Tournament of Champions: Promotion, Relegation, and Forced Relocation

[StLee 19]

2015 Postseason - August 28 - Part 1

 

GL - Gamma Cup - Relegation Round

 

#5 Las Vegas 5 at #6 Houston 7 - Houston wins 2-1

Game MVP - SP Matt Moore, Houston, 6 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 11 K; 1/2, RBI

 

GL - Gamma Cup - Semifinals

 

#9 Milwaukee 1 at #10 San Antonio 2, 13 innings - San Antonio wins 2-1

Game MVP - SP Boof Bonser, San Antonio, 8.1 IP, 4 H, ER, 2 BB, 10 K

Notes: The Buzzards' RF Firdaus Jahangiri walked to lead off the bottom of the 13th. After Jahangiri stole second base, Beers' relief pitcher Clay Buchholz intentionally walked 3B B.J. Upton. 2B Julio Lugo then followed with the walkoff single to send San Antonion to the Gamma Cup finals.

 

#4 Honolulu at #8 Atlanta - Atlanta wins 2-1

Game MVP - SP J.P. Howell, Atlanta, 8 IP, 5 H, ER, 9 K

 

GL - Silver Trophy Finals

 

#3 Orlando 9 at #1 Philadelphia Liberty 2 - Orlando leads 1-0

WP - Roberto Gonzalez, LP - Ricky Nolasco

Game MVP - 3B Pedro Alvarez, Orlando, 3/5, HR, R, 3 RBI

Notes: After falling behind 2-0 in the second inning, the Rockets scored two in the third to tie and went on to score seven more runs....2B Allen Craig's solo home run with one out in the top of the fourth proved to be the winning run....Alvarez's two-run shot and LF Michael Brantley's solo home run both came in the fifth inning....Along with the three home run hitters, 1B Bernardo Deleon also had two hits for the Rockets....SS Elvis Andrus was the Liberty's most productive batter, going 2 for 4 with an RBI. 3B Cliff Pennington was the only Philadelphia player with an extra-base hit, finishing 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored....Winning pitcher, SP Gonzales allowed two earned runs on six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings....Philadelphia's SP Nolasco gave up five earned runs on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts in just 4 1/3 innings. Four relievers finished the game for the Liberty.

[StLee 19]

2015 Postseason - August 28 - Part 2

 

BL - Beta Cup - Day 7

 

#8 Utah 0 at #6 Washington 9 - Utah (3-2), Washington (4-0)

Game MVP - SP Justin Verlander, Washington, 8 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 8 K; 2/3, R, RBI

 

#12 Oakland 8 at #5 Chicago 5 - Oakland (5-2), Chicago (3-3, eliminated)

Game MVP - C Geovany Soto, 2/4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI

 

BL - Gold Trophy - Semifinals

 

#3 New Orleans 6 at #2 New Mexico 7 - New Mexico wins 3-2

WP - Yovani Gallardo, LP - Anthony Ranaudo, S - Nick Vincent

Game MVP - RF Carlos Quentin, New Orleans, 3/4, 2B, 2 HR, 3 R, 2 RBI

Series MVP - LF Christian Yelich, New Mexico, 10/21 (.476), 2B, 3B, HR, 7 R, 4 RBI, BB, SB

Notes: The Suns jumped all over New Orleans' SP Ranaudo in the first inning. Ranaudo allowed five earned runs on six hits with a walk in just 2/3 of an inning before being replaced by Kyle White....Gallardo was given a big lead but nearly squandered it. In eight innings, he allowed five runs, four earned, on six hits with seven strikeouts....3B Miguel Cabrera led the Suns in hits, going 3 for 4 with a double, run scored, and two runs batted in....1B Prince Fielder and 2B Neil Walker both went deep for the Suns....Four New Mexico players had multiple hits....1B Ike Davis, Quentin, and CF Nick Okada, the 4-5-6 hitters in New Orleans' lineup had seven of the Gators' eight hits in the game. Third batter, SS Troy Tulowitzki, had the other. 

 

#4 Nashville 8 at #1 Denver 5 - Nashville wins 3-2

WP - Addison Reed, LP - Cliff Lee, S Alex Wood

Game MVP - CF Ezequiel Carrera, Denver, 3/4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI

Series MVP - 1B Ben Broussard, Nashville, 8/20 (.400), 2B, 3 R, 5 RBI, BB

Notes: Nashville took its first lead in the top of the sixth, 5-3, on Adam Dunn's three-run home run....The Peaks answered in the bottom of the inning to tie the game, 5-5....Nashville then scored a run in each of the last three innings for the 8-5 win....Country SP Carlos Robles allowed four earned runs on seven hits with four walks and five strikeouts in five innings....Peaks SP Jeremy Hefner gave up five runs, two earned, on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts in six innings....Five of Nashville's nine hits and four of Denver's nine hits were extra-base hits.

[StLee 19]

2015 Postseason - August 28 - Part 3

 

AL - Honors Cup - Finals

 

#11 Kansas City 5 at #12 Los Angeles 2 - Kansas City wins 2-1

Game MVP - SP Brandon Maurer, Kansas City, 7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, ER, BB, 8 K

Notes: For the second straight season, the Sting and Actors met for the Honors Cup. Just like last season, Kansas City won it. The difference is that there were higher stakes this season. With the loss, the Actors will be heading to the Beta League in 2016. 

 

AL - Honors Cup - Banner  

 

 

AL - Alpha Cup - Finals

 

#5 Brooklyn 1 at #6 Virginia Beach 2 - Brooklyn leads 2-1

WP - Guido Marchena, LP - Anibal Sanchez, S - Kenley Jansen

Game MVP - SP Guido Marchena, Virginia Beach, 8 IP, 4 H, ER, 6 K; 1/3, HR, R, RBI

Notes: Marchena's solo home run in the seventh inning proved to be the game-winning hit. 

 

AL - Diamond Series

 

#2 Phoenix 1 at #1 San Diego 3 - San Diego leads 2-0

WP - Cole Hamels, LP - Foppe Spitsbaard, S - Brandon Cumpton

Game MVP - SP Cole Hamels, San Diego, 8 IP, 5 H, ER, 7 K

Notes: On a day where hits were hard to find, the Slammers' SS Jose Reyes singled three times, finishing 3 for 4 with an RBI. 3B Jed Lowrie hit two doubles to finish 2 of 4 with an RBI....Five of six Phoenix hits were doubles. The only player not to double was LF Nolan Reimold who hit an RBI single to score SS Starlin Castro in the top of the first....Firebirds SP Spitsbaard allowed three earned runs on seven hits with four walks and eight strikeouts in seven innings.

[StLee 19]

2015 Postseason - August 29

 

OL - Omega Cup - Finals

 

#5 Vancouver 4 at #3 Mexico City 2- Vancouver leads 1-0

Game MVP - SP Michael Pineda, Vancouver, 8 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 8 K

 

GL - Silver Trophy Finals

 

Orlando 0 at Philadelphia 4 - Series tied 1-1

WP - Trevor Cahill, LP - Jeffrey Dowd

Game MVP - SP Trevor Cahill, Philadelphia, 9 IP, CG, 5 H, BB, 6 K

Notes: Liberty 1B Yeow-whye Cheung led the team offensively, going 2 for 4 with a double, run, and two runs batted in....CF Alex Escobar followed Cheung by going 2 for 4 with a home run, run, and RBI....Rockets 1B Bernardo Deleon was the best on his team, going 2 for 3 with a walk....LF Michael Brantley had Orlando's only extra-base hit, a second inning double....Liberty RF Jorge Mercado did not have a hit, but he did walk three times, as well as scoring a run and stealing a base....SP Dowd allowed three earned runs on six hits with five walks and two strikeouts in 5.1 innings. 

 

AL - Alpha Cup Finals

 

#5 Brooklyn 4 at #6 Virginia Beach 5, 10 innings - Series tied 2-2

WP - Kenley Jansen, LP - Brian Wilson

Game MVP - CF Carlos Lopez, Brooklyn, 4/4, 2B, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI

Notes: Neptunes C Devin Mesoraco had the game-winning walk off hit in the bottom of the tenth when he got a hit with the bases loaded to score PH Jeff Clement who led the inning off with a single....John Lackey (Avengers) and Armando Moreno (Virginia Beach) were the starting pitchers.

[StLee 19]

2015 Postseason - August 30

 

OL - Omega Cup - Finals

 

#5 Vancouver 3 at #3 Mexico City 4, 12 innings - Series tied 1-1

Game MVP - LF Carlos Ortiz, Mexico City, 2/3, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB

Notes: Ortiz hit the game-tying home run in the 7th inning....In the 12th inning, RF Urbano Peixeiro hit a lead off walk off home run to tie the series and send it to a rubber match for the 2015 Omega Cup. 

