Nov 02

World Series Game Six, 2021

Braves at Astros, 5:09 PM PDT, TV: Fox

LHP Max Fried (Postseason 1-2, 5.40 ERA) tries to nail the series victory down for the Braves. Standing in his way is RHP Luis Garcia (Postseason 1-2, 7.62 ERA) of the Astros.

From MLB:

Fried had a shaky outing in Game 2, giving up five runs in the game’s first two innings. But much of the damage against him came on ground-ball singles through the holes, and he settled in as the game evolved. Garcia allowed one run on three hits with four walks and six strikeouts in only 3 2/3 innings in Game 3 on Friday.

On this date in baseball history Chase Utley homered twice in Game Five of the 2009 World Series, staving off elimination by the Yankees for one more day. The Cubs beat the Indians 8-7 in ten innings in Game Seven of the 2016 World Series to win their first title in 108 years.

Lineups when available.

Braves:

Astros:

Oct 29

World Series Game Three, 2021

Astros at Braves, 5:09 PM PDT, TV: Fox

The Astros send RHP Luis Garcia (Postseason 1-1, 9.64 ERA) to the mound and the Braves counter with RHP Ian Anderson (Postseason 1-0, 2.25 ERA).

Today in baseball history was mostly filled with managerial and executive moves, as it wasn’t until 2001 that the World Series was extended this late in the year. In 2008 the Phillies won their second championship by beating the Rays in the continuation of a rain-suspended game, and in 2014 Madison Bumgarner pitched five scoreless relief innings in Game Seven and his Giants beat the Royals in Kansas City.

Lineups when available.

Astros:

Braves:

Oct 22

ALCS Game Six, 2021

Red Sox at Astros, 5:08 PM PDT, TV: FS1

The visiting Red Sox need to win today to stay alive. They’ll give the ball to RHP Nathan Eovaldi (postseason 2-1, 5.51 ERA) and ask him to keep the Astros down. The Astros ask RHP Luis Garcia (postseason 0-1, 24.55 ERA) to end the Series right now.

Today in baseball history John Updike published his ode to Ted Williams as “The Kid” played his final game at Fenway Park in 1960, in 1975 the Reds beat the Red Sox in a World Series filled with reversals, home runs, and foul balls waved fair, Albert Pujols homered three times in Game Three of the 2011 World Series, and in 2016 the Cubs beat the Dodgers in Game Six of the NLCS to win their first pennant in 71 years.

Lineups:

Red Sox:

Astros:

Oct 16

ALCS Game Two, 2021

Red Sox at Astros, 1:20 PM PDT, TV: Fox

U-less RHP Nathan Eovaldi (13-9, 3.75 ERA) takes the hill for the BoSox; he’ll face the Astros’ RHP Luis Garcia (11-8, 3.48 ERA). Eovaldi went five innings in Boston’s ALDS Game Three against the Rays, giving up two runs on three hits. Garcia started Game Three in Houston’s ALDS Game Three against the White Sox and was horrible; he gave up five runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings.

On this date in baseball history Bobby Richardson caught Willie McCovey’s line drive to end the 1962 World Series, the Miracle Mets won the 1969 World Series behind a Jerry Koosman five-hitter in Game Five, Jack Clark broke Tom Niedenfuer’s and Dodgers’ fans hearts in the 1985 NLCS, Aaron Boone did the same to Tim Wakefield and the Red Sox in the 11th inning of Game Seven of the 2003 ALCS, and Will Smith the Dodgers’ catcher homered off Will Smith the Braves’ reliever in 2020.

Lineups when available.

Red Sox:

Astros:

Oct 10

ALDS Games Three, 2021

Game One: Rays at Red Sox, 1:07 PM PDT, TV: MLBN

RHP Drew Rasmussen (0-1, 4.24 ERA) pitches for the Rays and RHP Nathan Eovaldi (11-9, 3.75 ERA) does so for the Sox.

Game Two: Astros at White Sox, 5:07 PM PDT, TV: FS1

The Astros send RHP Luis Garcia (11-8, 3.30 ERA) to the hill to face RHP Dylan Cease (13-7, 3.91 ERA) of the White Sox.

On this date in baseball history Bill Wambsganss pulled off an unassisted triple play in the World Series (against Brooklyn, of course) in 1920. Lew Burdette is named MVP of the 1957 World Series for winning three complete games in the Braves’ defeat of the Yankees. Mickey Lolich of the Tigers outdueled Bob Gibson of the Cardinals to win the Series for his team in 1968. There’s a lot more to be seen at the link.

Lineups when available.

Rays:

Red Sox:

Astros:

White Sox:

May 26

Game 49, 2021

Dodgers at Astros, 4:40 PM PDT, TV: ESPN, ATT SportsNet SW, SPNLA

RHP Trevor Bauer (5-2, 1.98 ERA) tries to pitch the Dodgers to a sweep of this two-game series. He’ll face the Astros’ RHP Luis Garcia (2-3, 3.38 ERA).

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 2015 Clayton Kershaw pitched seven innings of four-hit ball and the Dodgers scored six runs in the fourth inning on doubles by Howie Kendrick, Andre Ethier and A.J. Ellis and went on to beat the Atlanta Braves 8-0.

Also, a very famous game took place on this date in 1959: Pirates’ hurler Harvey Haddix pitches 12 perfect innings but loses 1-0 to the Braves in the 13th inning. The heart-breaking winning run scores on a Don Hoak error, a sacrifice, a walk, and a two-bagger by Joe Adcock. To add insult to injury,

In 1991, the Committee for Statistical Accuracy in Baseball announced that a no-hitter would be redefined as “a game in which a pitcher or pitchers complete a game of nine innings or more without allowing a hit,” meaning Haddix’s gem no longer qualified. When he was made aware that one of the greatest games ever pitched no longer had a place in the record books, his response was simple: “It’s OK. I know what I did.”

Lineup when available.

Oct 15

ALCS Game Five, 2020

Rays vs Astros, 3:07 PM PDT, TV: TBS

The Rays lead the series 3-1 and can end it today. They’ll send RHP John Curtiss out to “open” the game and hope he can go several innings before they initiate a parade of relievers. The Astros send RHP Luis Garcia out in an all-hands-on-deck game; he’s a rookie who had never pitched above Class A until this year. He hasn’t pitched since September 27 (1/3 of an inning) and hasn’t gone more than two innings since he went five on September 9 in his second MLB game.

Events which involve the Rays’ that took place on this date in baseball history all had to do with MLB deciding which division to put them in after expansion. The Astros’ have one slightly more exciting episode: in 1986 in the longest postseason game ever played to that point (4 hours and 42 minutes), the Mets clinch their third National League crown, beating Houston in sixteen innings at the Astrodome, 7-6. Trailing 3-0, Lenny Dykstra and Ray Knight spark a ninth-inning rally, which sends the game into extra innings. [The Dodgers – Astros 2017 World Series Game Five went ten innings and lasted 5:17.]