Game 1

The 1st round of the FMBA playoffs would see the DBacks take on the Cardinals for the 6th time this year - as if these two teams needed more face time. With Tony Wyllie and Tom Gayef recovering from provincial domination the weekend prior, DBacks management handed the ball over to right handed ace Ryan Saunders.

The match-up looked good as Nelly was undergoing reconstructive surgery to repair a damaged finger and the Cards elected to start their bullpen catcher.

Unfortunately, lead off walks, timely errors and a few Seeing Eye singles eluded the DBacks' defense. Combined with some lack-luster swinging, the DBacks dropped game 1 with a score of 8 to 3.

The @FMBAUmpires were particularly bad this night causing full-time DL member James Trask to do his best Lou Piniella impersonation.

MVP: Galen (2 for 3), but more so for recording his first Stolen Bag.
VAG: @FMBAUmpires for showing us what rock bottom looks like.

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Game 2

Down 1 – 0 the DBacks looked to even the series as veteran knuckleballer Tony Wyllie took on Cards Ace Aren Nelson.

As per usual Tony’s consistent playground zone speeds baffled the Cards hitting lineup. Not one hard hit ball occurred all game. Tony was quoted after the game saying “I can’t even throw these things any slower”.

In a do-or-die game, the DBacks offence finally came around. Moro, Brad and Chatwood all came up huge and Gerwing topped it off with a solo dinger to rub salt in the wound.

Dbacks win 14 – 3.

MVP: Chatwood (2 for 4, 5 RBI) and Gerwing (3 for 4, Solo Homo)
VAG: Justin Bryant (0 for 3) for giving away all his hitting secrets to the Cardinals 2 Years earlier only to have them use it against him.

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Game 3

Tied 1 – 1 and slotted at 9am Sunday morning the Cards and DBacks looked to avoid playing the worst playoff game in FMBA history.

With every pitcher used in the previous games Cardinals management was scrambling to find a starter. At one point we were pretty sure Glen Hansen started getting loose. DBacks would start hard throwing right hander Tom Gayef.

Gayef looked solid spotting the knees and giving a steady diet of “by-you” fast balls. After the first inning catcher Galen Akers was quoted saying “I’m just gonna put the curve ball away until the 5th, OK?”

Kill count was set at 13 Ks with no walks for the big righty. The Cards mounted a slight comeback in the 6th with back to back infield singles with an absolutely awful pick off by Gayef who threw the ball into the stands.

The Cardinals defense looked hung-over and tired. In the second, the usually exceptional Falls brothers ran into each other allowing a fly ball to drop just past the mound giving Justin Bryant his first base running experience all series. Graydon Falls was quoted after the game “Things are going to be awkward at thanks giving”.

Oddly, the 3, 4, 5 hitters for the dbacks went 0-for but everyone else seemed to get a hit or 3.

MVP: Gayef (13 K’s) but more for the zero walk count.

VAG: Chatwood / Brad for going 0 for.