2017 WORLD SERIES GAME 4
Chicago Iron Pigs (Bryan Rogers 0-0 3.00) @ Pittsburgh Bulldogs (Bill Shook 0-0 0.00)
Two young arms, one in a must win, the other in as pressure free a start as a World Series game can be. I’m on the cusp, with them needing to win 2 to even begin causing concern, and with my rotation lined up to go to the 2 hottest pitchers in the game if there is a 5 and/or 6. Been in some clinching situations and winning teams put, as I call it, ‘their foot on your necks’, never allowing them to even think they have a chance. This is a ‘foot on your neck’ start for Rogers.
1st inning
Shook, is shaken. He walks Riggs to start the game, Collins then doubles and Pedro Salinas slams a 422 foot 3 run blast, and it’s 3-0 before an out is recorded. Our foot is firmly positioned.
Rogers is nervous as well, walking Gomez to lead it off, Reed singles him to 3rd.
He gets Hedden on an pop up to Knox and Tunstall swinging at a 1-2 pitch.
Jose Palacios singles to drive in Gomez but Rogers gets Ramos to end it. 3-1, with some nerves but disaster avoided, end of 1.
2nd inning
Lorenzelli drills a leadoff homer to right, a 359 foot line drive, to open the 2nd. Shook then gets the side.
Rogers settles in and gets the side on 5 pitches. 4-1 after 2.
3rd inning
Salinas starts the 3rd with a solo homer as well, ending the youngsters day. Nicoli Lucciardi is on.
Rogers gets Gomez, but hits Reed with 1 out. He k’s Hedden and allows a 2 out single to Tunstall.
Jose Palacios wakes up the Bulldog faithful on the next pitch, slamming a 3 run homer to deep right to make it 5-4, we have a game…
4th inning
Coates singles leading off, but is stranded.
Chavez misplays Ivan Gonzalez’s fly ball leading off the 4th, and he’s standing on 2nd. Ricardo Gonzalez moves him over and Flynn Ash single shim in to tie it. 5-5 after 4.
5th inning
Lucciardi gets the side on 8 pitches.
Allen Hedden takes a 2-2 pitch from Rogers and slams a ball down the RF line for a leadoff homer, and a 6-5 Bulldog lead after 5.
6th inning
Lucciardi stays strong, getting the side in the top half.
Rogers remains in the game and surrenders a 2 out Ash double but gets Gomez swinging to end the 6th, 6-5.
7th inning
Will Clark on and he gets Lorenzelli, Morgan and Riggs in order.
Rogers gets Reed to open the 7th and Jorge Sanchez comes in from the pen. Rogers day ends with a 6.1-7-6-5-1-5 day. Sanchez gets Hedden and Tunstall to end the 7th, down a run.
8th inning
Julio Arroyo on and Collins doubles to lead it off. Pedro Salinas walks to put runners at 1st and 2nd.
Ron Miller grounds into a 6-4-3 DP. Collins moves to 3rd.
Paul Martin comes in to get Chavez but he lines a 2-2 single to left, scoring Collins and tying the game at 6.
9th inning
A Lorenzelli 1 out single can’t be converted as Riggs flies to right with Massi at 2nd to end the top of the 9th.
Ken Johnson comes on and promptly walks PH Manny Miranda. Arden in to PR and Flynn Ash legs out an infield single.
With runners on 1st and 2nd, no outs, Jake Ellison gets the call for Angelo Gomez, and he k’s him.
Arturo Rodriguez then comes in and fans Reed on a 1-2 pitch and gets Hedden to ground to short to end it. Onto the 10th, tied at 6.
10th inning
Collins singles leading off the 10th.
Pedro Salinas then drives in his 5th, and biggest, run of the day with a 2-1 double down the left field line!
Ron Miller is walked and Joe Boswell comes on.
Chavez moves Salinas to third on a grounder.
Bill Alexander is called on to pinch hit….
And on a 1-2 pitch slams a line drive down the line at 1st, and into the RF corner, Salinas and Miller come around to score, 9-6 Chicago!
Eric Coates is walked.
Lorenzelli lines a ball to left for the 2nd out.
Wes Morgan drills Boswell’s 1st pitch into the left field corner for another double, scoring Alexander, and making it 10-6. Riggs k’s to end it, but Chicago stands 3 outs away from the World Series title….
Dave Winston is on, Cruz is playing catch but he’s tired as hell, and as much as we’d love him to the guy on the mound, I’d rather him be closing for 3-4 more years….. But he’s ready if needed.
Tunstall, Palacios and Ramos to start the 9th….
And Ross Tunstall drills a 2-0 pitch to deep right leading off, a solo homer. Cruz is getting loose quick, and a meeting on the mound…
Ernesto Cruz is on…
And on a 1-2 pitch Palacios fans for the 1st out….
Pedro Ramos lines an 0-2 pitch to right for a single….
Cruz works Villanueva to a 1-2 count and freezes him on the inside corner, 2 outs…..
“The 3-1 pitch to Arden, a 1 hopper, Cruz stabs it, jogs towards first, flips to Salinas covering………………….
AND THE CHICAGO IRON PIGS ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS!! The Iron Pigs have won the 2017 World Series in a 4 games to none sweep of the Pittsburgh Bulldogs!!!!”
Chicago 10 Pittsburgh 7
W Rodriguez (1-0) L Martin (0-1) S Cruz (8)
HR Lorenzelli (1) Salinas 2 (4) PIT Tunstall (3) Palacios (2) Hedden (3)
Chicago wins the World Series 4-0.
World Series CO-MVPs-Pedro Salinas 6-15 4 R 2 2B 2 HR 8 RBI’s, Ernesto Cruz 4 Saves 5 IP 3 H 6 K’s 1 BB