Divisional Series: Montreal vs. Carolina, Game Two

With Game 1 decided by a dominant performance from Montreal's Raúl Pérez and an error by the Crush's relief pitcher Agguire. This game, the margin for victory would be just as slim, if not moreso. This one would feature Montreal's midseason acquisition Bob Rudyard (2.20 ERA on the season) against the Crush's Ángel Galindo (2.95 ERA).

Justin Wallace

The Crush came out like a team desperate, center fielder Justin Wallace launching an 0-2 pitch out of the park for an early 1 run lead. Rudyard got the next two outs and loaded the bases, but got out of the jam by striking out third baseman Greg Gordon.

The top of the 4th would give Gordon an opportunity to redeem himself. He hit a two-run shot after second baseman Scott Andrews walked to lead off the inning in front of the third baseman. Catcher Francisco Solano then hit a single, but Solano and Wallace teamed up to help Rudyard out of the inning with a strike-em-out throw-em-out. Still, it looked like the teams had reversed roles and the Crush had found their bats.

Emílio Guerrero

Unfortunately for Carolina, Montreal would wake up in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three with two-outs. Shortstop Paco Fernández took one for the team and then scored on center fielder Bob Reece's triple. Third baseman Emílio Guerrero's two-run homer then made a game of this one again.

Jeremy Gleave

Montreal avoided another crooked number inning in the sixth. Jeremy Gleave walked and then stole second base. Then, just like last game, except for the opposite team, Allen Marshall entered the game in relief and intentionally walked Andrews. Gordon flew out, but a key error loaded the bases. Marshall walked Solano to force home a run, but again Justin Wallace was there to help out Marshall. With the bases loaded, Wallace struck out, leaving George Gilliam no room for error. A groundout ends the inning.

At this point, I look into Carolina's leadoff hitter a bit more. During the season, he had a .286 OBP and struck out 142 times. Wallace would finish this game with 4 Ks in 6 at-bats. His leadoff home run was key, but he provided some other missed opportunities for the team.

The Bandits answered back with three straight singles from Ware, Izyurov, Fernández, tying the game.  Galindo got out of the inning with a double play and a fly-out. So many narrow misses for these teams....

Both teams mirrored each other again in the 7th, getting two runners on with only one out. Neither team wase able to produce a run.

Montreal would only manage one hit after the 7th and that was off of Galindo who finished with 8 innings pitched, 11 hits, and 4 earned runs. Ánibal Machado and Doug Smith pitched three perfect innings to close out the game.

Chris Barrett

The Crush pushed home the winning run in the top of the 11th. Justin Wallace made the first out by striking out. George Gilliam singled and then scored on Chris Barrett's triple.

Carolina has been in both games and both turned on key plays. This one could have been blown open by either team early.

Stats of the series: 

Carolina is allowing Montreal's mashers to put the ball in play striking out just 11 of 78 batters.  Of course they've only walked 4, none of them in the second game. 

By contrast, Montreal has allowed 86 hitters to come to the plate and has struck out 22.  They've allowed a staggering 16 walks.