The IBL's Chicago Iron Pigs

[gehrig38]

FRONTIER LEAGUE

Chicago Iron Pigs (Andy Morgan 16-9 4.92)
@
Alaska Avalanche (Jose Santos 5-4 5.24)

Andy Morgan was perfect through 3, Daniel Collins led off with a single in the 4th, stole 2nd, stole 3rd but Morgan get 2 outs with him there before Ron Stokes laced a 2 out 2R HR.
In the 5th Andre Blakeway tripled with 1 out and came in on a Cruz Sac fly. Morgans line through 4, 4-2-2-2-0-6 on 51 pitches, Santos 5-4-1-1-3-1 on 56.
Raul Miranda's 2 out 2 run single in the top of the 6th gave us a 3-2 lead, temporarily. Andre Blakeway booted a ball with 2 outs in the bottom half to allow the tying run to score, 3-3 after 6 full.
Morgan has gone 6-3-3-2-0-8 on 78 pitches, Santos 6-7-3-3-4-2 on 74.
In the 7th Roberto Cruz drills a 1 out solo homer to give us a 4-3 lead, and Morgan skirts around a hit and walk to end the 7th with 101 pitches, 9 k's and 1 walk.
After a leadoff single in the 8th Morgan's day is done (7-5-3-2-1-9). Carlson, Casas and Andre get the next 4 outs before Ernesto Cruz enters to get the final 2, and his IBL record 34th career post-season save.
With 1 out in the 9th Luis Chavez manages to plate Cruz with the 5th run to provide the final margin.
Chicago 5 Alaska 3
W-Morgan (1-0) L-Santos (0-1) S-Cruz (1)
HR CHI-Cruz (2) ALK-Stokes (1)
Chicago leads the series 3-0

West Michigan White Caps (John Drake 16-4 2.50)
@
Brooklyn Cyclones (Tim Terry 12-12 4.70)

West Michigan gets solo homers from Corunha and Bailey and their early 4 spot is enough as John Drake scatters 9 hits over 7, walking none with 6 K's and the pen gets the final 6 outs.
West Michigan 4 Brooklyn 3
W-Drake (1-0) L-Terry (0-1) S-Gonzalez (2)
HR WMI-Corunha (1) Bailey (1) BRO-Pierce (1)
West Michigan leads the series 2-1

COASTAL LEAGUE

Philadelphia Patriots (Doug Russell 20-8 4.44)
@
Tulsa Drillers (Terence Robinson 4-11 5.98)

Philly scores single runs in each of the 1st four innings and Doug Russell goes 8-9-3-3-1-5 on 132 pitches while Gonzalo Ortiz works a perfect 9th. All 6 homers in the game were solos. Robinson went 8-11-4-4-2-4 surrendering 3 solo home runs. George Quinn went 4-5 with a HR and Alberto Medine was 3-4 with a solo homer in the loss.
Philadelphia 6 Tulsa 3
W-Russell (1-0) L-Robinson (0-1) S-Ortiz (1)
HR PHI-Quinn (1) Zimmerman (1) Adaricio (1) TUL-Vance (1) Medine (1) Whimster (1)
Philadelphia leads the series 2-1

San Antonio Silver Stars (Josh Beckett 18-9 4.34)
@
Sacramento River Cats (Lester King 17-8 3.99)

3 hitters into the game Sacramento was down 3-0 on a Cliff Edwards 3 run shot. Lester King would end up throwing a complete game, going 9-6-4-4-3-5 while his counterpart Josh Beckett was brilliant, making the early runs stand up and combining with 2 relievers on a 6-hit shutout. Josh went 7.2-5-0-0-2-7.
San Antonio 4 Sacramento 0
W-Beckett (1-0) L-King (0-1) S-Douglas (2)
HR SAN-Edwards (1)
San Antonio leads the series 2-1

[gehrig38]

FRONTIER LEAGUE

Chicago Iron Pigs (Roberto Martinez 12-7 5.17)
@
Alaska Avalanche (Will Allison 10-11 6.47)

What a way for Martinez to redeem himself here? If he can handle this, we could go into round 2 with the rotation rested.
Wow, 5-0 after 1 as he gets hammered and surrenders 6 in 3 innings. Then the game screwed up big time. I accidently, for what I think is only the 2 or 3rd time in 13 seasons, clicked on sim the inning, instead of the half inning I was hitting, and the game left one of my relievers in to throw 110 pitches and give up 13 runs on 15 hits. So very stupid. How does the AI not fix that? A loss is a loss, I wasn't winning this one. But it ended insanely bad. Sanchez 4-5 4 RBI's Ledezma 3-6 2 RBI's Stokes 4-5 4 RBI's Fick, Baca and Guest all with 3 hit days.
Alaska 19 Chicago 2
W-Allison (1-0) L-Martinez (0-1)
HR CHI-Collins (1) ALK-Collins (1) Sanchez (1) Fick (2)
Chicago leads the series 3-1

West Michigan White Caps (Carlos Vargas 13-8 4.29)
@
Brooklyn Cyclones (Pancho Martinez 12-8 4.82)

Brooklyn jumped out early and pounded Carlos Vargas while Pancho Martinez dealt, going 7-5-0-0-2-2 and Brooklyn got 4 homers to tie the series. 1B Jayson Pierce went 3-4 2 HR's and drove in 3.
Brooklyn 9 West Michigan 1
W-Martinez (1-0) L-Vargas (0-1)
HR BRO-Hart (1) Pierce 2 (3) Jongmans (1)
Series tied 2-2

COASTAL LEAGUE

Philadelphia Patriots (Joe Hester 12-12 4.62)
@
Tulsa Drillers (Bryant Thomas 1-0 6.00)

Trailing 5-1 entering the bottom of the 8th the next hour would be as crazy as the IBL has ever seen. Tulsa would go Diaz single, Ortiz single, Medine 2 run double, 5-3, Whimster walk, Vance RBI single, 5-4, Sheid 3 unassisted, runner to 3rd, Caden Haynes walk Hugh Edmonds then hits a game tying sac fly and THEN the pitching change is made.
Now tied at 5, Philly goes into the top of the 9th and goes Mendez single, Adaricio pop out, Pat Adams single, Dave Nicholson 10 pitch walk, Jesus Arteaga then drills a 2-2 pitch to left for a 2 run single, 7-5, Jose Navarro comes on and Mike Zimmerman grounds out, driving in a run, 8-5, Jesus Castro hits an RBI double, 8-5 and George Quinn works a full count before drilling a 3 run homer to make it 11-5, where it would end.
Philadelphia 11 Tulsa 5
W-Escalante (1-0) L-Gomez (0-1)
HR PHI-Mendez (2) Arteaga (1) Quinn (2) Roman (2)
Philadelphia leads the series 3 games to 1

San Antonio Silver Stars (Angelo Esparza 0-0 1.13)
@
Sacramento Railcats (Esteban Figueroa 1-0 1.13)

A game 1 rematch with much more on the line for Sacramento this time around.
And while it was nowhere near the duel game 1 was, Esteban Figueroa again best Epsarza. Figueroa went 7-6-4-3-3-6 while Esparza was beaten up going 5.1-8-6-6-0-4. Nathan King went 2-3 with 2 HR', 1 a grand slam, and 6 RBI's.
Sacramento 9 San Antonio 5
W-Figueroa (2-0) L-Esparza (0-1)
HR SAN-Garcia (1) Machado (1) SAC-King 2 (2)
Series tied 2-2

