LCS Roundups

It looked like we had a pair of routs in the LCS's, then we had a pair of near-comebacks. Here's the scoop:

National League

Oakland used its familiar formula (Ramsey for 70-odd pitches, Rolls-who was uncharacteristically bombed for 3 runs on 7 pitches, bullpen plus ample power) to take Game 1, 6-5. Feliz, Maduro (2) and Owens homered.

The familiar Game 2 formula (Jackson, a LR - this time Rolls was spotless over 4 innings - and short relief plus more power) worked like a charm in Game 2, for the Surenos, 5-2. Feliz, Maduro and Bonilla rovided the longballs.

Vegas may look back at Game 3 as the one that got away. With 1 run already in in the first inning, the 69ers got runners to 2nd and 3rd with none out. But Surenos starter Ramsey steadied and retired the next 3 batters, ending Vegas' only real threat of the game. Oakland tied it on a Uribe single in the 7th, and won it in the 9th on a Maduro single.

The 69ers rallied behind Benito Santiago in Game 4, collecting 15 hits in an 11-3 thrashing. Things got a little interesting when they followed up with a 6-3 series-tightener in Game 5.

They got very interesting when Vegas scored 5 in the 5th to take a 5-3 lead in Game 6 (Sammy Rincon's 3-run homer the highlight). And super-interesting when Oakland tied it in the 8th on singles by Bonilla and Rivera. The Surenos finally won it on another pair of singles by Bonilla and Rivera in the 10th, and Mike Sinpson shut down Vegas for the 8-5 win.

American League

Holes/Katannas VI began with a split on a couple of 6-5 games. Jackson pulled out the opener with 2 in the 9th on a McDonald homer and a Gardner double; Cleveland got the winner in Game 2 in the 8th on a Damaso Vazquez solo shot.

The 3rd straight 1-run game of the series went to the 8th with the Holes up, 7-4. Cleveland pulled to within 1 on an Otis Langston 2-run homer; Sosa and Diaz got the last 4 outs and Jackson had a 2 games to 1 lead.

When the Holes went up 3 games to 1 behind Collier and co. in Game 4 (4-1), it looked like an early exit for Cleveland. But they gutted out an 8-6 win in Game 5 (Simpkins' single in the 9th the game-winner), and set up Game 7 with a come-from-behind thriller in Game 6 (Joyner's 3-run homer in the 7th the deciding blow).

Game 7 was, to say the least, anticlimactic. Jackson jumped on AL Cy Young winner Aaron Torres for 6 runs in the first 2 innings and just kept swinging (and connecting). By the time the Katanna bats got on track, the Holes had 16 on the board, and cruised to an 18-5 thrashing (Costello and Manzanillo had 9 hits and 9 RBI).

So, Season 15 gets a replay of Season 14's Oakland-Jackson WS. It also marks Jackson's 4th straight WS trip.