[Westheim]

2026 WORLD SERIES
Portland Raccoons (94-68) vs. Los Angeles Pacifics (99-64)

Game 3 – Dan Delgadillo (12-7, 2.76 ERA) vs. Shane Baker (15-11, 3.35 ERA)

The burning question what on ****ing earth was wrong with Rin Nomura could wait until Game 6, but the question what on ****ing earth was wrong with the lineup remained to fester in me. Never mind crummy pitching, but only amounting to five base hits every other game was not making for an easy night sleep!

LAP: LF Cambra – 1B Retzer – C Allomes – CF Fowler – RF Vanatti – 2B Hansen – SS B. Cook – 3B Avent – P S. Baker
POR: SS Alb. Ramos – 2B Spencer – RF Gomez – 1B Gonzalez – 3B Nunley – CF Jamieson – LF Carmona – C Tovias – P Delgadillo

Like Nomura in Game 2 (here it comes…), Delgadillo struggled right away against opposite-handed batting in Game 3. Cambra's leadoff single, a walk to Allomes, and **** was real right in the first inning. Gomez' hustle on Fowler's fly got us a crucial second out, and then Jamieson got to stretch the paws on Vanatti's drive to deep center, and also made the catch.

Alberto Ramos kept logging a hit to begin the Coons' efforts in every game, driving a double to right to begin the bottom 1st. Behind him, nothing good appeared to happen with Spencer flying out to shallow center, Gomez grounding out to third, but then Jon Gonzalez came through with a single to right, his first RBI in the series as Ramos coasted home for the first run in the game. Alberto came up big in his next appearance again; then with Jamieson and Cookie on base and two outs in the bottom 2nd. Ramos laced another double past the helpless bystander Vanatti, and this scored both runners to give the Coons an early 3-0 edge. Spencer singled, but Ramos had to hold at third base, and Gomez struck out, ending the inning.

Things got a little bit easier for Dan Delgadillo with every early inning that passed. The second time through he was much better against L.A. than the first time, and overall they were still held to two hits through five innings.

The Raccoons were looking for a deciding blow, and the next best opportunity came in the bottom of the fifth inning. Spencer and Gonzalez hit singles off Baker to occupy the corners, bringing up Nunley with one out, but Matt rolled into a double play.

As if on command, Dan got wonky again in the sixth. Firmino Cambra led off with a single over the second base bag, and then Allomes walked; always the left-handers that were making trouble! Justin Fowler cracked away at a 2-1 pitch, on the ground, right at Ramos, and now the Coons turned two to ruin an effort for L.A.!

Bottom 6th, Cookie reached on a 1-out infield single, which already got the crowd excited, and they could barely contain themselves when he stole second base off Allomes. Not that it helped the Critters; Tovias struck out, and Delgadillo grounded out to short. Delgadillo dragged his bum through the seventh inning, which began with Vanatti flying out very easily to Cookie on a 3-1 pitch, then continued with two groundouts. The Furballs were still hoping for that knockout blow; Ramos hit his third double of the contest in the bottom 7th, leading off, and that also tied a CL playoff record. Gomez walked, and Gonzalez' groundout moved them to scoring position for Nunley. The double play taken off, Nunley shone with a single to right. Ramos scored anyway, Gomez was sent, arrived inches ahead of Vanatti's throw, and the call was safe, 5-0! That was it for Baker, who was replaced by Jay Schimek, who surrendered another run on a Jamieson double.

Delgadillo faced Avent to begin the eighth, but was yanked after allowing a single, the fourth base hit for L.A. in seven-plus for Dan. With left-hander Jason Stone pinch-hitting, Kearney came out. He got a double play from Stone, then a (deep) fly out to Gomez from Cambra.

Tim Stalker hit a pinch-hit homer off Pete Molina in the former Coons farmhand's first appearance of the series in the bottom 8th, and the Coons put two more on that they left stranded. But that was a 7-0 lead, and Alvin Smith came on for the ninth…

And ****ing Alvin Smith created a save opportunity. Smith got blasted for four hits, a walk, and three runs before the Coons (with two outs) broke the safety glass covering the fire alarm and sent Billy Brotman to face PH Erik Janes… whom he drilled! That loaded the bases. Suddenly, Firmino Cambra was up as the tying run. Panic. A full count, then a drive to deep right, where Terry Kopp was racing for the fence. OH MY GOD. OH MY GOD. OH MY GOD. OH MY – AT THE WALL HE MADE THE CATCH.

