        0    0    1     1      0    .182
A Hicks          16     3     2     2        0    0   1     3      0    .125
Judge              21     5    4     4        0     0    2     3      0    .190
LeMahieu       24     2     9    2        2    0     0      1      0    .375
Maybin             5    2     2    2        1    1     2      0      0    .400
Romine             5    0     3    0        0    0     0      0      0    .600
Sanchez          17    4     6     9         0    0    3      2     0    .353
Tauchman        7     1     2    0         0    0    0       0    0     .286
G Torres         22     4     6    3       0     0    2       3     0     .273
Urshela           18     2     9    3       1     0    1       3     0     .500
Voit                 11     1     1    0       0     0    0       1     0     .091

Pitchers

Name              G    GS   IP        H    R    ER   BB    K     Sv.   W    L     ERA

Britton             2      0      2          1     0     0       0      0        0      0     0      0.00
Cessa               2      0      4          1     0     0       2      5        0      0     0      0.00
Chapman         1      0      1          1     0     0       0      1        0      0     0      0.00

Cortes              1      1      3.6       4     1     1       2      3        0      0     0      2.45

Green               2      0       2         1     0     0       1      4       0       0     0      0.00

Happ               1      1      6.6       8     3      3       0      9        0      0     1      4.05

Kahnle             2      0      1.3      1     0      0       1      2        0     0      0      0.00

Ottovino          2       0      2         0     0      0       0      1       0      0     0       0.00
Paxton             1      1       7          1     0     0       6      7        0     1     0       0.00
Sabathia          2      2     11         7      1     1       2      9       0       2     0       0.81

Tanaka            2      2     12.3      9      6     6       1      9       0       1     1       4.38

Stat break: 2019 Baltimore Orioles

Hitters

Name              AB   R   H   RBI  2B  3B  HR  BB  SB  Avg,
Alberto             9     0     2    0        0    0    0     2      0    .222
C Davis          16     0     3     0        0   0    0     3      0    .188
Mancini          23     2     5     0        1    0   0     2      0    .218
R Martin        19     0     2     2        0    0    0     1      0    .105
R Nunez         18     1     1     2        0    0   1     2      0    .056
R Ruiz            18     1    6     2        1     1    0     0      0    .333
Santander       19     1     3    2        0    0     1      1      0    .158
Severino           7    3     3    0        0    0     0      2      0    .429
Sisco               10    0     0    0        0    0     0      1      0    .000
Smith Jr          16    1     3     1         0    0    0      0     0    .188
D Stewart         6     1     1    0         0    0    0       0    0     .167
Villar              24     3     4    2       0     0    2       1     0     .167
Williamson       4     0     1    0       0     0    0       0     0     .250

Pitchers

Name                 G    GS   IP        H    R    ER   BB    K     Sv.   W    L     ERA

Armstrong          4      0      5.3       5     3     3       1      7        0      0     0      5.07
Bleier                  2      0      2.3       1     0     0       1      2        0      0     0      0.00
Brooks                1      0      1          2     2     2       0      0        0      0     0    18.00
Bundy                 2      2     11        12     8     8       7    13        0      0     2      6.55

Castro                 1      0       2         2     0     0       0      1        0      0     0      0.00

Fry                      2      0       1.3       1     1     1       0      2       1       0     0      6.77

Givens                2      0      1.3       4     4     4       2      1        1      0     0     27.07

Hess                    1      0      0.3       0     0      0       0      0        0     0      0      0.00

Kline                   2       0     3.6       8     4      4       0      5       0      0     0       9.80
Means                 2      2    12.3     15     8     8        1      6        0     1     1       5.84
Wojciechowski   1      1       6.3      4      1     1       3      7       0       1     0       1.42

Ynoa                    1      1      4.6      6      4     4       4      2       0       0     1       7.71

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)

West seeds and pairings

1) 2019 Los Angeles Dodgers. 106-56, lost NLCS
2) 1973 San Diego Padres. 60-102

8) 2009 Seattle Mariners. 85-77
9) 1973 California Angels. 79-83

5) 2009 Colorado Rockies. 92-70. Lost NLDS
12) 2019 Colorado Rockies. 71-91

4) 1973 Los Angeles Dodgers. 95-66
13) 2019 San Diego Padres. 70-92

3) 2019 Oakland Athletics. 97-65
14) 2009 Arizona Diamondbacks. 70-92

6) 1973 San Francisco Giants. 88-74
11) 2019 Los Angeles Angels. 72-90

7) 2019 Arizona Diamondbacks. 85-77
10) 2019 San Francisco Giants. 77-85

2) 1973 Oakland Athletics. 94-68, won World Series
15) 2019 Seattle Mariners. 68-94

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

Great Lakes seeds and pairings

1) 2019 Minnesota Twins. 101-61, lost ALDS
16) 2019 Detroit Tigers. 47-114

8) 1973 Chicago Cubs. 77-84
9) 1973 Chicago White Sox. 77-85

5) 1973 Detroit Tigers. 85-77
12) 1973 Milwaukee Brewers. 74-88

4) 2019 Milwaukee Brewers. 89-73
13) 2019 Chicago White Sox. 72-89

3) 2019 Cleveland Indians. 93-69
14) 1973 Cleveland Indians. 71-91

6) 2019 Chicago Cubs. 84-78
11) 2019 Toronto Blue Jays. 75-87

7) 1973 Minnesota Twins. 81-81
10) 2019 Cincinnati Reds. 75-87

2) 1973 Cincinnati Reds. 99-63, lost NLCS
15) 2019 Toronto Blue Jays. 67-95