[gehrig38]

FRONTIER LEAGUE

Chicago Iron Pigs (Stan Hall 1-0 0.00)
@
Alaska Avalanche (Jesus Solis 0-1 4.50)

Hall and Solis took the game into the 6th 0-0 before Alaska broke the stalemate. Roberto Sanchez lined a 2 out single to right, scoring David Ledezma in a controversial call as Sanchez was thrown out at 2nd and replays showed the out was made ahead of the run crossing the plate. In the top of the 7th Chicao loaded the bases after reliever John Durham walked Roberto Cruz and Jeffrey Hudson, the 1st two hitters he faced, with 2 outs. Earl Shaw worked the count full and then lined a 2 run single to left, scoring Blakeway and Cruz. With Stan Hall still in the game, Pablo Jackson hit a 1 out double in the 8th, Daniel Collins moved him to 3rd with 2 outs and David Ledezma ended Hall's night with a full count RBI single to tie it up. Cisco Casas came on with runners at the corners and got Ron Stokes on 1 pitch.
In the bottom of the 9th Alaska would get back to back singles with 2 outs before Casas would get Pablo Jackson to fly to center to end it, 2-2 after 9.
With 1 out in the 9th Michael Wheeler would enter and promptly walk Pedro Salinas. Ernesto Martinez would enter as the runner. Hugh Collins moved him to 2nd on a failed hit and run and Jeremy Hamlyn came up.
He would hit a 2-1 pitch on the ground to short, where it would squeek through, scoring Martinez and making it 3-2.
Casas would yield to Jake Carlson for the bottom of the 10th, as Alaska had 3 straight lefties due up, and Cruz was hot, ready to face the RH pinch hitters, which we never saw. Carlson would strike out Collins, Ledezma and Sanchez on 13 pitches to end the game, and the series. Bad news after the game, Raul Miranda jammed his hand running the bases in the 2nd, we've now learned he broke a finger and will be out for the remainder of the post season.
Chicago 3 Alaska 2 (10)
W-Casas (1-0) L-Wheeler (0-2) S-Carlson (1)
HR NONE
Chicago wins the series 3-1
SERIES MVP-Stan Hall 1-0 1.08 16.2 IP 14 H 18 K's 2 BB

West Michigan White Caps (Joaquin Vargas (0-0 4.91)
@
Brooklyn Cyclones (Larry Lowry 0-1 5.14)

Through 4 the teams traded solo homers and the game was 1-1 into the 5th. Jayson Pierce would drive in Don Hart with an RBI single in the 5th to put the Cyclones up 2-1. In the 7th Pierce would hit his 4th HR of the series, making it 3-1. Larry Lowry and 2 relievers took it from there, giving up just that single run on 7 hits. Lowry went 7-6-1-1-1-5 while Kevin Sharp would strike out the side in the 9th. Joaquin Vargas went 7.1-8-3-3-2-7 in the loss.
Brooklyn 3 West Michigan 1
W-Lowry (1-1) L-Vargas (0-1) S-Sharp (2)
HR WMI-Hunter (1) BRO-Morrison (1) Pierce (4)
Brooklyn leads the series 3-2

COASTAL LEAGUE

Philadelphia Patriots (Artie McCarthy 0-1 15.00)
@
Tulsa Drillers (Monte Bowen 5-6 6.18)

Driller SP Monte Bowen would have to leave in the 4th inning of a 1-1 game with an undisclosed arm issue. The game would stay 1-1 into the top of the 8th for reliever Mario Santana. Jesus Castro singled to lead it off, he then walked George Quinn and Pedro Roman to load the bases. Roberto Mendez popped to shallow right, holding the runners.
Santana would then throw 4 straight balls, walking Norberto Adaricio to force in the go ahead run. Pat Adams FC would plate Quinn to make it 3-1 before Marcos Ximenes came in to end the 8th.
Artie McCarthy would slam the door into the 9th for closer Gonzalo Ortiz and Philadelphia would close the series 4-1.
Philadelphia 3 Tulsa 1
W-McCarthy (1-1) L-Santana (0-1) S-Ortiz (2)
HR NONE
Philadelphia wins the series 4 games to 1
SERIES MVP- Pedro Roman .300-2-6

San Antonio Silver Stars (Chris Robinson 15-10 5.04)
@
Sacramento River Cats (Carlos Medina 10-9 4.26)

San Antonio got another Cliff Edwards 1st inning homer as they jumped out for 4 early runs. Carlos Medina would clamp down as Sacramento clawed and scrapped back to make it 4-3 heading into the 9th. The bottom of the inning started K, BB, K off closer Jon Douglas. Jean Poulet worked a 9 pitch walk to put runners on 1st and 2nd. Diogo Ameixieira did the same, loading the bases on a 8 pitch walk. Douglas would then uncork 4 straight pitches, none of which was near the strike zone, and proceed to walk in the tying run. Neil Weber, amazingly, would then swing at the first pitch he saw, and ground to short to end the inning, but the game was tied at 4 after 9.
Both pens would have quick 10th innings.
With 1 out in the 11th Bill Barlow would come on. Harry Morgan lined a single and on a 2-1 pitch Esteban Fernandez drilled a 2-1 fastball into the left center gap and Fernandez raced around with the go ahead run.
Nick Powell would relieve Douglas to start the 11th and Kevin Cramer would hit his 2nd pitch down the line in left to tie the game once again, 5-5. Powell would go K, K F3 to end the inning.
Both pens would work around a tough 12th.
Defensive sub Harry Morgan would kick Cramers routine grounder to open the bottom of the 13th, Cramer would get to 2nd. Lance Berkman was intentionally walked, a move that backfired 1 pitch later when Powell clipped Jean Poulet with the 1st pitch, to load the bases. Diogo Ameixieira popped to short for the innings first out.
Nathan King came up and the battle was on...
Ball
Swinging strike
Ball
Foul
Ball
Foul
Foul
Foul
Foul
…....AND?
On the 3-2 pitch Powell would hit King, and Cramer would come home to the dog pile on home plate as the River Cats would win it.
Sacramento 6 San Antonio 5
W-Allen (1-0) L-Powell (0-1)
HR SAN-Edwards (2) SAC-Berkman (2) Cramer (1)
Sacramento leads the series 3-2

[gehrig38]

FRONTIER LEAGUE

Brooklyn Cyclones (Tim Terry 0-1 5.68)
@
West Michigan White Caps (Artie Johnson 1-0 2.25)

Brooklyn would strike for 3 in the 2nd to open the scoring. After former Iron Pig Michael Bailey's 2nd pos season homer in the 4th made it 3-2 the White Caps would strike for 4 more in the 5th and Artie Jonson would go 8-7-4-2-1-4 for his 2nd win of the series while Tomas Gonzalez would get the final 3 outs to send it to a 7th game.
West Michigan 5 Brooklyn 4
W-Johnson (2-0) L-Terry (0-2) S-Gonzalez (3)
HR WMI-Bailey (2)
Series tied 3-3

COASTAL

Sacramento River Cats (Howard Crane 0-1 18.90)
@
San Antonio Silver Stars (Jorge Ortiz 1-0 5.68)

