The Cubs avoid elimination by winning Game 4 of the NLCS, 3 – 2, over the Dodgers. All five runs are the result of solo homers: for Chicago, a monster blast that travels almost 500 feet by Willson Contreras, and two by Javier Baez, all against Alex Wood, and replies by Clay Bellinger and Justin Turner for Los Angeles. Jake Arrieta is the winner and Wade Davis gets credit for the save.

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The Cubs avoid elimination by winning Game 4 of the NLCS, 3 – 2, over the Dodgers. All five runs are the result of solo homers: for Chicago, a monster blast that travels almost 500 feet by Willson Contreras, and two by Javier Baez, all against Alex Wood, and replies by Clay Bellinger and Justin Turner for Los Angeles. Jake Arrieta is the winner and Wade Davis gets credit for the save.

The Dogers defeat the Cubs, 6 – 1, in Game 3 of the NLCS at Wrigley Field to move within one game of the World Series. Yu Darvish gives up a 1st-inning homer to Kyle Schwarber but then shuts down the Cubs until the 7th, when the bullpen takes over. Meanwhile, solo homers by Andre Ethier and Chris Taylor put the Dodgers ahead, and they seal the deal with a couple more runs on a triple by Taylor and a bases-loaded walk to Darvish, before adding a pair in the 8th.

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The Dogers defeat the Cubs, 6 – 1, in Game 3 of the NLCS at Wrigley Field to move within one game of the World Series. Yu Darvish gives up a 1st-inning homer to Kyle Schwarber but then shuts down the Cubs until the 7th, when the bullpen takes over. Meanwhile, solo homers by Andre Ethier and Chris Taylor put the Dodgers ahead, and they seal the deal with a couple more runs on a triple by Taylor and a bases-loaded walk to Darvish, before adding a pair in the 8th.

An article by Tracy Ringolsby published today in Baseball America claims there is growing consensus among owners for a complete realignment of Major League Baseball. This would include an expansion adding teams in Montreal, QC and Portland, OR to increase the ranks to 32 teams, who would then be divided into four divisions of eight teams each – north, east, midwest and west. Under the alleged plan, the schedule would also be shortened to 156 games and teams would play largely within their division during the regular season.

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An article by Tracy Ringolsby published today in Baseball America claims there is growing consensus among owners for a complete realignment of Major League Baseball. This would include an expansion adding teams in Montreal, QC and Portland, OR to increase the ranks to 32 teams, who would then be divided into four divisions of eight teams each – north, east, midwest and west. Under the alleged plan, the schedule would also be shortened to 156 games and teams would play largely within their division during the regular season.

The Yankees even the ALCS with a 6 – 4 win over the Astros in Game 4. The Astros head into the bottom of the 7th leading 4 – 0, thanks in part to a bases-clearing double by Yuli Gurriel, but Aaron Judge gets the Yankees on the scoreboard with a huge homer, then adds a run-scoring double that ties the game in a four-run 8th inning during which New York bats around against three Houston relievers. Gary Sanchez drives in three runs for the Yanks.

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The Yankees even the ALCS with a 6 – 4 win over the Astros in Game 4. The Astros head into the bottom of the 7th leading 4 – 0, thanks in part to a bases-clearing double by Yuli Gurriel, but Aaron Judge gets the Yankees on the scoreboard with a huge homer, then adds a run-scoring double that ties the game in a four-run 8th inning during which New York bats around against three Houston relievers. Gary Sanchez drives in three runs for the Yanks.

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C.C. Sabathia and three relievers handcuff Houston on four hits to take an 8-1 verdict over the Astros in Game 3 of the A.L.C.S. at Yankee Stadium. Aaron Judge and Todd Frazier drive in six of New York’s eight runs. Houston still leads the best-of-seven series, 2-1. 

ByTom

2017 – C.C. Sabathia and three relievers handcuff Houston on four hits to take an 8-1 verdict over the Astros in Game 3 of the A.L.C.S. at Yankee Stadium. Aaron Judge and Todd Frazier drive in six of New York’s eight runs. Houston still leads the best-of-seven series, 2-1. 

