[IBL] NC Division Series Begin (BAL at NYK)

[Doug Palmer]

NYK selected to play the Cardiac Crabs instead of the wildcard winners,
SNH.  So Baltimore travelled deep into Knight country to play the first two
games.

Everything that they say about NYK is true.  Great hitters, great starters
and relievers who are out of this world.  And G1 demonstrated that.
Verlander starts for NYK vs Freeland for BAL.  It ain't even close.
Freeland gets shelled early, fatigues by the 4th, and it's over before it
began.  The final was 10-1 but it wasn't even THAT close.  NYK faithful
stormed the local hardware stores, buying brooms.

Game 2 was a clear, bright afternoon.  Buehler took the mound for NYK while
Happ started for BAL.  Buehler's card is even scarier than Verlanders!!!
Something strange happened though.....BAL decided to bring their bats.
Well, some of them.  A 2-run shot by Guzman and a solo shot by Pillar and
it's 3-0 Crabs.  Fans were baffled.  A strange hush fell over the 45,000+
in the stands.  Then NYK remembered that they're NYK.  2 runs in the 3rd,
another pair in the 5th and it's now 4-3 Knights.  The fans are used to
this and begin the "na na, hey hey chant".  But these ARE the Cardiac Crabs
and sometimes....magic can happen.  MIL Hader comes in to pitch (an UGLY
card) and suddenly an error at 1st and the Crabs have a baserunner.  Then
Manny lines a shot into the corner and has a stand up triple.  It's tied!
Crabs tied it!  Knights tried in the 7th, but a double play nixed that.
Same in the 9th, a key DP and it's tied after the 9th.  Bonus baseball in
the playoffs.  The Knights never go 1-2-3 but they never get a run across.
And then the strangest thing happens.  Knights get a Park roll...now look
at that park (Coors).  There are only 6 outs on the card.  SIX.  And
somehow NYK rolls one of those six!!!  It's still tied!!!!  We go to the
12th and rather than PH for CHA Castillo, I let him hit.  And I'm rewarded
with a solo shot into the cheap seats.  Crabs LEAD!  Fans choke on their
cokes and beers.  Small children cry.  Grown men curse the skies.  Women
faint.  Crabs lead!?  Bottom of the 12th and after the first two batters
are retired.....the cheese gets binding.  A Coors single (line outs are
singles at coors) and a walk put runners at 1st and 2nd with 2 outs.  And
the closer for the Crabs (Brasier) is fatigued.  The ONLY reliever left in
the pen is HOU Sipp.  Need the lefty to come through........and on a 2-2
pitch, Grandal swings and misses and the Crabs.....the Cardiac
Crabs......steal a game vs NYK.  Heading home, still very much underdogs,
the Crabs remind the IBL world why they're called Cardiac.

NYK 1 win
BAL 1 win

Games 3 and 4 tomorrow.  Stay tuned for more IBL post season excitement.
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