 

GL - Gamma Cup - Finals

 

#10 San Antonio 8 at #8 Atlanta 5 - San Antonio leads 1-0

Game MVP - SS/2B Freddy Sanchez, San Antonio, 3/5, HR, R, 3 RBI

 

BL - Beta Cup - Day 8

 

#12 Oakland 5 at #8 Utah 3 - Oakland (6-2), Utah (3-3, eliminated)

Game MVP - 3B Hector Luna, Oakland, 1/3, HR, R, 3 RBI

Notes: Luna replaced the injured Jorge Silva and responded by hitting what turned out to be the game-winning hit. 

 

BL - Gold Trophy - Promotion Series

 

#3 New Orleans 2 at #1 Denver 3 - Denver leads 1-0

WP - Cliff Lee, LP - Daniel Webb, S - Craig Kimbrel

Game MVP - SP Francisco Liriano, Denver, 5.2 IP, 3 H, R, 0 ER, BB, 5 K

Notes: Peaks' 1B Ruben Aguilera hit the game-winning two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning after the Gators had taken a 2-1 lead in the top of the inning. Aguilera finished 2 for 3 with a home run, run, and two runs batted in. 

 

BL - Gold Series

 

#4 Nashville 1 at #2 New Mexico 13 - New Mexico leads 1-0

WP - Travis Wood, LP - Juan Nicasio

Game MVP - 1B Prince Fielder, New Mexico, 3/5, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI

Notes: The Suns jumped on top in the bottom of the second when C Evan Gattis hit a bases-loaded three-RBI double. It was the first of two doubles for Gattis....In addition to Fielder's three hits, RF Wil Myers also added three hits. He was 3 for 4 with a double and two runs scored....Five total New Mexico players had multiple hits in their 16-hit output....Country SS Miguel Depardieu had half of his team's hits. He finished 3 for 3 with a double, a run scored, and a walk. His double was the team's only extra-base hit....Wood allowed just one earned run on five hits with a walk and five strikeouts in six innings. Three relievers pitched an inning each to finish out the blowout win....In five innings, Nicasio allowed five earned runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Nashville relief pitchers Gonzalo Gonzales (1/3 of an inning, three earned runs) and Jeremy Gutierrez (1 2/3 innings, five earned runs) were both rocked. 

 

AL - Diamond Series

 

#1 San Diego 2 at #2 Phoenix 9 - San Diego leads 2-1

WP - Josh Outman, LP - Tyler Chatwood

Game MVP - SP Josh Outman, Phoenix, 9 IP, CG, 11 H, 2 ER, BB, 7 K

Notes: The Firebirds jumped all over Chatwood, rocking him for seven earned runs on seven hits with a walk and a strikeout in just 1.2 innings. Justin Masterson (4.1 IP) and Cory Wade (2 IP) finished out the game, each allowing only one earned run....Phoenix 1B Daniel Ortiz and 2B Edgar V. Gonzalez each had three hits. Ortiz finished 3 for 4 with a double, run, and two RBI. Gonzalez finished 3 for 3 with a run, two RBI, and a walk....Firebirds' C Alex Avila hit a two-run home run with no outs in the bottom of the first to set the pace....Despite only scoring two runs, the Slammers had four players with multiple hits. SS Jose Reyes had a double and a single to be the best of the two-hit specialists....RF Yasiel Puig got his only hit of the game in the eighth inning, a solo blast to right field.

[StLee 19]

2015 Postseason - August 31 - Part 1

 

OL - Omega Cup - Finals

 

#3 Mexico City 7 at #5 Vancouver 4 - Mexico City wins 2-1

WP - Antoine Rigadeau, LP - Jose Lopez, S - Andrew Werner

Game MVP - SS Wilson Betemit, Mexico City, 3/3, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB

Notes: With the Scorpions' win, they are promoted to the Gamma League in just their first year of existence. 

 

OL - Omega Cup - Banner

 

 

GL - Gamma Cup - Finals

 

#10 San Antonio 4 at #8 Atlanta 0 - San Antonio wins 2-1

WP - Clayton Kershaw, LP - Paul Maholm

Game MVP - SP Clayton Kershaw, San Antonio, 6.2 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 12 K

Notes: San Antonio claims the 2015 Gamma Cup as the third-lowest seed. 

 

GL - Gamma Cup - Banner

 

 

GL - Silver Trophy - Finals

 

#1 Philadelphia 1 at #3 Orlando 2 - Orlando leads 2-1

WP - Rickey Blackburn, LP - Phillippe Aumont, S - Sean Doolittle

Game MVP - SP Kyle Kendrick, Orlando, 7 IP, 6 H, ER, 9 K

Notes: The Rockets scored the game-winning run on C Orlando Arce's sacrifice RBI that scored PH Marcus Giles from third....Liberty SP Ian Kennedy pitched well, allowing just one earned run on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts in six innings pitched....Philadelphia star 1B Yeuw-whye Cheung knocked in his team's lone run in the third inning on an RBI single that scored SS Elvis Andrus....Orlando LF Michael Brantley answered in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single to score RF Fernando Guerrero who hit a two-out double in the previous at bat.

[StLee 19]

2015 Postseason - August 31 - Part 2

 

BL - Gold Trophy - Promotion Series

 

#3 New Orleans 0 at #1 Denver 5 - Denver wins 2-0

WP - Danny Duffy, LP - Jon Lester, S - Danny Salazar

Game MVP - SP Danny Duffy, Denver, 7 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 6 K

Notes: Denver earns a promotion to the Alpha League in 2015 by winning the three-game series over the Gators....The Peaks' first run came with one out in the bottom of the seventh on Lester's wild pitch to score 1B Ruben Aguilera from third. 3B Aramis Ramirez then singled in RF Benny Watson on the next at bat for a 2-0 lead. Denver added one more run in the inning on PH Yuniesky Betancourt's sacrifice fly that scored 2B Donald Woolhouse....Denver scored two more runs in the eighth inning when C Yasmani Grandal hit a two-run home run on Gators' RP Elizardo Ramirez....New Orleans SP Lester allowed three earned runs on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts in seven innings....The Gators' five hits were spread out among five players. LF Rikyu Matsuura and SS Troy Tulowitzki each doubled....Peaks' SS Dee Gordon was ejected in the 7th inning for arguing a called third strike.  

 

BL - Gold Series

 

#4 Nashville 5 at #2 New Mexico 7 - New Mexico leads 2-0

WP - Tyson Ross, LP - Kevin Correia, S - Nick Vincent

Game MVP - 2B Neil Walker, New Mexico, 1/3, 2B, 3 RBI, SAC

Notes: The Suns scored the game-winning runs in the bottom of the seventh. With runners at second and third, 3B Miguel Cabrera singled in LF Christian Yelich. 1B Prince Fielder then doubled to score CF A.J. Pollock and give New Mexico a 6-4 lead. After RF Wil Myers was intentionally walked, Walker hit a sacrifice fly to score Cabrera....Country RF Brandon Moss hit a two-run home run in the second inning for his team's first runs. 1B Ben Broussard added a solo shot in the third inning....Neither starting pitcher factored into the decision. Suns' SP Matt Harvey pitched only four innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Nashville's Luis Salas gave up four earned runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts in six innings....Country RP Correia allowed all three of his earned runs on four hits and a walk in just 1/3 of an inning. Addison Reed came on in relief to quell the Suns' onslaught. 

 

AL - Alpha Cup - Finals

 

#6 Virginia Beach 1 at #5 Brooklyn 0 - Virginia Beach wins 3-2

WP - Joham Cari, LP - Stephen Strasburg, S - Kenley Jansen

Game MVP - SP Joham Cari, Virginia Beach, 7 IP, 5 H, BB, 4 K

Notes: 3B Mark Reynolds lead-off solo home run in the first inning proved to be the winning run in an excellently pitched game....Avengers' SP Strasburg allowed only three hits, including the Reynolds home run with a walk and 11 strikeouts in eight innings. Virginia Beach's only other hit came in the ninth off reliever Brian Wilson....Brooklyn 1B Alberto Vasquez was the game's leading hitter, going 2 for 3 with a double. The Avengers had six hits in the game with Vazquez's double being the only extra-base hit.

 

AL - Alpha Cup - Banner

 

 

AL - Diamond Series

 

#1 San Diego 2 at #2 Phoenix 3 - Series tied 2-2

WP - Rex Brothes, LP - Brandon Cumpton

Game MVP - 

Notes: The Firebirds scored in the bottom of the ninth to win the game. 3B/RF Valentyn Grave led off the inning with a triple off Cumpton. 2B Edgar V. Gonzalez then followed with a sacrifice fly to right center to score Grave....A wild 8th inning allowed Phoenix to tie the game after trailing 2-0. Gonzalez singled to lead off the inning, followed by a single by PH Will Venable. Due to a throwing error by San Diego CF Jose Marquez, Gonzalez scored on the play. After Slammers' SP Jose Fernandez retired the next two batters, Taylor Tankersley came on in relief. He then walked CF Axel Darke, leading to another pitching change. With Brett Anderson on the mound, a passed ball allowed Venable and Darke to advance. Anderson then walked Jesus Velez to load the bases. With PH Jhonny Peralta at the plate, Anderson threw a wild pitch to allow Venable to score the tying run....Marquez led all hitters with three hits, including a lead off single in the first inning. He then scored on 2B Dustin Pedroia's single....Fernandez gave up only two earned runs on six hits with a walk and nine strikeouts in 7.2 innings....Phoenix SP Vance Worley allowed two earned runs on eight hits with four walks and seven strikeouts in 6.2 innings. Like usual, the Firebirds win in the post season in games where Worley starts. He is scheduled to pitch Game Seven should the series go that far.

