It gets ugly at the Thanksgiving table for one of the brothers.

In a matchup of 100+ game division winners, the Capitals traveled to 52-degree Target Field for a rematch of one of last year’s AL Division Series.  Both teams faced really tough opponents in the first round that stretched to the deciding 5th game.   

Corey Kluber started Game 1 for the Capitals but the Isotopes had to go with Michael Fulmer as Chris Sale threw the final game of the ALDS against the tough-out Saints.   Fulmer clearly not ready for the G1 spotlight as he gives up 7 runs in the first three innings including 6 after two were out in the second inning.   Capitals go double, single, triple, double, single, single, single yet Fulmer stayed in so as to not burn through the pen in the first game.  Fulmer limps through 5 2/3 with 13 hits and 8 ER.  Down 8-1, the Isotopes get single runs in the 5^th and 7^th to bring it to a less-embarrassing 8-3 score after 7.  Then out of nowhere, the Isotopes start an improbable 8^th inning rally against a Capitals bullpen that went more than 20 innings without giving up a run in the ALDS.  A walk, single, double, walk, line out, walk, out, walk, walk, walk, and a Fowler strike out with the bases loaded caps off one of the crazy half innings in Isotope team history.  2 hits and 6 walks across 5 Capital relievers ties up the game at 8-8 somehow.  Stays scoreless until one out in the bottom of the 10^th when Mookie Betts homers to end a completely unfair game to the Capitals, 9-8.  Capitals outhit Isotopes 15-9 but give up 9 walks across 8 pitchers.  Isotopes up 1-0.  Ridiculous.   

Game 2 has the Capitals sending Chris Archer to the mound to face Mike Clevinger.  Kevin Kiermaier gives the Caps a 1-0 lead in the top of the 2^nd but Carlos Correa matches Kiermaier with an HR of his own in the bottom of the 2^nd.  A Fowler triple and Matt Carpenter home run give the Isotopes a 3-1 lead.  Kiermaier strikes again with a two-run shot, this time in the 4^th to tie it at three.  Isotopes respond in the bottom of the frame with a Josh Donaldson two-run blast to make it 5-3.  A Seager single in the 7^th plates another run and the game ends 6-3.  Isotopes up 2-0 headed to Capital City. 

Game 3 sees Chris Sale take the hill for the visiting Isotopes against Aaron Nola.  Isotopes break a scoreless tie in the 4^th with 4 runs via a walk, single, walk, single, walk, double.  Rizzo homers for the Capitals in the bottom of the 4^th to cut it to 4-2.  Kike Hernandez puts one over the fence to end the scoring at 5-2.  Sale gets the win with 12Ks in 6 innings.  5 runs, 4 hits for the Isotopes, 2 runs, 10 hits for the Capitals.  But 7 walks again hurt the Capitals.  Isotopes up 3-0. 

Game 4 features the Isotopes bringing back shaky G1 starter Michael Fulmer on three day rest, facing Corey Kluber also working on three day rest.  Fulmer is infinitely better this game going 5.2, and allowing only 4 hits, no runs and no walks.   Josh Donaldson hits two solo shots off Kluber to account for the only scoring after 8 ½ innings.  Facing a 2-0 deficit and down to their last three outs of the season, Caps fire it up.  Marcell Ozuna homers off Pat Neshek.  Nelson Cruz doubles and then scores on an Anthony Rizzo single to tie it up at 2!   Last man in the pen that wasn’t exhausted from the Isotopes over-managing, Mychael Givens comes in and strikes out the next two to send it to extra innings.   Isotopes can’t manage any offense in the tenth or eleventh.  Givens is forced to go out again for the bottom of the 11^th when he walks the bases loaded.  2015 Arizona Fall League MVP Adam Engel hits a slow roller to third that scores the winning run.  Capitals bullpen lives up to its billing and is lights out, going 4 1/3 shutout innings to extend the series.  Isotopes up 3 games to 1. 

Game 5 starts with a bit of confusion for the Isotopes as they were counting on Mike Clevinger to take the ball but he says he’s too tired to do so (or it was DMB’s algorithms that had him listed as tired).  Isotopes are forced to turn to their ALDS LVP, Taijuan Walker, who was absolutely destroyed by the Saints vaunted offense with 8 runs in 4 innings, including a 5-run first.  Capitals send out Trevor Bauer to hopefully send the series back to Springfield.  In the 3^rd, Freddie Freeman connects on a 2-run blast followed by a Josh Donaldson solo shot.  Mookie Betts hits another HR in the 4^th to go up 4-0.  Anthony Rizzo cuts it to 4-1 on a deep rightfield shot.  Taijuan goes 6 strong, leaving with a 4-1 lead.  Donaldson drives home Seager in the 7^th to extend it to 5-1.  With two on and two out in the bottom of the 9^th, Carl Edwards gets Anthony Rendon to strike out to give the Isotopes their second consecutive AL Pennant. 

The series key for the Isotopes – in addition to getting stupid lucky in Game 1 – was holding Francisco Lindor and Anthony Rendon to a combined 3-41, all singles.   

Josh Donaldson takes home ALCS MVP Honors with his .412/.500/1.176 and 4 HRs.  

Capitals outhit the Isotopes 47-39, but giving up 27 walks was likely the deciding factor.  We’ve all given up a bunch of walks but it generally happens with tired pitchers and in games with far less on the line.  To have five fresh, top-of-the-line relievers give up 2 hits and 6 walks in an inning was beyond wrong.  Jason clearly deserved a much tighter series than he got!