Game 1 – Howie Kendrick boots a grounder in the 7th, which scores the only run of the game. Eliminators win 1-0 on Jon Lester’s 4-hit CG shutout.

The Speakers don’t get a runner past 2nd base. Former Speaker, Jason Heyward, is the only Eliminator to touch 3rd as he screams by to score. Joe Ross pitches 8 innings allowing just 5 hits and no earned runs.

AJ Pollock injured at 2nd base on a 3-6 double play. Anthony Rizzo catches a liner, wheels and throws to Andrelton Simmons as Pollock goes back into the base awkwardly.

W – Lester; L – Joe Ross (0-1)

Game 2 – The teams tie 4-4 at the stretch. Manny Machado contributes a 2-run HR (4). Adam Jones knocks in 3 for the Eliminators although his 2-run double in the 6th is a turned away homer by Trevor Rosenthal (+43).

Carlos Gonzalez leads off the 9th with a game-winning solo homer (2). The Speakers pen sets down the Eliminators 1-2-3 in the bottom half for a 5-4 win.

W – Roberto Osuna (1-0); L – Bryan Shaw; S – Brett Cecil (2)

Game 3 – The Speakers build a surprising early 5-0 lead against Chris Sale. After a Rizzo error leads to an Eliminators run in the 7th, the Speakers send 8 to the plate in the bottom half to score 4 more times.

The Eliminators kick up a 9th inning fuss with 2 doubles and 3 walks to score 4 off Jeurys Familia. Tony Sipp records the final 2 outs for a closer than expected 9-5 final.

Rajai Davis (4-4, T, 2-RBI, 2-R) leads the Speakers 14-hit attack. The Eliminators tally 11 safeties, but strand several runners in scoring position.

W – Matt Harvey (3-2); L – Sale

Game 4 – The Speakers continue to hit (12) while the Eliminators don’t (3). Machado’s 1st inning 2-run homer (5) is all that Carlos Martinez and Rosenthal require to turn in a 5-1 win to take the series. Machado adds another 2-run dinger (6) in the 7th to give the Speakers some breathing room in a long-standing 2-0 score.

W – Martinez (3-0); L – Edinson Volquez; S – Rosenthal (1)