![[SPORTS] FOUR HOME RUNS BACK VERLANDER AS ASTROS TAKE GAME 1](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/img_8070-3.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Oct 5, 2018 | SPORTS
Astros Take 1-0 Series Lead Over Indians Thanks To Bats
Justin Verlander has made pitching in the postseason look effortless throughout his career.
He took it to yet another level to begin the Houston Astros postseason journey, but needed help getting out of trouble.
The Houston Astros defeated the Cleveland Indians 7-2 on Friday at Minute Maid Park in Game 1 of the ALDS to take a 1-0 series lead.
Justin Verlander (1-0) took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of his Game 1 start vs the Cleveland Indians on Friday.
He would be unable to finish the sixth inning, surrendering his first hits of the game as well as runs, but he’d be backed by the Astros home run minded bats.
The Houston Astros would blast four home runs in Game 1 of the ALDS vs the Cleveland Indians, using their power to gain a series edge over their opponents.
The no-hitter would be broken up in the sixth inning by Indians catcher Yan Gomes on a single to open the inning.
Verlander would finish the game allowing two earned runs on two hits and two walks while striking out seven over five and a third innings pitched.
The veteran pitcher would walk second baseman Jose Ramirez with two outs in the first inning before retiring the next 13 Indians batters.
It was a dominant display for the 35 year-old pitcher, and while it ended in a bit of disappointing allowing two earned runs in the sixth inning, Houston boy just what they needed out of him to begin this series vs a dangerous Indians team.
Justin Verlander, who was acquired by the Houston Astros in August last year to help their pitching rotation come playoff time, is no stranger to the theatrics of the MLB postseason.
Thursday marked the 22nd career playoff start for Justin Verlander in his MLB career as he had gone 11-6 with a 3.07 ERA in 21 previous starts.
After a breakout regular-season from one of last season’s postseason heroes, Alex Bregman continued his strong but young postseason career in Game 1 of the ALDS.
The Houston Astros third baseman would stake the defending World Series champions out to a 1-0 lead after he hit a home run off two-time AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber in the fourth inning.
Houston would tack on another run in the fourth after Josh Reddick’s RBI single with two outs in the fourth.
The scoring would continue in the fifth inning off a shaky Corey Kluber as George Springer and Jose Altuve would go back-to-back with home run balls to give Houston a 4-0 lead.
Corey Kluber (0-1) would finish the game allowing four earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out two in four and two-thirds innings.
Cleveland would finally break through offensively in the sixth inning after five innings of not being able to muster a hit vs Houston’s ace.
It was a inning in which Cleveland loaded the bases, coming away with two runs after a wild pitch by reliever Ryan Pressly and a RBI groundout by Jose Ramirez.
The Houston Astros would get both of those runs back in the seventh inning after a home run by catcher Martin Maldonado off reliever Cody Allen to begin the inning and a RBI single by Alex Bregman to make it a 6-2 game.
Terry Francona got a rough performance from Corey Kluber which dating back to the 2016 World Series is his fourth consecutive start in which he got roughed up.
It’s puzzling why Francona would use Trevor Bauer in Game 1 in relief when Bauer was arguably the best Indians starter this season, but if Cleveland can’t score more runs, it doesn’t matter who’s pitching for the Tribe.
They failed to get any production from any hitter in Game 1 as they went 3-for-30 (.100 BA) as a team.
Cleveland went on to be out-hit by the Houston Astros 12-3 and would only get a runner to second base in the sixth inning alone.
The Houston Astros defense of their World Series championship from a season ago is off to a great start after Game 1.
A.J. Hinch’s team got the quality performance out of one of the MLB’s best pitchers of this generation in Justin Verlander.
Behind Verlander’s stellar performance and a offense that completely minimized the impact of a dominant right-hander in Corey Kluber, Houston has set the tone for this series.
They’ll look to take a 2-0 series lead on Saturday when they send Gerrit Cole to the mound against Cleveland Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco.
