![[SPORTS] PUIG POWERS DODGERS TO WORLD SERIES](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/img_8292-1-2.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Oct 21, 2018 | SPORTS
Dodgers Game 7 Win Sets Up Clash In WS With Red Sox
When Yasiel Puig made contact with Jeremy Jeffress 1-1 offering, he knew as soon as he made contact it was as good as gone.
He took a long look at this one, as to this point there may not have been another as sweet as being the difference in Los Angeles reaching the World Series.
The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1 on Saturday night at Miller Park in Game 7 of the NLCS to advance to the World Series.
As they’ve done throughout this postseason, the Dodgers relied on the home run ball to outlast the Milwaukee Brewers for the NL Pennant.
Dodgers’ right fielder Yasiel Puig’s three-run homer in the sixth inning off Brewers’ reliever Jeremy Jeffress blew open a one-run game at the time and would be a big reason for Los Angeles’ victory.
Puig finished with a team-high three hits on the night to go along with three RBIs.
Los Angeles out-hit the Milwaukee Brewers 10 to 7. Milwaukee would hit 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position on the night.
Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler would allow one run on six hits and a walk while striking out seven over four and two-thirds innings.
Los Angeles was left stinging at the conclusion of the 2017 postseason when the Houston Astros ended their season in heartbreak with a Game 7 win at Dodger Stadium.
A wild regular-season that presented its challenges and difficulties that resulted in having to win a NL West Tiebreaker.
The Dodgers showed through the power in their lineup, rotation and suddenly improved bullpen that they deservingly so will compete for a world championship for the second consecutive year.
NL MVP candidate Christian Yelich broke out of his series slump with a homer in the first inning to give Milwaukee the early lead, but it wasn’t enough for the Brewers offense which has struggled to score runs this series.
It wouldn’t take long for the Dodgers to answer in Game 7 as Cody Bellinger launched a two-run home run to give Los Angeles a 2-1 lead in the second inning.
The bullpen of the Milwaukee Brewers, their strength for much of the season, could not contain the power that the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup possesses.
After Walker Buehler was relieved by Julio Urias with two outs in the fifth inning, Los Angeles’ bullpen would limit Milwaukee to one hit the rest of the way.
The Dodgers bullpen — strong throughout the NLCS and the postseason — finished the game striking out seven Milwaukee Brewers over four and a third innings pitched.
Coming off an excellent start in Game 5, Clayton Kershaw would finish Game 7 in relief duty in the ninth with a pair of strikeouts.
Dave Roberts and the Dodgers journey back here was a bumpy one, but with in-season trades to strengthen the team’s offense and a healthy Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers are back in the World Series looking to finish what they couldn’t last season.
Los Angeles will be faced with a difficult challenge in the Boston Red Sox who have dominated in the postseason.
Boston handled the defending champion Houston Astros in just five games in the ALCS with their potent offense leading the way.
If there’s a team capable of out-slugging the Dodgers, it’s the Boston Red Sox, who led the MLB in runs this past season.
A World Series matchup worth the price of admission, Los Angeles will like their chances of delivering their first World Series title in 20 years.
What are your thoughts on the Dodgers Game 7 victory tonight? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] MILWAUKEE’S BATS COME ALIVE AS BREWERS FORCE GAME 7](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/img_8288.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Oct 20, 2018 | SPORTS
There Will Be A Game 7
The morale in the locker room appeared noticeably low as the Brewers left Los Angeles trailing in the NLCS.
If there was one thing the Brewers could hold their heads high about going into Game 6, it was fact that 40,000+ screaming fans would be waiting back for them in Milwaukee.
The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-2 on Friday night at Miller Park in Game 6 of the NLCS to tie the series at 3-3.
All season long the Brewers have been a team that’s show resiliency when the going got tough, but faced a unique challenge on Friday night as they faced elimination.
Thanks to a offense that found its footing after two straight forgettable games in Los Angeles and their bullpen, there will be a Game 7.
The Brewers offense produced 11 hits, including five with runners in scoring position as they won for the fourth time at home this postseason.
First baseman Jesus Aguilar led the way for the Brew Crew with a 3-for-4, 3 RBI night as he banged two doubles on the night.
Brewers’ reliever Corey Knebel (1-0) pitched one and two-thirds scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
The Milwaukee Brewers bullpen would combine to allow zero hits in four and two-thirds innings.
Hyu-Jin Ryu (1-1) would suffer his first loss of the postseason as he lasted only three innings as he allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks.
Wade Miley, who got the start for the Milwaukee Brewers after starting Game 5 and being pulled after one batter, went four and a third innings allowing two runs on five hits and two walks.
David Freese, who knows a thing or two about big hits in the postseason, provided a big one that went out of the park in the first inning as his solo shot off Wade Miley gave Los Angeles a 1-0 lead.
