NALB 2014 World Championship Series - Game 6

K. Fields
2015-10-19T19:14:30-04:00
Baseball

Game six was a potential clincher for the Richmond Slam. Up three games to two, a win would give the Slam their first World Championship. Richmond hoped for a better start out of Katamor Eizan (13-8, 3.78 ERA) than he delivered in game two of the WCS. The Knights liked their chances to even the Series with Ralph Kerfoot (21-5, 2.57 ERA) on the mound.

After easily retiring the first two batters, Kerfoot called to the Brooklyn dugout. Clearly in pain, he was taken out of the game. The post-game medical diagnosis revealed bone chips in his right elbow, which will require surgery to remove. The Knights had to rely on their bullpen with over eight innings to play. In the top of the second with Rigo Hurtado pitching, Carlos Tejera scored when DH Nub Spade singled. Heading into the bottom of the sixth, the Slam were still up 1-0 with Eizan clearly in command. With one out, the Knights struggling leadoff hitter, Romeo Usquiano, singled to right. Blas Ramos followed with a triple to the right field corner to tie the game. Hooks Goetz hit a deep sacrifice fly to put the Knights ahead 2-1. Eizan delivered a fine outing of 6 ⅔ innings. It was the Brooklyn bullpen that was the collective star of the game, however. The Knights used six relievers to finish the game—Rigo Hurtado, Bruce MacOmish, Lonnie Bennett, Bernard Gastelu, Rikiya Kiyomizu, and Bris Clark. Clark struck out two Slam batters in the ninth to seal the win and force a game seven.

Final score: Brooklyn 2, Richmond 1

             1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9   R  H  E
Richmond     0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0   1  6  1
Brooklyn     0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 X   2  9  0

W: L. Bennett
L: K. Eizan
S: B. Clark