Raccoons 7, Pacifics 3 – Raccoons lead series 2-1

Ramos 3-5, 3 2B, 2 RBI; Spencer 3-5; Gonzalez 2-5, RBI; Jamieson 2-4, 2B, RBI; Carmona 2-4; Stalker (PH) 1-1, HR, RBI; Delgadillo 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K, W (3-0);

(sits there, frozen solid, mouth open, and won't blink)

Game 4 – Mark Roberts (13-10, 3.05 ERA) vs. Dave Christiansen (19-9, 2.74 ERA)

The Pacifics had no time to waste; they now planned definitely with three starts for Dave Christiansen, and the buck had to stop right here for them. Meanwhile the Coons went to their fourth option, still-reigning Pitcher of the Year and Triple Crown bearer Mark Roberts. Never mind his 4.91 ERA in the CLCS along with an 0-1 record. At some point, ****ing pride had to kick in!

One tid bit that we considered quite certain before the series, but now were really assured of: the Pacifics would not pinch-hit for Firmino Cambra, who was after all still the batting champion in the Federal League. It was safe to send Jeff Kearney to molest him.

The Raccoons wanted Tim Stalker's bat in the lineup now. Tim was hitting .500 (3-for-6) with two dingers in the postseason. Jarod Spencer evacuated the infield to make room for him.

LAP: RF Vanatti – 2B Hansen – LF Cambra – CF Fowler – C Allomes – 1B Retzer – SS B. Cook – 3B Avent – P Christiansen
POR: SS Ramos – LF Spencer – RF Gomez – 1B Gonzalez – 2B Stalker – CF Jamieson – 3B Nunley – C O'Dell – P Roberts

Never mind a deep out by Cambra, Roberts had a scoreless first, which was great, as we were taking it bit by bit. Ramos however struck out to begin the bottom 1st, so Christiansen was not taking any hostages today apparently.

Indeed, Christiansen soon had the Raccoons in a tiny cage. While they had the first base hit, a Gonzalez single, in the game, Jamieson ended that inning with a double play, and then L.A. took the lead with Ben Cook's long homer off Roberts to begin the third inning. That was not the first and not the last long drive off Roberts in the game, either. Nope, he was still not any good.

That made it so much harder to watch him try to get the upper hand in the fourth, then maintain the upper hand in the fifth. The bottom of the fourth inning saw Christiansen lose cohesion for a few minutes. Those few minutes were enough for Portland to take the lead on back-to-back home runs: Gomez to left, Gonzalez to right, and it was 2-1 with the crowd roaring in delight.

Then the rain started in addition to all other struggles for Mark Roberts, who soon enough had a ball get away and drill Ben Cook in the upper back. It was bad enough so the Pacifics had to replace him with Janes, but they couldn't let Roberts feel their anger just yet as Avent flew out to end the inning.

When Matt Nunley was hit by Christiansen to begin the bottom 5th, the crowd's mood changed and they started to bicker and hiss. However, I watched the scoreboard just before the red lights went out. There was no intent on that pitch; Christiansen had been 0-2 on Nunley, who was left on base in the inning.

Things started to spiral out of control nevertheless when Roberts hit John Hansen with two outs in the sixth. That was the tying run, Cambra came up, and it was really time for a huddle and get Roberts readjusted as rain drizzled down on all the players on the field. Hold on to it here, was the message, don't get beat by Cambra. Then he HIT Cambra with a 1-2 pitch. By now, the umpires became concerned, too, but the mood remained calm among the players, because the Pacifics, too, knew that there had not been intent, because: 1-2! And this brought up Fowler, who was a right-handed batter, and had hit 14 dingers during the regular season and one in the playoffs.

