[Izz]

2049 Preliminary Finals

The morning before the Preliminary Finals commenced, the Fury announced 26 y/o rising star Marcos Lopez (.318/.368/.540, 33HR) had agreed to a 5-year extension.

Game 1 - Wellington Fury vs Sydney Blue Sox

The big news out of the Blue Sox camp was Brodie Backhouse returning from his long injury layoff and slotting straight back into the closing role. As they had last season, the Sox looked out of sorts in this one, though Wellington just couldn’t convert their chances. A 2-run 8th saw Sydney finally on the board with a lead of 1, but Wellington made the most of Backhouse’s rustiness, Philip Burton leading off the 9th with a triple and coming home off the next batter’s sac fly to even the game up. The Fury got runners on the corners with 2 outs but Lopez ground out to 3rd to end the threat. Sydney couldn’t score in the bottom of the inning and the game headed to extra time. The scores remained locked until the bottom of the 13th, when Nigel Pinney got a fastball over the plate and pulled it over the rightfield wall for a walk-off HR. Final score: 3-2 Blue Sox.

Both Cummins (7.0IP, 4H, 0ER, 5BB, 7K) and Bob Davies (7.1IP, 8H, 1ER, 1BB, 6K) had their share of nerves, but kept getting themselves out of trouble. Kade Clark got the win for Sydney.

Game 1 - Brisbane Bandits vs Adelaide Venom

This one stayed close until the 9th, when Brisbane beat up on Cody Sutcliffe to the tune of 4 runs to blow the game out of the water. Final score: 8-4 Brisbane. Adelaide’s relief pitchers looked short of a gallop, with Brisbane racking up 17 base hits. Cong Chaim and Hudswell both homered for Brisbane, while Ziersch went deep for Adelaide. Ralston (7.1IP, 6H, 2ER, 3BB, 4K) picked up his 2nd win of the postseason, while Karl Bell (5.2IP, 8H, 3ER, 1BB, 9K) got the loss but also got the ball to dance plenty, too.

Game 2 - Wellington Fury vs Sydney Blue Sox

Marcos Lopez was 3-5 today, but it was his 5th inning Grand Slam that got all the attention. Those 4 runs were the difference, with the final score 6-2 to the Fury. Every player in the Fury starting lineup got a base hit, while Sydney managed only 10 baserunners (7 hits, 3 walks). Barry (7.2IP, 7H, 2ER, 2BB, 2K) picked up win #3 on the trot, while Jesus Rodriguez (4.1IP, 7H, 5ER, 2BB, 2K) didn’t do a good job getting himself out of trouble, and wound up with the loss.

Game 2 - Brisbane Bandits vs Adelaide Venom

In a game of rallies, Brisbane were just too strong, scoring in multiples every time they had a threat. Final score: 11-6 Bandits. Chaim hit HR# 3 of his postseason, and the Bandits put together 6 XBH in comparison to Adelaide’s 1. Aitcheson (6.2IP, 11H, 5R, 4ER, 0BB, 3K) took a bit of tap but got the W, while Justin Trembath (3.1IP, 5H, 5ER, 2BB, 3K) got a quick hook.

Game 3 - Wellington Fury vs Sydney Blue Sox

The Blue Sox had no answer to Cameron Worsfold, who allowed just 2 hits and 4 walks through 8 innings. He was pulled in sight of a playoff shutout, and while he didn’t look too happy about it at the time, he towed the company line after the match, saying it was a team game and individual performances were “icing not cake.” The starter, who had an 8-15 record during the regular season, struck out 4 hitters and threw 107 pitches. Final score: 2-0 Wellington. Baden Moore (8.0IP, 6H, 2ER, 2BB, 3K) could feel aggrieved not to have got a better result. There were no extra base hits in the game.

Game 3 - Brisbane Bandits vs Adelaide Venom

With their season on the line the Venom fought hard, and the Bandits committed 3 errors to take the foot off the throat. It was still a close game, though, Brisbane bringing the tying run to the plate without an out in the 9th. They couldn’t get any runners home, though, the final score 5-3 Venom. Axel Wakefield and Lee both homered for Brisbane, while Carl Bristcoe went deep for Adelaide. Karl Lang (8.0IP, 5H, 3ER, 3BB, 4K) got the win, while Fitchett (8.0IP, 7H, 4R, 3ER, 2BB, 4K) took the loss.

Game 4 - Wellington Fury vs Sydney Blue Sox

Sydney scored in the 1st but then struggled to do anything worthwhile as Cummins threw a smart game. It was still a tight one heading into the bottom of the 8th, with just 1 run in it, but that all changed very quickly, Wellington piling on 5 runs, mainly thanks to a Roy Andrews Grand Slam. Sydney had no answers, the final score 6-1 Wellington. No sooner had the last pitch been thrown than grumblings about the top seeds sitting out a week began again. Cummins (9.0IP, 6H, 1ER, 1BB, 5K) was great in going the whole game and picking up his 1st playoff win of 2049. Bob Davies (7.0IP, 7H, 3ER, 2BB, 1K) seemed down on velocity even if his locations were generally pretty good.

Game 4 - Brisbane Bandits vs Adelaide Venom

Aguirre put Brisbane into the lead with a 3-run jack in the 3rd, and while the Venom got 1 back in the 7th they never looked in it. Losing Ziersch (who was hitting .528 for the series) to a knee injury in the 1st didn’t help, but after 2 singles to open the game they could only manage 2 more base hits and 3 walks. The Bandits made Adelaide cry for mercy in the 8th, piling on 6 runs, 4 of those courtesy of Gordon Appleby’s Slammer. Final score: 9-1 Brisbane and both the top seeds were gone! Bell (6.2IP, 8H, 3ER, 1BB, 4K) wouldn’t want to remember this postseason too much, while Ralston (6.1IP, 4H, 1ER, 3BB, 5K) looked every inch the superstar Bandits’ management predicted he would become.