In a surprise announcement, the Red Sox announce that manager John Farrell will not return in 2018. The Sox have just won back-to-back division titles, and also won the 2013 World Series under Farrell’s leadership.
The Giants stave off elimination with a 6 – 5 win over the Cubs in Game 3 of the other NLDS. Jake Arrieta gives the Cubs an early lead with a three-run blast off Madison Bumgarner, and the game is closely fought until Joe Panik ends it after five hours and four minutes by driving in Brandon Crawford from second base with a double in the 13th inning.
The Indians complete a sweep of the Red Sox in the ALDS with a 4 – 3 win in Fenway Park. A two-run single by Tyler Naquin and a two-run homer by Coco Crisp give them an early lead, but Boston claws back in David Ortiz’s final game to close the lead to a single run; they have two men on board in the bottom of the 9th when closer Cody Allen registers the final out to earn his second save of the series.
The Nationals win Game 3 of the NLDS, 8 – 3 over the Dodgers. Anthony Rendon homers off Kenta Maeda as part of a four-run 3rd inning, but Los Angeles comes back to within one run thanks in part to a two-run pinch homer by Carlos Ruiz off Gio Gonzalez in the 5th. The Nats put the game away with 4 runs in the top of the 9th, including a homer by Jayson Werth off closer Kenley Jansen.
The Cubs even the other Division Series with a 6 – 3 win at St. Louis. The Cubs score five times against Jaime Garcia in the 2nd, including back-to-back successful squeeze bunts. The Cardinals hit three homers, but they are all solo shots.
The Mets are cruising along with a 2 – 1 lead behind rookie Noah Syndergaard in the 7th inning of Game 2 of the NLDS when Chase Utley barrels into SS Ruben Tejada to break up a potential inning-ending double play. He not only succeeds, but also breaks Tejada’s leg in the process while the Mets vainly argue for an interference call. Major League Baseball will hand Utley a two-game suspension for his unnecessarily violent slide, but in the meantime, Los Angeles takes advantage of the controversial play to score four runs in the inning and ends up a 5 – 2 winner, evening the series.
2014 – The Royals win in extra innings for the fourth time in five postseason games, defeating Baltimore, 8 – 6, in 10 innings, in Game 1 of the ALCS. Alex Gordon hits a solo homer off Darren O’Day to put Kansas City ahead, and Mike Moustakas follows with a two-run shot.
For the second straight year, the Tigers defeat the Athletics in the 5th game of the Division Series. The team’s two biggest stars are the heroes today, as Justin Verlander gives up no runs on 2 hits over 8 innings, while Miguel Cabrera hits a two-run homer off rookie Sonny Gray in the 4th. Joaquin Benoit picks up the save in the 3 – 0 win.
St. Louis takes a 2 games to 1 lead in the NLDS with an 8 – 0 shutout of Washington. Chris Carpenter, who has only pitched 17 innings this season after sustaining an injury in spring training, pitches 5 2/3 innings for the win. Matt Holliday has three hits and Pete Kozma hits a three-run homer off Edwin Jackson to lead the Cards’ offense.
The Athletics orchestrate a three-run rally in the bottom of the 9th off Tigers closer Jose Valverde to win, 4 – 3, and even the ALDS at 2 wins apiece. Detroit leads, 3 – 1, entering the final frame when Seth Smith hits a two-run double to tie the score, and Coco Crisp ends the game with a single.