First pitch at Minute Maid Park is scheduled for 4:37 pm/ET.
What are your thoughts on the Houston Astros Game 1 win? Leave your comments below!
by sloppyvinyl | Oct 5, 2018 | SPORTS
Khabib-McGregor Will Happen
A super showdown between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor at UFC 229 is official after both fighters made weight at Friday’s morning weigh-ins.
Khabib Nurmagomedov (26-0, 10-0 MMA) looking to defend his UFC lightweight title for the first time would step on the scales at 155 lbs.
His challenger, Conor McGregor (21-3, 9-1 UFC) — making his first UFC appearance since November 2016 — would tip the scales at 154.5 lbs.
Tony Ferguson, who last fought at UFC 216 last October and is coming off knee injury, weighed in at 155 lbs.
Anthony Pettis, who last fought at UFC 223 when he submitted Michael Chiesa in Round 2, weighed in at 156 lbs.
The official weigh-ins are below.
UFC 229 Weigh-In Results
Khabib Nurmagomedov (155) vs Conor McGregor (154.5)
Tony Ferguson (155) vs Anthony Pettis (156)
Ovince Saint Preux (205.5) vs Dominick Reyes (204.5)
Derrick Lewis (265.5) vs Alexander Volkov (251)
Michelle Waterson (115) vs Felice Herrig (115.5)
Sergio Pettis (125) vs Jussier Da Silva (125.5)
Vicente Luque (170.5) vs Jalin Turner (169.5)
Tonya Evinger (136) vs Aspen Ladd (134.5)
Yana Kunitskaya (134.5) vs Lina Lansberg (135.5)
Alan Patrick Silva Alves (155.5) vs Scott Holtzman (155.5)
Gray Maynard (156) vs Nik Lentz (156)
Ryan LaFlare (171) vs Tony Martin (171)
Are you excited for UFC 229? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] RYU, HR BALL SPARK DODGERS TO GAME 1 WIN](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/img_8067-2.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Oct 5, 2018 | SPORTS
Dodgers Use Long Ball In Shutout Win Over Braves
Max Muncy and the Dodgers let their bats speak loud and clear to open their playoff journey.
The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Atlanta Braves 6-0 on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium in Game 1 of the NLDS to take a 1-0 series lead.
The Dodgers hit three home runs in the Game 1 victory, with first baseman Max Muncy’s three-run homer being the big blow to break the game open early.
Hyun-Jin Ryu (1-0) picked up the victory for the Los Angeles Dodgers as he stifled the Atlanta Braves.
Ryun would allow four hits while striking out eight over seven scoreless innings for Los Angeles Dodgers.
Los Angeles would be out-hit 6-5 by the Atlanta Braves, but that number would result into little for Atlanta as they failed to get a runner to second base in all but two innings on Thursday night.
Dodgers fans wouldn’t have to wait long for the boys in blue to send one out of Dodger Stadium to begin Game 1.
Los Angeles’ Dodgers left-fielder Joc Pederson would get the scoring going with by hitting a lead-off home run on a 0-2 pitch by Mike Foltynewicz to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.
The inning would end in disappointment, however, as the Dodgers stranded the bases loaded and also runners on the corners with no outs in the inning.
The Dodgers would make good of their missed opportunity in the first inning courtesy of a three-run homer by first baseman Max Muncy, who turned on a pitch over the plate by Foltynewicz in the second inning to give Los Angeles a 4-0 lead.
That would be all the runs needed for Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu. Making just his fourth career playoff start and first since 2014, Ryu would shutdown the Braves offense.
Dave Roberts’ Los Angeles Dodgers journey to the postseason was a eventful one, but they feel that they have put themselves in position to get back to the World Series.
The Atlanta Braves struggled vs left-handed starters this season, and those struggles continued on Thursday night in Los Angeles as they opened postseason play.
