NALB 2020 Playoffs - League 2 Series

K. Fields
2020-12-14T09:49:35-05:00
Baseball

2020 League 2 Series - Phoenix Rattlers (89-73) vs. Key West Corals (100-62)

Game 1: Key West 4, Phoenix 1
Game 2: Key West 5, Phoenix 0
Game 3: Phoenix 7, Key West 3
Game 4: Key West 2, Phoenix 1
Game 5: Phoenix 2, Key West 0
Game 6: Phoenix 5, Key West 1
Game 7: Key West 9, Phoenix 5

Series MVP: Chi-ju Fong (Key West Corals)

The Phoenix Rattlers, reigning NALB champions, hoped to become the second franchise in league history to win back to back World Championships. To date, the only team with that distinction is the Brooklyn Knights. In the way of the Rattlers was the Key West Corals. They were NALB's winningest team in 2020 with 100 victories in the regular season.

Two veteran pitchers started game one of the League 2 Series. For Phoenix, it was Heath MacKissock (11-11, 4.14 ERA). Key West's starter was Porfiro Quiñones (5-8, 3.73 ERA). Both starters pitched well. Heading into the seventh inning, the Rattlers held a slim 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the seventh, the Corals strung together five hits, including a three-run home run. That put Key West up 4-1, which was the final score.

Game two was a one-sided affair. Corals' starter Hartman Ivers frustrated Rattlers' hitters for 6.2 scoreless innings. Key West won easily, 5-0.

The Rattlers looked like a different team back in Phoenix for game three. They jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning and added three more runs in the fifth. Meanwhile, starter Stafford Konig kept Phoenix in check. Konig surrendered only one earned run across 6.1 innings. The Rattlers offensive star was first baseman Grandberry, who had three hits and a walk in four plate appearances. The 7-3 win gave the Rattlers some much needed life.

Game four featured another pitching duel between two pitchers who looked very sharp. Phoenix's Shane McSweeny gave up one run in six innings while Key West's Alexander Sandilands gave up one run in 6.1 innings. The outcome was decided in extra innings. A solo home run by shortstop Chi-ju Fong in the top of the tenth led to a 2-1 Corals' win.

It was do or die for the Rattlers in game five. Fortunately for them, they responded to the challenge. MacKissock avenged his game one loss to Quiñones and the Corals. He pitched 5.2 scoreless innings and gave up a mere two hits. Phoenix's 2-0 shutout victory sent the series back to Key West.

The Corals were unable to wrap up the series in game six. Hartman Ivers was not as sharp as he was in game two. The Rattlers scored five runs off of Ivers, which was plenty for their starter David Bracy. Bracy gave up but a single run and led the Rattlers to a 5-1 win.

Tensions were high for the decisive game seven. The Corals didn't waste any time to secure the victory. After scoring two runs in the first inning, they added six more in the second inning. It was Chi-ju Fong's grand slam in the second that took the steam out of the Rattlers. The Rattlers still showed a lot of fight but the deficit was too great. The Key West Corals won the game 9-5 and will advance to the World Championship Series to play the Dayton Grizzlies.

The sweet swing of shortstop Chi-ju Fong led his team in the League Series. The Key West Corals star earned series MVP honors. For the series, Fong hit .320 with 2 home runs, 7 RBIs, and scored 4 runs.