The Brooklyn Whales started the Eastern League Cup in dramatic fashion today, stealing Game 1 from the New York Bakers in a walk-off. Brooklyn won 4-1 behind a good day from starter
Erik Richardson. The left-hander threw 9 innings of 8-hit ball in the win, which gave the Whales a 1-0 lead to start the best-of-5 series.
In the bottom of the ninth, with no one out and the game tied, 1-1, shortstop
Anderson Bosshart won it for Brooklyn. With runners on 1st and 2nd, Bosshart hit a first pitch curveball from
Swifty Michaels for a 3-run home run, giving his team the 4-1 win.
"There's never a lack of effort in our clubhouse. We're willing to do the little things to get the win," Bosshart told the Brooklyn Daily News.
The Brooklyn Whales moved to within one game of the Legacy Cup today, downing the visiting New York Bakers at Field of the Whales by a score of 6-4. Whales left-hander
Rod Braden had a strong outing in which he threw 9 innings of 8-hit ball. The win gives the Whales a 2-0 advantage in the best-of-5 League Cup.
Scott Ewing aided the Brooklyn cause with a run-scoring sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth. For the game, the first baseman was 1-3 with a double, while adding 2 RBI.
"We're happy," Ewing told reporters after the win. "When you're in the playoffs, you've got to treat every game like it could be your last."
The New York Bakers have closed some of the gap between themselves and the series-leading Brooklyn Whales, winning 4-3 at Bakers Field today. Bakers left-hander
Swifty Michaels threw 9 innings of 6-hit ball. The win cuts the deficit facing the Bakers to 2-1 in the best-of-5 League Cup.
With New York leading 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth,
Doug McDuffie hit a 2-run double off Brooklyn pitcher
Erik Richardson. It put the Bakers ahead 4-0.
McDuffie called the win the result of "everyone being in sync."
The Brooklyn Whales have beaten the New York Bakers and will advance to the Legacy Cup.
Brooklyn won the final game by a 9-5 count to take the series 3-1. The Whales triumph was no doubt in large part because of the performance of second baseman
Scott Ewing, who was named MVP of the series.
"The only thing that matters is that we're off to the next round and one step closer to a Legacy Cup," he said.
3-1 
The Cleveland Athletics powered past the hometown Detroit Giants, 3-1, in the opener of the Western League Cup at The Old Grounds today. Cleveland starting pitcher
Matthew Holiday threw 9 innings of 4-hit ball, to lead the charge. The Athletics now lead the series 1-0.
Holiday was effective for Cleveland, seldom allowing the Giants to square up a pitch. The right-hander tossed 113 pitches over 9 innings. He limited Detroit to just 1 run on 4 hits.
"This was a tough loss," said Detroit manager James Victors. "It'll stick in my craw for a while."
Detroit evens the series 1-1, wins Game 2 7-3.
With left fielder
Billy Coats leading the charge, the Detroit Giants defeated the visiting Cleveland Athletics, 7-3, in Game 2 of the League Cup today. Coats was 2 for 3 with a triple and 2 walks. He scored 3 times and drove in 2 at The Old Grounds to help Detroit force a 1-1 tie in the best-of-5 series.
Coats contributed in the bottom of the third. With runners on 1st and 2nd, he hit a 2-run triple. It was one at-bat among others that helped Detroit get the win.
"Good baseball players make you a smarter manager," said Detroit manager James Victors.
The Cleveland Athletics needed some last-minute heroics to do it, but ultimately emerged one game away from the Legacy Cup today. The Athletics got the 2-1 win against the Detroit Giants in a walk-off at Bozeman Municipal Park. Cleveland right-hander
Matthew Holiday had a solid outing. He threw 9 innings of 6-hit ball. The win gives the Athletics a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-5 League Cup.
Mat Dace was the walk-off hero for Cleveland. With the game tied in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Athletics third baseman hit a dramatic run-scoring single to send the teams home.
"I just tried to attack the bottom of the zone," Holiday said.
The Detroit Giants and the Cleveland Athletics will take the League Cup to a decisive 5th game. In a must-win situation today, the Giants beat the Athletics 7-2 at Bozeman Municipal Park to force the series into what will essentially be a one-game playoff. Detroit left-hander
Mike Griffith had a big role in the win. He threw 9 innings allowing 2 runs.
Ricky McCoy had a critical at-bat with one out in the top of the sixth for Detroit. He came through with a run-scoring double to put Detroit in front, 4-2.
"I felt we were ready to go," said Detroit manager James Victors. "Our pregame was pretty good."
The Detroit Giants and Cleveland Athletics put on a classic League Cup that was in question until the final game.
In the end, Detroit won the deciding contest by a score of 9-6, to take the series 3-2.
"It doesn't get much tighter than that. To win a series in the last game is a thrill," said
Billy Coats, who earned series MVP honors for Detroit. "Our guys are breathing a little easier now."
For the series, Coats hit .381 with a .458 on-base percentage. He had 0 home runs, drove in 4 RBI and scored 5 runs.
3-2 