Jorge Ortiz went 7.2-8-0-0-5-4 and Michael Moran homered, while Nick Powell redeemed himself, somewhat, by striking out the games final 3 hitters to send this series to a 7th game.
San Antonio 4 Sacramento 0
W-Ortiz (2-0) L-Crane (0-2)
HR SAN-Moran (1)
Series tied 3-3

[gehrig38]

As I usually do for game 7's I am not playing, I am going to real time, updating the games as I go. (I only do this for one reason honestly. When I read Orcin's recaps of the post season I setup my browser to see just 1 line at a time, to sort of add to the suspense, if there is any, of the replay, makes it more fun for me

FRONTIER LEAGUE

Brooklyn Cyclones (Pancho Martinez 1-0 1.23)
@
West Michigan White Caps (John Drake 1-0 3.86)

COASTAL LEAGUE

Sacramento River Cats (Esteban Figueroa 2-0 2.40)
@
San Antonio Silver Stars (Angelo Esparza 0-1 4.05)

Their 3rd match up in 9 days. FYI, Angelo Esparza never went more than 2 starts this year without a win. What's more interesting is that counting his 1 regular season start (that too was against Figueroa) he is 0-1 3.86 3 GS 21 IP 23 H 19 K's 4 BB's.

Brooklyn kicks off about an hour before San Antonio, Sacramento.
No score after 1 in Michigan.
Drake has 2K's and 2 hits through 2.
Martinez has 3 punch outs and a hit through 2. 0-0 into the 3rd
Cody Morrison gets things going in Michigan, the Cyclone 1B drills a solo homer in the top of the 3rd to make it 1-0.
With 1 out in the bottom half, Bernardo Montoya slams a Martinez fastball to deep left for a 3 run bomb, 3-1 West Michigan after 3.
Manny Miranda kicks off the Cyclone 4th with a solo shot, 3-2. Joe Taylor of Brooklyn is 2-2 with a double.

Games begun in San Antonio, 0-0 after 1, Esparza with 2 K's.

In Michigan after 4 ½ , 3-2 West Michigan. Drake has gone 5-6-2-2-0-6.

After 2 in San Antonio, 0-0, Esparza and Figueroa with 4 k's each. 2 hits for San Antonio, the only 2 of the game so far.

Through 3 in Texas, Esparza 3-1-0-0-0-5.

In Michigan Don Hart drills a 2 out single, scoring Manny Miranda to tie the game at 3 heading into the bottom of the 6th.

Oh my! In San Antonio, Texas, Silver Star Jose Machado drilled an Esteban Figueroa fastball to deep left for a 2 out Grand Slam in the bottom of the 3rd! After 3 San Antonio leads 4-0.

Augusto Rocha, former Iron Pig, is on for Brooklyn in the 6th, with 2 outs Leao Corunha singles, plating Hunter and giving the White Caps a 4-3 lead after 6.

In Texas another scoring update!
River Cat Jean Poulet has hit a 2 out 2 strike 3 run homer in the top of the 4th, 4-3 Silver Stars heading to the bottom half. Figueroa has gone 4-5-4-4-1-7 so far, 4-3 after 4 full in San Antonio.

Lando Jongmans strikes out to end the top of the 7th in Michigan, White Caps 4 Cyclones 3.
Esparza through 5, 5-3-3-3-0-7, 4-3 heading to the bottom of 5.

SCORING UPDATE!
In Michigan, Hector Hernandez has singled to drive in Chris Scott for West Michigan, 5-3 2 outs, runner on 1st in the bottom half of 7....
Raul Rubio keeps it going, drilling an RBI single to score Hernandez, West Michigan up 6-3 after 7.

After 5 in Texas, here are the lines
Figueroa 5-5-4-4-1-7 69 pitches
Esparza 5-3-3-3-0-7 73 pitches, he then K's 2 more in a scoreless 6th.
In Michigan, Cyclone Joe Taylor is now 4-4 after his 2 out single in the 8th.
Heading to the bottom of 6 in San Antonio, 4-3 Silver Stars.
Figueroa's line through 6 full, 6-5-4-4-1-8 on 84 pitches.
2 outs in the bottom half of the 8th, West Michigan leads by 3.
Through 7 in San Antonio, Esparza has given up 4 hits and punched out 10.
Top 9 in Michigan....
1 out, Pierce K
Zapata walks for Brooklyn, meanwhile in San Antonio a Harry Morgan double plates Jose Torres to make it 5-3, 1 out runner on 2nd, bottom 7.
Zapata now on 1st, Cody Morris up, Salazar on the bump, their pen has to be beat to hell is all I can figure, he was acquired at the deadline from Baltimore, throws a hunderd but struggled in Michigan.
With a 2-0 count Morrison laces a ball up the box, a sure single that 2B John Lewis stabs, flips to Rubio and on to Bailey, West Michigan has won the game, and the series!
In San Antonio they're heading to the 8th, Silver Stars up 5-3, Epsarza still on, he's gone 7-4-3-3-1-10.
Mike McDonald grounds out, 1 out.
Kevin Cramer punches out for the 2nd out, and 11th K, Lance Berkman works the count to 3-1......
and Esparza comes back to a full count and gets him swinging to end the inning, 5-3 San Antonio after 8, Esparza with 12 punch outs and just 4 hits.
Ron Davis on for Sacramento, gets Cilff Edwards and John Mills on pop ups to start the inning. Hayden Robbins K's to end the 8th, Sacramento down to their last 3 outs, will Esparza come out for the 9th? He's at 120 pitches.
Sacramento enters the 9th with a 5.66% win probability.
Closer Jon Douglas is on the mound to close it out.
Jean Poulet taps a ball back to the mound to start the inning.
Diogo Ameixieria is next.
He works the count full and draws a one out walk.....
Nathan King up.
Douglas gets him chasing on a 1-2 pitch, 2 outs.
Neil Weber steps up, 1-1 count...
Cut on, tapper down the third base line, Moran charging, bare handed pick up and throw....
OUT! San Antonio has beaten Sacramento 5-3 in game 7 of the Coastal League Division series, they're off to see Philadelphia in the LCS.

[gehrig38]

In the Coastal League we have a very intriguing match-up



The Coastal leagues 2 best offenses go toe to toe, but will pitching win the day? If so then you have to go with San Antonio. However, HUGE break for the Patriots in that Esparza isn't available until game 3. A split has to be the worst possible outcome for Philly. They're lined up in dream fashion from a pitching perspective, their 2 best going 1 and 2, interested to see the rookie this round. If San Antonio couldn't have Esparza for game 1, Beckett is absolutely the next best option. Philly is here without their starting CF, 3B or their closer. Lorenzo Bermudez (.349-14-68 with a .435 OBP) ruptured a finger tendon on the next to last day of the season! Even worse? 3B Vincente Sandoval (.253-24-82 in 111 games) strained an oblique in game 1 of the Division series. Good news is he's likely ready for game 1, if not game 2. Closer Andrew Tuttle (10-4 23 SV 3.69) went down in mid September and is likely out until late next season after undergoing Tommy John Surgery. The Silver Stars don't have anything recent or major, but 2B Matt Cook (former Iron Pig) has been out since early June with post concussion syndrome, and is due back in 1-2 weeks, which could mean the World Series if they get that far. OF Jorge Rios went down just 6 days ago, and is now DtD with a mild hip strain. He says he's "80%", and can go.

I'm saying Philadelphia in 7.


