Even though the Rats had the better overall record during the regular season, the Vols had dominated the h2h games with a 9-3 record and were entering the series having defeated the regular season dominating Halos.

Game 1
Volcanos 1, Rats 0
Wp Jimenez  Lp lester
Pitching has been the Rats secret to the success all season, as they were second in the league with a 3.37 era. This game Jimenez of the Vols is better as he pitches a complete game shut-out only allowing 3 hits. Lester only allows 2 hits, but one is a solo HR to slugging Jose Bautista. That run is enough for the Vols.

Game 2
Volcanos 3, Rats 5
WP Soriano  LP Braden
Another tight game, this time the Rats score in the 1st as Raja Davis scores on an error. Weaver has had issues with allowing HRs all season and it continues here as Bautista goes deep again, this time a 2 run shot that gives the Vols a 2-1 lead. Rats bounce right back to tie thigns up in the 4th on a Holliday HR.  In the 5th Weaver is touched again by Suzuki for a solo HR, but 2Bs by Barton and Delmon Young tie it right back up in the 6th for the Rats. In the bottom of the 8th, Francisco comes in for the VOls with 2 runners on and he walks Joyce to load the bases and then gives up a 2 run 1B to Thole for a 5-3 Rats lead. Soriano and Wagner shut things down from there as the Rats tie the series at 1.

Game 3
Rats 12, Volcanos 10
WP chen  Lp Grienke
Rats jump all over Grienke scoring 3 in the 2nd and 4 in the 3rd for a 7-1 lead. It seems like it will be a comfortable win for the Rats as they head into the 9th with a 10-4 margin. In a messy top of the 9th, the Rats add 2 in an inning that included 2wp, 3 bbs and an infield single. These 2 seemingly insignificant runs prove to be the winning margin as the Vols roar back with 6 in the bottom of the 9th, a 3 run Bautista HR the big blow. Finally Soriano comes in for the Rats and closes things down as the Rats hang on for the win. Holliday, Pagan and Barton had HRs for the Rats.

Game 4
Rats 4, Volcanos 1
WP Lester  LP de la Rosa
Rats jump out 2-0 in the 1st on Raja Davis 2B, Michaels 2B, Young 1B. Lester is once again very tough, once again only allowing 1 run, this time on a Beltre HR. Soriano and Wagner again close out the victory and give the Rats a 3-1 series lead.

Game 5
Rats 4, Volcanos 3
WP Mitre  LP Jimenez
Rats throw Niemann against Jimenez this time and he gets thrown out of the game in the 1st inning after hitting Beltre. Beltre is also eliminated from the game. The Rats are forced to go to the bullpen really early in a game that they don’t expect to win against the tough Jimenez. Mitre is pretty good and the rest of the Rats pen is very good.
Rats take a 1-0 lead as Holliday singles home Joyce, but the Vols tie it right back up in the bottom of the 3rd as Miles scores from 3rd on a failed double play attempt by the Rats. A Gonzalez HR give the Vols a 2-1 lead in the 4th, however, the Rats come right back in the 5th and take the lead 3-2 on a Holliday 2 run HR. In the 7th the Rats add another run on an error. IN the bottom of the 7th the VOls get a 2B by Snider and he is singled home by Suzuki, but the Rats pen is once again shut down from there, Soriano and Wagner once again are perfect. Rats use 6 pitchers to get the win.

Rats hitting stars
Holliday .389ba .476obp 3hr, 6rs, 5rbi
Thole in only 7 abs hit .571, 667 obp and drove in 4 key runs

For the Vols the only real hitting came from Bautista who hit 3hrs and drove in 6. VOls hit only .218 as a team

Lester was 1-1 with a 1.29 era for the Rats, but the true heros were the bullpen
Peralta 2ip 0 runs
Soriano 4ip 0 runs
Wagner 3ip 0 runs
Carrasco 1IP 0 runs
The starters for the Vols, other than Jimenez were disappointing
Braden 4.70era
De la Rosa 6.00 era
Grienke 23.63 era

Thanks Jeff for the fun h2h and congrats to the Vols on a great season.