Twenty-nine years later to the day, Justin Turner follows Kirk Gibson into franchise folklore when he hits a postseason walk-off three-run home run in the 12th inning of the LA’s 4-1 victory over the Cubs in Game 2 of the NLCS. In 1988, a hobbled Kirk Gibson, in his only Fall Classic appearance, came off the bench to hit one of the most memorable round-trippers in World Series history, giving the Dodgers a come-from-behind victory against the A’s in Game 1.

ByTom

Twenty-nine years later to the day, Justin Turner follows Kirk Gibson into franchise folklore when he hits a postseason walk-off three-run home run in the 12th inning of the LA’s 4-1 victory over the Cubs in Game 2 of the NLCS. In 1988, a hobbled Kirk Gibson, in his only Fall Classic appearance, came off the bench to hit one of the most memorable round-trippers in World Series history, giving the Dodgers a come-from-behind victory against the A’s in Game 1.

The Astros take a two games to none lead in the ALCS with a 2 – 1 defeat of the Yankees in Game 2. Justin Verlander pitches a masterful complete game and the Astros score the winning run in the bottom of the 9th as Jose Altuve runs all the way from first base on a double to right by Carlos Correa off Aroldis Chapman.

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The Astros take a two games to none lead in the ALCS with a 2 – 1 defeat of the Yankees in Game 2. Justin Verlander pitches a masterful complete game and the Astros score the winning run in the bottom of the 9th as Jose Altuve runs all the way from first base on a double to right by Carlos Correa off Aroldis Chapman.

The Dodgers win Game 1 of the NLCS, 5 – 2, at home over the Cubs. Chris Taylor breaks a 2 – 2 tie with a solo homer off Hector Rondon in the 6th, and Yasiel Puig follows suit with a shot off Mike Montgomery in the 7th as six Dodgers pitchers limit Chicago to 5 hits.

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The Dodgers win Game 1 of the NLCS, 5 – 2, at home over the Cubs. Chris Taylor breaks a 2 – 2 tie with a solo homer off Hector Rondon in the 6th, and Yasiel Puig follows suit with a shot off Mike Montgomery in the 7th as six Dodgers pitchers limit Chicago to 5 hits.

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Astros take game 1 of 2017 ALCS as Dallas Keuchel twirls seven innings of four-hit shutout ball to silence the Yankees, 2-1

ByTom

2017 – Dallas Keuchel twirls seven innings of four-hit shutout ball to silence the Yankees, 2-1, in Game One of the A.L.C.S. at Minute Maid. Jose Altuve produced half of Houston’s six hits while Marwin Gonzalez saved a run with a strong throw from left field to nab Greg Bird at home plate. 

2017 – The woes of the Nationals in the Division Series continue, as they again fail to advance to the next round of the postseason, losing Game 5 at home, 9 – 8, to the Cubs. In a wild and sloppy game, Washington jumps ahead, 4 – 1 after 2 innings thanks to homers by Daniel Murphy and Michael Taylor off Kyle Hendricks, but Chicago comes back with a pair of runs in the 3rd, and a brutal four-run inning against ace Max Scherzer, pitching in relief in the 4th. Both teams will add a few runs in the later innings, but Chicago’s lead holds to the end as Washington loses at this stage for the fourth time since 2012, and three times in a decisive fifth game in which they held a lead at one point.

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2017 – The woes of the Nationals in the Division Series continue, as they again fail to advance to the next round of the postseason, losing Game 5 at home, 9 – 8, to the Cubs. In a wild and sloppy game, Washington jumps ahead, 4 – 1 after 2 innings thanks to homers by Daniel Murphy and Michael Taylor off Kyle Hendricks, but Chicago comes back with a pair of runs in the 3rd, and a brutal four-run inning against ace Max Scherzer, pitching in relief in the 4th. Both teams will add a few runs in the later innings, but Chicago’s lead holds to the end as Washington loses at this stage for the fourth time since 2012, and three times in a decisive fifth game in which they held a lead at one point.