NALB 2017 Playoffs - League 1 Series

K. Fields
2018-09-25T18:43:27-04:00
Baseball

2017 League 1 Series - Brooklyn Knights (100-62) vs. Luisville Beasts (102-60)

Game 1: Brooklyn 4, Luisville 2
Game 2: Brooklyn 11, Luisville 3
Game 3: Brooklyn 10, Luisville 1
Game 4: Luisville 6, Brooklyn 4
Game 5: Brooklyn 5, Luisville 4

For the first time in NALB history, the Brooklyn Knights opened a playoff series on the road. Luisville earned the right to home field advantage thanks to an NALB best 102 wins. The Beasts were propelled all season by a formidable offense. They were tops in team batting average, home runs, stolen bases, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. Paired with a very good pitching staff, Luisville was well positioned for playoff success. Their first hurdle was the defending champion Brooklyn Knights, however. It was an intriguing match up—Luisville’s offense vs. Brooklyn’s pitching, the best in League 1.

The Knights struck early in game one, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. The Beasts quickly came back, tying the score in the bottom of the second. In the eighth inning, Brooklyn went ahead for good courtesy of back to back doubles by Albero Pescador and Haden Levanton. The Beasts held on to win 4-2.

Charlie Revels (18-9, 3.58 ERA), the Beasts’ ace, took the mound for game two. He was battered by Brooklyn hitters for 8 earned runs over 5.2 innings. The Knights were relentless, scoring in five different innings. Shortstop Lariel Gómez broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning with a grand slam. Five more Brooklyn runs followed as the Knights coasted to an 11-3 win,

The series shifted to Brooklyn for game 3 and the Knights’ hitters picked up where they left off in game two. They scored four runs in the first inning, which was punctuated by a 3-run homer by Alberto Pescador. Tony Tamayo pitched a solid six innings for the Knights and young Alex Mobley finished the final three innings. Brooklyn posted another easy win with a 10-1 final score. Leadoff hitter Romeo Usquiano was the player of the game with 3 hits, including a home run.

Down three games to none, game four was desperation time for the Beasts. Luisville opted to start Whitney Sanders on short rest and that decision paid off. He was very effective through five innings, surrendering only one run. Luisville hitters provided ample run support and their lead was 6-2 going into the bottom of the eighth. Despite a comeback by the home team, the Knights fell to the Beasts 6-4.

Game five featured the Knights talented but oft-injured starter José Arisa vs. the Beasts 22 year old rookie Noel Travenot. What Travenot lacked in experience, he made up for in the quality of his pitches. Possessing a blazing 98 mph fastball and a devastating changeup, Luisville’s 2017 playoff future was riding on his powerful right arm. The starters were solid but not spectacular. By the sixth inning, both pitchers had left the game and Luisville led Brooklyn 4-3. Knights’ catcher Dan Conley batted in the game tying run in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings. Brooklyn’s other catcher, Andrew Strain, had the game winning RBI in bottom of the 11th inning when his sac fly scored Hooks Goetz from 3rd base. The Knights won the game 5-4, much to the delight of a raucous Brooklyn crowd.

The Brooklyn Knights will play for the World Championship against the winner of the Wild/Corals League 2 Series. Among many great performances, Alberto Pescador’s stood out above the rest. His 8 hits, 8 RBI, and 3 HR in five games earned him the Series MVP honor.

Series MVP: 3B Alberto Pescador (Brooklyn Knights)