2018 WORLD SERIES

Sacramento Capitals @ Chicago Mobsters

https://mwbl.straybaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/worldseries.gifThe Chicago Mobsters (105-57), the American League Wild Card, will face the Sacramento Capitals (106-56), the National League West Division winner, in the 2018 World Series. Chicago and Sacramento are no strangers to the post season. Chicago has more wins than any franchise in MWBL history, with a cumulative record of 2,220-1,181 (a .653 winning percentage) over 21 years, while Sacramento is close behind with a record of 1,966-1,274 (a .607 winning percentage) over 20 years. And, both have had success in the post season, with Chicago boasting a .514 post season winning percentage (74-70) and Sacramento a .517 winning percentage (61-57). Both the Chicago Mobsters and Sacramento Capitals have reached the World Series twice before, and both are 2-0 in World Series appearances. One of them will be only the second team in MWBL history to have at least 3 World Series titles.
GAME #1 – Max Scherzer  (23-4 1.71) vs. Rich Hill (13-3 2.98)

Sacramento jumped to an early lead with back-to-back doubles by Trey Mancini and Corey Dickerson in the top of the 1st and, in the top of the 2nd, Sacramento extends its lead with a lead-off double by Brian Goodwin, an RBI single Wilmer_FloresWS18by Josh Reddick, and a 2-run home run by Mancini. Chicago would narrow the lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the 3rd with a lead-off home run by Andrew McCutchen—the first off Max Scherzer in the contest. That would be all Chicago would put on the board in Game 1. Sacramento extended its lead to 6-1 in the top of the 5th with a 2-run home run by Wilmer Flores.  Scherzer pitched 7 innings while giving up only 1 hit, a home run to McCutchen, and striking out 6. Rich Hill was chased from the game in the 3rd after giving up 5 hits, walking 3, and yielding 4 earned runs.

Final Score: Sacramento 6 – Chicago 1

W – Max Scherzer 1-0 (1.29)

L – Rich Hill 0-1 (12.00)

HR – Trey Mancini 1, Wilmer Flores 1 & Andrew McCutchen 1

GAME #2 – Chris Sale (22-6 2.50) vs.  Marcus Stroman (15-8 3.95)

A pitchers’ duel to the end. Neither Chris Sale nor Marcus Justin_Turner18WSStroman would yield a run, with Sale pitching 6 innings while giving up only 4 hits and Stroman pitching 5 innings while giving up only 2 hits. Sacramento was first on the board with a Wilmer Flores solo home run in the top of the 7th inning. Up 1-0 in the bottom of the 8th, Sacramento turns to setup man Alan Busenitz who promptly gives up back-to-back doubles to Dexter Fowler and Alex Bregman tying the game at 1 each. Sacramento responds in the top of the 9th with 1-out singles by Giancarlo Stanton and Francisco Lindor, putting the winning run on 1st. But, Chicago puts out the fire; Andrew Miller strikes out weak-hitting Brian Goodwin and then calls on Noah Syndergaard to quickly put away Evan Longoria to end the top half of the 9th. Sacramento turns to its closer, Tyler Olson, to hold off Chicago but instead gives up a walk-off home run to leadoff hitter Justin Turner.

Final Score: Chicago: 2 – Sacramento 1

W – Noah Syndergaard 1-0 (0.00)

L – Tyler Olson 0-1 (Infinite)

HR – Wilmer Flores 1 (2) & Justin Turner 1

GAME #3 – Rich Hill (13-3 2.98) vs. Max Scherzer  (23-4 1.71)