[StLee 19]

2015 Postseason - September 1

 

GL - Silver Trophy Finals

 

#1 Philadelphia 1 at #3 Orlando 2 - Orlando leads 3-1

WP - Rickey Blackburn, LP - Mickey Storey

Game MVP - 3B Pedro Alvarez, Orlando, 2/4, 2B, HR (walk-off), R, RBI

Notes: Alvarez hit a two-out, full count home run 376 feet to straight away right field in the bottom of the ninth to give the Rockets a commanding 3-1 series lead....Orlando SP Miguel Lopez allowed one earned run on seven hits with two walks and six strikeouts in eight innings....Liberty SP Ricky Nolasco also only allowed one earned run on four hits with four strikeouts in eight innings....Rockets' LF Michael Brantley doubled in the bottom of the first and then stole third base. 1B Bernardo Deleon then hit an RBI ground out to give Orlando a 1-0 lead....Philadelphia's lone run came in the second inning when 1B Yeow-whye Cheung hit a solo home run to lead off the inning.  

 

BL - Beta Cup - Day 9

 

#12 Oakland 4 at #6 Washington 9 - Oakland (6-3, eliminated), Washington (5-0)

WP - Justin Verlander, LP - Fernando Rodney

Game MVP - 3B Juan Francisco, Washington, 4/5, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI

Notes: Washington is the 2015 Beta Cup winners....The Gorillas needed to win three straight games to take the Beta Cup....Presidents' SP Verlander allowed four earned runs on 10 hits with two walks and six strikeouts in six innings....Oakland SP Tim Lincecum only pitched four innings, giving up four earned runs on four hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

 

BL - Beta Cup - Banner

 

 

AL - Diamond Series

 

#1 San Diego 8 at #2 Phoenix 4 - San Diego leads 3-2

WP - Justin Masterson, LP - Jeremy Bonderman, S - Brandon Cumpton

Game MVP - LF Miquel Veldhoven, San Diego, 1/3, HR, R, 3 RBI, 2 BB

Notes: Slammers' SP Cole Hamels had to leave the game in the top of the fourth following a back injury while stretching out a double. Masterson came on as a pinch runner for him and then stayed in the game as a pitcher (Note: which makes absolutely no effing sense. How did he warm up????)....Veldhoven's three-run home run came in the fourth. It gave San Diego the lead, 4-2....San Diego had six extra-base hits and the Firebirds had four....Slammers 3B Jed Lowrie hit a solo home run in the top of the second for a 1-0 advantage....The Firebirds' first two home runs came in the bottom of the second when SS Starlin Castro and C Alex Avila hit back-to-back shots for a 2-1 lead....1B Jesus Velez added a two-run home run in the eighth, meaning all four Phoenix runs came on homers. Velez was the only Firebirds' player with more than one hit, going 2 for 4.

[StLee 19]

2015 Postseason - September 2

 

GL - Silver Trophy Finals

 

#1 Philadelphia 1 at #3 Orlando 4 - Orlando wins 4-1

WP - Kyle McPherson, LP - Tyler Cahill, S - Sean Doolittle

Game MVP - LF Michael Brantley, Orlando, 2/4, 2B, RBI

Series MVP - 3B Pedro Alvarez, Orlando, 5/18 (.278), 2B, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, 3 BB

Notes: The Rockets win their first-ever banner, dominating the #2 and #1 seeds on their way to the Silver Trophy....Alvarez won the MVP by having two good games (1 and 5) in leading Orlando to half of their victories in the series....Orlando SP Roberto Gonzales did not give up a run in 4.1 innings. He had to leave the game in the fifth inning in trouble, like he had been in all five innings he pitched. Gonzales gave up eight hits, walked a batter, and struck out three....The Liberty's Cahill allowed four earned runs on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts in seven innings....Philadelphia 3B Cliff Pennington was 3 for 4 with a double to lead all hitters. The Liberty's LF Corey Brewster and 1B Yeow-whye Cheung added two hits each for seven total of the team's 11 hits among three players....Brantley and RF Fernando Guerrero were the only Rockets with two hits. Guerrero scored and knocked in a run on his two singles. He also stole a base.

 

GL - Silver Trophy - Banner

 

 

BL - Gold Trophy Finals

 

#2 New Mexico 9 at #4 Nashville 5 - New Mexico leads 3-0

WP - Yovani Gallardo, LP - Carlos Robles

Game MVP - 1B Prince Fielder, New Mexico, 2/4, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI

Notes: The Suns scored five runs in the top of the first, added three more in the second, and another in the third to jump out to a quick 9-1 lead....Robles could not escape the first inning for the Country. He gave up five earned runs on four hits with two walks and a strikeout in just 2/3 of an inning....New Mexico loaded the bases quickly on Robles in the first. CF A.J. Pollock walked, LF Christian Yelich doubled, and 3B Miquel Cabrera walked. After RF Wil Myers struck out, Fielder belted a two-run single to right center field. SS Tyler Magee followed with a single to load the bases again, followed by a two-run double by C Evan Gattis. 2B Neil Walker then hit a sacrifice fly to score Magee before Robles was pulled for Chris Reitma....Fielder's two-run HR came on Reitma in the second inning....Despite the loss, Nashville C Daniel Odhieng went 4 for 5 with two runs scored to lead all batters in hits....Country SS Miguel Depardieu hit a solo lead off home run in the bottom of the first for Nashville's only run before falling behind by eight runs....Suns SP Gallardo allowed five runs, four earned, on 10 hits with a walk and four strikeouts in seven innings.

[StLee 19]

2015 Postseason - September 3

 

BL - Gold Trophy Finals

 

#2 New Mexico 7 at #4 Nashville 6, 10 innings - New Mexico wins 4-0

WP - Nick Vincent, LP - Seth Maness

Game MVP - SS Miguel Depardieu, Nashville, 2/2, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, 3 BB

Series MVP - 1B Prince Fielder, New Mexico, 9/18 (.500), 2B, 3 HR, 7 R, 10 RBI, BB

Notes: Suns' 2B Neil Walker's RBI single in the top of the 10th proved to be the game and series winning run. Walker finished with a team-high three hits in the game, including scoring a run and knocking in the game-winner....Series MVP Fielder had his fourth solid game, getting at least two hits in all four games of the series. In Game Four, he finished 2 of 4 with a home run, run, two RBI, and an intentional walk in the 10th....New Mexico LF Christian Yelich and CF A.J. Pollock, who scored the winning run, each had two hits. One of Yelich's two hits was the Suns' other extra-base hit, a seventh-inning double....Along with Game MVP Depardieu, two other Nashville players had two hits. 2B Chase Utley and CF Jorge Jaramillo were those two players. Utley doubled and homered for his two hits....Country SP Juan Nicasio pitched a decent six innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits with a walk and seven strikeouts....The Nashville bullpen did not fare as well. RP Ben Hendrickson was rocked in the top of the seventh, allowing four earned runs on three hits with a walk in just 1/3 of an inning. His poor inning allowed the Suns to erase a 6-2 deficit entering the inning....New Mexico SP Travis Wood was chased early. In just two innings, he allowed four earned runs on five hits with a walk and a strikeout. He also gave up both of Depardieu's home runs. Four relievers combined to pitch the final eight innings, allowing a combined two earned runs on three hits with five walks and four strikeouts. 

 

BL - Gold Trophy - Banner

 

 

AL - Diamond Series

 

#2 Phoenix 0 at #1 San Diego 1 - San Diego wins 4-2

WP - Tyler Chatwood, LP - Foppe Spitsbaard, S - Brandon Cumpton

Game MVP - SP Tyler Chatwood, San Diego, 6.2 IP, 5 H, 7 K

Series MVP - SP Jose Fernandez, San Diego, 2 GS, 1-0, 1.80 ERA, 15 IP, 12 H, 3 ER, BB, 14 K

Notes: Despite his great game, Chatwood had to leave with two outs in the seventh inning on an unspecified arm injury. There is no update on his condition. Four Slammers relievers finished the game....Firebirds SP Spitsbaard pitched a good game but could not get the run support he needed. In six innings, he allowed just one earned run on seven hits with five walks and five striekouts. His bases loaded wild pitch in the fourth allowed San Diego LF Miquel Veldhoven to score from third for what proved to be the winning run....Slammers SS Jose Reyes led the team in hits, going 2 for 4. San Diego did not have an extra-base hit in the game....Firebirds RF Caleb Gindl led the team in hits, going 2 for 4, including Phoenix's only extra-base hit, a sixth inning double.