Over in the Frontier League we're making our 11th consecutive trip to the playoffs, trying to win our 3rd World Title.

We met the White Caps in the 2021 LCS, beating them 4 games to 2, it was the first time they'd ever been there. They were out of the playoffs in 2012 in round 1, winless. Last season they dropped the 1st round series in 7 games to Buffalo. They're the only staff in the game that can stand toe to toe with us. They're rotation is every bit as deep, and they have a good pen too, where they crush us is in the field. They're 2nd ranked defense to our 12th. While they did 'only' score 852 runs, and were 10th in average and 11th in OBP, they were 3rd in the league in HR's. They're not into running, or rallies, they're Earl Weavers Orioles, pitch like hell and wait on the 3 run bomb.
On the health front the Miranda injury is a huge one. He "quietly" had a monster season. Hit .303/.404/.455 with 12 homers and 42 2B's, driving in 85 in 155 games. He's also in line for a potential gold glove. He'll hopefully be anchoring the hot corner for a long time. Steve Rush was placed on the roster in his place. Steve is a RH hitter, which we lack enough of, and an outstanding corner defender at 1B and 3B, and hit .302/.340/.477 in 34 games this year after a monster .319-24-81 season in AAA Tulsa.
Ramon Castro is a curious case. he broke his wrist over a month again, and has healed quickly enough that the trainers say he's 1-2 days from being ready to play. So we activated him off the DL, and put in on the roster. He had a huge year hitting .336-24-95 in 121 games with a .336 OBP.
Obviously missing a guy that went 18-0 hurts, but that's one we don't even think about. Just need Martinez to step up. One that really did hurt was Plazewski botching his rehab, and now not being ready to the point he could miss the series if we make it.

I am not predicting this series, just reminding everyone what my owner made clear before the season started, which I am now thinking applies to me as well....
"Win or clean house"

[gehrig38]

FRONTIER LEAGUE

West Michigan (Joaquin Vargas 16-11 3.96)
@
Chicago (Stan Hall 17-7 3.68 )

Hall and Morgan flip flopped since both are fully rested.
Hector Hernandez hits the games 1st pitch to dead center for a leadoff homer. Chris Scott hits the 2nd pitch to the right center gap for a double and with 2 outs Leao Corunha singled him in.
Cruz lead off our 1st with a walk, and Jeffrey Hudson drilled an RBI double. 2 outs later Pedro Salinas hit an RBI single, 2-2 after 1.
Both pitchers settled in for easy 2nd innings. Hall worked a perfect 3rd as well.
Roberto Cruz singled to lead off the 4th. After a Hudson K, Chavez walked, Shaw flied to center. With 2 outs Salinas laced an RBI single to right. Hugh Collins walked to load the bases when Steve Rush punched out to end the inning, but didn't. A strike 3 passed ball allowed a run and loaded the bases again. Shane Jackson drilled a 2-2 pitch to left for an RBI single, ending Vargas' day. Bartolo Lombos relieved, and walked Andre Blakeway to force in a 6th run. 6-2 after 3. Vargas' line 2.2-5-6-6-3-5.
Stan Hall settles in and over the next 3 racks up 5 more k's, after 6 he's gone 6-4-2-2-1-9 on 90 pitches.
A 1-2-3 7th sees Hall at 104 pitches and likely done as Hugh Collins drills a 2 out 2R HR in the bottom of the 7th to make it 8-2.
Hall manages to fight for 1 more, and ends the night at 8-4-2-2-1-9 while Cruz and Stan Jackson homer in the 8th to extend the lead, and final, to 11-2.
Chicago 11 West Michigan 2
W-Hall (2-0) L-Vargas (0-2)
HR WMI-Hernandez (2) CHI-Cruz (3) Jackson (1) Collins (2)
Chicago leads the series 1-0

COASTAL LEAGUE

San Antonio (Josh Beckett 18-9 4.34)
@
Philadelphia (Boyd Jackson 7-0 2.47)

Philly got to Josh Beckett early and then knocked him out with 3 in the 6th to take a 6-2 lead. All seemed well for the Philly Phaithful as Mark Allen relieved Boyd Jackson in the 8th (the rookie went 7-5-2-2-3-1). Jose Torres singled to lead if off and after Edwards and Villanueva flew out to right, Patriot Catcher Dave Nicholson mishandled a tapper in front of the plate. David Power came on to get the the left handed Moran, but walked him. Weston McCoy relieved and Juan Garcia greeted him with an RBI single to make it 6-3, bases loaded 2 outs. Philly called on Jorge Sanchez to get Esteban Fernandez but the world seemed to tilt and the stadium went deafeningly quiet when he hit the 1-1 pitch down the right field line for a grand slam, and a 7-6 lead. Philly went fast and easy over the final 2 innings.
San Antonio 7 Philadelphia 6
W-Allen (1-0) L-Sanchez (0-1) S-Douglas (4)
HR SAN-Fernandez GS (1) PHI-Zimmerman (2)
San Antonio leads the series 1-0

Ugh, this was the game in hand Philly HAD to have imo.

[gehrig38]

FRONTIER LEAGUE

West Michigan (Carlos Vargas 13-8 4.29)
@
Chicago (Andy Morgan 16-9 4.92)

Andy Morgan had nothing from the get-go. 1st inning went single, single, ground out, single, single for 3 runs. In the 2nd he went ground out, K, walk, walk, 3R HR to end his day down 6-0. Orlando Perez was brilliant in relief, going 5.1-1-0-0-0-7 to hold the line but Artie Johnson was too much, going 7-7-2-2-1-6 for the win.

COASTAL LEAGUE

San Antonio (Chris Robison 15-10 5.04)
@
Philadelphia (Doug Russell 20-8 4.44)

In what appears to be a series that's going to try mens patience and turn hair grey, San Antonio led 3-1 into the 7th before the Patriots rallied to tie it at 3. Philly fans were punched in the gut, again, when Clint Levin's sac fly plated Michael Moran in the top of the 9th.
John Douglas trotted to the mound for the bottom half. Norberto Adaricio walked to open the inning, Vincente Sandoval popped to 1st. Dave Nicholson managed a 9 pitch walk and Jesus Arteaga singled to load the bases.
Feeling payback for game 1 coming on, slugger Pete Merritt strolled to the plate, bases loaded, down 1, 1 out bottom 9.....
And promptly punched out! “Pin drop” silence ensued....
Which made Jesus Castro's 1st pitch liner to left even better when Nicholson ran through a stop sign at 3rd and in one of the better post season collisions of all time was called safe after the dust had cleared, and the ball was lying on the ground.

[gehrig38]

FRONTIER LEAGUE

Chicago (Jorge Trujillo 17-6 4.05)
@
West Michigan (John Drake 16-4 2.50)

Hernandez again opened the scoring with a 2nd inning RBI ground out, scoring Counha. Game stayed 1-0 into the 5th when Steve Rush took a John Drake fastball to deep left for a 2 run homer. 2-1 after 5 full.
Trujillo 5-2-1-1-0-3 on 61 pitches
Drake 5-2-2-2-0-1 on 52 pitches, had allowed just 1 hit through 4.
Both guys held the line. West Michigan managed to scrap out a run in the 7th to tie.
And the Iron Pig pen worked out of some huge jams over the next few innings. Gonzalez would manage to get out of a 1 out bases loaded jam in the top of the 10th while Casas would dominate in the bottom half. John Drake would go 9.1-3-2-2-1-1 before being pulled, Trujill went 6-4-2-2-1-4, Perez got a huge out as did Carlson.
Casas would enter the 11th, his 4th inning, and get 2 outs with 1 on, and a meeting ensued, he was at 50 pitches, but was adamant that he was fine, the debate was to go to one of the young righties for the innings final out, but we stayed with Cisco. Bernardo Montoya made us pay, drilling his 1-1 pitch to deep center for a walk off game winning 2 run homer.
Casas ended up going 3.2-2-2-1-6 for the loss.

