Division Series Recap

What a first week of the playoff we have seen!

Without question the most competitive series was between Anaheim Angels and Boston Red Sox. Boston, thanks to two strong pitching performances, took the two opening games. Then came the marathon game in game game three. Led by two homeruns from Mike Napoli the Angels were able to end their eleven game playoff losing streak to Boston by beating them in twelve innings. Game four brought another impressive pitching performance from a Boston starter as Jon Lester went seven shutout innings. Unfortunately for Lester that was all for not as the bullpen proceeded to squander his two run lead. Rookie Jed Lowrie was there to save the day for Boston in the ninth as he singled home Jason Bay for the walk off win.

Also punching their ticket to the ALCS was the the Tampa Bay Rays. Like Boston, Tampa cruised to a two game lead in the series before hitting a little bump in the road in game three. Chicago starter John Danks saved the season for the second time in as many starts going seven solid innings for the White Sox. Game four saw two huge homeruns from BJ Uption lead the way as the Ray continued their storybook season winning the series 3-1. What a story the Rays have been; going from the worst team in the MLB a year ago to winning the AL East this season and now they have a chance to make even more history as they advance to the ALCS.

Over in the National League we saw what may have been the most surprising result thus far of this year's playoffs as the Los Angeles Dodgers swept the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs, who were considered by many to be the best team in baseball going into the playoffs, never could seem to cool down the hot hitting Dodger bats. The Dodgers outscored the Cubs 20-6 over three games. The only game that was even remotely close was game three but even then it was a run late in the game that got the score to 3-1. Manny Ramirez continued to swing a hot bat, as he has since being acquired at the trade deadline, going 5 for 10 with a pair of homeruns.

Joining the Dodgers in the NLCS will be the Philadelphia Phillies who defeated the Milwaukee Brewers in in four games. Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino swung hot bats for the Phillies who also got strong pitching performances from Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, and Joe Blanton en route to their impressive series victory. Philadelphia's victory should set up quite a NLCS match-up as the Phillies and Dodgers are two of the hottest teams in baseball.