Game 1 – The Speakers light up Stephen Strasburg for the second time this season, scoring 6 runs in the 1st. Although Strasburg turns away 3 walks during the barrage, he doesn’t record an out until Yoenis Cespedes flies out to left as the 8th hitter of the inning. Alex Wood coughs up a pair in the bottom half and a HR to Jacoby Ellsbury in the 3rd, but the Speakers hold on, 6-3.

W – Wood (3-1); L – Strasburg; S – Feliz (1)

Game 2 – Anthony Rizzo’s 2-run 1st inning HR (10) gives the Speakers another early lead. Andrelton Simmons’ 2-out RBI single in the 2nd scores Jason Heyward for a 3-0 lead. Brandon Phillips’ 2-run HR and Sal Perez’s solo shot knot the score after 4. Cespedes doubles to start the 5th. He scores on Anthony Rendon’s triple. Even though the Speakers can’t score Rendon, they hang on for a slim 4-3 margin as the Dogs record just one single over the final 5 innings. Manager Williams’ new Bud Norris attire works as advertised, as Bud records his 2nd victory of the season!

W – Norris (2-3); L – James Shields; S – Feliz (2)

Game 3 – The Speakers go 1-2-3 in the 1st against James Paxton, who shut them out on 4 hits earlier this season. This game, the Devil Dogs set off 1st inning fireworks, scoring 3. 2nd inning fireworks add another run. 3rd inning fireworks yet another. 2 more in the 4th and another in the 5th. Down 8-0, the Speakers spring to life in the 6th, scoring 5 times (highlighted by Howie Kendrick’s bases loaded triple) to chase Paxton. Rendon (7) homers in the 7th, but David Wright answers after the stretch with an RBI single. 9-6 to the 9th when Rendon doubles with 1 out. Buster “Hearts Buster” Posey connects for the 6th time this season, but Al Alburquerque settles down enough to retire the next two Speakers to preserve an entertaining 9-8 Dogs’ win.

W – Paxton; L – Carlos Martinez (0-1); S – Alburquerque