As quickly as the Los Angeles Dodgers took the lead to begin Game 6, the team facing elimination would strike back with a fury in an instant.
The Milwaukee Brewers would put together a scintillating bottom of the first as they tallied five hits in a four-run outburst to take a 4-1 lead against left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu.
Ryan Braun would add to the lead with a RBI double in the second inning as he scored Christian Yelich from second base.
The Dodgers would hasten Wade Miley’s exit in the fifth as David Freese’s RBI double and a Max Muncy walk would force Craig Counsell to go to his bullpen for right-hander Corey Knebel.
Knebel would come up huge by getting two of the Dodgers best hitters. Knebel would get Justin Turner to fly out and would strikeout Manny Machado swinging to end the inning and strand two base runners as both hitters represented the tying run.
Knebel would give the Brewers a clean sixth inning before he would be replaced by Jeremy Jeffress who would have a 1-2-3 seventh inning for Milwaukee.
Milwaukee would add runs over the seventh and eighth inning to put Los Angeles away for good.
The Milwaukee Brewers were going to go down swinging on Friday night after looking lifeless on offense in Games 4 and 5.
The Brewers offense is not their strength as a struggling Christian Yelich has exposed their limitations in run producers, but in Game 6 as a collective unit the team battled to get runs on the board in front of the home faithful.
Now with a Game 7 set for Saturday night, the only question is can they do it again?
That’s a question Dave Roberts is hoping they can’t as his Los Angeles Dodgers failed to close out the Brewers in their first attempt.
If the Los Angeles Dodgers want to advance to the World Series for a second straight season, they’ll have to weather a possible storm coming their way in Game 7 vs the Brewers.
The Milwaukee Brewers will be playing in their first Game 7 of any kind in franchise history on Saturday at Miller Park.
The Dodgers will be playing in their first Game 7 since last season when they lost to the Houston Astros in the World Series.
Jhoulys Chacin will get the start for the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 7 as he’ll be opposed by Los Angeles Dodgers rookie right-hander Walker Buehler.
Who will win Game 7? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] LEVERT SCORES GAME WINNER AS NETS DENY KNICKS](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/img_8287-2.jpg?resize=756%2C477&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Oct 20, 2018 | SPORTS
Nets Hold Off Knicks For First Win Of The Season
Brooklyn has embraced the Nets since their move to the city but the battle for New York is still one they’re trying to win.
Caris LeVert’s huge night at the Barclays would allow the Nets to add another chapter in their rivalry with their crosstown rivals.
The Brooklyn Nets squeaked by the New York Knicks 107-105 on Friday night at the Barclays Center.
Brooklyn guard Caris LeVert’s layup with one second to play gave the Brooklyn Nets the victory as the Nets took their home opener vs the scrappy Knicks.
Caris LeVert, who tied his career-high in the season opener with 27 points, went for a career-high 28 points in Friday night.
LeVert had a efficient night shooting the ball as he went 8-for-13 from the field while making 10 of his 11 free throw attempts. He would add six rebounds and five assists to his strong night.
The Brooklyn Nets used a strong first quarter shooting display (14-for-20 FG, 3-for-3 3 PT) to take a 33-24 lead into the second quarter.
Enes Kanter, who scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds on Wednesday night, carried the scoring load for New York in the first half.
Kanter would score 16 first-half points for the Knicks as New York recovered from a rough shooting first quarter to trail 57-50 at the half.
Behind their youthful talent, New York rallied in the third quarter to take their first lead since the opening moments of the game at the 5:38 mark of the period and would take a 76-74 lead into the fourth.
New York put together an outstanding third period on defense as they limited the Nets to 17 points.
Turnovers would ultimately play a role in New York climbing back from a double-digit deficit in the first half.
Brooklyn would commit 22 turnovers in the game on Friday while New York committed only three.
A back-and-forth fourth quarter saw Brooklyn just slightly doing enough to get the victory at home.
Brooklyn Nets center Jarrett Allen would record his second straight double-double to start the season as he finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
D’Angelo Russell would put forth a solid effort with 15 points, six assists and five rebounds. The Brooklyn Nets dominated the glass as they finished with a 55-36 edge in rebounds.
The Nets bounced back from a tough 103-100 season-opening loss to the Detroit Pistons on the road.
Nets coach Kenny Atkinson talked about late-game execution following Wednesday’s game saying his team failed to do that vs the Pistons. On Friday, they answered their coaches call.
Meanwhile, the New York Knicks, who took a 126-107 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden, put up a tough fight despite a poor shooting game.
New York shot only 40 percent from the field while shooting 9-for-28 from three-point range.
Tim Hardaway Jr. and Enes Kanter would both lead the way for the Knicks with 29 points apiece.
Rookie forward Kevin Knox would rebound from a tough NBA debut by scoring 17 points (7-for-14 FG, 3-for-4 3 PT) while adding six rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench.