The series is tied at 1-1. Sacramento is again first on the board with a leadoff double by Josh Reddick, an infield single by Trey Mancini, and a single by Wilmer Flores. Chicago would strike right back in the top of the 2nd with a J.D. Martinez lead-off home run off Max Scherzer to tie it up. Sacramento again takes the lead in the bottom of the 3rd with another lead-off double by Josh Reddick, a sac fly by Mancini, and a sac fly by Giancarlo Stanton. Sacramento up JD_MartinezWS182-1, but it’s Chicago’s turn. Top of the 4th: Alex Bregman singles to right and Freddie Freeman unloads the next pitch over Giancarlo Stanton’s reach in right. The Mobsters take the lead 3-2, but the lead wouldn’t last long. In the bottom of the 4th, Rich Hill walks Flores and Brian Goodwin to start the inning, Yadier Molina flies out, and Max Scherzer hits a home run! Sacramento up 5-3. But, wouldn’t you know, the lead didn’t last long. Top of the 6th, Scherzer still on the mound with one out. Bregman up, grounds it to Francisco Lindor who throws it in the dirt—an unlikely error for Lindor. Freeman strokes a single through the hole to left on a hit-and-run, putting runners on 1st and 3rd with one out. Scherzer deals to J.D. Martinez, and Martinez wins. A 3-run home run to left field to put Chicago up 6-5 in the 6th. Chicago and Sacramento manage a few uneventful frames and move to the bottom of the 8th. Sacramento is running out of time. Dellin Betances on the mound, Goodwin strokes a double to left center; Betances out and Andrew Miller in; Miller to Robinson Cano, and Cano ropes it to center scoring Goodwin to tie the ballgame. But, wait, Miller tosses the ball to Turner at 3rd who steps on the bag—Goodwin’s out! He never touched third base! Two outs, Cano on 1st, Sacramento down 6-5. Miller to Molina & Yadier Molina hits a hard liner down the third base line to score Cano, taking third on the throw. Tie game with the winning run now on 3rd with two outs. With the pitcher’s spot up, the Caps turn to Ronald Torreyes to pinch it. Torreyes hits a Texas Leaguer between Bregman and Martinez to bring home the winning run.

Final Score: Sacramento 7 – Chicago 6

W – Alex Claudio 1-0 (0.00)

L – Andrew Miller 0-1 (13.50)

S – Tyler Olson 1 (9.00)

HR: Max Scherzer 1, Freddie Freeman 1 & J.D. Martinez 2 (2)

GAME #4 – Carlos Matias Martinez (11-9 3.47) vs. Chris Sale (22-6 2.50)

Sacramento up 2 games to 1 in the series. Like Game 2, the Mobsters and Capitals set aside the back-and-forth scoring and settle in for a pitchers’ duel. Both starting pitchers pitched into the 7th inning without giving up a single run. Chris_Sale18NLCS18Chris Sale pitched 7 innings giving up only 2 hits. Carlos Matias Martinez pitched 6 innings giving up only 1 hit and zero runs, but he wouldn’t make it out of the 7th. Martinez walks leadoff hitter Giancarlo Stanton, but then induces Francisco Lindor and Brian Goodwin into fly outs to McCutchen and Fowler. With two outs, Martinez deals to Wilmer Flores, who smashes it hard off Turner’s leg at 3rd; Flores gets the double and Stanton reaches 3rd as the ball rolls into the outfield. Unfortunately, Chicago would lose Turner for the remainder of the series. With runners on 2nd and 3rd and Chris Sale’s spot in the batting order up next, the Mobsters intentionally walk Yadier Molina to load the bases and force the Caps to pull Sale from the game after facing only 23 batters. Bases loaded, two outs, no score. The Caps call on Corey Dickerson, and Chicago pulls Martinez and gives Andrew Miller the ball. Miller comes to the plate, and Dickerson tomahawks it into the gap, Fowler hustles for it but Stanton and Flores score easily as Molina and Dickerson stroll into 2nd and 3rd. Sacramento takes the 2-0 lead, and that’s all the offense either team would see.

Final Score: Sacramento 2 – Chicago 0

W – Chris Sale 1-0 (0.00)

L – Carlos Matias Martinez 0-1 (2.70)

S – Tyler Olson 2 (4.50)

HR: None 

 

GAME #5 – Marcus Stroman (15-8 3.95) vs. Zack Grienke (14-10 2.66)