Atlanta would not get a man to second base until the fifth inning where they were kept off the board after catcher Kurt Suzuki flied out to end the inning.
Getting a rough start out of their ace Mike Foltynewicz (0-1) didn’t help, but Atlanta’s young stars that includes Ronald Acuna Jr. (0-for-4, 2 Ks), failed to make much of an impact in their first taste of the postseason.
Brian Snitker’s team won’t have much time to lick their wounds as three-time Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw awaits.
For the Los Angeles Dodgers, it’s another win that gets them closer to where they want to be, the World Series.
They acknowledge the path in getting there will be more daunting than a season ago where they had home-field advantage throughout the postseason, but there’s a swagger and energy in Los Angeles right now for a team that feels like they let a World Series title slip through their finger tips in 2017.
Clayton Kershaw will take the ball for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the NLDS on Friday night vs Atlanta Braves right-hander Anibal Sanchez.
First pitch is scheduled for 9:37 pm/ET.
What are your thoughts on the Dodgers Game 1 victory? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] BRADY THROWS 500TH TOUCHDOWN IN PATRIOTS VICTORY](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/img_8066-3.jpg?resize=600%2C410&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Oct 5, 2018 | SPORTS
Brady Reaches 500-TD Milestone In Patriots Win
Tom Brady’s NFL career has been full of milestones he may not truly cherish given that there’s be so many.
A storybook career of a quarterback drafted with the 199th pick in the NFL Draft, Brady’s touchdown ball to Josh Gordon is one he’ll hang onto forever.
The New England Patriots defeated the Indianapolis Colts 38-24 on Thursday night at Gillette Stadium.
New England Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady would throw his 500th touchdown pass in a 341-yard, 3-TD pass night vs the Colts.
It was an adventure getting there for Brady, who’s playing in his 19th NFL season at age 41, but he and the Patriots will take it.
In addition to his 500th touchdown, third most all-time, Tom Brady broke Vinny Testaverde’s NFL record for touchdowns to a different receiver of 70 with his touchdown pass to Josh Gordon, the 71st different receiver to get a touchdown from Brady.
New England would finish with 440 total yards. Indianapolis would win the time of possession 32:26 to 27:34.
The New England Patriots (3-2) picked up where they left off last Sunday in a 38-7 victory over the Miami Dolphins.
New England would go to an up-tempo offense on a 12 play/75 yard touchdown drive to begin the game.
Tom Brady would hit wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson for a 1-yard touchdown to give New England a 7-0 first quarter lead.
Facing a team he has not had success against in his career, Andrew Luck’s night got off to a painful start as he was drilled by a combo of defensive end Trey Flowers and safety Patrick Chung on his first drop back of the game for a sack.
Indianapolis would go three and out on that drive and would come away with zero points on their next drive after kicker Adam Vinatieri’s 38-yard field goal attempt sailed off the left uprights late in the first quarter.
That would prove costly as New England’s lead would become 14-0 after a diving score from Tom Brady at the goal line early in the second quarter.
New England would get another touchdown from Tom Brady in the second quarter, a 6-yard touchdown pass to James White, as the Patriots took a 24-3 lead into the half vs a Colts team ravaged by injuries before and during the game.
After forcing a three-and-out against New England on New England’s first offensive drive and getting 33-yard punt return from Chester Rodgers — who finished the game with 8 catches for 66 receiving yards — Indianapolis would finally get in the endzone.
Starting the drive at New England’s 35-yard line, Andrew Luck would find tight-end Eric Ebron for a 14-yard touchdown pass to make it a 24-10 game at the 9:48 mark of the third quarter.
Indianapolis’ defense, carved up for much of the game by Tom Brady, would get a much needed gift. Patriots’ wide receiver Chris Hogan would have a pass bounce off his hands into the hands of safety Matthias Farley for a interception on New England’s ensuing drive.