 

AL - Diamond Trophy - Banner

 

[StLee 19]

2015 Champions Bowl and First Round Previews

 

2015 Tournament of Champions Bowl

 

For the first time since the Tournament of Champions Bowl began, there has been an expansion in teams. This season, each of the four leagues sends one more team to the tournament. 

 

The teams are now seeded 1-14 with the following alignment: 

 

1-5 = Alpha League teams seeded in order of regular season finish

6-9 = Beta league teams seeded in order of regular season finish

10-12 = Gamma League teams in order of regular season finish

13-14 = Omega League teams in order of regular season finish

 

 

#9 Nashville Country (72-60, 4th BL) at #8 New Orleans Gators (73-59, 3rd BL)

 

In the only first round match up between teams of the same league, the New Orleans Gators, the lone Beta League playoff team not to earn promotion for the 2016 season, takes on a Nashville team that pulled off a first-round surprise in the Beta League playoffs before succumbing to a sweep in the finals. 

 

The Gators held a slight 7-5 advantage over the Country in the regular season, helping them to earn the 3rd seed in the league and home-field advantage in this best of five series. 

 

Nashville key players: 

2B Chase Utley, .324, 27 HR, 94 RBI - team Triple Crown

1B Adam Dunn, .301, 22 HR, 76 RBI - finished behind Utley in all categories

SP Juan Nicasio, 11-10, 3,73 ERA

CL Alex Wood, 32 SV, 2.49 ERA

 

Nashville key injuries: 

2B Chase Utley - DtD for 5 days

RF Bryce Harper - out for series - .306, 16 HR, 57 RBI

 

New Orleans key players: 

SS Troy Tulowitzki, .308, 28 HR, 86 RBI

1B Ike Davis, .306, 35 HR, 83 RBI

SP Greg T. Smith, 12-7, 3.31 ERA

CL Luis Avilan, 32 SV, 2.19 ERA 

 

New Orleans key Injuries: 

3B Christian Williams - out for at least first two games - .295, 17 HR, 69 RBI

C Salvador Perez - out all of 2015 - .324, 10 HR, 52 RBI in 2014

 

#10 Philadelphia Liberty (78-54, 1st GL) at #7 New Mexico Suns (78-54, 2nd BL)

 

New Mexico is coming off the glow of winning the Beta League's Gold Trophy, while the Liberty are still smarting from not being to succeed in the battle for the Silver Trophy as the #1 seed. 

 

Philadelphia's best chance to shine is for all-everything player Yeow-whye Cheung to continue doing what he does. Ricky Nolasco is a great ace pitcher who will give the Suns fits when he pitches. 

 

Philadelphia key players: 

1B Yeow-whye Cheung, .274, 40 HR, 108 RBI

SS Elvis Andrus, .277, 75 R, 43 SB

SP Ricky Nolasco, 15-4, 2.94 ERA, 174 K

CL Mickey Storey, 38 SV, 2.34 ERA

 

New Mexico key players: 

3B Miguel Cabrera, .311, 31 HR, 107 RBI

1B Prince Fielder, .291, 32 HR, 92 RBI

SP Yovani Gallardo, 16-8, 3.25 ERA

RP Tyson Ross, 6-1, 1.29 ERA

 

#11 Portland Pioneers (77-55, 2nd GL) at #6 Denver Peaks (80-52, 1st BL)

 

Denver may not have a lineup that gives anyone concern, but what they do have is a dominant pitching staff to go along with a solid defensive team. 

 

Portland's pitching staff may not be as good as Denver's, but the Pioneers' did lead the league in Starters' ERA and finished second in their bullpen's ERA. 

 

Portland key players: 

2B Sergio Ordonez, .290, 24 HR, 86 RBI

1B Joey Votto, .304, 25 HR, 64 RBI

SP Jose Villa, 15-6, 2.45 ERA

CL Aaron Loup, 18 SV, 2.30 ERA

 

Portland key injuries: 

CL Ronald Belisario - out for playoffs - 19 SV, 2.44 ERA

C Josmil Pinto - out for series - .282, 12 HR, 49 RBI

 

Denver key players: 

2B Donald Woolhouse, .323, 14 HR, 57 RBI

C Yasmani Grandal, .314, 16 HR, 54 RBI

SP Francisco Liriano, 12-3, 2.53 ERA

CL Craig Kimbrel, 36 SV, 1.53 ERA

 

#12 Orlando Rockets (73-59, 3rd GL) at #5 Brooklyn Avengers (68-64, 5th AL)

 

Orlando surprised everyone, including themselves with a dominant playoff run to capture the 2015 Silver Trophy. With a top-heavy pitching rotation, the Rockets rose above Portland and Philadelphia to win their first ever banner. 

 

Brooklyn was the beneficiary of the expansion of the Tournament of Champions Bowl, earning a bid despite not finishing in the playoff hunt in the AL. In fact, the Avengers were the only team not going for a trophy in the postseason. Instead, they battled for the Alpha Cup, falling in the final game to Virginia Beach. Still, despite not getting the Cup, they do get a chance for a Bowl. They'll have to continue pitching well and keeping games low scoring and hope their offense can find its way for a chance to win the tournament. 

 

Orlando key players: 

C Orlando Arce, .300, 32 HR, 84 RBI

SP Kyle Kendrick, 14-6, 2.19 ERA

SP Roberto Gonzales, 12-4, 2.85 ERA

CL Sean Doolittle, 37 SV, 1.12 ERA

 

Brooklyn key players: 

3B Lonnie Chisenhall, .303, 20 HR, 71 RBI

SP Stephen Strasburg, 12-4, 2.38 ERA

SP Anibal Sanchez, 14-3, 2.83 ERA

CL Brian Wilson, 21 SV, 3.79 ERA

 

Brooklyn key injuries: 

CF Mike Trout - out for series - .315, 15 HR, 55 RBI

 

#13 Louisville Thoroughbreds (81-51, 1st OL) at #4 Montreal Saints (72-60, 4th AL)

 

The off season signing of Albert Pujols proved to be the ultimate coup in the Champions Baseball Association. Louisville went from a 10th place team in the OL a year ago to a team that blasted its way to a pennant. Though they did not win the Bronze Trophy against season runner-up Seattle, the Thoroughbreds resent clear and present danger in each ball game. They're not very good past their starters and their defense and team speed are hindrances, but Montreal had better not take them lightly.

 

The Saints could not find their playoff success like they did a year ago, but they still remained competitive in their switch from the BL to the AL. All season they used middle of the road skills and team speed to manufacture runs. Despite not being great at any one thing, the Saints are still dangerous and should be a big favorite over Louisville.  

 

Louisville key players:

1B Albert Pujols, .356, 46 HR, 124 RBI - OL Triple Crown

LF Travis Snider, .295, 19 HR, 74 RBI

SP Grant Dies-Willis, 16-7, 2.81 ERA

CL Jenrry Mejia, 44 SV, 2.67 ERA

 

Montreal key players: 

RF Jesus Gomez, .338, 10 HR, 49 RBI

SP Will Smith, 10-9, 3.72 ERA

SP Derek Holland, 12-6, 3.88 ERA

CL Eric O'Flaherty, 33 SV, 2.24 ERA

 

Montreal key injuries: 

SP Matt Cain - out for season - 7-3, 2.46 ERA in 17 GS

 

#14 Seattle Ports (79-53, 2nd OL) at #3 Dallas Tycoons (77-55, 3rd AL)

 

Seattle represented the ultimate jack of all trades squad for the 2015 season. That good at a lot of things, great at nothing mentality proved to be just what they needed to take the Bronze Trophy. Let it also be remembered that the Ports caused a considerable amount of noise in the Spring Bowl, proving that playoff games are where they play best.

 

Dallas is a high-scoring team, leading the AL in runs per game at 4.83. Despite a shaky bullpen, the rest of the Tycoons' team brings it each and every game, making any team they face have to be on. 

 

Seattle key players: 

2B Scooter Gennett, .306. 18 HR, 72 RBI

SS Mike Morse, .297, 19 HR, 56 RBI

SP Josh Beckett, 12-5, 2.71 ERA

CL Andrew Bailey, 32 SV, 2.12 ERA

 

Dallas key players: 

3B Edwin Encarnacion, .293, 27 HR, 84 RBI

SS Harvey Shipman, .300, 16 HR, 27 RBI

SP Jordan Zimmerman, 15-3, 2.96 ERA

SP Jake Peavy, 11-9, 2.80 ERA

 

Dallas key injuries: 

SS Harvey Shipman - out for first two games

[StLee 19]

Relocation and Expansion

 

While the Tournament of Champions is set to take place soon, the Champions Baseball Association, in agreement with the independent American Developmental Baseball League, have come together for some of the 2016 changes. 

 

The Pittsburgh Energy of the Omega League has been forced to relocate. That means that several cities have entered a bid. I'll get to that later in the post. 

 

Also, due to a four-year expansion plan, there will be two additional teams per year added to the CBA. That means that the OL will feature three new teams in 2016 with the Pittsburgh franchise moving to the ADBL. The Columbus Mammoths, by winning the ADBL Championship Series, is one of the guaranteed cities to gain a franchise in the OL in 2016. 

