2018 CFOD PLAYOFF PREVIEW ROUND 0 Mechan Syndicate (87-75, #2 League Wildcard) vs. Cincinnati Rock (87-75, #1 League Wildcard) The Syndicate were solidly in a playoff spot all-season, and it was only due to late season burnouts that they dipped to the #2 league wildcard. Mookie Betts had a stellar season, hitting .322 with 25 home runs, 117 runs scored and 37 stolen bases. Mallex Smith was an elite leadoff hitter, hitting .330 with 102 runs scored and 46 stolen bases. Smith and Betts finished 1-2 in the batting average race. Mike Moustakas slugged 30 home runs with 116 runs scored, and Brandon Nimmo had a .388 on base average, .489 slugging average and 70 runs scored. Longtime ace Zack Greinke went 16-9 with a 2.99 ERA. The Rock battled it out with multiple teams for a wildcard spot before surging in the final weeks to take the #1 league wildcard. Giancarlo Stanton hit 35 home runs with 94 runs scored and 99 RBI, and rookie Miguel Andujar hit 27 home runs with 94 runs scored and 95 RBI. Starling Marte stole 18 bases with 22 home runs and 81 runs scored. Mid-season acquisition Matt Carpenter hit .290 with a .550 slugging average, 13 home runs, 37 runs scored and 49 RBI in 72 games. Gerrit Cole was a true ace, going 19-6 with a 3.32 ERA. Closer Wade Davis saved 32 games, won another 7 and sported a 1.92 ERA. In 9 regular season contests, the Rock won the season series 5-4 (which is also why they are the #1 league wildcard over the Syndicate and have home field advantage). Whoever wins this game moves on to round 1 action. ******************************************************************* ROUND 0 -- Syndicate (Greinke) at Rock (Cole). In this winner-take-all matchup, the Syndicate were the first to score, when in the 2nd inning, Jonathan Villar walked, moved to second on a groundout from Marcus Semien, moved to third on a Buster Posey base hit, and scored when Zack Greinke hit into a potential inning ending double play, but the ball was thrown home instead .. not before Villar could score from third. Mallex Smith followed up with an RBI double. 2-0 Syndicate after 2. The Rock scored their first run of the game in the 3rd inning when Gerrit Cole hit a leadoff double, moved to third on a Giancarlo Stanton ground out and scored on a Luke Voit single. The game was tied at 2 in the 6th when Starling Marte hit a solo home run off of Greinke. Both starters would do well, pitching 6 innings and gave up 2 earned runs each. This game would be decided by the bullpen. The Rock broke the deadlock in the bottom of the 8th, when Marte hit a 1 out single and scored on a 2-out RBI triple from Manny Pina. 3-2 Rock heading into the top of the 9th. Cincinnati closer Wade Davis was on the mound in the top of the 9th with a 1 run lead, 3 outs away from advancing his team to the next round. First batter up, Josh Bell, got a leadoff walk. Pinch hitter Brandon Lowe hit a fly out. With 1 out and a runner at first, Marcus Semien hit into a double play, ending the game and the Syndicate's season. The Rock hang on to win their Round 0 matchup by a score of 3-2. ROCK WINS ROUND 0 MATCHUP. 10/6/2018, MEC18-CIN18, Comerica Park 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 2018 Syndicate 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 0 5 0 2018 Rock 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 x 3 9 1 8 2 Syndicate AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Smith,Ma cf 4 0 2 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 3 1 0 0 Nimmo lf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 0 0 0 Betts rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 3 0 0 0 Moustakas 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 3 0 0 Bell,J 1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 5 0 0 0 Myers pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Villar 2b 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 