2016 Senior League Championship Series: Game 1, Dodgers @ Cubs

The Senior League Division Series went longer than the Junior League, no Sweeps. The Cubs (107 – 59) won in 4 games and finished on Tuesday. The Dodgers (94 – 73) went all the way to a 5th deciding game on Thursday. The Cubs have had substantially (2 days) longer to rest than the Dodgers. This maybe explains why they’re going with Kenta Maeda today and the Cubs with their Ace, Jon Lester.

Here’s how each team played in their final game-

Tuesday’s Game, Cubs @ Giants

Bottom 1st- Leadoff Double. Sacrifice. RBI Sacrifice. Giants 1 – 0.

Top 3rd- Solo Shot. Tied at 1.

Bottom 4th- Single. Single. Walk. RBI Single. Giants 2 – 1. RBI Sacrifice. Giants 3 – 1.

Top 5th- Error, Runner at 3rd. RBI Sacrifice. Giants 3 – 2.

Bottom 5th- Single. Double. RBI Single. Giants 4 – 2. RBI Sacrifice. Giants 5- 2.

Top 9th- Single. Walk. RBI Double. Giants 5 – 3. 2 RBI Single. Tied at 5. RBI Single. Cubs 6 – 5 Final.

Cubs win Series 3 – 1

Thursday’s Game, Dodgers @ Nationals

Bottom 2nd- Leadoff Single. Steal. Walk. RBI Single. Nationals 1 – 0.

Top 7th- Leadoff HR. Tied at 1. Walk. Single. RBI Single. Dodgers 2 – 1. 2 RBI Triple. Dodgers 4 – 1.

Bottom 7th- Leadoff Walk. 2 RBI HR. Dodgers 4 – 3 Final.

Dodgers win Series 3 – 2

As I mentioned above the Dodgers are hurting for pitching. Their Ace, Clayton Kershaw, notched the final 2 Outs Thursday for the save on exactly 1 day of rest after they had exhausted their entire Bullpen. The staff, collectively, has had exactly 1 day of rest now.

The Cubs starter, Jon Lester (L, 19 – 5, 2.44 ERA), has 1 Win in the Division Series with no Runs and 5 Hits in 8 Innings. He’s given up no Walks and has 5 Strike Outs.

Oh, and that spotless 0.00 ERA.

The Dodgers Kenta Maeda (R, 16 – 11, 3.48 ERA) on the other hand, while he’s on full rest, Lost his game and his numbers are not nearly as outstanding. 5 Hits for 4 Runs in 3 Innings, including a HR. He has 2 Walks against 4 Strike Outs and a not nearly as stellar 12.00 ERA.

12.00.

Now this suits me just fine because if the Metropolitans can’t win it all I’d just as soon it was the hapless Cubbies and certainly not the Traitors of Chavez Ravine. Likewise TMC if the Yankees (less said the better about current Management) or the Giants are out is fine with the oft thwarted Cubs.

I expect a blowout. Maeda can’t give them a lead and they couldn’t hold it if he did. That said it’s only the one game and yada yada.

Go Cubs!