Smokin' Aces: Series Update - Butler at Torto

As Nick mentioned earlier this week via email, some PTP went down over the weekend.  After starting Sunday morning off losing 2 out of 3 games to the ever dominant Fish (look for his update later - good drama in that one including a collision at home plate), I was hungry to get back on track and put together a winning series.  This was especially true since Nick had picked up 2 games on me in the standings after sweeping Butler.  My pitching staff got roughed up pretty good by Fish's squad, and I needed to get my pen some rest.  Luckily for me, my starting arms rose to the challenge...

Game 1: A.Harang @ C.Zambrano
Butler got a quick start getting 2 runs of El Toro on a 2-out, 2-RBI double from Felipe Lopez in the top of the 1st. He got another run on a base clearing 3-bagger from Tulowitzki, in the second. Big Z was fired up and ready to take this game into his own hands. Team Torto tied it up in the bottom of the 2nd, with an RBI triple from Werth, an RBI single from Pagan, followed by an RBI double from Zambrano himself. From there on Zambrano locked it down. From the 3rd to the 9th inning, Butler mustered only 1 hit (in the 9th), and struck out 13 times. Fist pumping and dagger-stares abounded, and Zambrano got his 2nd consecutive complete game, once again spelling the bullpen after a long series vs. Fish.
On offense, my squad was carried by the bat of Jayson Werth and the Kung Fu Panda (or Captain Cuddles as Butts called him) who went a combined 9 for 10, with 5R, 3 RBIs.
WP – Big Z
LP – A.Harang
HR – Werth (7)
Player of the Game – Big Z, CG, 3ER, 13K, 5H
Torto W 9-3.

Game 2: Zimmerman @ R.Harden
More great starting pitching for my squad in this one. Harden, inspired by Zambrano’s dominant performance, put on one of his own – going 6 and 2/3rds of 1-hit, shutout ball, and striking out a whopping 13 before tiring. Ryan Franklin provided the old fashioned 2.33 inning save, facing only 9 batters.  Butts spot starter (Zimmerman?) performed admirably for the suspended Wandy Rodriquez, but professional hitter Todd Helton provided all the offense that was needed for a Torto win, with a solo jack, and an RBI-single.
WP – R.Harden
LP – Zimmerman
HR – Helton (2)
Player of the Game – R.Harden, 6.2 IP, 13 K, 1H, 6BB,
Torto wins 3-0.

Game 3: J.Vasquez @ J.Santana
The bats continued to be cold for Butler in game 3, facing staff ace Javy Vasquez, who was not to be outdone by the likes of Zambrano and Harden, especially coming back from the beating that Fish’s squad applied to him. Javy was nearly unhittable, going the distance and only allowing 3 singles, while striking out 11. Pujols struck out an unfathomable 3 times in one game, and Butts K’d a presumed record 38 times total in the series. I never saw a guy roll more 700s and 800s. The strikeouts would just not stop. Johan finally pitched decent, until Jayson Werth figured him out, hitting a solo shot in the 4th, and and then a 2-run belt in the 5th. That proved to be all the offense needed.
WP – J.Vasquez
LP – J.Santana
HR – (Werth 8,9)
Player of the Game – J.Vasquez, CG 3H, 11K, 1W
Torto wins 5-0.

Torto takes the series 3-0.
New Records - How about 38Ks in a series?
Series MVP:  Jayson Werth:  7 for 12 with 5 R, 6 RBI, and 3 HRs.  He smoked Butler's pitching all day, and he irritates Spence.  What more could you ask for from your series MVP?