3 1 0 0 Lowe ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Semien ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 2 0 0 Posey c 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 9 0 0 0 Greinke p 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Santana,Do ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Holder p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1 0 0 31 2 4 2 2 0 0 3 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 8 0 0 Rock AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB Andujar 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 0 3 0 0 Stanton rf 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 2 1 0 0 McNeil ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Verdugo rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Voit 1b 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 6 0 0 0 Carpenter,M 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 2 0 0 Marte,S cf 4 2 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 5 0 0 0 O'Neill lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 2 0 0 0 Pina c 3 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .667 11 0 0 0 Russell ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1 1 0 Pressly p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Belt ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 Davis,W p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 1 0 0 Cole,G p 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 0 0 0 0 Gonzalez,E ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.000 0 0 0 0 32 3 9 3 1 1 1 2 8 1 0 0 1 0 0 27 8 1 0 Syndicate INN H R ER BB K PCH STR BF HR IW HP WP DP ERA Greinke 6.0 5 2 2 2 4 84 48 26 1 0 1 0 0 3.00 Holder L 0-1 2.0 4 1 1 0 4 32 22 9 0 0 0 0 0 4.50 8.0 9 3 3 2 8 116 70 35 1 0 1 0 0 Rock INN H R ER BB K PCH STR BF HR IW HP WP DP ERA Cole,G 6.0 4 2 2 2 9 110 61 25 0 0 0 0 0 3.00 Pressly W 1-0 2.0 0 0 0 0 1 24 14 6 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Davis,W S 1 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 18 9 3 0 0 0 0 1 0.00 9.0 4 2 2 3 10 152 84 34 0 0 0 0 1 MEC: Santana,Do batted for Greinke in the 7th Lowe batted for Villar in the 9th Myers ran for Bell,J in the 9th CIN: Gonzalez,E inserted at ss in the 7th McNeil batted for Stanton in the 7th Verdugo inserted at rf in the 8th Belt batted for Pressly in the 8th GWRBI: Pina Temperature: 74, Sky: partly cloudy, Wind: left to right at 15 MPH. 10/6/2018, MEC18-CIN18, Comerica Park 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 2018 Syndicate 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 0 5 0 2018 Rock 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 x 3 9 1 8 2 Score O Rnr BS Event ----- - --- -- ----- ************** Top of the 1st inning, Syndicate batting 0-0 0 --- 32 Smith,Ma doubled deep to left center (BSBFBX) 0-0 0 -2- 32 Nimmo struck out (BSBSBS) 0-0 1 -2- 12 Betts struck out (CSFBC) 0-0 2 -2- 30 Moustakas walked (BBBB) 0-0 2 12- 32 Bell,J struck out (SBBSB>C) ************** Bottom of the 1st inning, Rock batting 0-0 0 --- 10 Andujar flied out to right (BX) 0-0 1 --- 10 Stanton grounded out to third (BX) 0-0 2 --- 32 Voit struck out (CBBSBS) ************** Top of the 2nd inning, Syndicate batting 0-0 0 --- 32 Villar walked (SCBBBFB) 0-0 0 1-- 11 Semien grounded out to second, Villar to second (111CBX) 0-0 1 -2- 20 Posey lined a single to shallow center, Villar to third (BBX) 0-0 1 1-3 01 Greinke reached on a fielder's choice to third, Villar scored, Posey to second, Greinke to first (CX) 1-0 1 12- 31 Smith,Ma doubled deep to left center, Posey scored, Greinke to third (BCBBX) 2-0 1 -23 12 Nimmo flied out into a double play, Stanton to Pina, Greinke out at home (CSBX) ************** Bottom of the 2nd inning, Rock batting 2-0 0 --- 31 Carpenter,M walked (BFBBB) 2-0 0 1-- 00 Marte,S flied out to center (>X) 2-0 1 1-- 11 O'Neill grounded to second, forcing Carpenter,M at second, O'Neill to first (BSX) 2-0 2 1-- 32 Pina was hit by a pitch, O'Neill to second (BFBCB>H) 2-0 2 12- 12 Russell struck out (BFSS) ************** Top of the 3rd inning, Syndicate batting 2-0 0 --- 00 Betts lined a single to shallow center (X) 2-0 0 1-- 31 Moustakas flied out to right (BBCBX) 2-0 1 1-- 00 Bell,J lined out to center (1X) 2-0 2 1-- 22 Villar grounded out to short (CBBSX) ************** Bottom of the 3rd inning, Rock batting 2-0 0 --- 11 Cole,G grounded a double down the first base line (BFX) 2-0 0 -2- 12 Andujar grounded out to short (CSBX) 2-0 1 -2- 32 Stanton grounded out to short, Cole,G to third (SBBCBX) 2-0 2 --3 11 Voit lined a single to shallow center, Cole,G scored (FBX) 2-1 2 1-- 31 Carpenter,M walked, Voit to second (BBBCB) 2-1 2 12- 10 Marte,S flied out to center (BX) ************** Top of the 4th inning, Syndicate batting 2-1 0 --- 10 Semien flied out to center (BX) 2-1 1 --- 21 Posey flied out to left (CBBX) 2-1 2 --- 12 Greinke grounded out to third (SBCX) ************** Bottom of the 4th inning, Rock batting 2-1 0 --- 22 O'Neill struck out (SBCBS) 2-1 1 --- 00 Pina grounded a single between third and short (X) 2-1 1 1-- 00 Russell grounded to third, forcing Pina at second, Russell to first (X) 2-1 2 1-- 00 Cole,G flied out to center (X) ************** Top of the 5th inning, Syndicate batting 2-1 0 --- 22 Smith,Ma struck out (BbBSFS) 2-1 1 --- 12 Nimmo struck out (BFFS) 2-1 2 --- 01 Betts to first on an error by the shortstop Russell (CX) 2-1 2 1-- 32 Moustakas struck out (CCBBB>C) ************** Bottom of the 5th inning, Rock batting 2-1 0 --- 00 Andujar flied out to right (X) 2-1 1 --- 12 Stanton flied out to left (CFBX) 2-1 2 --- 02 Voit struck out (CSS) ************** Top of the 6th inning, Syndicate batting 2-1 0 --- 32 Bell,J struck out (BBSBCS) 2-1 1 --- 32 Villar struck out (BCBBCFS) 2-1 2 --- 32 Semien struck out (CCBBBFS) ************** Bottom of the 6th inning, Rock batting 2-1 0 --- 10 Carpenter,M grounded out to second (BX) 2-1 1 --- 20 Marte,S homered deep to center (BBX) 2-2 1 --- 12 O'Neill reached on an infield single to second (BCFX) 2-2 1 1-- 31 Pina flied out to right (FBBBX) 2-2 2 1-- 01 Russell grounded to third, forcing O'Neill at second (FX) ************** Top of the 7th inning, Syndicate batting Gonzalez,E now playing shortstop Pressly now pitching 2-2 0 --- 31 Posey flied out to left (BBSBX) Santana,Do pinch hitting for Greinke 2-2 1 --- 21 Santana,Do grounded out to third (BSBX) 2-2 2 --- 22 Smith,Ma popped out to center (CBSBFX) ************** Bottom of the 7th inning, Rock batting Holder now pitching 2-2 0 --- 11 Gonzalez,E reached on an infield single to short (BFX) 2-2 0 1-- 00 Gonzalez,E stole second (1) 2-2 0 -2- 01 Andujar lined a single to shallow center, Gonzalez,E out at home, Andujar to second (1.CX) McNeil pinch hitting for Stanton 2-2 1 -2- 00 McNeil grounded out to the mound (X) 2-2 2 -2- 12 Voit struck out (SFBS) ************** Top of the 8th inning, Syndicate batting Verdugo now playing right field 2-2 0 --- 01 Nimmo grounded out to third (CX) 2-2 1 --- 32 Betts struck out (BBCFBS) 2-2 2 --- 00 Moustakas flied out to center (X) ************** Bottom of the 8th inning, Rock batting 2-2 0 --- 02 Carpenter,M struck out (CFS) 2-2 1 --- 21 Marte,S grounded a single up the middle (BSBX) 2-2 1 1-- 32 O'Neill struck out (BBFBSS) 2-2 2 1-- 22 Pina tripled deep to right center, Marte,S scored (1BBFFX) Belt pinch hitting for Pressly 2-3 2 --3 12 Belt struck out (CBFS) ************** Top of the 9th inning, Syndicate batting Davis,W now pitching 2-3 0 --- 31 Bell,J walked (BSBBB) Lowe pinch hitting for Villar Myers pinch running for Bell,J 2-3 0 1-- 22 Lowe flied out to center (111CCBBFFX) 2-3 1 1-- 32 Semien grounded into a double play, Davis,W to Carpenter,M to Voit (CFBBBX)