Originally Posted by Cardinalfan4life
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Tulsa and Nashville squared off in the divisional round for the third straight year as the rivalry grows. Nashville won in’69 on the way to a Conference Championship season, and my guys won last year en route to a WS title. Stakes were high yet again with Tulsa leading the league comfortably in wins, but Nashville maybe being most primed of any team for the upset.
Teams split opening two games 6-5 and 5-6. Both games Tulsa jumped out to early leads only for Nashville to claim a lead in the top of the 5th and get behind again by the bottom of the 5th. Game 2, however, featured a big 4-run 6th for Nashville driven by a key 2-run homer by ‘68 MVP James Johnson (99 SL guy with career 57 HR/160). Series headed back to Nashville with them having stolen home field advantage.
It wouldn’t last. Tulsa crushes Game 3 8-1. Game 4 was a close one with Nashville evening things up 2-2 in the 6th. Tulsa had top of the order coming up next, though, and MVP Chandler and superstar Gabriel both managed to score for the final 4-2 margin and a 3-1 series lead.
Nashville wasn’t done, though. They kept things alive with a clean 4-1 win in Game 5 in which they never trailed. Series moving back to Tulsa. With Tulsa’s Game 3 starter not recovered enough for a full energy start, the decision was made to start SP4 Acevedo (3.1 ERA guy last couple years, but only good for 5-6 IP/GS). Acevedo was great, allowed 3 hits and 3 walks in 5 scoreless innings. Handed things off to the bullpen with a 2-0 lead, but there was almost half the game left for them to try to hold on. MR1 McDonough preserved the lead in the 6th and 7th, but he ran into trouble in the 8th. Nashville led the inning off with a single and RBI double, narrowing it to a 2-1 game and putting the tying run on second. McDonough got the next couple guys out but then made way for SU1 Gill. Another RBI double (tying the game) was followed by 2 walks (smartly walking former MVP Johnson rather than let him possibly hit a 3-run HR) to load the bases. The walks deferred the key moment to sub-.700 OPS defensive CF Lucas, who grounded out to end the threat. Tulsa would set up our own bases-loaded 2-out situation in the bottom of the 8th, but couldn’t deliver. Fortunately Tulsa set up the same situation in the bottom of the 9th. #1 hitter Bradford (.351 hitter this year) delivered thr walkoff single to win the game and the series.
Great series once again, Orlando. Lots of close games and late lead changes.Tough team you’ve got there. Look forward to doing it again next year, although Meadowbrook May have something to say about that.
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