Sacramento leads the series 3-1 and turns to Zach Greinke to close it down. Chicago turns to Marcus Stroman, who has yet to give up a run this series, in a do-or-die game. Greinke gets off to a rough start. He induces a pop fly from the first batter, Yonder_AlonsoWS18Dexter Fowler, but feels something in his arm. He walks off the mound, stretches it out, throws a pitch, and seems to be okay. He pitches to Alex Bregman … and Bregman takes him deep. I think we all saw that coming. Mobsters up 1-0. Greinke settles in and finishes off the next two batters. In the bottom of the 1st, Sacramento ties it up on a Josh Reddick single and a Robinson Cano double. Nothing more of note until the bottom of the 5th when, Yadier Molina gets a leadoff double, Greinke gets the bunt sacrifice sending Molina to 3rd, and Reddick singles to left to bring Molina home. Sacramento up 2-1. The Mobsters strike back in the top of the 7th. Buster Posey facing Greinke, hits a shot to left field, Brian Goodwin running in and takes it on the hop … he bobbles it, throws to second, and Posey’s in safely. Chicago brings in Billy Hamilton to pinch run. Greinke subsequently walks Andrew McCutchen. He’s getting wild. Hamilton and McCutchen run, Molina guns it to 3rd—out! One out, McCutchen on 2nd, Andrelton Simmons comes to the plate. Greinke’s out and Pedro Strop is called upon to get the next two outs. Strop pitches to Neil Walker, induces the ground out, but the runners advance. Yonder Alonso pinch hits for Syndergaard, and singles to left center, McCutchen and Simmons score and Alonso advances to second. But that would be it in the top of the 7th. Mobsters up, 3-2. Chicago strikes again in the top of the 9th with a McCutchen single, a Simmons hit-and-run, and a walk to Walker. The bases are loaded with the hard-hitting Tucker Barnart coming to the plate. Holland deals, and Barnhart whacks a single to right, right past Josh Reddick, McCutchen and Simmons score on the error, extending Chicago’s lead to 5-2. Sacramento has nothing left to give.

Final Score: Chicago 5 – Sacramento 2

W – Noah Syndergaard 2-0 (0.00)

L – Zack Greinke 0-1 (1.42)

 HR: Alex Bregman 1

GAME #6 – Max Scherzer  (23-4 1.71) vs. Rich Hill (13-3 2.98)

Sacramento’s World Series lead has narrowed to 3-2 as the series moves back to Chicago for Game 6. Max Scherzer faces off with Rich Hill for the third time this series. Chicago jumps to the lead in the bottom of the 2nd with a Andrew_McCutchenWS18leadoff home run by J.D. Martinez, a walk to Buster Posey, and a 2-run home run by Andrew McCutchen. Scherzer is disgusted, but he limits the damage to 3 runs. Chicago tacks on another in the bottom of the 3rd off an Alex Bregman leadoff home run to go up 4-0. Top of the 6th, Sacramento begins to shrink the Mobsters lead. Rich Hill walks Trey Mancini and subsequently gives up a 2-run home run to Corey Dickerson. Unfortunately for the Caps, that’s all they would put on the board in Game 6. Chicago answers back with an insurance run on a Andrelton Simmons sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the inning. And, with that, Chicago ties the series up at 3 a piece. Chicago has now held Sacramento to two or fewer runs for the fourth time in six games. 

Final Score: Chicago 5 – Sacramento 2

W – Rich Hill 1-1 (5.87)

L – Max Scherzer 1-1 (4.71)

S – Aroldis Chapman (1)

HR: Corey Dickerson 1, Alex Bregman 1 (2), J.D. Martinez 1 (3) & Andrew McCutchen 1 (2)

GAME #7 – Chris Sale (22-6 2.50) vs. Marcus Stroman (15-8 3.95)

Chicago enters Game 7 holding the momentum and turns, once again, to Marcus Stroman who’s had a heck of a series thus far. Sacramento hands the ball to Chris Sale. Chicago jumped to the early lead in the bottom of the first; Fowler gets the leadoff walk and advances to 2nd off a Alex Bregman HBP. Two on, two out, Buster Posey at the dish; he swings and lines it to left field, scoring Dexter Fowler, and Bregman is out trying to take 3rd on the throw. Sacramento ties it up off a Corey_DickersonWS18.jpgsolo shot by Wilmer Flores in the top of the 2nd, and takes the lead in the top of the 3rd as Delino DeShields Jr. takes 2nd on a Fredie Freeman error and is brought home on a Josh Reddick single to right field. Sacramento up 2-1. Bottom of the 5th, two outs, Chris Sale walks Alex Bregman and promptly gives up a 2-run home run to Freddy Freeman. Mobsters extend their lead to 4-2 in the 6th off a Flores error that allowed Mikie Mahtook to score from 2nd. Once again, the Mobsters pitching staff has held the Capitals in check, allowing only 2 runs thus far for the 5th game this series.

