Round 1 - Who will survive? (8/18 update)

We're here at what could spell the end of the line for some of our tournament players. These games only have three innings and if a losing team can't turn things around here, they go home. At least they receive a parting gift in this tourney... :-)

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Match 1 - Madding has got to get his A's to bring the two runners on base around to score or he just may be going home tonight. He trails MMosley 2-1 in the top of third. Since he's got no outs, he'll get to use all three of his batters tonight. Looks like it'll be Yadier Molina (Wearing #4), Tony La Russa as #10, and Rick Ankiel sporting Number 24. Can MMosley end the match and move on to the next round? His pitcher sure hopes so. Here's the wind up and the pitch. Molina gets a bead on it, comes around and knocks this ball for a DOUBLE, bringing in both runners to take the lead! The A's now lead 3-2 in the third. La Russa comes in, hoping he can see the ball, let alone hit it. Here comes the throw. La Russa sends this ball straight up into the air. The pitcher ducks out of the way as the shortstop gets under the ball for the pop out. One down, one on, and one out. With Ankiel coming up to bat, the question now is whether or not the A's can extend the lead in this last ditch effort. There's only one way to find out. The pitcher comes around, sending the ball hurtling toward home. The Blue Jays' pitcher pumps his arm as the ball goes sky high above the catcher, who grabs it with both hands.

Madding has rallied back to take the lead. He's got a runner on second with two outs and at least one more batter coming to the plate.

Let's see who Madding selects to step up to the plate next. He'll choose three players from the few remaining: 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 28, 32

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Match 2 - We're in the top of the second inning with two outs and a runner on third for WhiteSoxCards. Will he be able to bring that runner around and break the 0-0 tie, or will Joey's Rangers be able to shut him down? WhiteSoxCards has another 24 hours to decide.

WhiteSoxCards gets to select from the following players, who are eager to help out: 06, 07, 09, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 32

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Match 3 - ChrisB comes back up to the plate. He's got a runner on third and two outs. The score is tied at zero-zero in the bottom of the 2nd inning. TasteLikeDirt looks on as his pitcher winds up and pitches the ball. Number 09 smacks the ball deep into the outfield in what looks like an instant replay of the previous batter! The runner on third scores, and despite a valiant effort, batter Number 09 makes it all the way around to third himself! The Blue Jays hometown fans are going crazy! Number 04 steps up to the plate. I bet he's hoping to make it a threesome of triples here for his team. Let's see what happens! The pitch wipes his brow, takes the sign, and fires in the pitch. The batter brings the bat around, and pulls off a surprising two-out bunt! No one expected this, and the runner crosses the plate as the batter reaches first. A bunt single gives the Jays a two-run lead with two outs. TasteLikeDirt has had just about enough out of this pitcher. After a heated meeting on the mound, the pitcher convinces the coach to give him one more batter. So, Twenty-One comes in to the box. He's got very little pressure on him right now. Let's see if that helps things or hurts them. Here's the pitch. And perhaps the batter is a tad bit TOO relaxed as he goes down swinging to end the inning for the Jays, but not before they grab a pair of runs.

We're heading into the top of the third inning where TasteLikeDirt's Braves are hoping to put the hurt on ChrisB's Jays, who lead 2-0.

TasteLikeDirt, who are you sending in to the game to try and mount a massive comeback? Choose your lucky three: 02, 05, 08, 10, 11, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 26, 28, 29, 32

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Match 4 - Chris(M) and his White Sox come into the third inning, hoping to break the 1-1 tie with Motherscratcher's Royals. He wastes no time, and certainly no words, as he sends in Number 13 to bat. The pitcher tosses in a curve ball that the batter sends up into the air toward third. The third baseman waves off the shortstop and catches the pop out. One down and still tied. Let's see if Number 15 can break the stalemate. The pitcher looks pretty confident as he readies the pitch. Here's the throw and the swing. The batter sends this one deep! It ricochets off the wall for a stand-up double! One on, One down. Can Chris(M) get to startin' somethin'? Here's Number 18 coming into the game. Can he do it? Will Motherscratcher give his team what they need to put an end to the threat? Here we go.... The pitcher winds up, throws, and YES, Number 18 is able to send this ball bounding into the far corner, scoring the runner on second and stopping on second himself for another double here in the top of the third.

Chris(M) now leads 2-1 with one out and a runner on second. The pickin's are getting slimmer. Which three players will Chris(M)'s White Sox bring in next: 03, 09, 14, 19, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31

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Match 5 - Erin's Orioles trail by four here in the second inning. She's got two outs. A lone runner stands on third base. Will the only female in the tournament be able to crack open the goose egg? Let's get into the action and find out. Voltaire's Brew Crew pitcher knows he is one out closer to victory. As long as the Brewers can keep the Orioles from scoring, they can force the game to go the full three innings. Erin decides that it's time to select her next player randomly. Closing her eyes, she points to Number 07. The pitcher takes the sign. He sets. Here's the wind-up, the kick and the throw. The batter swings and misses. She sets back up again and waits for the next pitch. It comes in fast and low, grabbing the outside of the plate for a called strike. That's two strikes on the batter. Will the pitcher end the inning here? Can Erin break the curse? The pitcher throws.... And Strike Three... The batter goes down swinging, ending the 2nd inning, forcing the game to go a full three innings, leaving a runner hanging on base.

Voltaire's Brewers lead four to nothing as they come up to bat in the final inning. Will they extend their lead or get frozen with four runs? Can Erin keep her girls from giving up more runs and then come from behind to win? Will the game go into extra innings?

Voltaire heads into the third inning, where he can pick from these prospective players: 05, 06, 09, 11, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 32

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Match 6 - Kevin's Marlins come to bat in the bottom of the second inning. They are down 4-1, but are just coming off a three-up, three-down showing from Dayf's Rockies. Kevin calls up Number 31. The Marlins' pitcher throws a slider that has the batter swinging at air. The next pitch is fouled off for strike two. The batter gets ready for the pitch. The next throw comes down, and the batter is called out on strikes. One away here in the bottom of the second. The Marlins bring Number 02 to the plate. Here's the pitch. Another strike. Will this batter go down swinging? Dayf sure hopes so. The next pitch meets the batter's stick and he sends it into the gap for a single. Kevin's got a runner on with one out. Let's see if Number 22 can continue the hitting, and maybe bring that runner home. Here's the wind-up. The first pitch is fouled off into the stands. The pitcher sets up for the next pitch. He fires one in there and the batter sends this one foul behind the catcher. Two strikes, one out, one on. The batter squares up as the pitcher takes his sign. The pitcher checks the runner, turns back to the batter and rifles the ball toward the plate. Before the batter comes all the way around, the pitcher begins to dip his head in disbelief. The ball is sent into the upper deck bleachers for a two-run homer! The Marlins come within one run of Dayf's Rockies with only one out.

Action continues here in the bottom of the second inning as Kevin seems to be mounting a come back, scoring two runs so far, bringing the score to 4-3 as Dayf leads the match. There's one out, so let's see what happens next!

Kevin, check over your batters, and choose three more: 04, 09, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30

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