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Now that the 2016 Major League Baseball season has come to an end, here’s a recap of the best games of what was an exciting postseason. 5.) AL Wild Card Game – Blue Jays/Orioles This game was expected to be a slugfest between two of MLB’s best offenses, but it turned into a pitcher’s duel that went 11 innings. The Blue Jays went home winners thanks to a walk-off three-run blast from Edwin Encarnacion, but this game will be remembered for controversy, in more ways than one. Mid-way through the game, a Blue Jays fan threw a beer onto the field that almost his Orioles’ left fielder Hyun-Soo Kim. That’s not all. Zach Britton, All-Star closer for the Orioles and AL Cy Young favorite, did not pitch in the game. Buck Showalter instead decided to use a handful of other relievers out of his pen, and the O’s lost the game without their best pitcher entering the game. Nonetheless, it was a great game in its entirety. I mean, who doesn’t love a postseason walk-off home run? 4.) NLDS Games 3 and 4 – Cubs/Giants After Game 3, a lot of baseball fans were thinking the same thing: “Uh oh, the Giants’ even-year magic is happening again.” After dropping the first two games of the series and going down 3-0 in Game 3 thanks to a Jake Arrieta homer off Madison Bumgarner, the Giants used late-inning heroics to fight off elimination. With the Giants up two runs heading into the ninth, Kris Bryant tied the game with a homerun, which sent the game into extras. The Giants won on a Joe Panik walk-off hit in the 13th inning, in a game that featured 13 pitchers. The Cubs ended the Giants even-year title streak with a come-from-behind win in Game 4. San Fran jumped out to a 5-2 lead and looked well on its way to forcing a Game 5, but the Cubs rallied for four runs in an insane ninth inning to take the lead. Kris Bryant led off the inning with a single, Ben Zobrist hit a two-run double, Willson Contreras had an RBI single and the go-ahead run scored on Javier Baez’s RBI single. Aroldis Chapman mowed the Giants down in the bottom of the ninth, and the Cubs moved on to the NLCS. 3.) NLDS Game 5 – Dodgers/Nationals It’s a shame that this wasn’t a seven-game series, because it had all the makings of one. Game 5 looked like it was going to go to the Nats, as ace Max Scherzer was straight dealing and the Dodgers couldn’t figure him out. But Joc Pederson’s leadoff solo homer in the seventh inning sparked a four-run rally, and the Dodgers eventually held on to a one-run win. The mind games inside the game itself were wild. Dusty Baker used six pitchers in the seventh inning, while Dave Roberts made his share of pitching changes in the inning as well. In total, the seventh inning alone lasted over one hour, with six runs crossing the plate. That’s insane. But what was even crazier was Clayton Kershaw coming into the game in the ninth inning to get the final two outs on one-day’s rest, recording his first career save. 2.) World Series Games 3 and 5 – Cubs/Indians Aside from that incredible Game 7, these were the other two best games of the World Series. The Indians won Game 3, 1-0, while the Cubs won game 5, 3-2. Game 3 was as good as it gets pitching wise, as the Tribe used four pitchers to shutout the Cubs. Josh Tomlin gave the Indians a good start and with a runner on first and two outs in the fifth, Francona brought in his stopper, Andrew Miller, to get out of the inning. It was the Cubs’ last threat of the game, as they went down quietly after that. Coco Crisp’s seventh-inning RBI single plated the game’s only run, and the Indians won the way they had all postseason, with dominant pitching and timely hitting. Game 5 was the ultimate chess match. Joe Maddon and Terry Francona took turns making their strategic moves, giving everyone watching the game a headache trying to keep up with the lineup card changes. The biggest decision of the night came when Maddon, up one run and down 3-1 in the seires, brought closer Aroldis Chapman in for an eight-out save in the seventh inning. He got the job done and saved the Cubs’ season in the process. 1.) World Series Game 7 – Cubs/Indians In an already historic World Series, Game 7 between the Cubs and Indians will go down as one of the best postseason games of all-time. From Dexter Fowler’s leadoff home run (the first leadoff dinger ever in a Game 7), to Rajai Davis’ eighth-inning game-tying homer off Chapman, to the rain delay, to the Cubs winning their first championship since 1908, this game had everything. It was only fitting that a World Series between two teams with a combined 176-year title drought needed extra innings in a Game 7 to decide a champion. Ben Zobrist, the eventual WS MVP, drove in a run with an RBI double down the left field line in the 10th inning and Miguel Montero followed by knocking in what turned out to be the winning run with a single to left field. It was a long chess match between Joe Maddon and Terry Francona that had fans on the edge of their seats all night. The drama was unbearable and rightfully so, there was a lot at stake. No wonder it was the most-watched baseball game in 25 years, a game that ended with the Cubs’ winning their first World Series in 108 years. Honorable Mentions: NLCS Games 1 and 2 – Cubs/Dodgers, ALDS Game 3 – Indians/Red Sox, ALDS Game 3 – Blue Jays/Rangers
1 Comment
Emma
12/6/2016 12:18:40 am
I don't follow baseball at all, but you are a very talented writer. As thorough as you were, this piece was easy to follow even for a baseball novice like myself. Your blog is also very well-organized, which is appreciated. Best of luck with everything!
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