COASTAL LEAGUE

Philadelphia (Artie McCarthy 12-7 5.02)
@
San Antonio (Angelo Esparza 20-7 2.57)

Another Coastal League LCS thriller. Down 4-2 entering the bottom of 8 Jose Machado took starter Arite McCarthy deep for a game tying 2R HR with 2 outs.
In the bottom of the 9th Alejandro Villanueva took closer Gonzalo Ortiz to dead center on a 2 out 2 strike fastball for the walk off win.

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FRONTIER LEAGUE

Chicago (Roberto Martinez 12-7 5.17)
@
West Michigan (Carlos Vargas 13-8 4.29)

Word came down late last night that SP Artie Johnson is out for the remainder of the post season after tearing his triceps in game 1. He's gone at least 3 months, which means RHP Carlos Vargas is taking the ball for game 4.
Cruz singles, Hudson reaches on an error by Vargas and Luis Chavez launches a titanic blast. 3-0 before an out is recorded and a fans sat down.
Shane Jackson would single home Steve Rush in the 2nd to make it 4-0.
Martinez ran into a bump after back to back singles in the bottom half, John Lewis scoring on a passed ball with 2 outs, to make it 4-1, where it would stay into the 5th, Martinez pitching well.
With 2 outs Leao Corunha slammed a 3-1 pitch 407ft to straight away left to make it 4-2.
It felt like we were passing up opportunities to ice this game until Hugh Collins took Vargas yard with 1 out in the 6th for a 2 run shot, and 6-2 lead.
I wanted, at all costs, to avoid a 1 run game into the 9th, no idea why, just didn't feel good about arms and availability.
Which, with the way Martinez was throwing, felt like we were goo.
In the bottom of 7 after 2 quick outs Corunha and Joe Harris hit back to back singles, on 4 pitches, and then Chester Walters took a 2-2 pitch down the lined in left for a 3 run homer, and a 6-5 game heading into the 8th.
Orlando Perez would get the innings final out.
Perez got Montoya starting the bottom half, and Carlson got Hernandez and Hunter to end it.
We got nothing in the 9th and Cruz came on for the save.
With 1 out John Lewis walked, but Cruz got Corunha looking for the 2nd out.
Then, on a 1-1 pitch, Joe Harris drilled a double to deep center, Lewis was off on contact and in a bang bang play at home was ruled safe, tie game.
I freaking knew it......
Chester Walters would reach on catchers interference, and with runners on 1st and 2nd Cruz would get Scott swinging to end the 9th all tied up.
All seemed ok though, as Chavez singled and Shaw doubled to open the 10th, Castro was walked to load the bases with 0 outs when Dennis Ash hit a 1 hopper to 3rd, starting a 5-2-3 double play. Steve Rush would end the inning with a pop up.
Nothing about this felt right.
Cruz would work around a Hernandez single in the 10th.
With 1 out Blakeway singled vs Shimei Ikarashi, bringing up Roberto Cruz.
He would then deposit Ikarashi's 2nd pitch 453 feet from home plate and a mammoth 2 run tie breaking blast.
Chavez would follow a Hudon ground out with a double, and on Pedro Salinas' single he would be called out on a bang-bang play at home. 8-6 heading to the bottom of 11.
Cruz would remain in the game, Vela at C, Hamlyn at 3B, moving Rush to 1B, Salinas out of the game.
John Lewis would single to open the 11th, and Corunha worked the count to 2-1 when he laced a ball back up the box...
Cruz would stab it, turning a HUGE 1-4-3 double play.
Joe Harris would hit a harmless pop to 2nd to end it.

COASTAL LEAGUE

Philadelphia (Joe Hester 12-12 4.62)
@
San Antonio (Jorge Ortiz 13-9 4.49)

In what may go down as one of the better post season series ever, answer this question.
How does a game tied 3-3 after 7, end 14-10 after 9?
Down 3-2 in the 7th Philly would use George Quinn's RBI single to plate Jesus Castro and tie the game 3-3.
Reliever Sherman Marr would open the 8th and it would go Sandoval single, Zimmerman reaches on an error by 3B Michael Moran and Dave Nicholson would hit the 1st pitch he saw to deep center for a 3 run homer and a 6-3 lead.
Roy Matthews would come on and after 2 punch outs Castro would drill a 1-0 pitch to left center for another HR, and a 7-3 Philly lead after their half of the 8th.
Hester would walk Villanueva, Machado singled and Michael Moran drilled an RBI double, Hester stayed on for a Vic Cahill RBI ground out, and Bernardo Escalante would relieve.
He would get Fernandez on a ground out, Mark Allen would come on to get Clint Levin, and walk him.
David Pall would get the call for Jorge Rios and he'd answer the bell, getting Rios to end the inning, 7-5 heading to the 9th.
That's when all hell broke loose. Here's the Patriot 9th...
Solo HR, 1B, 1B, RBI 1B, pitching change, K, RBI 1B, E7 run, 3U, 2R 2B, 1B, RBI 1B, HBP, FP..... Wow, 14-5 after the top half.
San Antonio's bottom half...
K, K, HR, 1B, 1B, RBI 1B, 3R HR, pitching change, F7.

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FRONTIER LEAGUE

Chicago Iron Pigs (Stan Hall 2-0 1.46)
@
West Michigan White Caps (Joaquin Vargas 0-2 6.75)

That game 4 win was huge, for obvious reasons and for others. Obvious reason is we aren't down 3-1. Not so obvious is we are 4 deep and have our 1 going, 100% rested. Vargas is rested as well, but if we can win this one we get a huge edge. My pen is spent, I need a BIG win and Hall to either go deep, or come out early with few pitches to be totally rested should we get to a game 7. FWIW Hall is 6-0 1.18 with 54 K's in 53.1 IP in his last 7. Like a hot goalie at playoff time, that's a game changer in a post season baseball series.

Hall is sharp early, neither gives way through 2, with 1 out Hudson drills an RBI single to open the scoring in the 3rd, with 2 outs Castro plates Hudson to make it 2-0 after 3.
Hall has gone 3-0-0-0-0-5 on 40 pitches
Vargas has gone 3-5-2-2-2-1 on 59.
2-0 into the 6th when, with 0 outs, Castro launches a 2 run blast to make it 4-0.
Hall gives up the White Caps 1st hit in the 6th, and with 1 out Chester Walters hits a 2 run shot to make it 4-2 after 6 full.
Halls line through 6, 6-3-2-2-1-10 on 98 pitches.
Vargas 6-7-4-4-3-4 on 99 pitches.
Game stays 4-2 into the 8th, Vargas ends his night on a 7.1-7-4-4-4-5 line, 126 pitches. Hall continues his dominating night but with 1 out in the 8th his night ends after a Walters single, Cisco Casas on to face Montoya and his 50 homer bat.
Casas gets him swinging, and Mejia grounds out to end the 8th. 4-2 onto the 9th.
Halls line 7.1-4-2-2-2-12 on 121 pitches.
Casas works a 1-2-3 ninth inning with 2 K's.