In the top of the 9th, as Sacramento faces the end of the line, the bats wake up. Francisco Lindor reaches on a leadoff single, Wilmer Flores reaches on a walk, and Corey Dickerson pokes a single to right field scoring Lindor and sending the tying run to 3rd with no outs. Yadier Molina socks a sac fly to right to bring Flores home, but Chicago guns down Dickerson, the go-ahead run, as he tries to sneak into 2nd on the throw. All tied up, two outs, bases empty. Back-to-back doubles by DeShields and Josh Reddick give Sacramento the lead. Sacramento hands the ball to closer Tyler Olsen to close the door. The fans are on their feet … Olson deals and Chicago gets the leadoff man on, Fowler on 1st with a single. The table is set. Bregman at the plate, and he lines a double to right, Fowler crosses the plate and ties it all up at 5. But, Olson would settle down and make it out of the inning without any further damage. Top of the 10th, Aroldis Chapman returns to the mound. Mitch Moreland, the leadoff hitter, and Chapman walk him. Giancarlo Stanton up; Chicago takes the ball, and Chapman is done for the evening.  Noah Syndergaard gets the call. Stanton walks and Lindor reaches on an infield single to load the bases with no outs. Evan Longoria gets the deep sac fly to center, Moreland scores, Stanton advances to 3rd, and Lindor is thrown out at 2nd.  One on, two out, Dickerson up. Syndergaard throws home, and Dickerson hits it “hard to center … it may carry, open the window, Aunt Minnie … here she comes … KARAAASH!! … that’s too bad Aunt Minnie never made it.” Olson shuts the door in the bottom of the 10th, and Sacramento is celebrating their 3rd World Series title in 8 years.

Final Score: Sacramento 8 – Chicago 5 (10 Innings)

W – Tyler Olson (1-1)

L –Aroldis Chapman (0-1)

HR: Wilmer Flores 1 (3), Corey Dickerson 1 (2) & Freddie Freeman 1 (2)

Corey_DickersonWS18MVPSacramento wins an exciting World Series 4-3 against one of the very best franchises in the history of the MWBL, the Chicago Mobsters. Chicago scored 5 or more runs in 5 of 7 games while Sacramento scored 2 or fewer runs in 4 of 7 games, with Sacramento outscoring Chicago by a narrow margin—28-24—over the series.

Chicago out-performed Sacramento on the field, sporting a solid .989 FLD% on 3 errors against a poor .976 FLD% and 6 errors for the Caps; the errors were costly for both teams, with Chicago giving up 4 unearned runs and Sacramento giving up 6 unearned runs. Sacramento’s pitching staff made up for the poor fielding by pitching to a 2.61 ERA, while giving up 46 hits in 62 IP, including 23 extra base hits, while striking out 48 and walking only 16. Chicago pitched to a 3.48 ERA, while giving up 51 hits in 62 IP, also including 23 extra base hits, while striking out 51 and walking a robust 27 batters. Sacramento also had the edge, if ever so slightly, on the offensive side with a .225/.304/.388 triple slash, 23 XBH, and 28 runs scored against Chicago’s .205/.260/.397, 23 XBH, and 24 runs scored.

Marcus Stroman (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 11.1 IP in 3 starts), Noah Syndergaard (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 3.1 IP in 5 relief appearances), and Rich Hill (1-1, 5.87 ERA, 15.1 IP in 3 starts) led the Chicago Mobsters’ pitching staff behind stellar play in the field, while Andrelton Simmons (.364/.375/.591) and J.D. Martinez (3 HR, 3 R, 5 RBI) led the Mobsters’ offense. For Sacramento, it was Chris Sale who led the pitching staff going 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA in 3 starts.

SacramentoSacramento, on the other hand, was stunned to see Giancarlo Stanton, who led the team in both the NLDS and NLCS, bat a minuscule .050 with only 1 hit, 2 runs, and 1 RBI over the 7-game series. But, two unlikely heroes stepped up to lead the Caps to victory. Wilmer Flores, a part-time utility player throughout the regular season was handed the full-time 3B job for the World Series, and he did not disappoint batting .318/.400/.773 with 3 HR, 6 R, and 5 RBI. But it was Corey Dickerson, who under performed to the tune of a measly .216/.271/.333 during the regular season, was inserted into the lineup as the DH for the World Series and was clutch in the role; Dickerson overcame his disappointing season by sporting a .353/.450/.824 triple slash with 2 2B, 2 HR, 2 R, and 8 RBI in only 17 AB. Dickerson had the game-winning RBI in Game 4 and Game 7. With this performance, Dickerson has earned the World Series MVP.

 

 

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