The Coons stuck to Roberts, who lost Fowler in a full count, and by now the bags were full. Allomes was next, a left-handed batter. The Raccoons still weren't going to switch lefty-for-lefty. This was Roberts' man! And he didn't even hit him – Allomes drove the 1-1 to right. Deep right. Back, back, back, Gomez back, back aaaand he had it.

After this point, a 45-minute rain delay knocked out both starting pitchers. Surginer got the ball for the seventh, blew the lead on Allen Retzer's leadoff jack, and then allowed a single to Janes. Avent grounded out, advancing the runner, and when Jason Stone pinch-hit, Surginer was yanked for Brotman. Stone grounded out, Vanatti walked on four pitches, and then Jamieson had to sell out again on a deep drive by Hansen to end the inning.

Bottom 7th; Nunley and O'Dell were successless against Tom Grant, but Terry Kopp had a pinch-hit double into the leftfield corner with two outs. Ramos walked, and Spencer singled over the head of Avent, but Kopp stumbled over third base and had to paddle back to not get tagged out somewhere. Bases loaded for Rafael Gomez, who had been lights out in the CLCS, and who's light had gone out in the World Series. Here, Allomes helped out the Critters, losing possession of strike one and chasing the ball into foul ground, which allowed Kopp to score the go-ahead run. Gomez then rammed the very next pitch off the fence for a 2-run double, putting Portland up 5-2. Gonzalez popped out.

Cambra led off the eighth, with Kearney going after him… and walking him. The Coons skipped to Ricky Ohl immediately, although I had dizzying pictures of Game 2 flashing rapidly before my eyes. Fowler hit an infield single. OH GOD WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!! (hugs Slappy in blind panic)

Ohl rung up Allomes, but the tying run remained at the plate, now in Retzer, who had already homered off a right-hander in this game. The count ran full, Ohl needed the K, Retzer knew it, and wrapped a 3-2 fastball around the left foul pole to make this a brand new ballgame.

Ohl ended the inning in two more batters when it didn't matter anymore, but the Coons wouldn't erase his shame in the bottom 8th. Snyder was sent out for the ninth, Pence singled, Vanatti doubled. Runners on second and third, no outs. And all had looked so well before… Hansen fouled out, but that left the Cambra problem well alive and twitching his bat. The Coons called for the intentional walk, preferring to face Fowler instead with the bases loaded, which was a very generous interpretation of "preferring". With three Pacifics on, Fowler fell to 0-2, hit a ball after all, but popped out to Ramos. Allomes with two outs, with the whole park screaming for a strikeout. They didn't get it. Allomes ran a full count, then grounded up the middle, Stalker reached the ball, but too late – no play was to be made, all hands were safe on a soul-shattering, run-scoring, 2-out infield single. Retzer grounded out to Ramos, but who cared now?

Bottom 9th, down a run, and here came their lights-out closer Alex Ramos. Kopp struck out. Alberto Ramos laid off the junk and walked, then stole second base. A wild pitch even moved him to third base! …which was also where Jarod Spencer hit a grounder for the second out, and with no chance for Alberto Ramos to score. That brought up … Tovias, and after a series off double switches, we could not bat for him. He flew out to Vanatti.

Pacifics 6, Raccoons 5 – series tied 2-2

Gomez 2-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBI; Gonzalez 3-4, HR, RBI; Stalker 2-4, 2B; Kopp (PH) 1-2, 2B; Roberts 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K;

You are up by three runs with six outs left, line up Ohl and Snyder, and then they still blow it, and quite forcefully so…

Momentum? All L.A.'s.

Game 5 – Rico Gutierrez (16-5, 3.48 ERA) vs. Gavin Lee (17-9, 4.01 ERA)

I wished I could have come up with a smart idea to stop them from fumbling everything overnight, but … I had nothing. We went back to the Game 3 lineup against the right-hander Lee, which was as much managing as there was left to do at this point.

