Sardine City holds on to take Game 1

Corey Kluber struck out 11 and limited Tucson to just 1 run after a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the 8th as top-seeded Sardine City opened the Best-of-Seven semifinal series with a 5-3 victory in Game 1 on Sunday night.

Kluber held Tucson in check for the most part, other than a couple of solo homers early. Tucson's hottest hitter in the postseason, Marcell Ozuna continued his torrid stretch, smacking a solo homer deep to left center in the 1st inning. Avisail Garcia led off the 3rd with another homer deep to left to give Tucson a 2-0 advantage.

The No. 4 seeded King Snakes had a golden opportunity in the 8th inning but came away with just one run. Kluber looked like he may have run out of gas. Holding on to a 5-2 lead, he walked Eric Thames to start the inning before back-to-back singles by Garcia and Crawford loaded the bases with no one out. A sacrifice fly to right by Jose Altuve plated Thames to cut the lead to 5-3. Brett Gardner flied out to center, allowing Garcia to take 3rd base.

With runners on the corners, Ozuna stepped to the plate representing the go-ahead run. This time, there was no big blast. Facing his final batter of the night, Kluber struck out Ozuna, preserving a 5-3 lead going to the bottom of the 8th.

Tucson starter Robbie Ray was cruising along himself until the 4th inning when Edwin Encarnacion led off with a single up the middle before Kyle Seager lifted a ball deep to left center, tying the game at 2-2. Ray struck out the next two batters before giving up a single, then walked a batter before getting his third strikeout of the inning.

The King Snakes got a runner as far as 3rd base after Nolan Arenado doubled to lead off the top of the 5th and advanced on a groundout before Kluber retired the side by striking out No. 9 hitter Brandon Crawford.

The Straphangers chased Ray in the 6th. Javy Baez led off with a single before Ray struck out two more batters but then walked the No. 9 hitter, Stephen Piscotty. Ray's night was finished after 5 2/3 innings and 106 pitches (63 for strikes, .594). With two out and men on 1st and 2nd in a 2-2 game, Tucson called on lefty Josh Hader.

George Springer gave him a rude welcome, drilling a double to left center to bring home bother runners and take a 4-2 lead. Corey Seager added another run, bringing home Springer on a double to right center. James McCann lined out to left, stranding Seager on 2nd but the Straphangers ended the 6th with a 5-2 lead.

Cody Bellinger did the best he could to try tack on an insurance run, reaching on an infield single to lead off the bottom of the 8th and then stealing 2nd. Eric Hosmer struck out and Bellinger then stole 3rd but Hader retired the next two batters to strand Bellinger on 3rd.

Keone Kela worked a 1-2-3 9th inning to earn the save. Kluber struck out 11 and walked 1 in 8 innings, limiting the King Snakes to 5 hits an 3 runs. Of his 126 pitches, 80 went for strikes (.635). Ray suffered the loss despite 10 strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. The lefty was tagged for 4 runs on 7 hits and walked 3. Hader went 2 1/3 innings, yielding 3 hits and 1 run while striking out two.

Seager (Corey) and Springer led Sardine City with 2 RBI each. Hosmer and Encarnacion each had two hits.

Tucson scored 3 runs on 5 hits, leaving only 3 men on base. Sardine City plated 5 runs on 10 hits and left 8 aboard.

Game 2 is scheduled for Monday in Sardine City.