The Brooklyn Nets will visit the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night as apart of a back-to-back as they look for their second consecutive victory.
The New York Knicks will return to the Garden on Saturday night as well as apart of a back-to-back as they face the Boston Celtics.
What are your thoughts on tonight’s Brooklyn Nets victory? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] LEBRON JAMES SOLID IN LOS ANGELES LAKERS DEBUT](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/img_8277-1.jpg?resize=600%2C429&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Oct 19, 2018 | SPORTS
James’ Effort Not Enough To Rescue Lakers In Season Opener
At times, LeBron James was given a reason to be cheerful and enthusiastic. At other times, frustration and confusion as the Lakers tried to keep pace at the Moda Center.
This is all to say that LeBron James’ first game with the Los Angeles Lakers shows there’s plenty of work to be done.
LeBron James made his long-awaited regular-season debut for the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night vs the Portland Trail Blazers.
LeBron James finished the game with 26 points (9-for-16 FG, 0-for-4 3 PT), 12 rebounds and 6 assists in a 128-119 loss to Portland.
His stellar performance in a way would be offset by six turnovers as the Lakers as a team committed 15 turnovers on the night.
LeBron James has lost all four of his first games with a new team in his career, don’t panic Laker Nation.
A few minutes into the game James would create a steal on a sloppy pass and would go coast to coast for a right-handed slam dunk for his first official points in a Lakers uniform.
On the very next possession after a drive a slam by Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, Lebron James would fire up Lakers fans in attendance with his second throw down in as many possessions, leading to a timeout by Portland as a animated James got off to a thunderous start in his debut.
The good times would roll for James in the first half as he attacked the basket at will with very little impeding him from doing so.
James finished the half with 18 points, but the Lakers, who missed their first 15 three-pointers, trailed 65-63.
It was a classic track meet between the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers with James undoubtedly picking and choosing his spots when to turn on the defensive intensity.
The Lakers didn’t have much defensive intensity at all outside of Josh Hart (20 points, 3 rebounds) and Rajon Rondo (13 points, 9 assists), who both had strong performances Thursday night.
James and the Lakers did well to limit Portland’s prolific scoring duo of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum through three quarters, but for the most part were listless on the defensive side of the ball.
An aberration or a product of the Lakers porous defense, no matter which is more true, the Lakers allowed Nik Stauskas — who averaged 4.0 PPG last season — to tie a career-high 24 points on 7-for-11 from the field as he drained five three pointers.
Despite Portland’s high point total on the night, Los Angeles’ inability to hit from downtown was their undoing.
The Los Angeles Lakers shot 7-for-30 (23%) from three-point range. In comparison, the Portland Trail Blazers went 13-for-37 (35%) from three-point range.
The Los Angeles Lakers were never going to finish the season 82-0, but the spectacle and circus around the Lakers with LeBron James now in the fold will be something to behold throughout this 2018-19 season.
James, 33, knows that in order for this mostly young team to learn and grow that he will be the leading force behind that and you could see that throughout the game on Thursday night.
LeBron James was mic’d up for sound during TNT’s broadcast of the game and its clear that James is working to establish newfound chemistry and trust with his new teammates.
A loss in the season opener to a good Portland Trail Blazers team is nothing to panic about. It will be up to coach Luke Walton to find the right balance for the Lakers as a team as the season progresses.
The Los Angeles Lakers will welcome the Houston Rockets on Saturday night to Staples Center for their home opener.
What are your thoughts on LeBron James’ debut? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] DAVID PRICE’S GEM LEADS BOSTON RED SOX TO WORLD SERIES](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/img_8271-1.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Oct 19, 2018 | SPORTS
Red Sox Advance To First World Series Since 2013
A supreme confidence in his abilities despite the many pitfalls in his career in the postseason is something that wasn’t lost on Alex Cora regarding his veteran left-hander Davi Price.
Placing trust in a left-hander who had never won a postseason start in his career, the Boston Red Sox are headed to the Fall Classic.
The Boston Red Sox have advanced to the 2018 World Series after their 4-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Thursday night at Minute Maid Park in Game 5 of the ALCS.
Maligned and unwanted from his past postseason failures and present day failures in a Red Sox uniform, David Price in a brilliant performance pulled off the biggest victory of his 11-year MLB career.
With Boston in need of outs more than anything else with Chris Sale ailing and unable to go in Game 5, the Red Sox prized left-hander from a few years ago gave Boston his very best outing since putting on a Red Sox uniform.
Having given the Red Sox a solid effort in Game 2, Price did something he had not done in 11 previous career starts.
Get a win.
David Price (1-1) mowed down the Houston Astros hitters over six shutout innings. Price would allow only three hits while striking out a new playoff career-high nine on 93 pitches.
