What a round of game 1s. Let’s get into them!
CARDINALS 7 BRAVES 6: STL LEADS SERIES 1-0:
The Cardinals have stolen home field advantage after rallying past the Braves in an epic game 1 in Atlanta. This game came down to the bullpens, as Dallas Keuchel (Braves) and Mike Milokas (Cardinals) left the game tied at 1 after 5. Then, after the Braves took a 3-1 lead in the 6th off some sloppy Cardinals fielding, Mike Melancon came on in the 8th to try and keep the bridge moving for Braves closer Shane Green, but instead gave up a solo shot to Paul Goldschmit and a game -tying single by Marcell Ozuna that got the Cardinals right back in the game, as they took the lead in the 9th when Harrison Bader doubled home two more before another Ozuna double knocked home 2 runs to give the Cardinals a commanding 7-3 lead.
The Braves would try to rally off Cardinals closer Carlos Martinez, as Ronald Acuna JR (2run HR) and Freddie Freeman hit back to back bombs but it was too late as the Cardinals took game 1 7-6.
MVP: Marcel Ozuna
LVP: Mike Melacanon
DODGERS 6 NATIONALS 0: DODGERS LEAD SERIES 1-0:
This wasn’t the Nationals best game and the Dodgers pounced as Walker Buhler went 8 scoreless with 7Ks and the Dodgers offense jumped on Patrick Corbin and some sloppy Nats defense en route to a dominant game 1 win.
MVP: Walker Buhler
LVP: Patrick Corbin
ASTROS 6 RAYS 2: ASTROS LEAD SERIES 1-0:
A big 2run HR by Jose Altuvie, some sloppy fielding by the Rays and 7 scoreless innings of nastiness from Justin Verlander was the recipe to victory for the Astros in this one. Granted, Glassnow pitches well for TB as he kept them in it for the first 5 innings with his team only down 2-0.
MVP: Justin Verlander
LVP: Rays offense
YANKEES 10 TWINS 4: YANKEES LEAD SERIES 1-0:
I’ll admit James Paxton didn’t do as well as I hoped as he started this game off by giving up a couple bombs to Jorge Polanco and Nelson Cruz putting the Yankees in an early 2-0 hole, but he did keep it close and let the Yankees offense do there thing as an RBI double by Edwin Encarnacion and some defensive mistakes by the Twins gave the Yankees a 3-2 lead after 3.
A Polanco RBI single in the 5th tied the game up, but after that the Yankees seemingly stopped playing “Cat and mouse” as they took advantage of the Twins bullpen by scoring 7 runs off of them in there final 3 frames. It started in the 5th, when Gleyber Torres doubled gone two to give the Yankees a 5-3 lead. Then, after a Mitch Garver HR cut the lead down to 5-4, DJ LeMahieu and Brett Gardner homered in the 6th to push the Yankees lead to 3 before a 3run double by LeMahieu extended the Yankees lead to 10-4 and salted the game away.
The Yankees bullpen also played a big part in this one as Chad Green, Adam Ottavino, Tommy Kahlene, Zack Britton, JA Happ and Aroldis Chapman combine for 5.1 innings of 1 run ball.
MVP: DJ LeMahieu
LVP: Twins bullpen.
There is a change in the Twins pitching plans, as rookie Randy Dobnak Will now start game 2, while Jake Odorozi will toe the slab in game 3 for the Twins on Monday (10/7) at Target Field.
THOUGHTS:
The Yankees, Dodgers and Astros have really impressed me so far as expected. But I will have to give the game 1 WS title to the Dodgers as Buhler was simply magnificent and the team followed.
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