 

So, here are the bidding cities with the two selected lottery balls below: 

Anaheim, California (7 balls) - 1, 9, 15, 20, 24, 29, 33

Birmingham, Alabama (1 ball) - 8 

Calgary, Alberta (1 ball) - 19

Chicago, Illinois (5 balls) - 3, 12, 17, 27, 40

Des Moines, Iowa (3 balls) - 6, 23, 43

El Paso, Texas (7 balls) - 2, 10, 16, 21, 25, 31, 35

Hartford, Connecticut (1 ball) - 28

Jacksonville, Florida (2 balls) - 7, 38

Mexico City, Mexico (1 ball) - 32

Newark, New Jersey (1 ball) - 34

Providence, Rhode Island (1 ball) - 41

Queens, New York City (5 balls) - 4, 11, 18, 26, 30

Raleigh, North Carolina (1 ball) - 39

Richmond, Virginia (1 ball) - 37

Sacramento, California (4 balls) - 5, 13, 22, 36

San Jose, California (1 ball) - 42

St. Paul, Minnesota (1 ball) - 14 

  

Here are the winning numbers: 

17, 33 (didn't feel like posting screen shot, but I promise it's legit--used random.org )

 

Chicago and Anaheim will be new members of the 2016 OL season. Interestingly enough, each of the two cities that had multiple balls available because of their Major League-ready fields are the two selected to enter the OL in 2015. Team names and uniforms to come when they are ready. 

 

In addition to the OL's expansion, there will be four new teams entering the ADBL for the 2016 season with more playing rights (additional balls) for where they finish in the ADBL standings. The four lottery balls for the ADBL's 2016 selection are: 8, 39, 32, 41. (Note: any duplicate balls or selections of cities already in the ADBL will be discarded.)

 

Birmingham, Raleigh, Mexico City, Providence. Welcome to the league. 

 

Queens, New York, appears to be the biggest loser of this year's draw. But they will have a chance with lots of balls in the lottery again next season.

[StLee 19]

2015 Champions Bowl - First Round

 

September 5 games - Part 1

 

Louisville (OL) 8 at Montreal (AL) 3 – Louisville leads 1-0

WP – Brad Hand, LP – Will Smith

Game MVP – 2B Bryan Perez, Louisville, 3/3, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI

Notes : Thoroughbreds’ 2B Jose Lopez’s misfortune was Perez’s fortune. Lopez injured his shoulder  in the bottom of the second inning when Montreal LF Shelly Duncan collided with him at second base on an attempted double play.  Lopez had to leave the game with one out in the inning, allowing Perez to have a career game….Lopez is out for the remainder of the series….Before Perez came in, Louisville scored three runs in the first to take a big lead. Lopez hit a one-out single. Smith then walked 3B Albert Pujols and LF Travis Snider to load the bases. C Dioner Navarro then hit a two-RBI single for the 2-0 lead. RF Bernardo Perez then hit an RBI ground out for a 3-0 lead….All three of the Saints’ runs came on homers. C Wilson Ramos was the first to do it, hitting a two-run bomb in the second inning to cut the deficit to 3-2. 2B Jose Altuve hit a solo shot in the eighth for Montreal’s third run….Louisville SP Hand helped his own cause, going 2 for 3 at the plate with a run scored….Hand’s pitching line was: 7 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K….Smith allowed four earned runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 4.1 innings. Relievers J.J. Hoover and Blake Wood each gave up two earned runs. Both runs Wood gave up were on solo home runs….Other than Perez’s two extra-base hits, Pujols hit an eighth-inning homer for the only other Thoroughbreds’ extra-base hit….Ramos was the only Saint to have multiple hits, going 2 for 4 with his home run, a run scored, and two runs batted in.

 

Seattle (OL) 2 at Dallas (AL) 4 – Dallas leads 1-0

WP – Jake Peavy, LP – Josh Beckett, S – Chris Sale

Game MVP – SP Jake Peavy, Dallas, 7 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, BB, 6 K; 1/2, R

Notes: Tycoon’s SP Peavy had a rough first inning, giving up both of the runs he would give up in the game. Most of the damage came from the first two batters. Seattle 3B Julio Moreno led off the game with a solo home run. C Jonathan Lucroy then followed up with a double. With one out and runners at the corners, LF Khris Davis then hit a sacrifice fly for the 2-0 lead….The Tycoons then answered in the bottom of the second when 3B Edwin Encarnacion hit a two-run home run. Dallas leadoff hitter 2B Jason Kipnis then put Dallas ahead for good in the third inning when he followed Peavy’s single with a two-run home run for the 4-2 lead and final….Ports’ SP Beckett allowed four earned runs on four hits with three strikeouts in just four innings. The two home runs were his undoing….In addition to his home run, Moreno had a single to be Seattle’s only player with multiple hits. The Ports finished with just six hits in the game….C Mike Napoli and Encarnacion both had two hits for the Tycoons. Dallas finished with seven hits.

 

Orlando (GL) 2 at Brooklyn (AL) 0 – Orlando leads 1-0

WP – Kyle Kendrick, LP – Stephen Strasburg, S – Sean Doolittle

Game MVP – SP Kyle Kendrick, Orlando, 7.2 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 8 K; 1/3

Notes: Rockets' SP Kendrick had to leave the game earlier he wanted due to a high pitch count (120). However, in the time he was there, Kendrick dominated the AL's Brooklyn franchise. In 7.2 innings, Kendrick allowed five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts....The Avengers' Strasburg also had a great game, allowing just two earned runs on seven hits with a walk and 10 strikeouts in eight innings....Orlando 1B Bernardo Deleon drove in both runs, one in the fourth on an RBI ground out following LF Michael Brantley's triple and on in the sixth to score RF Fernando Guerrero from third following a Brantley double....Deleon and Brantley both had multiple hits. Brantley finished 2 for 4 with a double, triple, and run scored. Deleon was 2 for 4 with two RBI....Of Brooklyn's five hits, 1B Alberto Vasquez was the only player with multiple hits, going 2 for 4. All five Brooklyn hits were singles.

[StLee 19]

2015 Champions Bowl - First Round

 

September 5 games - Part 2

 

Philadelphia (GL) 2 at New Mexico (BL) 1 – Philadelphia leads 1-0

WP – Ricky Nolasco, LP – Matt Harvey, S – Mickey Storey

Game MVP – SP Ricky Nolasco, Philadelphia, 7 IP, 4 H, ER, 2 K

Notes: Suns' SP Harvey pitched well despite the loss. In 7.1 innings, he allowed two earned runs on five hits with a walk and 10 strikeouts....Liberty 2B Cho-rin Lee led off the top of the fifth inning with a solo home run to tie the game, 1-1. After C Nick Hundley singled and advanced on a Harvey wild pitch, 3B Cliff Pennington singled him in for the game-winning run....New Mexico 3B Miguel Cabrera hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first to drive in LF Christian Yelich for New Mexico's only run. 

 

Portland (GL) 2 at Denver (BL) 10 – Denver leads 1-0

WP – Daniel Lestof, LP – Nick Tepesch

Game MVP – 1B Ruben Aguilera, Denver, 2/3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB

Notes: Four Denver batters had multiple hits....Peaks' LF Benny Watson hit a grand slam in Denver's seven-run fourth inning. His home run cam later in the inning than 2B Donald Woolhouse's two-run shot....Aguilera's solo home run came in the second inning....Both of the Pioneers' batters with an RBI also had two hits. 3B Sergio Ordonez led the team, going 2 for 4 with a double, home run, two runs scored, and an RBI. 1B Joey Votto was 2 for 4 with a double and RBI....Denver SP Francisco Liriano left the game early due to an unidentified injury while running the bases. He finished the game with no runs allowed and only one hit with a strikeout in three innings....Pioneers' SP Nick Tepesch gave up five earned runs on eight hits with a walk and a strikeout in three full innings. His replacement, Shoin Shinohara, gave up the grand slam. In 2/3 of an inning, he allowed four earned runs on a hit with two walks. 

 

Nashville (BL) 2 at New Orleans (BL) 3 – New Orleans leads 1-0

WP – Greg T. Smith, LP – Luis Salas, S – Luis Avilan

Game MVP – SP Greg T. Smith, New Orleans, 5 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 5 K

Notes: Gators' SS Troy Tulowitzki drove in all three runs, including his two-RBI double in the fifth that proved to be the wining runs. Tulowitzki finished by going 1 for 3 with a double and three RBI. His double was the only extra-base hit in the game by either team....Nashville only had four hits in the game, including only two on Smith. Fortunately for them, both hits were with men on thanks to Smith's five walks....The game was delayed in the sixth inning, chasing Smith from the game. Four New Orleans relievers combined to allow two hits, walk one, and strike out four in four innings.

[StLee 19]

2015 Champions Bowl - First Round

 

I realize that I am quickly running out of time. In just over one month, I leave for vacation. During that time, I am upgrading my laptop, meaning that I should have a much better experience playing ootp. However, assuming my laptop is as state-of-the-art as I hope it to be, I will probably jump into some of my other plans for what I want to do with ootp. This league has been a compromise for my world league. I grabbed a few of my teams, but I've used them in much different ways. I thought it could be fun to run the league this way, and I wouldn't have minors to bog down the system. 

