Cards, O's Move On, and Posteason Gameday Thread #2

Unless you've been living under a rock, by now you've heard of "Infield Flygate", the main controversy from the Braves/Cardinals game. The Braves took a 2-0 lead on a David Ross home run, and the Cardinals countered with three runs a little while later, two of which were unearned. Atlanta's defense kept making like a bajillion errors and boneheaded plays, and the Cardinals eventually took a 6-3 lead. In the bottom of the 8th, Pete Kozma and Matt Holliday converged on a ball in the outfield that Kozma looked like he was going to catch, but he peeled off and the ball dropped. The infield fly rule was called, the batter was out, Freddi Gonzalez protested the game, and fans threw things on the field. Really though, the game was lost before that when the Braves forgot how to play decent defense. The Cardinals held on for a 6-3 win.

Joe Saunders started AL Wild Card game against the Rangers, and he performed spectacularly - 5 2/3rds innings, six hits/one walk, one run, and three double-plays behind him. The Orioles and Rangers each scored a run in the first inning, and both pitchers held point until the O's got a few hits off of Yu Darvish, and a sac fly put them ahead. They added a few more runs, the bullpen gave up only three more hits, and the Orioles defeated the reigning American League champions.

In today's action, the A's start things off in Detroit at 3pm. Oakland will send former Diamondback farmhand Jarrod Parker to the mound in that game. Then the Giants host the Reds at 6:30pm. Check out yesterday's post for a refresher on the former Diamondbacks involved in these contests (mainly the A's/Tigers game). For the full television schedule, check MLB.com.