Braves drop 2 in Championship Series

This weekend was set up to have the top 2 teams face off with practically identical offensive and pitching staffs. Braves lose 10-2 and 5-4 in Sunday's DH in Johnsburg. Uncharacteristic errors and untimely hitting were contributing factors in both games. All season long the Braves hit (.404) the ball well and were the only team to have more walks (69) than strikeouts (62). On the field defensive gems and plays were routine. The deciding factor was fielding. Del Toro were flawless in the field both games as the Braves committed 10 errors in 2 games. 

Game 1 RHP Chase Sonen pitched 5 innings (7R 2ER 4H 2BB 2K) but 6 errors led to 5 unearned runs. Relief pitcher Mickey Kutrovatz (2IP 3R 0ER 4H 1BB 2K) came in to change things up but the dreaded error yielded 2 unearned runs as well. Run support was minimal with 2 runs on 5 hits. 2B Jeff Reimer went 2-3 R RBI SB on the day.

Game 2 RHP Jon Kotloski (6.2 IP 5R 4ER 6H 3BB 4K) went the distance and was untouchable the first 4 innings. Del Toro touched Jon up for 2 runs in the 5th and their first hits (4) of the game. Mickey Borden (1-3 HR R RBI) hit a solo HR in the first to start off the scoring as the Braves jumped out to a 4-0 lead after 4. On the afternoon the base pads had 8 LOB with 3 RISP. OF Chase Sonon (2-3 R) led the Braves bats in the nightcap. 

The bottom of the 7th did not fall short of excitement. Up 4-2, RHP Jon Kotloski faced the heart of the Del Toro order 5 thru 8. Leadoff single followed by a throwing error, put runners on 1st and 2nd with 0 out. A Del Toro double put the score within 1. A defensive stop by 2B Jeff Reimer left the runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out after a web gem. On a 0-2 count Del Toro hit a Sac fly to center that was deep enough to score the winning run.