The Red Sox getting the big hit on this night would be third baseman Rafael Devers, who’s sixth inning home run off Justin Verlander padded Boston’s narrow lead.
The home run was the first for the 21-year-old in his postseason career.
Boston is headed to their first World Series since 2013 when they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in six games to win their eighth World Series title.
The AL Pennant is the 14th in Red Sox franchise history and fourth since 2004.
Boston Red Sox recorded eight hits vs the Houston Astros. J.D. Martinez, Mitch Moreland and Ian Kinsler all finished the game with two hits apiece.
Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve, George Springer and Carlos Correa failed to reliever for the Houston Astros as they went a combined 2-for-16 with eight strikeouts.
Boston is 5-0 on the road this postseason.
It didn’t take long for there to be anxious moments at Minute Maid Park as the Boston Red Sox offense — which makes every pitcher they face sweat it out — was at it again in the second inning.
The Red Sox would rally with two outs to load the bases in the second inning as right fielder Mookie Betts had a bases loaded opportunity vs Astros ace Justin Verlander.
Verlander would win the battle with Mookie Betts as he struck out Betts swinging on a high fastball to end the inning as Minute Maid Park erupted following the strikeout.
While Justin Verlander was at Times his typical self vs the Red Sox high octane offense, he wouldn’t be able to keep Boston off the board for long.
J.D. Martinez would make Justin Verlander pay for a mistake up in the strike zone on a 1-2 pitch in the third inning as he blasted a solo homer to left field to give Boston an early advantage.
David Price, getting the start for the Boston Red Sox in Game 5, was razor sharp to open the game.
The left-hander would establish his fastball and changeup to the Astros righty dominated lineup early as Astros hitters chased pitches out of the zone and failed to get the bat on the ball in this win or go home affair.
The Astros wouldn’t get a man in scoring position until the fourth inning after a two-out double by first baseman Yuli Gurriel. Bearing down, Price would get Marcin Gonzalez swinging to end the inning to preserve Boston’s lead.
Like they have throughout this series, the Red Sox attacked and attacked against Justin Verlander until the they broke him in the sixth inning.
After two consecutive hits to open the sixth, Rafael Devers would hit a opposite field three-run bomb to left field to give Boston a 4-0 lead, stunning what was once a loud crowd at the park.
Justin Verlander would allow four runs on seven hits with two walks while striking out four over six gritty innings of work.
Marwin Gonzalez would get the Houston Astros on the board with a solo home run off newly inserted Boston Red Sox reliever Matt Barnes to make it a 4-1 game.
Alex Cora went with one of his starters, Nathan Eovaldi, in the eighth inning of Game 5. Eovaldi would allow one base runner on a single by George Springer with two outs before getting Jose Altuve to line out to center to end the inning.
On for the ninth inning, a closer in Craig Kimbrel providing more rollercoasters this postseason than Red Sox skipper Alex Cora and the rest of the Red Sox would like.
The Red Sox struggling closer would allow Red Sox fans to exhale on this night as after two strikeouts in the ninth inning, Kimbrel would strand a runner at first as he induced a fly ball by Tony Kemp to left fielder Andrew Benintendi to end the game and put Boston in the World Series.
David Price’s postseason struggles have made him a source of ridicule over the past few seasons as he has on numerous occasions struggled on this stage.
On Thursday night, Price got the last laugh and because of it the Boston Red Sox next game at Fenway Park won’t be for a Game 6 but for Game 1 of the 2018 World Series.
The Red Sox grinding and harassing mentality on offense and depth through the batter order was the difference in this ALCS series.
With two outs, the Boston Red Sox didn’t quit in this series as they made the Astros pitchers work to get that final out and made them pay when they got a pitch to hit.
The Red Sox will be heavily favored to win their ninth World Series title, as would be the case for a team that won a franchise record 108 games this past regular-season and have gone a combined 6-0 following their losses in each of their first two playoff series.
Thursday night’s frustrating season ending loss to the Boston Red Sox ended the Houston Astros run short of where they were a season ago.
The Astros edge after Game 1 is a distant memory after the season concluded with the team not finding enough in them mentally or physically to force a Game 6 back at Fenway Park.
The talk coming out of Houston in the coming days and maybe offseason will be how the series momentum shifted after Jose Altuve’s home run was taken away in the first inning of Game 2 by Joe West.
The reality is, Houston just couldn’t match Boston’s firepower in the ALCS.
The Astros pitching staff was incapable of slowing down this offensive machine and as had been the case in Houston’s losses throughout the regular-season, the team could not for whatever reason score enough runs on their home-field.
It’ll be a bitter pill to swallow watching the Boston Red Sox celebrate on their home-field to end their season, but this Houston Astros team will be around for the foreseeable future.
What are your thoughts on the Boston Red Sox advancing to the World Series? Leave your comments below!