 

Anyway, because of everything else about to happen and because my time is so limited these days, I am going to shorten my writing time for the rest of the tournament. Anyone looking for more details on a game or team, please let me know. 

 

September 6 games

 

Louisville (OL) 6 at Montreal (AL) 2 – Louisville leads 2-0

 

Seattle (OL) 3 at Dallas (AL) 6 – Dallas leads 2-0

 

Orlando (GL) 1 at Brooklyn (AL) 8 – Series tied 1-1

 

Philadelphia (GL) 2 at New Mexico (BL) 7 – Series tied 1-1

 

Portland (GL) 0 at Denver (BL) 3 – Denver leads 2-0

 

Nashville (BL) 1 at New Orleans (BL) 2 – New Orleans leads 2-0

 

[StLee 19]

Logos for newest 2016 teams

 

CBA teams

 

Chicago Mob

 

Anaheim Vipers

 

ADBL teams

 

Birmingham Castles

 

Providence Arsenal

 

Raleigh Rascals

 

Mexico City Lobos

[StLee 19]

2015 Champions Bowl - First Round

 

September 8 games

 

New Mexico 6 at Philadelphia 1 - New Mexico leads 2-1

Notes: Game MVP Wood was 2 for 3 from the plate with a double, run, and two runs batted in. On the mound, he allowed only one earned run with a walk, eight strikeouts, and six hits allowed in 8.1 innings....New Mexico 2B Neil Walker was 4 for 5 with two doubles, two runs, and two RBI.

 

New Orleans 8 at Nashville 7, 16 innings - New Orleans wins 3-0

Notes: Cano was 5 for 7 with two doubles, a home run, two runs, and four runs batted in. His 16th inning homer was the game winner. He also set a Beta League postseason record for hits (5) in an extra-inning game....Thanks to his big game three, Cano was also named the series MVP. In three games, he was 7 for 13 (.538) with three doubles, a home run, four runs scored, four runs batted in, and two walks....There were a number of injuries in the game. New Orleans 3B Mark Teahen left the game in the 6th inning with back tightness. Country SS Miguel Depardieu left in the fifth inning with a strained abdomen. Nashville RP Addison Reed left in the 13th inning with elbow tightness....

The Gators become the first team to move on to the second round. 

 

Denver 0 at Portland 2 - Denver leads 2-1

Notes: Pioneers' SP Latos didn't allow a run in eight innings. He allowed just six hits with two walks and four strikeouts....Both Portland runs came on solo home runs. 1B Joey Votto hit a solo home run in the first inning for the 1-0 lead. 3B Cody Asche added a solo shot in the eighth inning for the 2-0 final. 

 

Orlando 1 at Brooklyn 4 - Brooklyn leads 2-1

Notes: Friedrich allowed only one earned run on three hits with a walk and seven strikeouts in seven innings. He also had a hit (the Avenger's only extra-base hit with a double) and scored a run. 

 

Louisville 0 at Montreal 6 - Louisville leads 2-1

Notes: Romero allowed three hits with four walks and five strikeouts in seven innings....Saints CF Jose Tabata led the team offensively, going 2 for 3 with a double, home run, run scored, four RBI, and a walk. 

 

Seattle 2 at Dallas 12 - Dallas wins 3-0

Notes: Tycoons 3B Edwin Encarnacion went 2 for 3 with two home runs, three runs, four RBI, and a walk....Encarnacion was also the series MVP. In three games, he was 6 for 10 (.600) with four home runs, six runs, nine RBI, and a walk.

[StLee 19]

2015 Champions Bowl - First Round

 

September 9 games

 

Louisville 2 at Montreal 6 - Series tied 2-2

Notes: 3B Pacheco was 3 for 3 with a double, a home run, two runs, three RBI, and a walk....Saints SP Will Smith did not get the decision, but he allowed only one earned run on three hits with a walk and four strikeouts in six innings....Pacheco's RBI double in the eighth broke a 2-2 tie. Later LF Shelley Duncan hit a three-run, bases-loaded double for the 6-2 final. 

 

Orlando 5 at Brooklyn 6 - Brooklyn wins 3-1

Notes: Avengers 2B Martin Prado's solo home run in the eighth proved to be the series-winning run....PH Shelly Smith's pinch-hit, three-run homer in the seventh tied the game, 5-5....Despite not getting a hit in one official at bat in Game Four, Brooklyn 1B Alberto Vasquez was named series MVP. He was 7 for 13 (.538) with two home runs, two runs, seven RBI, and two walks.

 

 

New Mexico 2 at Philadelphia 3 - Series tied 2-2

Notes: No player stood out in the game, giving Nolasco the Game MVP by default. In five innings, he allowed two earned runs on six hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. He also drove in a run on an RBI ground out. 

 

 

Denver 5 at Portland 7 - Series tied 2-2

Notes: Despite his bullpen giving up three runs, Tepesch pitched well. In seven innings, he allowed two earned runs on six hits with a walk and eight strikeouts....Pioneers CF Naozane Ohayashi hit a three-run home run in the sixth to extend Portland's lead to 7-2 at the time.

[StLee 19]

2015 Champions Bowl - First Round

 

September 11 games

 

Philadelphia 4 at New Mexico 0 - Philadelphia wins 3-2

Notes: The Liberty got the game they needed to pull off the upset....CF Escobar led the game offensively, going 3 for 4 with a home run, run scored, and three RBI....Philadelphia SP Ian Kennedy finished the game by allowing five hits with four walks and three strikeouts in seven innings....The Suns managed only five singles in the game....Despite his team losing the series, New Mexico LF Christian Yelich was named the series MVP. In five games, he went 7 for 18 with a double, a home run, three runs scored, five RBI, four walks, and a stolen base. 

 

 

Portland 3 at Denver 5 - Denver wins 3-2

Notes: Duffy did not have a great game, but he did what he needed to do in leading the Peaks to the series win....In seven innings, he allowed three earned runs on seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts....2B Donnell Woolhouse led Denver offensively, going 2 for 3 with two doubles with a run and two runs batted in. Woolhouse was also named the series MVP, going 6 for 14 with two doubles, two home runs, six runs scored, six RBI, and three walks. 

 

 

Louisville 0 at Montreal 1 - Montreal wins 3-2

Notes: The Saints won in exciting fashion with SS Mitsunari Yamamoto's two-out, walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth sent Montreal to the quarterfinals. Yamamoto was playing because starting SS Jorge Rodriguez was hurt on a defensive play in the sixth inning....Game MVP Holland did not get the decision, but he pitched well. In eight innings, he allowed just three hits with a walk and 11 strikeouts....Montreal CF Jose Tabata was named series MVP. In five games, he went 8 for 17 with two doubles, a home run, three runs scored, five RBI, two walks, and a stolen base.

[StLee 19]

2015 Champions Bowl - Quarterfinals Preview

 

Two more teams enter the fray in the second round as the pool dwindles to eight teams. 

 

San Diego Slammers - 85-47, AL Pennant Winners, Diamond Trophy Winners

 

This team is all about the pitching. OK, maybe not all about the pitching, but their three-headed monster of Jose Fernandez, Cole Hamels, and Hyun-jin Ryu combined to be the most formidable pitching staff in the Alpha League. Though he didn't lead the team in victories, Fernandez (12-7) did lead the league in ERA with a 1.97. Cole Hamels had a nice run of 15 victories, going 15-7 with a 2.79 ERA. The team leader in wins, though, was Ryu, going 17-4 on the season with a 3.18 ERA. While he might be the ace or at worst second pitcher on just about every other ball club in the CBA, Ryu was far better than any other third pitcher he might have had to face off against all season. His presence gives the Slammers a legitimate reason to believe they can win any series they play, just like they did in the AL playoffs. 

 

Offensively, RF Yasiel Puig is all the rage in San Diego. He won the team Triple Crown of offense, leading with a .344 batting average to go with 25 home runs and 83 RBI. 3B Jed Lowrie also had a good season, batting .294 with 18 home runs and 69 RBI. Another surprising star for the season was LF Miquel Veldhoven who batted an impressive .285 with 19 home runs and 60 RBI. 

 

Overall, San Diego has as good a chance as any other team to take the Champions Bowl crown. If they can indeed take the crown, they would be in short company of teams that took the pennant, league crown, and Champions Bowl since none have done it. The closest to those so far have been 2010's Charlotte Flyers (Silver Trophy and surprise Champions Bowl winners) and 2012's Miami Towers (AL Pennant and Champions Bowl winners). 

 

Phoenix Firebirds - 79-53 - 2nd in AL, Diamond Trophy runners-up

 

The returning champion to the Tournament of Champions Bowl, the Firebirds are hungry again after losing out on the Diamond Trophy to the San Diego Slammers. Phoenix is loaded with good players, and they are the healthiest team in the tournament, giving them a legitimate chance to be the first repeat champions of the tournament. 