COASTAL LEAGUE

Philadelphia Patriots (Boyd Jackson 1-0 1.32)
@
San Antonio Silver Stars (Josh Beckett 1-0 4.05)

Rookie Boyd Jackson tossed 7 scoreless innings and the thunderous Patriot offense slammed 5 homers, scoring 10 runs on 12 hits.

Philadelphia leads the series 3-2

[gehrig38]

.

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FRONTIER LEAGUE

West Michigan White Caps (John Drake 1-0 3.27)
@
Chicago Iron Pigs (Andy Morgan 1-1 8.31)

This series has been about pitching, 1 Chicago regular over .300 (Chavez .304) and same for West Michigan (Hector Hernandez at .389).
Drake went 9.1 innings in game game 3, he's not fully rested, which I hope matters. I do not want a game 7 this year.

Morgan works around a RISP in the 1st and Jeff Hudson opens the scoring with a 1 out blast to right off Drake, 1-0 after 1.
Literally the same inning again as Morgan works around a 1 out RISP situation, and with 1 out Steven Rush slams a solo shot to make it 2-0 after 2.
West Michigan breaks through in the 3rd, Hector Hernandez singling in Walters with 2 outs but Chavez guns down Scott at 3rd to end the inning. 2-1 after 2 ½. Hall's line 3-5-1-1-0-2 on 44 pitches. Drake has gone 3-4-2-2-0-3 on 55 pitches.
With 2 outs in the 5th Chris Scott singles in Corunha to tie it at 2 after 4 ½. Halls line 5-7-2-2-0-3 on 77 pitches.
With 2 outs in the 5th Luis Chavez works to a full count before he connects, and drives a ball deep into the night for a 3R homer and a 5-2 Chicago lead. Drakes night ends (4.2-6-4-4-0-4).
Andy Morgan is getting stronger, he has gotten 2 huge double plays and ends the 7th going 7-8-2-2-0-5 on 101 pitches. Roberto Cruz gets Chicago another run with his 2 out solo homer, his 5th post season home run. 6-2 after 7.
DAMN! DAMN DAMN! Andy Morgan worked into the 8th, 1st 2 runners get on, on just 4 pitches, and a mound meeting with righty slugger Bernardo Montoya at the plate, and 2 lefties behind him. The decision to leave him in haunts us 1 pitch later as Montoya slams a 3 run shot to make it 6-5. Andy's line (7-11-5-5-0-5) doesn't do him justice, he pitched his ass off, stupid managing cost him, and maybe us, this one.
Carlson comes in, gets Hernandez and then walks Bailey. Cisco Casas comes in and with 2 outs surrenders a game tying double to Corunha, with runners holding at 2nd and 3rd. Brandon Andre gets the innings final out, but West Michigan has come back to tie it 6-6.
In the bottom half Luis Chavez walks to lead it off, Earl Shaw singles but Chavez gets hosed at 3B for the innings 1st out! (NEVER EVER make the first or last out of an inning at 3rd....)
Castro hits a bomb to right center, but it's caught at the wall, allow Shaw to get to 3B with 2 outs. Hugh Collins then makes it matter with a HUGE tie breaking single, 7-6 heading to the 9th. Ernesto Cruz, and his 34 career post season saves is headed to the mound, Montoya due up 3rd....
Walters goes 6-3 on a 2-2 pitch, 1 out.
Scott goes 5-3 on a 1-2 pitch, 2 outs....
Montoya manages to work a 3-1 count, and walks....Hernandez and Hunter due up, I have no lefties available.
Unreal, just unreal. Hernandez lines a 1-0 pitch to deep center, Ash cannot run it down and Montoya comes around to score on the double, tie game! Cruz walks Hunter and then gets Bailey on an F9.
Bottom of the 9th coming up!
Alex Vela will PH for Shane Jackson to face lefty Tomas Gonzalez.
He pops to short for the 1st out.
On a 1-1 pitch Andre Blakeway lines a ball down the right field line, by the time Hernandez gets to it and gets it back in, Blakeway is standing on 3rd with a TRIPLE!
Ernesto Hernandez will PH for Cruz.
Gonzalez walks him intentionally, bringing up Jeff Hudson.
Debating on whether to PH Salinas here, as I can move him to 1st, Rush to 3rd and Hamyn to 2nd, but that will leave me with no bench players. Not to mention Hudson has about as good an eye as there is, even if it is lefty on lefty.
Hudson will get his shot...
He works to a 3-1 count, and draws a walk to load the bases! Luis Chavez coming to the plate.
And on a 1-1 pitch he hits a ground ball in the hole between 1st and 2nd, Lewis dives, makes the snag, up, throws to first....
SAFE! Chavez has won it with a walk off single!!! The Iron Pigs are heading back to the IBL World Series!!

COASTAL LEAGUE

San Antonio Silver Stars (Angelo Esparza 2-1 3.86)
@
Philadelphia Patriots (Doug Russell 1-0 3.78)

I notice as I look at the Patriots roster during this series, every regular has homered so far, in just 5 games, 12 homers. For San Antonio they have 10, but 2 guys with 3 (Edwards, Villanueva).
Norberto Adaricios RBI single was all Philly could muster through the first 7, while they managed to peck away at Doug Russell for a 4-1 lead into the 8th. Pete Merritt would hit a solo homer in the 8th but Esparza and Douglas would close it out and force a game 7

Series MVP Stan Hall 2-0 2.35 15.1 IP 8 H 21 K's

[gehrig38]

San Antonio Silver Stars (Chris Robison 0-0 3.86)
@
Philadelphia Patriots (Artie McCarthy 1-1 4.74)

Going to follow this in real time and report as the game is played.

This is a rematch of the 2014 WS, before realignment, which Philly won in a very good world series. Philadelphia was back in 2019 where we beat them.

Jesus Castro doubles in the bottom of the 1st and is caught stealing 3rd with Quinn up, stupid. 0-0 after 1.
Robison 2-1-0-0-0-1 and McCathy 3-3-0-0-1-1 after 2 ½
0-0 after 3. 4 total hits.
0-0 into the 5th.
Rios singles in the 5th, and with 2 outs Cliff Edwards drills an RBI double to break the deadlock. 1-0 after 4 ½
With 1 out Norberto Adaricio takes Chris Robison pitch out to left for a 2 run homer, and 2-1 lead after 5 full.
McCarthy 6-7-1-1-2-5 after 6.
2-1 Philly into the 7th.
San Antonio cant get to McCarthy in the 7th (7-7-1-1-2-5)
Machado singles to start the 8th, Moran singles...
Fernandez sac bunt to 2nd and 3rd
Villanueva up, and he gets to a 2-2 count and hits a deep drive to left, way back, a 3 run shot by Alejandro Villanueva has given the Silver Stars a 4-2 lead!
Moreno singles and Cliff Edwards doubles him home, 5-2! Garcia then singles and Cahill and Edwards score, San Antonio turning it into a rout, 7-2. Jose Machado comes up again, and his RBI single scores Juan Garcia to make it 8-2.
Adaricio triples to open the 8th, and scores on a Dana Reed RBI ground out. 2 outs later Pete Merrit singles in Zimmerman, 8-4.
into the 9th... 8-4
Fernandez singles, Villanueva HBP, (Weston McCoy pitching)
Runners move up on a passed ball....
Carlos Moreno punches out looking!
Jorge Rios up, strike, strike, punches out looking, 2 outs.
Vic Cahill, 3-5 on the day, goes 3-0 and gets a green light, and SWINGS!
And pops to shallow left for the games final out, and the end of the Philadelphia season.

