The good, the bad, and the ugly. We did win,after all.
The bad: Mikolas has the reputation as the best control starter. The first inning was the worst of his career according to the announcers, at least according to number of pitches. So, Miko walks the first two hitters before he settled down. Yes, Wong committed an error, which would have made no difference if there hadn’t been a runner on third due to two walks (first was thrown out stealing). The error that Wong made was partially due to inaction, partially due to the fact that it was a rushed play that required clean fielding to get anyone. It had bounced past Miko, was on the SS side of second (slightly) and so slowly hit that they would have been fortunate to get either the runner at second or first. Don’t walk leadoff hitters, especially in the playoffs.
Then, we hit into two third to first DPs that killed innings.
Miko does well. Then, his replacement hits a batter to lead off an inning. No hit by pitchers as leadoffs either. Then, we had a double and an intentional walk. Good way to start an inning. So, they get out of it with two runs off of an error? On a throw? They gave the hitter an infield hit. Got out of it with a couple of fly balls. Throw strikes to leadoff hitters, and we don’t allow a run.
Even in the ninth, it was once again a leadoff walk that started the problem. Walk, HR. Then, we get a 3-1 count and another HR. Throw strikes with a four-run lead. He did finish well, and there is nobody else. I’m a C Martinez fan. His stuff is hard to hit.
Bader showed why you really want him around. Yes, he hits the occasional HR. But, this winter, just teach him to get on first any way he can. SH, steals third. Is there anyone who steals third so easily as he? Scores on a grounder to second. Good baseball. Only Bader makes that work, maybe Wong. Bader is 12 of 15 (80%) on SB. Wong is 24 of 28 (85.7%).
After Goldy’s HR in the eighth, Ozuna and Molina went down. Two outs, nobody on. DeJong and Wong singled. Carp comeds in an singles to drive home the tying run. Wong doesn’t make it to take the lead. But, three good two-out hits got the tie.
Then, the ninth. Ozuna’s double with the bases loaded hit fair, went past third, hit foul. About half the time, they call that foul, based on whether it went past third fair or foul. Then, we had exactly the same situation at first base as Wong’s double hit fair, apparently crossed fair, and landed foul. I’ve seen that called foul on Wong all year. Both are bases-loaded doubles. We got the calls.
So many people did good things. Miko went five, despite the start. We had some close plays on defense that we made: Edman and Wong late. The worst of the night was Molina who did nothing on offense, but kept the staff together and threw out a runner. He did get an intentional walk ahead of Wong’s double. If it had been anyone other than Molina, might have scored from first with where that was hit.
Good start. I kind of like it that we have Flaherty , Wainwright, and Hudson coming up. The Braves have a problem.