 

The Firebirds showed most of their muscle at the plate where they led the Alpha League in batting with an impressive .268 team average. SS Starlin Castro was the leader in that category, batting .338 on the season from the leadoff spot with eight home runs and 40 RBI. Star CF Alvin Darke batted .288 with 24 homers and 85 RBI to lead the team in the last two categories. RF Caleb Gindl (.286, 13, 58) and 1B David Ortiz (.290, 14, 57) follow Darke in the line up for a nice 3-4-5 punch. 

 

The pitching staff had four starters with at least 11 victories. Ace Vance Worley led the team, going 17-8 on the season with a 2.79 ERA. Jeremy Bonderman followed up with a 14-6 record and 3.67 ERA. Foppe Spitsbaard (11-9, 3.52) and Josh Outman (11-9, 4.17) ERA followed in the starting rotation. At closer, it's hard to have a much better season than Rex Brothers did, getting 31 saves in 33 opportunities with a 1.67 ERA.

[StLee 19]

2015 Champions Bowl - Quarterfinals - Brackets

 

Updated Brackets

 

[StLee 19]

2015 Champions Bowl - Quarterfinals

 

September 13 games

 

Brooklyn 3 at Montreal 2 - Brooklyn leads 1-0

Game MVP - SP Will Smith, Montreal, 5 IP, 2 H, ER, 2 BB, 7 K

Notes: Saints' relief pitcher J.J. Hoover got the first two outs of the seventh inning before he ran into trouble. He walked Edoardo Luttazi on four straight pitches before giving up a single to Steve Hastings. PH Adam Kennedy then hit an RBI single to tie the game, 2-2. PH Steve Smith followed with another RBI single to give Brooklyn the 3-2 advantage....Avengers' RF Justin Upton hit a solo home run in the first inning for the 1-0 lead....Montreal's LF Adam Lind put his team on the board in the fourth inning with a two-run blast that gave the Saints a 2-1 lead heading into the decisive seventh inning....Brooklyn SP Stephen Strasburg also pitched a short outing before giving way to six different relievers. In five innings, Strasburg allowed two earned runs on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts. 

 

Denver 4 at Dallas 7 - Dallas leads 1-0

Game MVP - SP Francisco Liriano, Denver - 7 IP, 0 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 11 K ; HR, R, RBI

Notes: In a bizarre twist in games, Liriano did not allow a single hit but still was credited with two earned runs. With the Peaks leading 4-0 heading into the bottom of the eighth, Liriano took the mound with his no-hitter intact. However, he walked Edwin Encarnacion and Jason Heyward to lead off the inning, leading to him being pulled for RP Danny Salazar. After Yonder Alonso hit a hard single to left field to load the bases, Jason Kipnis came through with a grand slam to tie the game, 4-4. Cliff Lee then came on in relief, but the Tycoons were not finished yet. PH Gerd van de Brekel singled and was advanced to third by the next two batters. With two outs, Mike Napoli singled in van de Brekel for a 5-4 lead. Chris Young followed with an RBI double. Jose Mijares then came on in relief as the fourth Denver pitcher of the inning. However, Encarnacion made him pay, too, singling in Young for the 7-4 final....The Peaks had thought they took complete control in the top of the inning. Benny Watson reached on an error to lead off the inning and then advanced to third on Victor Ledesma's single. With one out, Donald Woolhouse hit a three-run bomb for the 3-0 lead. Liriano then helped his own cause by making it back-to-back home runs on his first pitch solo shot. 

 

Philadelphia 3 at Phoenix 2 - Philadelphia leads 1-0

Game MVP - SP Ricky Nolasco, Philadelphia, 6 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K

Notes: Continuing their Cinderella bid for the Champions Bowl, the Liberty pulled off a Game One upset on #2 seed Phoenix....With one out in the top of the eighth, PH Joe Crede doubled off Firebirds' starter Vance Worley. With two outs, LF Charlie Brewster was able to reach on an error by Worley on a slow-rolling ground ball. That led to RF Jorge Mercado's go-ahead RBI single for what proved to be the winning hit....Phoenix only had three hits in the game with the big one being SS Starlin Castro's bases-loaded, two-RBI double in the fifth inning to tie the game, 2-2. 

 

New Orleans 3 at San Diego 4 - San Diego leads 1-0

Game MVP - SP Jose Fernandez, San Diego, 6.1 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 11 K ; run scored

Notes: Slammers' RF Yasiel Puig's two-run shot in the third inning was the biggest hit of the game....San Diego lead off hitter CF Jose Marquez's RBI single in the seventh proved to be the winning hit....Gators' SS Troy Tulowitzki hit what appeared to be a game-tying double in the 9th, but LF Manny Ruiz stumbled rounding third, forcing him to stay. He was stranded there.

[StLee 19]

2015 Champions Bowl - Quarterfinals

 

September 14 games

 

Brooklyn 2 at Montreal 1 - Brooklyn leads 2-0

Game MVP - SP Anibal Sanchez, Brooklyn, 7 IP, 2 H, 4 K

Notes: Sanchez pitched seven great innings before leaving the game in the top of the eighth for a pinch hitter in what was a 0-0 game. PH Seth Smith came through in the spot, hitting a lead-off single and eventually scoring the game's first run....Except for a first-inning Justin Upton double, the other six Avengers hits were singles. Upton also hit a sacrifice fly in the eight to knock in Smith....1B Alberto Vasquez's RBI single following Upton's sacrifice proved to be the game-winning hit when PH Adam Kennedy scored from second base....The Saints scored their lone run in the bottom of the eighth. Adam Lind led off the inning with Montreal's third hit--all singles--of the game off reliever Dan Haren. After Haren plunked Wilson Ramos, Mitsunari Yamamoto bunted both runners to second and third. Haren then threw a wild pitch to score Lind from third. After to pitching changes, Brooklyn was able to escape without allowing the tying run to score....Montreal's Ricky Romero suffered the loss despite a solid outing. In 7.2 innings, he allowed two earned runs on six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. 

 

Denver 3 at Dallas 7 - Dallas leads 2-0

Game MVP - SP Jordan M. Zimmerman, Dallas, 8 IP, 5 H, 3 R, ER, 2 BB, 10 K

Notes: Tycoons' RF Jason Heyward may not have won the game's MVP award, but he was on fire at the plate. Heyward went 3 for 4 with a double, two runs scored, and two RBI. His hits included his first-inning RBI double to put Dallas up 1-0 early....Six of Dallas' 11 hits went for extra bases, including three sixth-inning home runs in back-to-back-to-back fashion: C Mike Napoli with a two-run bomb followed by solo shots by LF Yonder Alonso and CF Chris B. Young....CF Ezequiel Carrera was the lone bright spot for the Peaks' offense, going 3 for 4 with two runs scored and a stolen base....3B Aramis Ramirez's sixth-inning double was the only extra-base hit for the Peaks....Denver SP Jeremy Hefner continues to have a rough post season. In 5.2 innings, he allowed six earned runs on nine hits with two strikeouts and three home runs allowed. He ran his post season ERA to 8.74. 

 

Philadelphia 3 at Phoenix 2 - Philadelphia leads 2-0

Game MVP - SP Trevor Cahill, Philadelphia, 7.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 K; 1 for 3, R

Notes: Philadelphia appears to be the early Cinderella team, as the Liberty knocked off the Firebirds for the second straight day in Phoenix....Liberty LF Charlie Brewster was the most outstanding offensive player, going 2 for 4 with a home run (Philly's only extra-base hit), a run, and two RBI....Phoenix's two runs came on their two extra-base hits. 1B David Ortiz hit a first-inning RBI double to score CF Axel Darke. RF Caleb Gindl hit a seventh-inning solo home run to knock in the Firebirds' second run....Phoenix SP Jeremy Bonderman finished the game by allowing three earned runs on eight hits with a walk and five strikeouts in seven innings. 

 

New Orleans 0 at San Diego 4 - San Diego leads 2-0

Game MVP - SP Cole Hamels, San Diego, 8.1 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 10 K

Notes: Hamels absolutely dominated the Gators, only getting into any trouble at all in the eighth and ninth innings. In the eighth, New Orleans got its first runner into scoring position when 3B Darby Jenkins hit a one-out double. The Gators again got a runner into scoring position in the ninth when Hamels walked two straight batters with just one out. Reliever Brett Anderson then came in to shut the Gators down, including striking out 1B Ike Davis for the second out of the inning....3B Jed Lowrie's fifth-inning, two-run home run was the biggest hit of the game for the Slammers....Gators' SP Jon Lester allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts in seven innings.

[StLee 19]

2015 Champions Bowl - Quarterfinals

 

Quick shout out to my LSU Tigers making their 17th College World Series appearance with a 6-3 win over UL-Lafayette. I really like this year's team, and I hope they rediscover their killer bats in the final tournament. 

