NALB 2017 Playoffs - League 2 Series

K. Fields
2018-09-26T19:15:30-04:00
Baseball

2017 League 2 Series - Vancouver Wild (80-84) vs. Key West Corals (95-68)

Game 1: Vancouver 3, Key West 0
Game 2: Key West 3, Vancouver 2
Game 3: Vancouver 4, Key West 0
Game 4: Vancouver 3, Key West 2
Game 5: Key West 5, Vancouver 3
Game 6: Vancouver 4, Key West 3

This is a rematch of last season’s League 2 Series. Unlike 2016, however, the Key West Corals had home field advantage to go along with its superior record. The Vancouver Wild were clear underdogs as they conquered a weak division with a sub-.500 record.

Game 1 was all about Vancouver’s starter, Lewis McGrew. He pitched eight scoreless innings as the Wild defeated the Corals 3-0.

In game 2, the home team responded with a thrilling victory to even the series. In the bottom of the ninth with the score tied 2-2, outfielder Tad Burridge came to the plate had crushed the first pitch from Wild closer Matt Genge. It was a walk off home run to left. The League 2 Series was tied at one game apiece.

The Wild notched their second win of the series in game 3, again by shutout. This time, it was starter Nicolás Sanalria who did most of the work by pitching seven strong innings. Matt Genge redeemed himself after last game’s blown save. His two innings of relief work sealed Vancouver’s 4-0 win.

Lewis McGrew was back on the mound again for the Wild in game 4. He pitched Vancouver to a 3-0 lead after five innings. Key West made things interesting in the sixth inning. The Corals’ Raúl Mendoza drew a walk with the bases loaded. Later, a sac fly scored another Corals run and the score was 3-2. Once again, Matt Genge came on to pitch the eighth and ninth innings for the Wild. He completed his third save of the playoffs by securing the 3-2 victory.

Down three games to one, the Corals needed a win in Vancouver to survive game 5 and send the series back to Key West. They got just that. With star veteran Ronaldo Mijangos on the mound, the Corals felt confident. Mijangos gave up three runs in six innings. The top of the Corals lineup was productive, however, and delivered five runs of their own. Catcher Matthew Loy led the attack with a single and two home runs.

The teams returned to Key West for game 6. The starters were Nicolás Sanalria for the Wild and Jesús Martinez for the Corals. Key West got on the board first, quickly scoring a run in the first inning. Second baseman Marc Keefe put the Wild ahead in the fourth inning with a 2-run home run. Left fielder Hyung-jin Kim tied the game with a solo homer in the bottom half of the inning. In the top of the sixth, pinch hitter Chris Cluff hit a 2 RBI single to give Vancouver a 4-2 lead. The Corals responded again with a solo homer in the bottom half of the inning. This time, it was first baseman Raúl Mendoza hitting the long ball. Genge delivered another two out save for the Wild, his fourth of the series. The 4-3 victory won the series for the Vancouver Wild. They will face the Brooklyn Knights for the World Championship.

For a team that lost more games than it won in the regular season, the Vancouver Wild played very good baseball in the League 2 Series. In a series dominated by pitching, the Wild scored just enough runs to get the necessary wins. Despite blowing a save in game 2, Vancouver’s closer Matt Genge was extremely effective. He had four saves and only gave up a single run in eight innings.

Series MVP: 2B Marc Keefe (Vancouver Wild)