Game Seven. Given how talented these teams are, it was probably inevitable the 2015 Brassball World Series would come down to a winner-take-all Game Seven. The Santa Barbara Outlaws and Metropolis Avengers also went seven games in their 2012 World Series, when Santa Barbara left the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth. The visiting Avengers have rookie Collin McHugh on the hill and the hometown Outlaws are giving the ball to veteran Cole Hamels. Both teams will have their talented bullpens available early in the game if it is necessary to pull their starter before the game gets out of control.
Game Six hero Zach Walters got a surprising start and led off the bottom of the first for the Outlaws. Walters struck out, but his teammates quickly started a rally. Denard Span and Jose Altuve hit back-to-back singles and brought Jason Heyward to the plate. The lefty ripped a ball down the right field line for a triple, scoring both runners and putting the Outlaws up 2-0. Buster Posey kept the hits coming and pulled a single into left to score Heyward and push the Santa Barbara lead to 3-0.
Metropolis, which was one win from another World Series title just a few days ago, found itself in a deep hole early in Game Seven. They weren't going to give up, however. Melky Cabrera was retired to start the second inning, but right fielder Jose Bautista then connected with a Hamels pitch for a home run to right-center field. Bautista's blast put the Avengers on the board and cut their deficit to 3-1.
Outlaw third baseman Nolan Arenado got that run back in the bottom of the inning, as he took a fastball over the fence for a solo home run of his own. Arenado's blast not only stretched the Outlaw lead, but also took away any momentum the Avengers were trying to build. McHugh struck out the next batter, but Metropolis then went to its bullpen, knowing it couldn't afford to surrender any additional runs if it hoped to make a come back. Fernando Abad took the ball from McHugh and struck out Span to end the inning, but the damage was done and the score was 4-1 Outlaws.
Altuve led off the bottom of the third with a single and quickly stole second base. The Outlaws needed a hit to add to their lead, but Abad struck out Heyward and got a ground ball from Posey for the first two outs. Then JD Martinez hit a sharp grounder down the third base line. Ryan Rua got to the ball, but it kicked off the heel of his glove and went deep into foul territory for a two-base error. Altuve scored easily on the error and the Outlaws had an unearned run and a 5-1 lead.
Metropolis second baseman Robinson Cano started the fourth with a single and tried to rally his team. Steve Pearce and Melky Cabrera followed with outs, but Cano did advance to second on Pearce's ground out. Hamels intentionally walked Jose Bautista to bring Rua to the plate. The third baseman came through with an RBI single, partially making up for his error which cost the Avengers a run earlier in the game. Jayson Werth followed Rua's RBI with a run-scoring single of his own. Those clutch hits made it 5-3 Outlaws and the Avengers still had two runners on for Jose Reyes. The shortstop made good contact, but hit a line drive which Altuve caught easily to end the inning and strand Rua and Werth.
The visitors kept trying to fight back and rallied in the top of the sixth inning, as well. Cabrera and Bautista started the inning with singles to put runners at the corners and bring the go-ahead run to the plate. Pablo Sandoval hit a ground ball deep into the hole, but Andrus made a great play to keep it from getting through. His strong arm nailed Sandoval, but Cabrera scored and Bautista advanced into scoring position. Unfortunately for the Avengers, Werth struck out for the second out of the inning and reliever Andrew Miller struck out Reyes to end the frame, with the tying run in scoring position.
The Avengers fought back to make it a one-run game, but the Outlaws added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Edwin Encarnaction hit a one-out solo homer which gave the Outlaws a 6-4 lead and appeared to rattle reliever Joaquin Benoit. The normally reliable righty walked the next hitter and then allowed a single to Arenado to put runners on the corners. The Avengers brought in Craig Kimbrel, but he didn't do much better. Kimbrel's second pitch bounced in front of the plate and got away from Iannetta, allowing Santana to score and make the game 7-4. Kimbrel proceeded to walk Andrus before striking out Span to get out of the inning, but the damage was done and the Avengers were in a three-run hole.
Outlaw lefty Andrew Miller, who struck out Reyes to end the sixth inning, stayed in and dominated in the seventh. He struck out Iannetta, Cano, and Pearce while working around a one-out walk to McCutchen. There was more of the same in the eighth inning, as Miller mowed down Harper, Bautista, and Sandoval with swinging strikeouts, never giving the Avengers any hope of a rally.
Miller stayed in to start the ninth, having struck out seven of the eight batters he faced. Werth started the inning and became Miller's eighth victim, putting the Outlaws two outs from a championship. Miller, however, had run out of gas. He gave up singles to Reyes and Iannetta to bring the tying run to the plate in Andrew McCutchen. The Avenger star took a big swing and hit a rocket line drive, but it was right to third baseman Arenado for the second out of the inning. At that point, the Outlaws made a move, bringing in Ken Giles to try and get the last out of the series and season to wrap up the Outlaws title. Giles was up to the job, as Cano hit a ground ball which Andrus fielded cleanly and threw to Encarnacion for the last out of the series.
