Tucson overcomes Marietta power display to take Game 1

Justin Turner opened the 2018 postseason with a home run, one of four by fifth-seeded Marietta to build a Game 1 lead in Tucson.

The fourth-seeded King Snakes overcame the Mighty Men's power display, erasing a 6-0 deficit with big hits of their own, on their way to a 7-6 win in Game 1 of their first round series.

Turner led off the game with a home run off Max Scherzer and Marietta opened that lead to 2-0 when Giancarlo Stanton went deep in the 3rd but otherwise Scherzer managed to roll along relatively unscathed. Other than a hit batsman, the first four innings was pretty much smoothing sailing for Marietta starter Luis Severino, who allowed just two singles and a walk. Things come apart for both pitchers in the 5th inning.

Scherzer plunked No. 9 hitter Starlin Castro after a leadoff double by Chris Iannetta but came back to strike out Turner. Mitch Haniger flied to right for the second out before Stanton put to rest any ideas Tucson had of escaping the inning, launching his second bomb of the game deep to left for a 5-0 advantage. Justin Bour, who teamed with Stanton to combined for 100 homers in the regular season, then took Scherzer deep for back-to-back homers and a 6-0 lead.

Staked to a 6-0 lead, Severino fell apart after getting the leadoff hitter in the 5th, letting five batters reach base and score. He plunked his second batter of the game, No. 9 hitter Nolan Arenado, then Brett Gardner put the King Snakes on the board with a fly ball over the left field wall to cut the lead to 6-2. Batting cleanup, catcher Mike Zunino followed singles by Jose Altuve and Marcell Ozuna with a stunning bomb to cut the lead to 6-5 and end Severino's night. Anthony Swarzak came on and walked a batter before finally striking out two to end the 5th.

In the bottom of the 6th, Brandon Crawford led off with a single and quickly scored on Arenado's triple to knot the game at 6-6. Arenado scampered home with the go-ahead run when Gardner walked but ball four got past Iannetta. Swarzak came back to strike out the side but the King Snakes had a 7-6 lead after 6 and turned it over to their bullpen.

Josh Hader started the 7th by hitting Turner but that was the only blemish for Tucson's bullpen. Hader and Craig Kimbrel combined to quiet Marietta over the final three innings, striking out five without allowing a hit.

Scherzer (1-0) registered the win despite surrendering 6 runs on 6 hits, including 4 homers. He struck out 9 and walked 2 while logging 113 pitches (70 for strikes, .619), over 6 innings. Kimbrel picked up the save with a perfect 9th.

Severino lasted 4 1/3 innings, striking out 5 and walking 1. He gave up 5 runs on 6 hits with 48 of his 80 pitches (.600) going for strikes.

Marietta was efficient, finishing with 6 runs on 6 hits, leaving only 4 on base. Tucson banged out 7 runs on 9 hits and left 8 men on. Swarzak (0-1) registered all 5 of his outs by strikeout but gave up 2 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks to take the loss. Pat Neshek finished up the final two innings, striking out 4 with a hit.

Stanton led all Marietta batters with 4 RBI, plus 2 runs and 2 hits (both home runs). Zunino had a  team-high 3 RBI for Tucson while Gardner and Ozuna each had 2 hits.