Miners lock down Outlaws bat in three must-win games to upset Outlaws
After the Outlaws take a 2-1 lead, the series concludes.
Game 4: Sale v. Verlander – Both teams send their Game 1 starters back to the mound on short rest. The decision does not pay off for Joplin as Flagstaff is able to get to Justin Verlander for four runs in the first four innings of work.
Meanwhile, Chris Sale works around five hits over six innings of work, giving only a lone run in the sixth inning on a Carlos Santana RBI single to make the score 4-1 in favor of Flagstaff.
From there, the Flagstaff bullpen does their job, mixing and matching five relievers over the final five frames to give the Outlaws a 5-1 victory and putting them on the cusp of a World Series appearance.
W: Sale (2-0)
L: Verlander (0-2)
Sv: None
HRs: FLG – Judge (1); JOP – none.
Game 5: Wacha v. Kershaw – With Zack Greinke needing one more day of rest, Flagstaff turns to 4th starters Michael Wacha while Joplin brings back Clayton Kershaw on short rest. Unlike Verlander poor start on short rest, Kershaw was much better, striking out 10over six innings and limiting Flagstaff to just three hits and no runs over that span.
For Flagstaff, Michael Wacha pitched poorly, allowing 10 hits, nine of them singles, and four runs with the big damage coming in the sixth inning.
After getting the first out, Joplin strung together a pair of singles followed by a Mookie Betts RBI double. After getting Chad Pinder to strike out, Mikie Mahtook came off the bench to hit for Kershaw and delivered a two-run single that doubled Joplin advantage to 4-0.
From that point on, Joplin was able to add some insurance while Flagstaff couldn’t get any momentum on offense and Joplin sends the series back to Flagstaff thanks to a 7-0 shutout.
W: Kershaw (1-0)
L: Wacha (0-1)
Sv: None
HRs: FLG – none; JOP – Blackmon (1).
Game 6: Morton v. Greinke – With two chances to clinch at home, Flagstaff started Zack Greinke against Charlie Morton, who had already appear twice in relief in the series. Both pitchers get through four innings unscathed.
In the fifth, back-to-back doubles from Gregor Blanco, who pinch-hit for Morton, and Matt Carpenter put the Miners on the board. In the sixth, both teams traded long balls as Mookie Betts and Aaron Judge each hit blasts.
But from that point on, Flagstaff can only manage one baserunner, a lead off single in the 8th from Joe Panik. Craig Kimbrel relieved Chase Whitley after that hit and proceeded to mow down the next six batters to secure the 2-1 Miners victory and force Game 7.
W: Romo (2-1)
L: Greinke (0-2)
Sv: Kimbrel (1)
HRs: JOP – Betts (2); FLG – Judge (2).
Game 7: Verlander v. Sale – A matchup so nice, we got to see it thrice. Short rest in the order of the day as both teams trot out their best for the sudden-death matchup. Sale blinks first, giving up a two-run double to Mahtook in the first inning after start off slow. But from that point on, Sale keeps Jopiln in check, allowing only two more baserunners through five.
Problem is, Verlander was better. JV only pitched four innings, but he got through with minimal traffic, outside of a fourth inning two-out jam with Flagstaff had two runners on, but Manny Pina grounded out to end the threat. After that, Joplin handed the ball to Jake Arrieta, after getting one out in the fifth from T.J. McFarland. Arrieta who pitch into the ninth allowing just three singles along the way.
After Arrieta allowed a leadoff single to Paul Goldschmidt to start the ninth, Kimbrel was called on again. He got Judge and Shaw to strike out, but a Pina single scored Goldy to get the Outlaws the tying run on base. Khris Davis launched a ball that was caught at the wall by Betts, giving the Miners a 2-1 victory and sent the Joplin team to the World Series.
W: Arrieta (1-0)
L: Sale (2-1)
Sv: Kimbrel (2)
HRs: JOP – none; FLG – none.