I see this series going to LAH in 5 games with the G5 score being 6-1

AL League Championship Series 2013

During the 2013 regular season there were 3 teams with 100+ wins in the American League, the Los Angeles Halos (122), the Kentucky Wildcats (106) and the Philadelphia Smackdown (104). The Toronto Crown Royals had 81 wins but earned their way to the AL League Championship by knocking off two of the three 100+ win teams … talk about a tough road to get here! All that stands between them and a TBBL best 3 trips to the World Series is one more 100+ team! 

The Toronto franchise might be one of the most successful playoff teams in TBBL history. Located in Richmond, they won the very 1^st TBBL World Series in 2004 against the Moon Raiders after knocking off a 115 win Kentucky team in the LCS. They became the 1^st team to make consecutive World Series appearances as they returned in 2005, but this time lost to Los Angeles (nicknamed the Angels that season). [FYI -Newark became the 2^nd team to make consecutive appearances as they did it in 2010 and 2011.] In 2006, they made their 3^rd straight LCS appearance before being swept by Kentucky. In 2010, they knocked off 112 win Los Angeles before losing to eventual World Series Champs, Carefree and in 2011 they knocked off 108 win Los Angeles before losing to eventual World Series Champs, Lincoln Tunnel Rats. To summarize this franchise has appeared in 2 World Series and won 1 Championship and appeared in a TBBL best 6 LCS winning 2 with one left to be decided.

The Los Angeles franchise has won more regular season games (1074) than any other team, but their playoff history has been more about losing. In 2012, they appeared to finally be cured of the “Arod curse” which cast a terrible dark shadow over the franchise since they traded for him in 2006 after winning the World Series in 2005. During 2006 through 2011, they lost 6 of 9 playoff series including 4 straight from 2008 until 2011. This was despite having won an average of 108.5 games per season during that time. Finally in 2012, they retuned to the World Series but were over matched by San Antonio in 5 games but they did finally find some playoff success winning 8 straight playoff games to get there. To return for the 3^rd time, they had to get past a red hot Toronto club that as a franchise has thrived on knocking off 100+ win teams! 

Game 1 at Los Angeles

Zach Greinke (17-10) vs. Yu Darvish (18-3)

LA catches a break early as Seth Smith misplays Izturis’ fly ball into a 2 base error and Hill cashes in with an RBI single and 1-0 lead. The lead didn’t last long as Morales homers deep to CF after Alvarez walked to put Toronto up 2-1. Darvish was outstanding after that as he yielded only one more hit going the complete game allowing only the 2 runs and k’d 12. Greinke also pitched great but the Halos did scratch out the tying run in the 7^th on a lead off double by Hardy, a sac bunt and then a sac fly by Dirks. Greinke is then the victim of some wildness by him and the bully in the 8^th. Ortiz singles with 1 out and advances to 2^nd on a passed ball which chases Greinke who had reached 109 pitches. Howell comes on mid-at bat to Heyward who is then removed for Frandsen who is then intentionally walked. Teixeira is unintentionally hit and Granderson unintentionally walked which scores the go ahead run. That is how it ended 3-2, a tough one to lose for Greinke and Toronto.

WP – Y.Darvish (1-0)

LP – Z.Greinke (0-1)

Series - LAH 1, TCR 0

Game 2 at Los Angeles

Carlos Villanueva (4-3) vs. C.C. Sabathia (15-6)

Again LA catches a break early, this time before the game even starts as Sale who pitched game 7 in the Divisional series is unavailable to pitch in game 2 forcing Toronto to go with Villanueva who only had 7 starts during the regular season. Unfortunately, he wasn’t up to the task early as a Hill 2-run double in the 1^st and a text message by Teixeira in the 2^nd put the Halos up 3-0 after 2. Meanwhile C.C. who was pounded by Jersey in his previous start at least got through 2 innings before running into trouble in the 3^rd. With 1 out, 4 straight singles (Casilla, Castro, Snider & Werth) make it a 3-1 game with the bases still loaded. In an unprecedented move (for him), the “Old Mule”, pulls C.C. after only 2 1/3 and Fien comes in to strike out the side preventing more damage. Villanueva settled down and pitched 3 scoreless innings keeping things tight but in the 6^th Big Papi hit the 1^st pitch of the inning out of the park and Granderson hit a 2-run shot (Heyward reached on an error) and the score jumped quickly to 6-1. Unfortunately for Toronto it got worse from there as in the 7^th, Molina homered and Ortiz doubled which finally chased Villanueva. Rogers came on and just added gas to the fire as LA plated 4 more to extend their lead to 11-1. LA bats ultimately did their damage, but the game was won by the bully (Fien, O’Flaherty, Gregerson, Perkins & Lewis) who threw 6.1 innings allowing only 4 hits (3 by Lewis after the game was out of reach) and no runs.