New England’s second half would continue to be stagnated by turnovers as Rob Gronkowski’s dropped pass inside of the redzone that he popped up into the air after a hit turned into yet another interception for Indianapolis.
Indianapolis, stunning a large portion of the Gillette Stadium crowd, would make it a 24-17 game early in the fourth quarter after another Andrew Luck touchdown pass as New England’s lead to their own doing began to slip away from them.
Needing a drive to change the momentum of the game back in New England’s favor, Tom Brady would close in on his latest career milestone.
On a play where he had plenty of time in the pocket to throw, Brady, surveying the field, would launch a 34-yard touchdown pass to newly acquired wide receiver Josh Gordon to give him the 500th touchdown pass of his NFL career.
More importantly, it gave New England a 31-17 lead as Gordon managed to make a catch over double coverage in the endzone.
New England would have their turn at getting a self-inflicted wound from their opponent as Colts’ wide receiver Zach Pascal’s bobble of a Andrew Luck pass was deflected into the air for an interception by corner back Jonathan Jones.
That interception would result in a game sealing touchdown on New England’s next possession as rookie running back Sony Michel would score on a 34-yard touchdown run to make it a 38-17 game.
After New England’s 1-2 start, there was once again the typical chirping going on that the demise of the Patriots was near.
After two wins in a span of five days, New England is feeling good about themselves, but Bill Belichick certainly won’t go easy on his team after a sloppily played second half.
New England is hoping to get great things from Josh Gordon, who they traded for from the Cleveland Browns in September.
On a night where the New England Patriots welcomes back wide receiver Julian Edelman (7 catches, 57 yards) there were glimpses of what New England’s offense could become this season.
The Patriots defense, maligned after two tough weeks on the road in Weeks 2 and 3, looked strong throughout the game.
The only negatives to takeaway for the unit was their inability to not capitalize on Luck’s questionable decision making.
Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots will have 10 days to prepare for the Kansas City Chiefs in Foxborough as that will mark the end of a three-game homestand.
Indianapolis (1-4) had been in all three of their previous losses to start the season, but greatly undermanned on the road vs a good football team was too much to overcome.
Andrew Luck and the Colts offense turned in a lackluster outing minus top pass catcher T.Y. Hilton as well as tight-end Jack Doyle. A bright spot for Indianapolis’ offense was Eric Ebron, who finished with a game-high 9 receptions for 105 receiving yards and 2 TDs.
Luck in his past two games has 121 pass attempts, a scary number for a guy coming off of a serious right shoulder injury that sidelined him for all of 2017.
For a team that ranks near the bottom of the NFL in rushing yards, Indianapolis Colts’ head coach Frank Reich will have his hands full lowering that number for Luck.
Indianapolis will have 10 days to prepare for a visit to East Rutherford to take on the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.
What are your thoughts on New England’s 38-24 win vs the Indianapolis Colts? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] MIKE MOUSTAKAS WALK-OFF GIVES BREWERS 1-0 SERIES LEAD](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/img_8065-1.jpg?resize=600%2C389&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Oct 5, 2018 | SPORTS
Brewers Trip Up Rockies In Walk-Off Fashion
For a Brewers team lacking in postseason experience, Mike Moustakas is one of the few who is not a stranger to the thrills of the MLB postseason.
The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Colorado Rockies 3-2 in 10 innings on Thursday at Miller Park in Game 1 of the NLDS to take a 1-0 series lead.
Mike Moustakas would play the role of hero as the his two-out RBI single in the tenth inning helped the Brewers avoid tumbling out of the gate to begin the NLDS.
Moustakas, who was apart of the Kansas City Royals championship team from 2015 season, was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers back in late July.
Milwaukee acquired the slugging first baseman hoping to add to a team that already had Moustakas’s former teammate and also MLB world champion Lorenzo Cain on it for moments like Thursday night.
The hit was Moustakas’ only of the game as he finished the game 1-for-4 with a RBI.
