World Series Update -- December 7, 2017

Athletics claim 2-1 World Series lead in tension-filled opening three games

Game 1—Reds at Athletics, Tanner Roark vs. Rich Hill: Reds jump out to a four-run lead in the top of the first with dingers by Nelson Cruz and Joey Votto. Athletics get two unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth on an error by Christian Yelich with two men on base. Both teams score in the sixth, the Reds set up with a Votto triple, and the Athletics with a home run by David Ortiz. At that point Reds lead 5-3. Bottom seventh, Athletics take a 6-5 lead on a three-run shot by Kris Bryant. Reds tie it 6-6 in the top of the eighth with doubles by Sandy Leon and Ryan Braun, with Votto tagged out at the plate on a throw from Billy Hamilton trying to score from first. Again in the top of the ninth, Yelich tries to score from first on an Evan Longoria double but is cut down at the plate on a Hamilton throw. Bottom ninth, Adam Eaton, after a pinch single, scores the winning run on a walk-off double by Bryce Harper. Athletics win game 7-6. Win goes to Addison Reed (after a blown save in the eighth), loss to Rasiel Iglesias. Athletics lead series 1 game to 0.

Game 2—Reds at Athletics, Carlos Martinez vs. Kyle Hendricks. Martinez with a three-hit shutout as the Reds parlay dingers by Asdrubal Cabrera in the second inning and Votto in the eighth inning into a 3-0 victory. Athletics do draw six walks but leave 10 runners on base. Reds win game 3-0. Win goes to Martinez, loss to Hendricks. Series tied at 1 game each.

Game 3—Athletics at Reds, Yu Darvish vs. Vincent Velasquez. Athletics with an unearned run in the top of the first on an error by Devon Travis and singles by Ortiz and Corey Seager. They add three more in the top of the third on a three-run dinger by Ortiz, taking a 4-0 lead. But the Reds put up a five-spot in the bottom of the third, with walks to Braun and Travis, a pinch single by Carlos Santana and back-to-back homers by Longoria and Cruz. 5-4 Reds at that point. Home run by Alex Avila gets the Athletics even at 5-5 in the top of the fourth, and they take a 6-5 lead in the top of the fifth on a Seager walk, Eaton single and Hamilton double. Reds threaten in the bottom of the seventh, but Reed in relief of Darvish strikes out Longoria with the bases loaded. Reed shuts down the Reds the rest of the way. Athletics win game 6-5. Win goes to Darvish, loss to Velasquez with a save to Reed. Athletics lead series 2 games to 1.

Final 2017 Regular Season Standings

Larry Division

1. x-Reds (38-42), .475, 0.0 GB
2. Yankees (35-45), .438, 3.0 GB
3. Cardinals (31-49), .388, 7.0 GB

Moe Division

1. x-Giants (51-29), .638, 0.0 GB
2. Rockies (38-42), .475, 13.0 GB
3. Pirates (36-44), .450, 15.0 GB

Curly Division

1. x-Red Sox (50-30), .625, 0.0 GB
2. y-Athletics (45-35), .563, 5.0 GB
3. Mets (36-44), .450, 14.0 GB

x-Clinched division title
y-Clinched wild card

Post-Season Madness 2017

Divisional Playoffs

Giants (Number 1 seed) vs. Reds (Number 4 seed)
Reds win series 4 games to 2

Red Sox (Number 2 seed) vs. Athletics (Number 3 seed)
Athletics win series 4 games to 3

World Series

Athletics (Number 3 seed) vs. Reds (Number 4 seed)
Athletics lead series 2 games to 1

2018 Draft Order

1. Cardinals

2. Yankees

3. Pirates

4. Mets

5. Rockies
6. Red Sox
7. Giants

8-9. TBA

Next action: World Series continues, tentatively scheduled for Monday, December 11. Stay tuned. . .