With its win, Santa Barbara completed its comeback from a 3-1 series deficit to win its second World Series in three years. The Outlaws defeated the Avengers in both of those World Series wins and avenged their 2012 World Series loss to the same club. Given the high standards these teams have set for themselves, it wouldn't surprise anyone to see them meet once again in the 2016 World Series. If they do, you shouldn't expect anything less than a thrilling seven game series.
 |
| Jason Heywar'd triple gave the Outlaws a 2-0 lead. |
Metropolis, which was one win from another World Series title just a few days ago, found itself in a deep hole early in Game Seven. They weren't going to give up, however. Melky Cabrera was retired to start the second inning, but right fielder Jose Bautista then connected with a Hamels pitch for a home run to right-center field. Bautista's blast put the Avengers on the board and cut their deficit to 3-1.
 |
| Arenado's homer made it 4-1 Santa Barbara. |
Altuve led off the bottom of the third with a single and quickly stole second base. The Outlaws needed a hit to add to their lead, but Abad struck out Heyward and got a ground ball from Posey for the first two outs. Then JD Martinez hit a sharp grounder down the third base line. Ryan Rua got to the ball, but it kicked off the heel of his glove and went deep into foul territory for a two-base error. Altuve scored easily on the error and the Outlaws had an unearned run and a 5-1 lead.
Metropolis second baseman Robinson Cano started the fourth with a single and tried to rally his team. Steve Pearce and Melky Cabrera followed with outs, but Cano did advance to second on Pearce's ground out. Hamels intentionally walked Jose Bautista to bring Rua to the plate. The third baseman came through with an RBI single, partially making up for his error which cost the Avengers a run earlier in the game. Jayson Werth followed Rua's RBI with a run-scoring single of his own. Those clutch hits made it 5-3 Outlaws and the Avengers still had two runners on for Jose Reyes. The shortstop made good contact, but hit a line drive which Altuve caught easily to end the inning and strand Rua and Werth.
 |
| Andrus's great play was key in the sixth inning. |
The Avengers fought back to make it a one-run game, but the Outlaws added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Edwin Encarnaction hit a one-out solo homer which gave the Outlaws a 6-4 lead and appeared to rattle reliever Joaquin Benoit. The normally reliable righty walked the next hitter and then allowed a single to Arenado to put runners on the corners. The Avengers brought in Craig Kimbrel, but he didn't do much better. Kimbrel's second pitch bounced in front of the plate and got away from Iannetta, allowing Santana to score and make the game 7-4. Kimbrel proceeded to walk Andrus before striking out Span to get out of the inning, but the damage was done and the Avengers were in a three-run hole.
 |
| Andrew Miller dominated the Avengers and prevented any hope of a Metropolis rally. |
Miller stayed in to start the ninth, having struck out seven of the eight batters he faced. Werth started the inning and became Miller's eighth victim, putting the Outlaws two outs from a championship. Miller, however, had run out of gas. He gave up singles to Reyes and Iannetta to bring the tying run to the plate in Andrew McCutchen. The Avenger star took a big swing and hit a rocket line drive, but it was right to third baseman Arenado for the second out of the inning. At that point, the Outlaws made a move, bringing in Ken Giles to try and get the last out of the series and season to wrap up the Outlaws title. Giles was up to the job, as Cano hit a ground ball which Andrus fielded cleanly and threw to Encarnacion for the last out of the series.
With its win, Santa Barbara completed its comeback from a 3-1 series deficit to win its second World Series in three years. The Outlaws defeated the Avengers in both of those World Series wins and avenged their 2012 World Series loss to the same club. Given the high standards these teams have set for themselves, it wouldn't surprise anyone to see them meet once again in the 2016 World Series. If they do, you shouldn't expect anything less than a thrilling seven game series.
