Currently the top two teams, The Plague and Speakers have played two consecutive one-run games (both won by The Plague) following two blowouts (both won by the Speakers) during the 1st Period. Today’s action only solidifies how well these two squads match up.

Game 1 – Manager Ed’s team opens the proceedings with a 3-run 1st against David Price. Brett Lawrie’s 2-out 2-run double does the damage.

The Speakers answer with 3 straight singles (with a Scott Kazmir wild pitch in the middle) to get 2 back. That’s when both southpaws settle in.

Rajai Davis leads off the bottom of the 7th with a triple into the right field corner. Newcomer Ian Kinsler flies to Billy Hamilton in foul ground (65-35) as Davis races home for the 3-3 tie.

Both teams squander scoring opportunities, so rookie Francisco Lindor goes deep off Darren O’Day in the 11th for the game-winner, 4-3. Jonathon Papelbon sets down the Speakers in order to record the save.

W – Blaine Hardy; L – O’Day (0-1); S – Papelbon

Game 2 – The Plague score in the 1st again on Lorenzo Cain’s 2-out RBI single after Denard Span’s leadoff double. This time, the Speakers go 1-2-3 in the 1st; however, they bat around in the 2nd. 5 singles, a walk and Mike Mousatakas’ throwing error result in a 5-run inning.

The Plague storm back in the 4th, scoring 4 to tie. Doubles by Cain and Moustakas sandwich a Michael Brantley single and HBP. Span plates the tying run with a 2-out single.

True to form, the starters each go at least 7 IP, then hand the tie to their respective pens. Today, the Speakers pen doesn’t allow a baserunner from the 8th to the end.

The Plague’s Blaine Boyer surrenders Manny Machado’s leadoff double in the 13th. Chris Young bunts Machado to 3rd (rolling a 33-0!). Joe Smith comes in to face Rajai, who singles in the hole (51-9) to walk off 6-5, knotting the season series at 3-3.

W – Brett Cecil (2-1); L – Boyer

Game 3 – Yet again, The Plague scores on a 2-out RBI single in the 1st, this time by AJ Pierzynski. Kris Bryant answers with a solo shot (7), the Speakers only HR of the series, in the 4th.

Again, chances to score for both teams come up empty until Span strokes a solo homer in the 7th. The Speakers get the tying run to 2nd in the 8th, but The Plague’s tough pen holds to complete the dramatic 2-1 finish.

W – Felipe Rivero; L – Carlos Martinez (6-2); S – Papelbon