Round Two: Northwest 4, Mohawk Valley 3

Game recaps from the Strat-generated box scores. In this series, the No. 3 Mohawk Valley Crimson Lions (98-64) had home-field advantage versus the No. 7 Northwest Stars (90-72).

Game One
Stars 3, Lions 1

Doug Fister (2-1) and David Price (1-2) treated the Mohawk Valley fans to a fine pitching duel at Van Slyke Field. The Northwest Stars eventually emerged as victors over the Mohawk Valley Crimson Lions by the score of 3 to 1.

Fister looked very much in control throughout the night. He allowed only 4 hits and 3 walks in 7 2/3 innings seeing his ERA drop from 4.70 to 3.52 for the playoffs. Craig Kimbrel earned the save with a perfect ninth, his 4th save.


Game Two
Lions 5, Stars 0

C.C. Sabathia threw a 2-hit shutout at Van Slyke Field where the Mohawk Valley Crimson Lions beat the Northwest Stars by the score of 5 to 0.

Sabathia (2-0) was tremendous on the mound for Mohawk Valley. He was stingy on the mound, allowing just 2 hits and 2 walks in 9 innings dropping his playoff ERA from 1.42 to 0.59. Mohawk Valley managed 11 hits in their victory. 

Jordan Zimmermann (1-2) ended up with the loss. He served up 3 home runs in his 6 1/3 innings.


Game Three
Stars 7, Lions 1

Right fielder Jason Heyward cleared the bases with his grand slam as the Northwest Stars topped the Mohawk Valley Crimson Lions by a score of 7 to 1 at Star Dome.

Northwest jumped out to the early lead in the first inning scoring 2 runs on 2 base hits. Alex Gordon led off and got things going when he drew a walk. Elvis Andrus next to the plate and he doubled. Heyward followed, but he was set down on strikes. Adam Jones stepped in and he would ground out. Kyle Seager came up to bat and singled. That was all Madison Bumgarner (2-0) needed. Northwest had 10 hits for the game and Mohawk Valley had 5.

Stephen Strasburg (0-1) took the loss. He was unable to control the Northwest offense and allowed 9 hits and 2 walks in 6 innings. 


Game Four
Lions 7, Stars 5

Adam LaRoche had 4 hits and 3 RBI as the Mohawk Valley Crimson Lions defeated the Northwest Stars 7 to 5 at Star Dome.

LaRoche enjoyed a fine evening at the plate. He doubled plating two runs in the 1st inning, smashed a bases-empty big fly in the 3rd inning, ripped a base knock in the 5th inning and laced a single in the 9th inning. Mohawk Valley managed only 6 hits on the night. 

The win went to Yu Darvish (1-1) who allowed 5 runs in 7 2/3 innings. Darvish got help from Koji Uehara who was credited with his 2nd save. A.J. Griffin (1-1) took the loss. He was knocked around, surrendering 5 runs in 4 2/3 innings. 


Game Five
Stars 6, Lions 0

Doug Fister (2-1), with relief help from Ryan Cook, handcuffed the Mohawk Valley Crimson Lions batters at Star Dome in an evening game. The Northwest Stars scored 6 runs for the win.

Northwest brought 4 runs across the plate in the bottom of the 3rd inning with the help of 3 hits. That early scoring was all that Fister needed. Overall Northwest out-hit Mohawk Valley 9 to 5. 

David Price (1-2) suffered the loss. He pitched 6 innings allowing 5 hits and 4 walks.


Game Six
Lions 4, Stars 1

In a good matchup it was the Mohawk Valley Crimson Lions 4, the Northwest Stars 1 at Van Slyke Field.

Mohawk Valley did all the necessary damage in the 8th inning as they scored 4 runs on 4 base hits. The biggest moment was provided by Chase Headley who electrified Van Slyke Field when he lifted one out of the park for a two-run home run. Mohawk Valley finished with 7 hits in the victory. 

The win went to Tom Wilhelmsen (1-0) who allowed no runs in 1 1/3 innings. Wilhelmsen got help from Koji Uehara who was credited with his 3rd save. The loss was charged to Craig Kimbrel (0-2) in relief. 


Game Seven
Stars 5, Lions 1

Alex Gordon left the yard and had 2 RBI as the Northwest Stars topped the Mohawk Valley Crimson Lions by a score of 5 to 1 at Van Slyke Field.

Mohawk Valley never recovered after Northwest took the lead in the top of the 5th inning plating an isolated run using 3 hits. Mohawk Valley was out-hit by Northwest, 8 hits to 5. 

George Kontos (1-0) picked up the victory, allowing no runs in 2 1/3 innings. Stephen Strasburg (0-2) took the loss. Despite the loss, he struck out 9 Northwest batters in 5 innings.