BOXSCORE: 2015
Metropolis Avengers At 2015 Santa Barbara Outlaws 11/9/2015
Avengers AB
R H RBI AVG Outlaws AB
R H RBI AVG
A.McCutchen CF 4
0 0 0 .359
Z.Walters SS 2 0
0 0 .167
R.Cano 2B
4 1
1 0 .357 A-E.Andrus SS 2
0 0 0 .222
S.Pearce 1B 4
0 0 0 .210
D.Span CF 4 1
1 0 .268
M.Cabrera DH 3
1 1 0 .227
J.Altuve 2B 4 2
2 0 .289
C-B.Harper
PH,DH 1 0 0 0 .179
J.Heyward RF 4 1 2 2 .269
J.Bautista RF 3
2 2 1 .185
B.Posey C 4 0
1 1 .301
R.Rua 3B 2
0 1 1 .500
J.Martinez LF 3 0
0 0 .257
B-P.Sandoval
PH,3B 2 0
0 1 .133 D-P.Bourjos LF 0
0 0 0 .200
J.Werth LF 4
0 1 1 .327
E.Encarnacion 1B 4 1
1 1 .206
J.Reyes SS 4
0 1 0 .250
C.Santana DH 3 1
0 0 .143
C.Iannetta C 4
0 1 0 .119
N.Arenado 3B 3 1
2 1 .242
-- -- -- --- -- -- -- ---
Totals 35
4 8 4
Totals 33 7
9 5
A-Subbed
Defensively (SS) For Walters In 3rd Inning
B-Pinch Hit For
Rua In 6th Inning
C-Pinch Hit For
Cabrera In 8th Inning
D-Subbed
Defensively (LF) For Martinez In 9th Inning
Avengers........
0 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 0
- 4 8 1
Outlaws.........
3 1 1 0 0 2 0 0
- 7 9 0
Avengers
(11-5) IP H
R ER BB
SO HR ERA
SCORESHEET
C.McHugh
LOSS(2-2) 1 2/3 5
4 4 0
3 1 7.27
A1 B1
F.Abad 3 1
1 0 0
3 0 1.04
B2 C3
J.Benoit 1 2
2 2 1
2 1 1.82
C4 C9
C.Kimbrel 2 1/3 1
0 0 3
3 0 0.53
D1
Totals 8 9
7 6 4
11 2
Outlaws
(12-8) IP H
R ER BB
SO HR ERA
SCORESHEET
C.Hamels 4 2/3 4
3 3 1
1 1 1.93 A1 C2
B.Carlyle 0 1/3 2
1 1 0
1 0 4.50
C3 C5
S.Doolittle
HOLD(4th) 0 2/3 0
0 0 0
1 0 2.00
C6 C7
A.Miller
WIN(2-0) 3 2
0 0 1
8 0 0.64
C8 E1
K.Giles
SAVE(6th) 0 1/3 0
0 0 0
0 0 3.38
E2
Totals 9 8
4 4 2
11 1
ATTENDANCE-
47,894 DATE- Monday, November 9th 2015 TIME- Night WEATHER- Good
UMPIRES- Paul
Emmel, Gary Darling, Jerry Meals, Bill Miller
T- 3:00
LEFT ON BASE- Avengers:
7 Outlaws: 6
DOUBLE PLAYS-
Avengers: 1 Outlaws: 0
ERRORS- R.Rua
TRIPLES-
J.Heyward(1st)
HOME RUNS-
J.Bautista(3rd), E.Encarnacion(4th), N.Arenado(2nd)
RBIs-
J.Bautista(4th), R.Rua(1st), P.Sandoval(4th), J.Werth(10th),
J.Heyward-2(11th), B.Posey(11th),
E.Encarnacion(7th), N.Arenado(8th)
STOLEN BASES-
J.Altuve(6th)
WALKS-
A.McCutchen, J.Bautista, E.Andrus, J.Martinez, C.Santana, N.Arenado
HIT BY PITCH-
R.Cano
STRIKE OUTS-
R.Cano, S.Pearce-2, B.Harper, J.Bautista, P.Sandoval, J.Werth-3,
J.Reyes, C.Iannetta, Z.Walters-2,
D.Span-2, J.Altuve, J.Heyward-2,
J.Martinez-2, E.Encarnacion,
N.Arenado
GIDP- B.Posey
WILD PITCHES-
C.Kimbrel
2-out RBI- R.Rua,
J.Werth, E.Encarnacion
RLISP 2-out-
E.Encarnacion, J.Reyes-2, D.Span, E.Andrus, R.Cano
TEAM RISP-
Avengers: 2 for 8 Outlaws: 2 for 8
*** TOP OF INNING
1 ***
0 A.McCutchen 4- 7 0 Fly Out b-0
1 R.Cano
4-11 13 0 Line Out b-0
2 S.Pearce
4- 3 0 Ground Out b-0
*** BOTTOM OF
INNING 1 ***
0 Z.Walters
5- 9 0 Strike Out b-0
1 D.Span
