NALB 2008 World Championship Series - Game 7

K. Fields
2009-10-31T16:00:09-04:00
Baseball

For the third straight playoff series, the Brooklyn Knights played at home in a deciding game 7. Tracy Corkhill (10-4, 2.35 ERA) vs. Fielder Scarce (2-2, 4.95 ERA) was the pitching matchup. On paper, this was a major mismatch in favor of the Knights. The Wild were out of their element, a team playing for its first World Championship in a hostile park.

In the top of the second inning, Brooklyn was shaken when Corkhill tweaked his back and had to leave the game. The Knights turned to regular season starter Fred Millard, pitching out of the bullpen in the playoffs. Millard promptly gave up two runs. The Wild scored again in the fourth and it was a 3-0 game. The Knights finally got their first hit in the bottom of the fourth but they were unable to score. Hits off of Scarce were as rare as his last name. Even with three walks in the fifth, Scarce did not allow a run. Another Vancouver run in the sixth made it 4-0 and quieted the Brooklyn crowd. In the Brooklyn threatened in the eighth when Scarce walked the first two batters. Vancouver went to the bullpen and once again snuffed Brooklyn’s rally. In the bottom of the ninth, it looked like a classic Brooklyn Knights comeback in the making. Duhon and Burns both drew walks to get on base. Closer Mick Vanzandt came on to preserve the lead for the Wild.

Final score: Vancouver 4, Brooklyn 2