Joakim Soria (1-0) would pick up the win out of the bullpen as he pitched a scoreless tenth inning.
Adam Ottavino (0-1), who gave up a run on Tuesday in the NL Wildcard, would be stuck with a loss after giving up the walk-off hit to Moustakas in extras.
Christian Yelich, continuing his amazing 2018 into the postseason, went 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs and a walk as he blasted a home run in Milwaukee’s victory.
In Milwaukee’s first playoff appearance since 2011 season in which they last won the NL Central before this year, the Brewers bullpen stymied a potent Colorado Rockies offense.
Milwaukee Brewers’ right-hander Brandon Woodruff would get the start the for Game 1 and would look stellar in a unusual spot.
The reliever would allow one base runner in three innings while striking out three in a scoreless start. He would be relieved after 48 pitches by Corbin Burnes, who would throw two scoreless innings for Milwaukee.
After failing to get a run on the board against Colorado Rockies right-hander Antonio Senzatela in the first two innings, the team would breakthrough in the third.
Milwaukee Brewers’ right fielder Christian Yelich sent a first pitch changeup out of Miller Park for a two-run home run in the third inning to put the Brewers out in front 2-0.
Antonio Senzatela would allow two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out one batter over five innings of work.
Bud Black’s team would get their first runner to second base in the sixth inning thanks to a walk followed by a steal by pinch-hitter Ryan McMahon, but that runner would be stranded after reliever Milwaukee Brewers’ reliever Corey Knebel retired DJ LeMahieu to end the inning.
While Milwaukee’s offense threatened with runners in the sixth and seventh inning and loaded the bases in the eighth, they would fail to score vs Colorado’s stellar bullpen.
After reliever Josh Hader pitched two dominant innings for the Brewers, reliever Jeremy Jeffress would come in to close out the ninth inning.
He would run into trouble as singles by Gerardo Parra and Matt Holiday to begin the inning gave a Rockies offense limited to one hit through eight innings signs of life.
Back to the top of the order for Colorado, center fielder Charlie Blackmon would continue Colorado’s frantic rally. Blackmon would hit a RBI single to trim Milwaukee’s lead to 2-1.
Third baseman Nolan Arenado would tie the game at 2-2 with a RBI sac fly as the Rockies capitalized on a fielding error by shortstop Orlando Arcia.
Jeffress would recover to retire the next two Rockies batters to end the inning, but damage had been down vs a bullpen that looked strong for eight innings.
Looking to avoid a major setback to begin the series, Mike Moustakas would deliver.
With fans in the crowd chanting his name, the Milwaukee Brewers first baseman would hit the game-winning RBI single off reliever Adam Ottavino on a 0-2 fastball to give the Brewers a dramatic walk-off victory.
Milwaukee Brewers’ skipper Craig Counsell’s decision to go with one of his better relievers out of the bullpen to begin Game 1 didn’t backfire, but unexpectedly having to pull Josh Hader in the eighth inning for a pinch-hitter did.
Still, Counsell and Brewers will take a game they nearly coughed up as they own the 1-0 series edge.
Colorado got a strong outing out of Antonio Senzatela, marking a second straight strong outing by a Colorado Rockies starting pitcher, but the offense was absent for all but the ninth inning on Thursday.
It’s the third consecutive game where the Rockies have been held to two runs or less dating back to Monday’s NL West Tiebreaker game.
Colorado is a combined with 2-for-20 with RISP and batting 19-for-110 (.172) as a team in that span, numbers that have to change to avoid falling into a 0-2 series hole vs Milwaukee tomorrow.
Jhoulys Chacin will take the ball for the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 looking to help Milwaukee to a 2-0 series lead as he’ll face Colorado Rockies left-hander Tyler Anderson on Friday.
First pitch for Game 2 is scheduled for 4:15 pm/ET at Miller Park.
What are your thoughts on Game 1 of the NLDS between the Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies? Leave your comments below!
