Mules come back for Game 1 win

Allentown twice came back from 2-run deficits before breaking a 4-4 tie in the 7th off Aroldis Chapman to grab a 7-4 win at home in Game 1 of their Wildcard matchup with Philadelphia.

The 5th-seeded Green Rage got two homers from 1B Joe Mauer but the 4th-seeded Mules roughed up made Chapman pay for a few miscues, and took a late lead thanks to reigning Kevin Mitchell Award winner Mike Trout.

Philly jumped out to a 2-0 lead with solo HRs from LF Michael Conforto in the 1st inning and Mauer in the 2nd. The Green Range pushed Mike Minor to the ropes with two consecutive walks but the Mules starter managed to coax a groundout to 2nd out of CF Tommy Pham.

Allentown answered in the bottom of the 2nd. A lead-off HR by RF David Dahl cut the lead to 2-1 and 2B Ozzie Albies followed with a double, coming home to tie the game at 2-2 on a one-out single by DH D.J. LeMahieu.

Philly took back the lead in the 4th inning. RF Tony Kemp led off with a single before Mauer slugged his second HR of the game deep to center for a 4-2 advantage. Allentown answered again, this time tine bottom of the 5th. No. 8 hitter Yadier Molina poked a one-out single and after LF Ian Desmond struck out, CF Mike Trout tied the game at 4-4 with a moonshot deep to left center.

Jeff Mathis took over at catcher for Philly in the bottom of the 7th after Daniel Murphy pinch-hit for Mitch Garver (he was stranded at 2nd after a one-out double in the top of the inning) and Chapman took the mound.

The inning started innocently enough, with the lefty quickly dispatching Max Muncy and LeMahieu on a strikeout and groundout, respectively. But then he plunked Molina and Desmond lashed a triple to right center to stake the Mules to a 5-4 lead. Trout followed with a double to score Desmond, extended the advantage to 6-4. Chapman got out of the inning, getting Didi Gregorius to fly to right.

Chapman stayed on for the bottom of the 8th but looked shaky. Manny Machado and Dahl immediately got him in trouble with an infield single and poke to shallow center, respectively, to begin the inning before he struck out Albies and Muncy. LeMahieu would not waste the opportunity throw, scratching out a single to left center for an insurance run and a 7-4 lead, chasing Chapman. Taylor Cole came on and before he struck out Molina to shut the door, 3B Eugenio Suarez made it interesting by dropping a foul pop that would have ended the inning.

Both starters went 6 innings but neither factored in the decision. Clay Buchholz struck out 8 and walked none while yielded 4 runs on 6 hits for the Green Rage. Minor also gave up 4 runs but on 5 hits, walking 2 and striking out 4.

Chapman (0-1) was the goat, taking the loss for Philly. He was battered for 5 hits and 3 runs in 1 2/3 innings, with 3 strikeouts. Kirby Yates (1-0) and Brandon Morrow combined for 3 innings of 2-hit ball to shutdown the Green Rage.

Trout led the Mules with 3 hits and 3 RBI out of the leadoff spot while LeMahieu contributed 2 hits and 2 RBI and Dahl had 2 hits. Mauer had 3 hits and 3 RBI for the Green Rage.

Allentown totaled 7 runs on 11 hits and Philly plated 4 runs on 7 hits, with one error. Both offenses were efficient, with Philly leaving just 5 men on base and Allentown 4.