ARE YOU SERIOUS!!

So let me get this straight...


The Braves were up 10.5 games on the Cardinals on Aug. 26th and still up 8.5 by Sept. 6th.  The Red Sox were up by 9 games on Sept 3rd.  After both teams shitted their way through September, game 162 for both clubs would be this...


(all of this was watched live last night, flipping between telecasts)


In the NL, the Braves were at home against the Phils.  Tied with the Cards for the Wildcard.  The Braves would go into the 8th and 9th innings with their LIGHTS OUT bullpen of Venters and Kimbrel, up 3-2.  9th.  Bases loaded.  One out.  They would leave the 9th tied 3-3, save blown.


The Cards by this time were already up 7-0 in the 8th and cruised to a win.


The bats never showed up for the Braves in the 10th, 11th and 12th; and ultimately end their season in the 13th.  They became the first team to blow a lead for a playoff spot of 8 or more games going into Sept.  WHAT?  THE?  FUCK?


It was astounding and would be the absolute WORST way to end a season, if not for...


In the AL, the Red Sox were in Baltimore.  Tied with the Rays for the Wildcard.  The Rays had the Yankees in Tampa.  Lester on the mound for Sox and a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom 7th.


Rain delay.


Out in Tampa, the Yanks are up 7-0 heading into the 8th (coincidence?) and are cruising to win.  Girardi used 9 pitchers by the 8th (test the pen before the ALDS, I get it).  After the 8th is over, it's 7-6.


Bottom 9.  Dan Johnson.  Who?  Two strikes.  Two Outs.  Who?  Gone.  Let's head to extras in Tamp.


Rain delay over.  Both the Orioles and Sox had chances to cut the lead or extend it.  Both faltered.  No matter.  Let's head into the 9th with Papel on the mound.


The Yankees B-squad did everything they could to "win" in the 10th and 11th.  Yeah right.  The fans in Tampa are GLUED to the scoreboard, they know the Red Sox are in the bottom 9th.  They know it's 1-run game.  They know who's on the mound.


The Sox know it's still tied in Tamp.  They got this.  It's only the Orioles.  Pap strikes out the first batter.  Wait.  The Orioles?  Strike 3.  Blows away the next batter.  Not the team that had just taken 3 out of 4 from Boston a mere week ago.   2 outs.  Double to deep right.  Next batter, Nolan Reimold (who are these batters??).  Strike 1.  Strike 2.


The fans in Tampa have just hit the bottom 12th.  Upton's up to bat.  It's been a long night but you're fighting for a playoff spot and you just came back from being down 7 runs 4 innings ago.  The fans check the scoreboard in Balt.


Ground rule doubled to deep center.  The runner scores from 2nd.  TIED.  Save blown (seriously, coincidence??).  Pap is STUNNED.  No matter, the Sox want extras.  Right?


Upton strikes out and the CROWD GOES BANANAS.  Wait.  What?  Sox score posted. Tied at 3.  Longoria's up.  The bench is cheering.  Evan goes 0-2.  Quick.


Robert Andino's up (ok. for real. WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE??).  Remember that 3 outta 4 last week, he was all in that shit.  Hitting, running, scoring.  No way.  He hits a shot to left.  Crawford slides in for the final out.  Bobbles.  Runner's rounding 3rd.  Craw guns it.  Play at the plate.


SAFE.  Game.  Completely STUNNED.  Red Sox lose.  No matter, they still had a chance right?  Its was still tied in...*


Fans are BALLISTIC in Tampa.  Evan hears the cheers, he can guess why, but he's 0-2.  Needs to get on base.  Needs to focus.  The last thing he's thinking is...


GONE.  Down the left line.  Skates the foul pole and that 2 ft wall.  Game over.  Wildcard clinched.  Post-season ready.


Collapsed cemented.  By both teams tonight.  It's absolutely... jaw-dropping.




On a night that saw EVERYTHING you could think of on the last night of season.  To get INTO the post season.  With 3 games like this...  The Division series starts Friday.


-DM


*The time between the Sox losing and Evan's HR was 3 mins.  3 mins.  That mean the Sox were just getting in the visitor clubhouse.  Just turning on the TV.  Just realizing they are watching the Rays celebrate. Wow.