In what was billed a pitchers duel, Gerrit Cole took the mound against Logan Gilbert. After no scoring in the 1st, Santander would put up the series 1st run with a one out solo shot to right field. In the bottom half, Wichita countered with a 2 out Rizzo double followed by a Chapman triple to right. Cole then stuck out Massey to end the threat. Lake Erie wasted no time in the top of the 3rd as Regifo lead off with a solo shot of his own to right, giving Lake Erie a 2 to 1 lead. That would be the only runs allowed by the starters. In the 8th J. Duran came in and after a Rengifo walk, Caballero smacked a 2 run insurance home run to seal the deal. Final LE 4-4-0 WIC 1-6-0. W:Cole, L:Gilbert, S:Martin.
Game 2:
10 game winner Chris Bassitt against 7 game winner and 2.21 era on the year, Sonny Gray. It was an ominous start for Lake Erie as Jankowski injured himself on the 1st at bat of the game trying to beat out an infield grounder. 3 batters later Daiz was hit by a pitch and also had to be replaced by veteran Maldonado. Dubon took over in center field. The scoring started with a 2 out solo homerun from Wichita's Wallner in the 2nd. In the top of the 4th Lake Erie rallied. After a lead off single by Altuve and a Maldonado sacrifice bunt, Santander flied out, but Moniak would come through with a clutch double to tie the game. Then T. Hernandez singled but Moniak was cut down at the plate to keep the score tied at 1. In the bottom of the 6th, Wichita would retake the lead on L. Robert's 1st homer of the series off of Bassitt. In the 8th, Robert his his 2nd homer of the game deep into the left upper deck. The stadium erupted, sensing the game was there's with a 3 to 1 lead. In the top of the 9th however things changed. To lead off Moniak opened the inning with a solo shot off of Mason Miller. The next batter Hernandez roped a triple down the right field line. Then with 1 out Dubon lift a sac fly to score Hernandez to tie the game at 3. The with the bases loaded, Altuve stepped up to the plate. On a 2-2 pitch Jose, grounded out to end the inning. King stayed in the game for the 9th despite giving up the HR in the 8th. He did his job getting Wichita down in order. To extras we went. Maldonado had to lead off the 10th as he was the only catcher available. Maldonado got the count to 3-1. He hit a fly ball to left, but it carried and was gone! Unbelievable. This shook up reliever Kevin Kelly as he then proceeded to give up a double and an rbi single to the next two batters. Duran came into the game and struck out the next 3 batters but the damage was done. Martin came in and retired the Bandits in order to record his 2nd save in as many days. Final LE 5-10-0 WIC 3-6-0. W:King, L:Kelly, S:Martin.
Game 3:
A needed day off for both team as the series moved to Commodore Perry Stadium. Wichita needed to regroup while Lake Erie checked on the minor injuries to Jankowski and Diaz. It would be Verlander vs German. This was a high scoring affair with the Commodores scoring 2 in the 1st on a 2-run shot by Diaz, then scoring 4 in the 2nd sending 8 men to the plate, highlighted by a bases clearing 3-run double by Noda. However, Wichita rallied in the top of the 3rd, knocking Verlander out of the game in the process. With 2 outs, Robert hit a 3-run bomb, his 3rd of the series. Then after a single, walk, single, the bases were loaded. Pruitt came in and struck out Chapman to end the threat. In the top of the 4th, the Bandits added another run on a 2-out Kwan triple. But in the bottom of the 4th Dubon lead off with a HR off of Dunning. In the 8th Wichita added a run to make it 7-5, but in the 9th Martin again, after a Robert single put down the Bandits in order for save number 3, to give Lake Erie a 3-0 series lead with Cole coming up. LE 7-8-1 WIC 5-14-1. W:Swanson, L:German, S:Martin.
Game 4:
It was now do or die for Wichita. Cole for Lake Erie vs B. Miller for Wichita. The Commodores jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on 3 straight singles in the 1st. But in the 3rd Cole got hit hard for 4 runs. After a walk and an error by Cole, he gave up a 3-run dinger to Naylor. Then a 1 out double to Kwan and a 2 out rbi single to Alvarez. In the 5th Robert tacked on another run with his 4th homer to make it 5-1 Wichita. In the 5th, Altuve came up with a 2 out double to make it 5-2. Wichita would not be denied as they knocked Cole out of the game after 5.2 innings with 3 singles that plated a run. With 2 outs lefty Beradino came in, but he walked Crawford to load the bases then gave up a 3 run double to Kwan to make it a 9-2 game. With Miller still in the Commodores started a rally. After a 1 out single and a 2 out triple, Kelly came in to get the last out of the 6th. That's when bad things started happening to the Bandits. Espinal was HBP and went out of the game. The next batter hit a line drive to left, but the usually sure handed Kwan let the line drive tip off the top of his glove for a 3 base error, scoring 2. Then Noda hit a 2 run homerun to make it a 9-7 game. Pruitt came in to retire Wichita in order in the 7th. In the bottom half, Diaz led off with his 2nd homer of the series. Incredibly it was now a 1 run game. To the bottom of the 9th. Diaz led off with a single. Isbel went in to pinch run. Santander singled, Isbel to 2nd. Then Isbel and Santander try for a double steal. Naylor throws to 3rd and it sails into left field. Isbel scores and Santander goes to 3rd with no outs and the game tied at 9. Moniak is intentionally walked. Hernandez is then HBP to load the bases. But then Duran induces Rengifo to hit into a home to 1st double play. After another intentional walk to load the bases, Mason Miller comes in to get Dubon to fly out. After a lead-off walk, Swanson comes in and induces a double play and a ground out to end the top of the 10th. To lead off the bottom half is Ryan Noda. "Noda sets up, here's the pitch. Noda swings, it going deep, will it carry the wall?... Yes! Yes! The Commodores are going to the Friendship League World Series.! I don't believe it!" LE 10-14-1 WIC 9-10-2. W:Swanson, L:Varland.
MVP would have been L. Robert had Wichita won. His stats were .471, 4HR, 6 RBI. But the MVP went to Ryan Noda. .400, 2HR, 6 RBI. Soon we will see who will hoist the Friendship League trophy. The Lake Erie Commodores or the Mount Pleasant Trainwreck. Should be a fantastic series.
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