The teams played numerous close games, trading victories back and forth, and struggling to break away from the pack. Maine won two consecutive games with walk-off walks! The games were particularly contentious, as 24 batters were hit by pitches in the 15 games (the elimination of the brawl rule prevented some very short-handed teams!).
Mount Pleasant was the first to be officially eliminated but they brushed off their disappointment and roared back to defeat Maine two in a row to keep Kansas City in the hunt (The Carr Collusion lives!).
It eventually came down to the very last game, Maine up by one game but winner take all! Kansas City, by virtue of the tie-breaker rule, would claim the crown if they win and Maine would cement their spot atop the division with a win. Maine's Carlos Rodon and KC's JA Happ faced off. Despite all the close games played earlier, this one was one-sided, with Rodon (CAW!) blanking KC on just 2 hits over 6 innings. Meanwhile, J.D. Martinez and Aaron Hicks each drove in 3 runs and Maine rolled to a 9-2 victory to win the title! Congrats to the Loggers for a great season and a well-deserved pennant, and proud of both KC and Mt. P. for battling all the way to the wire!
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Maine starter Carlos Rodon flummoxed
the Butcher sluggers in the final game
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For the day, Maine and Kansas City both went 6-5 and Mount Pleasant went 3-5. Was a great and fun way to wrap up a season-long battle!!!
Season is scheduled to end this Sunday, hope everyone can get their remaining games going!
Don't forget some amazing individual accomplishments coming out of this as well.....Mike Trout is in position to win the TRIPLE CROWN -- what an awesome year he's had for "the Mount". And Chaz Roe, finished with a microscopic 0.30 ERA -- second best in the illustrious history of the Friendship League.
ReplyDeleteWow, 24 hit batters is even more than I would have jokingly guessed. Some bad blood in the division!
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