NALB 2021 Playoffs - League 2 Series

K. Fields
2021-09-11T13:42:52-04:00
Baseball

2021 League 2 Series - Richmond Slam (86-76) vs. Stade Maples (93-69)

Game 1: Richmond 2, Stade 0
Game 2: Stade 5, Richmond 2
Game 3: Richmond 3, Stade 0
Game 4: Stade 9, Richmond 2
Game 5: Richmond 3, Stade 2
Game 6: Richmond 10, Stade 8

Series MVP: Aramis Jáquez (Richmond Slam)

Once a perennial contender, the Richmond Slam hadn't been to the playoffs since 2014. Richmond's road to the championship needed to go through Stade. The Maples are a very complete team with the league's best pitching staff and a decent offense.

The opener featured starters Ramon Uribes (8-8, 1.96 ERA) for the Slam and Eriq Barber (11-6, 2.34 ERA) for the Maples. The game was a fine pitching duel. Both starters were sharp and lasted six innings. Uribes was a bit better, however, and the Slam nailed down a 2-0 shutout with the help of their bullpen.

The Maples desperately wanted to avoid losing the first two games at home. Stade's Braulio Crame (14-10, 3.67 ERA) got the pressure packed start against Don Vowles (14-8, 2.91 ERA). By the fifth inning, the Maples had cruised to a 5-0 lead. Richmond scored a couple of runs late. However, seven solid innings from Crame and two from Berto Sarzosa in relief secured a 5-2 win for the Maples.

With the series tied 1-1, the Slam looked forward to heading back to Richmond for game 3. They started 31 year old Catón Huincho (13-9, 3.72 ERA) against 26 year old Alex Mobley (5-4, 3.47 ERA). Mobley was acquired from Brooklyn on July 31 after spending his entire career in the Knights' organization. The Slam hit three solo home runs—two by Joshua Ridings and one by Roy Dabbs. Richmond's pitching gave the team its second shutout win of the series by a score of 3-0.

Once again, the Maples looked to even the series in game four. The pitching matchup was Stade's Trip Taraz (1-2, 4.94 ERA) vs. Richmond's Mariano Ortíz (10-11, 3.17 ERA). The Maples jumped on top quickly with four runs in the first inning, highlighted by a three run homer by Javier Cirnernos. In the eighth inning, Kurt Johnson added a grand slam to dash any hopes of a comeback by the Slam. The game ended as a 9-2 win for the Maples.

Game five was a rematch between the game one starters, Uribes and Barber. This one went into extra innings tied 2-2. In the bottom of the tenth inning, Carl Gwinn hit a walk-off homer to win the game for Richmond, 3-2.

Game six featured the game two starters, Crame and Vowles. This time, it was a slugfest. After three innings, the Slam led 9-4. Despite two home runs and six doubles for the game, the Maples fell short. Three Richmond home runs powered a 10-8 victory for the Slam.

Richmond right fielder Aramis Jáquez was named the series MVP. He hit .273 with 3 HR and 7 RBI.