LAP: RF Vanatti – 2B Hansen – LF Cambra – CF Fowler – C Allomes – 1B Retzer – SS B. Cook – 3B Avent – P G. Lee
POR: SS Alb. Ramos – 2B Spencer – RF Gomez – 1B Gonzalez – 3B Nunley – CF Jamieson – LF Carmona – C Tovias – P Gutierrez

The Raccoons, obviously DEEPLY ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES, stormed out of the gates in Game 5. Ramos and Gonzalez both hit doubles in the first inning to stake Rico to a 1-0 lead, and that increased to 3-0 in the bottom 2nd with singles by Jamieson and Cookie that put them on the corners, Tovias' sac fly, a bad bunt by Gutierrez that forced out Cookie, but then Ramos walked and Spencer singled to left-center, with Rico scoring from second base to make up for his boo-boo. Now, if we could get that sort of vigor transposed to his mound work…

And he sure wasn't bad. Rico allowed one base hit the first time through, along with a walk, and when Vanatti singled to center with one out in the third inning and Jamieson had another fielding gaffe to put the runner on second, that wasn't directly Rico's fault. At least he managed to make up with good pitch selection, popping up Hansen for the second out, and then Cambra flew out harmlessly to Rafael Gomez.

Now, Allomes' single in the fourth was still not the end of the world, but a wild pitch was the sort of thing Rico should really keep to himself in this pivotal game. Once more, L.A. had a guy on second with one out. Retzer drove a ball to center, Jamieson was still much better in the air than on the ground and made a wonderful catch in the gap, and then Cook, hobbled but not backing down, lined out to Spencer to end the inning. The Pacifics kept getting a runner per inning; it was a 2-out walk to Vanatti in the fifth, but they still couldn't get on the board.

Bottom 5th, the home team had another chance at putting the game into safer confines. Spencer and Gomez were on the corners after starting the frame with singles, bringing up a .500 batting Jon Gonzalez with nobody out. Jon cranked the first pitch in line drive fashion to the left side, Ben Cook leapt as high as his bad back permitted, but couldn't swipe it, and the Coons added a run on the RBI single, 4-0! Lee wasn't fooling anybody right now, as Nunley also hit the first pitch for a single, this one loading the sacks for Jamieson, who had just found the .200 mark again and was now surging. He chucked the second pitch to left for an RBI single, and it was 5-0! Cookie's sac fly made it 6-0 and also ended Lee's day. Jeff Mudge retired Tovias and Rico in his first appearance of the series.

Up by six, the Coons could ride the Rico train as far as it would take them, or at least until some goon blew up the tracks from underneath him. Cook drew a leadoff walk in the seventh, which we could work with, yet it was Ramos' error on a perfect double play ball from Dan Avent that created the real agony. Two on, no outs, 93 pitches on the clock, how about the Rico train now!? He remained in for the moment, facing PH Mario Diaz, a right-hander, who grounded sharply to Jon Gonzalez, who took a sterling 3-6-3 double play chance when he got it. Rico still surrendered a run on a Vanatti single, but got through the inning still up 6-1.

Yet, by now we had to think about which part of the pen we would be infinitely disappointed by today. Maybe a sound strategy was this: pick a guy, then stick to him until somebody gets on. Sounds good. Surginer was out first, retired Fowler and Allomes on two pitches before Retzer reached on the third, on which Tovias was called out for catcher's interference.

Okay, the next guy making a STUPID ERROR will be strangled with my bare hands.

Continue, Kevin. Ben Cook grounded out on the first pitch, ending the eighth. Surginer had faced four batters and had thrown four pitches. WHATEVER WORKS. Ramos singled, stole, scored in the bottom 8th, but we were well more concerned with pitching right now. Three outs with a 6-run lead was tighter than one might think! Surginer hung around to strike out Avent to start the ninth, because we had a hunch a left-hander was coming afterwards. Indeed, Jason Stone pinch-hit for the pitcher, prompting a move to Boles. Stone grounded out. Vanatti was rung up. The Coons went to L.A. as favorites.

Raccoons 7, Pacifics 1 – Raccoons lead series 3-2

Ramos 2-4, BB, 2B; Spencer 2-4, RBI; Gonzalez 4-5, 2B, 3 RBI; Nunley 2-4, BB; Jamieson 2-5, RBI; Carmona 2-3, RBI; Gutierrez 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, W (2-0);

Yet, Game 6 will be Nomura's.

I am so glad we got Dan Delgadillo in Game 7!