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[gehrig38]

A look at the two clubs

Check out 'Who's Hot?"

Jason Anderson was the 2nd round pick (47th overall) of the Sacramento River Cats in 2015 out of Mt Carmel HS, MI.

In 2017 Chicago sent SS Angel Lopez, 3B Jimmy James, SP Enrique Lopez, SP Anselmo Israel and C Francisco Reyna with 650K in cash to Sacramento for Anderson. He was drafted as a 2 way player. He was a big time power hitting prospect as a 3B. In 306 games he hit .272 with 36 homers and 178 RBI's.

2 years later he, along with CF Cooper Bannatyne, SP Mike Hamilton, 3B Wes Morgan and a 4th round draft choice were shipped to San Antonio for SP Stan Hall and a 4th round pick.

San Antonio converted him to a pitcher, where has pitched in 52 games, going 93 IP 86 H with 58 K's and 30 BB's.

The 5 players he was traded for:
Angel Lopez SS-retired in 2017 played in 49 games hitting .250/.296/.364
Jimmy James 3B-Cups of coffee in '21 and '22, called up and played in 25 games this year, 84 AB's .226-1-5. 26 years old
Enrique Lopez MR-Retired in 2019, never got above AA
Anselmo Israel SP-Retired in 2019, never got above A ball.
Francisco Reyna C-Retired in 2020, never got above AAA

A nice side note, the exchange of 4th rounders allowed us to move up and select RP Cisco Casas in 2019.

[gehrig38]

If you like to read game replays, take this one slowly, a pretty amazing game in every possible way.

ROSTER NEWS- MR Roberto Hidalgo was taken off the roster, and lefty Jonasz Plazewski was added, the trainers have signed off and believe he's good to go. Putting the pen back to 3 L 3 R before the closer.

San Antonio Silver Stars (Josh Beckett 18-9 4.34)
@
Chicago Iron Pigs (Stan Hall 17-7 3.68)

Oh....my.....goodness.....
Nothing to say but give you a play by play of the 1st inning...
Stan Hall pitching:
Jorge Rios Single, Vic Cahill Double, Cliff Edwards Home Run, Juan Garcia single, Jose Machado Double, Michael Moran K, Alejandro Villanueva RBI ground out, Esteban Fernandez F9.
4 runs on 5 hits..... Unreal, now follow along for the bottom half...
Josh Beckett pitching:
Roberto Cruz HR, Jeff Hudson K, Luis Chavez BB, Earl Shaw F8, Ramon Castro HBP, Hugh Collins RBI 1B, Steve Rush 1B, bases loaded, Shane Jackson RBI 1B, Andre Blakeway 2 run 2B, Roberto Cruz ground out.
5 runs on 5 hits. A combined 9 runs on 10 hits 1 K 2 HR's 1 BB....
Top of the 2nd Clint Levin flies to center to start.
Jorge Rios walks and Vic Cahill singles, with both runners moving up on Roberto Cruz's error.
Cliff Edwards hits a sac fly to center.
Juan Garcia then hits an 0-1 pitch to left for a 2 run homer. 7-5 after the top of the 2nd....
Beckett gets us in order in the 2nd. Hall now out the next time he gets into the slightest pinch.
Castro leads off the 3rd with a single, and Hugh Collins triples down the RF line to make it 7-6. Beckett's day is done and Domingo Reyes comes in.
Rush hits a sac fly to tie it. 7-7 after 3 full.
Stunning I know, but the 4th goes by with no scoring!
Hall walks Machado to start the 5th, he moves up on a wild pitch and scores 1 out later on a Villanueva sac fly. 8-7 after the top half and Hall's day is mercifully over. His horrid line, 5-9-8-8-2-2 in the worst start of his post season career.
Shaw pops to center for the 1st out of the 5th. Castro flies to deep right for the 2nd out.
Collins draws a full count walk before Rush singles putting runners on 1st and 2nd.
Shane Jackson works to a 2-2 count before launching a 369 foot line drive into the seats in right for a 10-8 lead!
Plazewski starts the 6th with Levin reaching on a Steve Rush error. Rios grounded into a FC and then is caught stealing with Cahill up. Cahill walks and Orlando Perez comes on to face Edwards, who flies to center to end the inning.
Sherman Marr gets the call and after back to back Hudson and Chavez singles he gets Shaw to line out and Castro to go 3-1 on 2 pitches.
Garcia starts the 7th with a single, after Machado popped out Moran singled to put runners at 1st and 2nd, when Perez got Villanueva to ground into an inning ending 6-4-3.
Marr returned the favor, getting Jackson to hit into an inning ending 6-4-3 after a Rush single.
Into the 9th up 10-8 Casas gets a shot to close it out.
Cliff Edwards doubles to lead it off and after a quick chat veteran closer Ernesto Cruz is called in. He gets Juan Garcia to line to center for the 1st out.
Jose Machado grounds an 0-1 pitch for a tweener to right, putting runners at the corners.
Lefty Michael Moran comes to the plate, and it's pretty clear to anyone with eyes that this 'version' of Ernesto Cruz is not what he once was, and lefties present a significant hurdle, much more so than they used to.
With lefty Brandon Andre in the pen, Cruz was left in....
And on an 0-1 pitch Moran laced a ball to short that Blakeway flipped to Hudson who went to Shaw for the game ending 6-4-3 and Cruz's 35 save of his post season career.
What an epic game 1.

[gehrig38]

San Antonio Silver Stars (Angelo Esparza )
@
Chicago Iron Pigs (Jorge Trujillo )

