Mike Trout showed his slugging ability with a two-run homer in the third
Longtime rivals Brooklyn and Frostbite
Falls finished second and third, respectively, in the Cactus division to set up
a Wild Card series. Despite both hovering at or near the top of the heap over
the years, this was their first playoff meeting since the 2004 World Series,
which saw the Moabs take the title in six games.
With both teams
clinching their spots in the playoffs well before the end of the season, they
were able to line up their aces for Game 1. Max Scherzer (21-10, 3.00 regular
season) was on the hill for the visiting Moabs, who would host Game 2 and the
if-necessary Game 3. The defending BARB champion Flying Squirrels, playing in
their home ballpark – Rocky Top at Bullwinkle Corner – handed the ball to their
2017 revelation, James Paxton (10-3, 2.36).
After an
uneventful first inning, the visitors struck in the top of the second. With one
out, Delino DeShields, Jr., roped a double to right-center to plate Rougned
Odor. Ender Inciarte beat out a tapper and Christian Yelich walked with two
away. Young Francisco Lindor, acquired by Brooklyn in the middle of the season
for longtime Moabs stalwart Troy Tulowitzki, laced a single through the left
side. DeShields scored with ease and Inciarte motored around right behind him,
crossing without trouble as Josh Reddick airmailed the plate with his throw.
Trailing by
three entering the third, the hosts pulled within one on a single swing of the
bat. Mike Trout, who launched 25 bombs in a regular season abbreviated by
injuries, elevated a Scherzer 1-2 changeup that caught too much of the plate
with a man on and two down.
Frostbite
Falls threatened the very next frame, putting two on with two out, but Elvis
Andrus’ attempt at a surprise bunt single was snuffed out.
In the fifth,
however, Frostbite broke through and knotted the game at three apiece. Three-straight
free passes loaded the bases with two out. It appeared Brooklyn would escape
the inning unscathed, but a routine Jason Kipnis ground ball skipped off the
glove of Healy at third base and everyone was safe.
The tie didn’t
last long. After Paxton set down the Moabs in order in the top of the sixth,
Josh Reddick led off the home half with a solo blast to right – something he
accomplished only four times in 48 games with Frostbite Falls after being
acquired in the middle of the season.
Paxton tried
his best to hold the 4-3 lead, but he wasn’t long for the game. After recording
an out in the seventh, he gave up a ringing double to Kurt Suzuki (in an odd
move, pinch-hitting for Christian Yelich thanks to a better average and
slugging percentage against lefties). Brad Boxberger entered and got a can of
corn from Lindor before striking out Willson Contreras to keep the lead in
Frostbite’s hands.
Brooklyn,
which won four games more than Frostbite during the season, put a man on in the
eighth but couldn’t break through. In the ninth, Boxberger walked Eddie Rosario
and gave way to Hansel Robles. The new hurler checked on the speedy Rosario and
then got a pitchout sign. The timing was perfect, with Rosario on the move on
that first offering to Travis Shaw. Gary Sanchez, given a perfect set up on the
pitchout, gunned down Rosario for the second out. Shaw ended up walking, but
Lindor’s smash to center settled in the glove of Trout for the final out of the
ballgame.
FINAL:
FROSTBITE FALLS 4, BROOKLYN 3
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