WP – C.Fien (1-0)

LP – C.Villanueva (0-1)

Series - LAH 2, TCR 0

Game 3 at Toronto

Jake Peavy (22-4) vs. Chris Sale (12-10)

As the location shifted, the Halos were feeling pretty confident with LDS series MVP, Peavy, on the bump, but their confidence was short lived as Toronto’s bats woke up. In the bottom of the 1^st after Ichiro grounded out Dunn singled, Smith walked, Alvarez lined out sharply to left and then Morales grounded a single through the infield scoring 2. Francisco followed with another single to make it 3-0. A Dunn jack in the 2^nd made it 4-0 Thanks to a solid start by Sale (IP 6, hits 7, runs 2) and great work by the bully (Hughes, Howell, Crow) who combined to pitch 3 innings allowing only 1 hit and no runs, the game was effectively over. Toronto tacked on another run and the Halos did score 2 late to make the final 5-2. Peavy and Oliver combined for 14 k’s and only 1 BB in a losing effort. Sale and bully had broken the ice for Toronto and made this a series.

WP – C.Sale (1-0)

LP – J.Peavy (0-1)

Series - LAH 2, TCR 1

Game 4 at Toronto

Brandon Morrow (13-5) vs. Mike Minor (11-14)

For the 1^st time in the series, both starting pitchers actually put up 0’s in the 1^st 3 innings, but in the 4^th a Frandsen run scoring triple got the scoring started. He scored on a Tex sac fly and LA was up 2-0. Carter went deep in the bottom the inning to cut the lead to 2-1 and that was all the scoring there would be in the game. Both starters were dealing as there wasn’t any more threats until the 7^th inning when Betancourt came on to strand Dunn at 3^rd. In the 8^th, it looked like Toronto had something promising starting as Ichiro lead off the inning with a double but again Betancourt came up big getting both Castro and Werth to ground out. O’Flaherty came on to face LDS MVP Alvarez but he was lifted for a pinch hitter, Donaldson, who k’d to end the inning. Pestano closed out the 9^th and LA takes a close one 2-1. Minor earned the loss but really didn’t deserve it as he pitched a beauty going 8 innings allowing just 3 hits, with 7 k’s and 2 runs. His one mistake of allowing a triple to Frandsen cost him as the Toronto bats just couldn’t generate any offense. A big opportunity missed by Toronto to even up the series.

WP – B.Morrow (1-0)

LP – M.Minor (0-1)

S – V.Pestano (1)

Series - LAH 3, TCR 1

Game 5 at Toronto

Yu Darvish (1-0) vs. Zach Greinke (0-1)

Toronto’s backs were certainly against the wall heading into game 5 down 3 games to 1, but they did have their ace on the mound to hopefully turn their fortunes around. LA opened the scoring with a 2 out homerun by Hardy in the 2^nd, but Morales matched that with a solo shot in the 5^th to even up the score 1-1 and breakup the no hitter. In the 6^th, Ortiz singled, Heyward doubled and Tex doubled them home for a 3-1 LA lead. Greinke did a great job ending the scoring by striking out Granderson and Hardy and then induced a ground out by Dirks but with the way Darvish was dealing more than enough damage was already done. LA added a couple more runs to make the final 6-1 but the story was Darvish who went 7.2 innings allowing 3 hits, 1 run and struck out 13.

WP – Y.Darvish (2-0)

LP – Z.Greinke (0-2)

Series - LAH 4, JER 1

Series MVP: Y. Darvish (2-0, IP 16.2, K 25, CG, ERA 1.62)

Darvish was certainly outstanding and deserved this award but an assist has to go to the bullpen which went 13.2 innings allowing just 6 hits and no runs while striking out 12. We also need to acknowledge Big Papi who hit .500 in the series with a .889 slugging % and Teixeira who hit .353 with a team best 6 rbi.

It was a great playoff run for Toronto who seemed to just run out of magic after knocking off two 100+ win teams. Hard to believe they were just a .500 win team in the regular season. As mentioned earlier this franchise might arguable be the best playoff team in TBBL history and the bad news for the rest of the TBBL is that they have landed in Tony’s hands. Knowing Tony as I do … Toronto is going to build on this historic franchise’s accomplishments. Thanks to Tony for a fun series, I always enjoy our battles and I look forward to our 2014 battles!