Both pitchers get through the first with Esparza working around a Roberto Cruz leadoff double.
A 6 up 6 down 2nd and San Antonio would get after it in the 3rd. Villanueva lead off with a double. Fernandez grounded out, moving him to 3rd. Took a defensive gamble by bringing Rush in with 1 out, and it paid off when lefty Clint Levin hit a slow roller to 3rd, with Rush able to keep Villanueva there.
Jorge Rios ruined it on the 1st pitch when he grounded a ball up the middle for an RBI single.
Vic Cahill walked on 4 pitches, then stole 2nd before Edwards grounded out.
Shane Jackson stayed hot, singling to lead off the 3rd and after a Blakeway K Roberto Crux doubled again, this time scoring Jackson to tie the game at 1.
After 3:
Esparza 3-3-1-1-0-3 46 pitches
Trujillo 3-2-1-1-2-0 37 pitches
Juan Garcia would lead off the 4th by drilling a 2-2 breaking ball to right center for a tie breaking solo homer.
Shaw would lead off Chicago's 4th with a single, and Salinas singled behind him, with Shaw going to 3rd.
Hugh Collins would plate Shaw with a sac fly.
Rush walked and Jackson grounded to 2nd, moving the runners up when Andre Blakeway singled and Steve Rush beat the throw home to make it 4-2 after 4 full.
The 5th went by without much happening.
With 1 out Edwards and Garcia hit back to back singles.
Jose Machado launched the 1st pitch of the AB 450 feet to left center for a mammoth 3 run shot, and an end to Trujillo's day.
Brandon Andre came on and got Moran swinging.
He walked Villanueva and hit Fernandez and after a full count walk to Levin Carlson got the call.
He got lefty Jorge Rios to go 4-3 to end the inning.
Esparza went 1-2-3 to make it 5-4 after 6.
Trujillo's line 5.1-6-5-5-2-2 on 85 pitches.
Esparza 6-6-4-4-1-5 on 96 pitches.
Orlando Perez came on to start the 7th.
Cahill would walk on a full count, and Edwards worked another walk to put runners on 1st and 2nd.
Garcia punched out for the innings 1st out.
Jose Machado flew to deep center, Cahill moved to 3rd.
Plazewski came on to face Moran and got him swinging to end the 7th.
Shane Jackson singled to open the 7th, and moved to 2nd on Blakeways sac bunt.
Roberto Cruz singled and Jackson beat the throw home to tie it up.
Hudson made the 2nd out on a FC, and then Chavez singled to right, with Hudson sliding into 3rd. Earl Shaw took the 1st pitch to right for the innings final out. 5-5 after 7.
Esparza 7-9-5-5-1-5 on 107 pitches.
Plazewski remained to face the lefties in the Silver Star lineup.
Villanueva went 4-3 and Fernandez k'd.
Levin singled and 4 pitches later so did Rios, putting runners at the corners.
Cisco Casas got the call and Jackson gunned down Rios trying to steal 2nd on the 1st pitch to end the 8th!
After a Salinas ground out Hugh Collins reached on 3B Michael Morans error.
Steve Rush singled.
With runners on 1st and 2nd Shane Jackson came through yet again, lining a single past Moran with Collins racing home to put us up, and end Esparza's day.
Roy Mathews would come on with runners at 1st and 2nd.
Blakeway would walk to load'em up.
Roberto Cruz failed miserably as he popped to short for the 2nd out.
Hudson went down swinging to end the 8th, 6-5.
Cisco Casas was given yet another shot to close one out.
Vic Cahill would walk on a 3-1 count.
With Casas looking timid there was a mound meeting in which is was 'suggested' he hike up his skirt, and throw the piss out of the ball, and whatever happens happens.
The response?
Cliff Edwards hit into a 5-4-3 on the 1st pitch and Casas gets Juan Garcia to whiff on a 1-2 fastball.

[gehrig38]

Chicago Iron Pigs (Andy Morgan 1-1 7.47)
@
San Antonio Silver Stars (Chris Robison 1-0 3.91)

Cruz leads off the game working a full count walk.
Machado nails him stealing on the 1st pitch to Jeff Hudson, a move that would hurt when 2 pitches later Jeff drilled a solo shot to right.
Luis Chavez would go to a 2-1 count and follow Huddy's homer with one of his own, this one 455 feet.
Earl Shaw would then double on a 2-0 pitch.
Ramon Castro would pop a 2-2 pitch to no mans land in right center and Shaw, reading the ball, would score from second.
Hugh Collins would be HBP before Rush and Jackson would pop out to end the 1st.

After a Rios F9 Cahill would draw a walk, Edwards singled and Villanueva worked a 7 pitch walk to lead the bases.
Morgan fell behind Machado 2-1 but made a great pitch and Machado laced a 1-hopper to 1st to start a 3-6-1 inning ending DP, 3-0 end of 1.
Robison would start the 2nd by walking Blakeway.
Cruz would go F7 and then Hudson and Chavez hit back to back singles to load the bases.
Earl Shaw worked to a 3-1 count before drawing a bases loaded walk.
Robison, clearly shaken, would hit Ramon Castro with the 1st pitch to make it 5-0.
The game unraveled 6 pitches later when Hugh Collins would hit Robison's 2-2 pitch 445 feet to dead center for a Grand Slam and a 9-0 lead. Robison's nightmare would end with a 1.1-7-9-9-3-0 line and his team down 9-0 after 2 innings.
Shaw would add a solo shot in the 4th, and they'd get another run to ice it.
Andy Morgan carried the shut out into the 6th before the Silver Stars worked for 2 runs, but htat would be it. Jorge Moreno would come on in the 7th (Morgan's line 6-8-2-2-4-3 103 pitches) and go 3-2-0-0-0-2 for the rare 3 inning save.

[gehrig38]

Chicago Iron Pigs (Roberto Martinez 0-1 9.31)
@
San Antonio Silver Spurs (Jorge Ortiz 2-0 2.75)

This is one of those dangerous situations. Yes I am 1 win away, and the team is hitting, but a loss here means Becket and Esparza in 5 and 6, sort of like winning game 5 in New York in '04, except Beckett's ankle is fine.

Cruz doubled yet again to lead off a game, and inning and Jeffrey Hudson drove him in with an RBI single to make it 2-0 5 pitches in.
Vic Cahill would single with 1 out in the bottom of 1 but Martinez got Cliff Edwards to hit into a 5-4-3 DP to end the inning, 1-0 after 1.
Game would remain 1-0 into the 4th. Earl Shaw would draw a 4 pitch leadoff walk, and Ortiz would then walk Castro on 4 pitches as well.
Hugh Collins worked ahead 3-1, and then singled up the middle to load the bases.
Steve Rush then worked another 3-1 count before lacing a double to left center, scoring Shaw and Castro. Shane Jackson didn't wait, lining the 1st pitch to left for an RBI single. For some reason San Antonio stuck with Ortiz.
Andre Blakeway would make them pay, lining another RBI single to right to make it 5-0. Ortiz would get one more hitter, and it would be one too many.
Roberto Cruz remained on fire as he took Ortiz's 3-1 pitch and drove it into the right field bleachers for a 3 run back breaking, and possibly world series clinching, homer.
That would end Ortiz's day. His final line was nasty, 3-9-8-8-3-2.
Jeff Hudson greeted Quincy Gallagher with a single, and after Chavez punched out Earl Shaw would double, putting runners at 2nd and 3rd.
Hugh Collins would hit a ball to left that Cliff Edwards would horribly misplay, and ultimately drop, allowing both Hudson and Shaw to score and make it a 10-0 Chicago lead.
After an Edwards 1 out single Martinez got Villanueva to ground into an inning ending 4-6-3 DP. 10-0 Iron Pigs after 4 innings.
Roberto Martinez would then turn it on over the next 4+ innings, making pitches any time he needed them, he enters the 9th with an 11-0 lead, trying to toss a world series clinching shut out.
Esteban Fernandez would not let it happen as he took a 1-0 fastball to left for a 2 run homer, ending Martinez's day with a 8.1-9-2-2-2-2 line.
Ernesto Cruz was 'given' the honor of trotting out to get the final outs of the World Series.
Cahill up, Rios on 1st, 2 outs...
Full count and Cahil launches a deep drive to left center for a 2 run homer.
Not what I'd planned...
Edwards now up, he lines a 1-1 pitch to right for a single.
Villanueva now up....
He takes the 0-2 pitch and singles past Hudons at 2nd....
Time out, meeting on the mound....Machado coming up, Cruz knows this is his last hitter...
1-1 pitch, cut on...Ground ball up the middle, Hudson grabs the ball and continues to the bag at 2nd...
He steps on the bag and this one's over, Chicago has swept the San Antonio Silver Stars to win the 2023 World Series!