Game one of the semi-final series between the Blue Jays and the Golden Marlins saw a match-up between Blue Jays ace John Weber and Marlins ace Jim Ansel.
The Blue Jays loaded the bases with nobody out in the first inning, but Jim Ansel induced a 6-4-3 double play and a harmless fly ball to center to get out of the jam with only one run allowed. The Marlins would not let the 1-0 lead last too long as they got a run in the bottom of the first on a double by Tim Brown and a 2-out RBI single by Ron Lochner.
The Marlins would take the lead in the bottom of the third with two runs. Jim McQuade led off with a walk. Tom Maney singled McQuade to third, and then stole second base. After a pop out to second for the first out of the inning, Mike Girard lined a single to left center that scored McQuade with the go-ahead run. Tom Maney was cut down at the plate trying to score. Girard moved to second on the throw to the plate and took third on a wild pitch. Ron Lochner singled Girard home and was cut down trying to stretch the hit into a double.
The Marlins would stretch the lead to 4-1, in the 4th inning on a Randy Craft double and a throwing error trying to cut hit down at third on a ground out.
The rest of the story was the Golden Marlins pitching and defense. Jim Ansel held the Blue Jays scoreless through the next 5 innings after escaping the first inning jam. The Blue Jays threatened to make a big comeback in the top of the seventh inning, when they got the first two batters to reach on consecutive singles. Mike Girard then came on in relief with the tying run at the plate and nobody out. Girard got the next three batters in order on a fly out to center, a strike out, and a pop out to second to earn the save and preserve a 4-1 victory for the Fish.

Game two saw the Marlins jump out to a 6-0 lead in the top of the first and they never looked back. The Marlins got singles from Maney, Girard, Mike Ferraro, Craft, Mike Clary, Jim Ansel, and John Reel in the first inning rally.
The Blue Jays scored one in the bottom of the first, on a single by Pat Alston and a couple of Marlins errors.
The Fish scored 3 more in the top of the second inning, on singles by Maney, Girard, and a double by Craft, to push the lead to 9-1.
The Marlins would close out the scring in the top of the seventh with two runs on a single by Skip Treece, a walk to McQuade, singles by Maney and Brown, and a sacrafice fly by Girard.
The Fish got solid pitching and defense again, this time from Phil Gadomski and Mike Clary. Gadomski pitched the first four innings allowing just 3 singles. Clary pitched the final 3 innings without allowing a Blue Jays base runner and striking out 4 in his 3 innings of work.
The Golden Marlins now advance to the finals to face the winner of the Reds / Giants semi-final series. Good luck to both teams. It will be a great finals no matter which team advances. Clear your schedule for next weekend and come out to see some great baseball!

-- Edited by mgirard11 on Sunday 16th of September 2012 11:28:39 AM