NALB 2018 Playoffs - League 2 Series

K. Fields
2019-10-05T10:51:15-04:00
Baseball

2018 League 2 Series - Phoenix Rattlers (87-76) vs. Stade Maples (96-67)

Game 1: Phoenix 2, Stade 0
Game 2: Stade 6, Phoenix 0
Game 3: Stade 12, Phoenix 7
Game 4: Stade 7, Phoenix 3
Game 5: Phoenix 6, Stade 5
Game 6: Phoenix 5, Stade 2
Game 7: Stade 12, Phoenix 4

After a 75-88 season last year, the Phoenix Rattlers retooled for 2018 with a focus on pitching. They added three new starters to their rotation: Heath MacKissock, Ralph Kerfoot, and Saúl Ramírez. Their efforts paid off as Phoenix had League 2's best pitching staff with a 3.37 ERA. The Stade Maples had a well-balanced team with good hitting and pitching. Stade had its own trio of great starting pitchers: Tyler Stivers, Braulio Crame, and David Bracy.

Game one was a classic pitcher's duel. Tyler Stivers pitched a complete game for the Maples and only surrendered two runs. MacKissock pitched six scoreless innings for the Rattlers. Phoenix struck for two runs in the top of the ninth to get the win.

For the second straight game, there was a shutout. This time it was the Maples prevailing 6-0 behind strong pitching efforts by Braulio Crame and three relievers.

Game three was a slugfest. 28 hits contributed to 19 runs. Leadoff hitter Ken MacEachern had 3 hits and 6 RBI for the Maples as they overwhelmed Rattlers' pitching.

In game four, home runs by 1B Pete Porter, C Kensaku Shimada, and LF Hipolito Núñez powered the Maples to a 7-3 road win in Phoenix.

Down three games to one, Phoenix could not afford another loss. In their final home game of the series, the Rattlers fell behind early. After giving up four runs in the first inning, they managed to tie the game 4-4 in the fourth inning. Down 5-4 late, the Rattlers thrilled the home crowd with a two run rally in the eighth inning.

The series shifted back to Stade for game six. Phoenix was largely ineffective against Braulio Crame until the Rattlers' bats came alive in the seventh inning. Trailing 2-0, the Rattlers scored three runs in the seventh and added two more in the ninth to win 5-2 and force a game seven.

The Rattlers had the momentum going into game seven. However, the Maples used their home field advantage to prevail. Despite falling behind 4-1, they never panicked. From the fifth through eighth innings, Stade was relentless. They scored 11 runs on the way to a convincing 12-4 blowout win.

The Most Valuable Player Award went to Stade first baseman Pete Porter. He batted .440 in the series, collecting 5 RBIs and scoring 6 runs.

Series MVP: 1B Pete Porter (Stade Maples)