 

September 16 games

 

Phoenix 5 at Philadelphia 6 - Philadelphia leads 3-0

Game MVP - LF Nolan Reimold, Phoenix, 3/4, HR, R, 3 RBI

Notes: The Liberty lost a 3-0 advantage to fall behind 5-3 going into the bottom of the eighth. Phoenix RP Yoervis Medina walked two batters with an out. With two outs, Philadelphia PH Jean-Jacques Lalanne hit the game-winning three-run home run to give the Liberty a commanding lead....The Liberty only had five hits in the game. They were aided by six of the seven Phoenix walks allowed coming in their two three-run innings....Firebirds' SP Foppe Spitsbaard allowed three earned runs on three hits with four walks and seven strikeouts in five innings. One of Spitsbaard's four walks was a bases loaded walk, giving Philadelphia its first run of the game....Philadelphia SP Ian Kennedy allowed three earned runs on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts in seven innings. 

 

 

San Diego 3 at New Orleans 1 - San Diego leads 3-0

Game MVP - Hyun-jin Ryu, San Diego, 8 IP, 3 H, ER, 6 K

Notes: Ryu's lone run allowed came in the bottom of the second when Gators 2B Robinson Cano hit a solo home run....Slammers RF Yasiel Puig's two-run third-inning home run proved to be the game's winning hit....San Diego LF Miquel Veldhoven was his team's only player with multiple hits, going 2 for 4 with two doubles and a run scored....Cano and SS Troy Tulowitzki each had two hits for New Orleans. Only LF Rikyu Matsuura had another hit for the Gators....New Orleans SP Lyndon Williams allowed three earned runs on six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in seven innings.

 

 

Dallas 7 at Denver 3 - Dallas leads 3-0

Game MVP - LF Anastasio Nava, Dallas, 3/3, R, RBI, BB

Notes: The Tycoons used a big first inning to jump out to a huge lead, along with adding two more runs in the second for an early 6-0 lead.The big blow came on CF Chris B. Young's three-run home run in the first to make the score 4-0 without a single out recorded....Peaks SP Danny Duffy had a rough time in his team's slow start. In just three innings, Duffy allowed six earned runs on five hits with two walks and a strikeout....Dallas SP Ivan Nova gave up three earned runs on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts in six innings....All six Denver hits were singles.

 

 

Montreal 6 at Brooklyn 15 - Brooklyn leads 3-0

Game MVP - 1B Alberto Vasquez, Brooklyn, 3/3, 2 2B, HR, 4 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB

Notes: Brooklyn routed Montreal thanks in large part to Vasquez and C Edoardo Luttazi. In addition to Vasquez's game MVP performance, Luttazi went 4 for 5 with a double, a home run, two runs scored, and four runs batted in....Even though the Saints jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, the Avengers quickly answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning and five more in the second inning to jump to a 7-3 lead. After a three-run fourth inning, the game was out of reach with a 10-3 Brooklyn advantage....The Saints had five players with multiple hits but could still only plate six runs. Only two of their 16 hits were extra-base hits....Montreal SP Derek Holland lasted just 1.2 innings, giving up seven runs, five earned, on four hits with two walks and three striekouts. The Saints also used seven relief pitchers in the game....Brooklyn SP Christian Friedrich earned the win despite not having a particularly good outing. He allowed four earned runs on eight hits with two walks and three strikeouts in six innings.

[StLee 19]

2015 Champions Bowl - Quarterfinals

 

September 17 games

 

Phoenix 1 at Philadelphia 2 - Philadelphia wins 4-0

Game MVP - SP Ricky Nolasco, Philadelphia, 7 IP, 6 H, ER, 4 K; 1/2

Series MVP - SP Ricky Nolasco, Philadelphia, 13 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 10 K

Notes: In a surprising sweep, the Liberty finished off Phoenix at home in a low-scoring affair....Philadelphia's first run came in the bottom of the second when 3B Cliff Pennington hit a two-out double to score CF Alex Escobar from second....1B Yeow-whye Cheung could not muster a hit in the game, but his third-inning sacrifice fly proved to score the game-winning run....The Firebirds' lone run came in the seventh inning when star CF Axel Darke took Nolasco deep....Phoenix SP Vance Worley allowed two earned runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts in five innings....Four Liberty relievers finished the game, with three different pitchers recording an out in the eighth inning. Mickey Storey pitched the final inning, walking two and striking out two, to earn the save....Philadelphia SS Elvis Andrus was injured in the top of the first inning in a collision at second base with Phoenix lead-off hitter Alex Avila. Jean-Jacques Lalanne replaced him with just one out in the inning. Andrus is not expected to play the rest of the 2016 season with an undisclosed ankle injury....The 2015 Champions Bowl winners were unable to defend their title. 

 

 

San Diego 2 at New Orleans 5 - San Diego leads 3-1

Game MVP - Dallas Braden, San Diego, 7 IP, 5 H, ER, 2 BB, K

Notes: New Orleans was able to avoid the sweep, keeping them as the fifth team remaining in the tournament....Braden pitched seven shut out innings before giving up a lead off home run to LF Rikyu Matsuura in the bottom of the eighth. The Gators went on to score four more runs in the inning off three San Diego relievers....Slammers lead off CF Jose Marquez had the best day offensively, going 3 for 5 with two doubles and two runs batted in....In the New Orleans eighth inning, Taylor Tankersley replaced Braden after Matsuura's home run. Natsu Okada then singled, leading the Slammers to call on rightie Homer Bailey. SS Troy Tulowitzki then doubled Bailey to third and came out of the game for pinch runner Manny Ruiz, representing the go-ahead run at second base with no outs. Tulowitzki was noticeably limping as he came off the field. Carlos Quentin then struck out, leading to left-hander Brett Anderson to take the mound against leftie 1B Ike Davis. Davis wasted no time, jumping on the first pitch on a screaming line drive to left field to score Okada and send Ruiz to third. 2B Robinson Cano then came through with a two-RBI triple to give the Gators a 4-2 lead. Arthur Atkins completed the scoring onslaught with a sacrifice fly to score Cano and give the game its 5-2 final....Gators SP Greg T. Smith pitched decently well despite the no-decision. In seven innings, he allowed two earned runs on seven hits with four walks and six strikeouts.

 

 

Dallas 8 at Denver 5 - Dallas wins 4-0

Game MVP - SP Jake Peavy, Dallas, 6 IP, 9 H, ER, BB, 6 K

Series MVP - 2B Jason Kipnis, Dallas, 7/17, 2 2B, 3B, HR (GS), 7 R, 5 RBI

Notes: The Tycoons jumped out to an 8-0 lead and held on as the bullpen nearly gave one away in the sweep....Series MVP Kipnis had another solid game. He had at least one extra base hit in each game of the series, including a double in this one. He also scored a run and drove in a run in his 3 for 6 effort....Peavy only allowed one RBI double in the fifth inning to Denver SS Dee Gordon. Peavy left the game after the sixth inning when Denver began its comeback attempt....Three Peaks players had three hits. CF Ezequiel Carrera led the way, going 3 for 5 with a double, run scored, and three RBI....Denver had five doubles in the game, with two of them coming in the fifth inning off Peavy....Dallas was not as successful with extra-base hits, but they took advantage of the Peaks' pitching staff walking nine batters. SP Jordan Lyles walked five of the nine. In four innings, he gave up four earned runs on five hits with five walks and three strikeouts....Peaks' RP Tim Stauffer had the worst day of all pitchers. In just 2/3 of an inning, he gave up four runs, three earned, on three hits with two walks and a strikeout....Dallas now moves on to face the surprising but hot Philadelphia Liberty in the semifinals. 

 

 

Montreal 5 at Brooklyn 6 - Brooklyn wins 4-0

Game MVP - SP Will Smith, Montreal, 5 IP, 3 H, 5 K

Series MVP - SP Will Smith, Montreal, 10 IP, 5 H, ER, 2 BB, 12 K (I had no other choice...He was NOT the reason Montreal lost the series!)

Notes: The Saints were up 2-0 in the top of the sixth with the bases loaded and two outs when SP Smith was due to bat. What to do in that situation? The Saints' manager chose to pinch hit for Smith with Michael Godwin. Godwin struck out and the Montreal bullpen could not hold on to the lead, leading to a quick exit in the Round of Eight for the Saints....Though the Saints blew the lead in the seventh, they were able to reclaim the lead with three runs in the eighth for a 5-4 lead. However, Brooklyn found a way to single and advance runners in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good....Avengers LF Tony Campana gets credit for the game-winning RBI on his one-out RBI fielder's choice. He was able to beat out the double play chance to give Brooklyn a 6-5 advantage heading into the ninth....All five Montreal runs came via the long ball. 1B Shelley Duncan homered in the third inning and RF Jesus Gomez homered in the sixth, both solo shots off Brooklyn SP Stephen Strasburg. C Wilson Ramos had the big hit of the game when he hit a three-run homer in the eighth off RP Michael Stutes....Strasburg allowed two earned runs on 10 hits with two walks and six strikeouts in 5.2 innings....Avengers SS Steve Hastings led the team in hits, going 3 for 4 with a run and RBI....Montreal 2B Jose Altuve led all hitters in hits, going 4 for 5 from the lead off spot. However, he was never able to turn any of those hits into runs.