6- 9 0 Single b-1
1 1 J.Altuve
1- 7 0 Single 1-2 b-1
1 12 J.Heyward
2- 5 1 0 Triple 2-H 1-H b-3
1 3 B.Posey
5- 4 0 Single 3-H b-1
1 1 J.Martinez
3- 8 0 Strike Out b-0
2 1 E.Encarnaci 5- 4 0 Ground Out b-0
*** TOP OF INNING
2 ***
0 M.Cabrera
4-10 0 Ground Out b-0
1 J.Bautista
1- 8 0 Home Run b-H
1 R.Rua
1- 6 0 Fly Out b-0
2 J.Werth
4- 5 0 Strike Out b-0
*** BOTTOM OF
INNING 2 ***
0 C.Santana
3-11 0 Ground Out b-0
1 N.Arenado
4- 5 5 0 Home Run b-H
1 Z.Walters
3- 7 0 Strike Out b-0
SUBSTITUTE P -
Fernando Abad
2 D.Span
5- 5 0 Strike Out b-0
*** TOP OF INNING
3 ***
SUBSTITUTE SS-
Elvis Andrus
0 J.Reyes
1- 4 14 0 Line Out b-0
1 C.Iannetta
5- 8 0 Fly Out b-0
2 A.McCutchen 4-10 0 Ground Out b-0
*** BOTTOM OF
INNING 3 ***
0 J.Altuve
3- 6 0 Single b-1
0 1 0 Stolen Base 1-2
0 2
J.Heyward 0 Strike
Out b-0
1 2
B.Posey 2- 8 0 Ground Out b-0
2 2
J.Martinez 5- 4 0 2 Base Error - 3B 2-H b-2
2 2
E.Encarnaci 5- 6 0 Ground
Out b-0
*** TOP OF INNING
4 ***
0 R.Cano
4- 8 19 0 Single b-1
0 1 S.Pearce
3- 6 0 Fly Out b-0
1 1 M.Cabrera
5- 7 0 Ground Out 1-2 b-0
2 2
J.Bautista 0 Int
Walk b-1
2 12 R.Rua
1- 8 0 Single 2-H 1-3 b-1
2 1 3
J.Werth 6- 8 12 0 Single 3-H 1-2 b-1
2 12 J.Reyes
1- 7 0 Line Out b-0
*** BOTTOM OF
INNING 4 ***
0 C.Santana
6- 5 0 Fly Out b-0
1 N.Arenado
4- 7 0 Strike Out b-0
2 E.Andrus
6- 9 0 Ground Out b-0
*** TOP OF INNING
5 ***
0 C.Iannetta
2-12 0 Line Out b-0
1 A.McCutchen 2- 5 16 0 Fly Out b-0
2 R.Cano
3-12 0 HBP b-1
SUBSTITUTE P -
Buddy Carlyle
2 1 S.Pearce
4- 5 0 Strike Out b-0
*** BOTTOM OF
INNING 5 ***
0 D.Span
6- 4 0 Fly Out b-0
1 J.Altuve
1-11 14 0 Line Out b-0
SUBSTITUTE P - Joaquin
Benoit
2 J.Heyward
4- 8 0 Strike Out b-0
*** TOP OF INNING
6 ***
0 M.Cabrera
2- 7 0 Single b-1
0 1 J.Bautista
6-12 0 Single 1-3 b-1
SUBSTITUTE PH-
Pablo Sandoval
SUBSTITUTE P -
Sean Doolittle
0 1 3
P.Sandoval 2- 5 0 Ground Out 3-H 1-2 b-0
1 2
J.Werth 6- 5 0 Strike Out b-0
SUBSTITUTE P -
Andrew Miller
2 2
J.Reyes 6- 6 0 Strike Out b-0
*** BOTTOM OF
INNING 6 ***
SUBSTITUTE 3B-
Pablo Sandoval
0 B.Posey
3- 7 0 Ground Out b-0
1 J.Martinez
4- 9 0 Strike Out b-0
2 E.Encarnaci 3-10 5 0
Home Run b-H
2 C.Santana
3- 7 0 Walk b-1
2 1 N.Arenado
3- 7 0 Single 1-3 b-1
SUBSTITUTE P -
Craig Kimbrel
2 1 3
E.Andrus 0 Wild Pitch 3-H 1-2
2 2
E.Andrus 4- 7 0 Walk b-1
2 12 D.Span
4-10 0 Strike Out b-0
*** TOP OF INNING
7 ***
0 C.Iannetta
5- 7 0 Strike Out b-0
1 A.McCutchen 5- 5 0 Walk b-1
1 1 R.Cano
6- 6 0 Strike Out b-0
2 1 S.Pearce
4- 7 0 Strike Out b-0
*** BOTTOM OF
INNING 7 ***
0 J.Altuve
4- 3 0 Strike Out b-0
1 J.Heyward
1- 6 0 Single b-1
1 1 B.Posey
3- 7 0 Ground Out Double
Play 1-o b-0
*** TOP OF INNING
8 ***
SUBSTITUTE PH-
Bryce Harper
0 B.Harper
5- 7 0 Strike Out b-0
1 J.Bautista
5- 6 0 Strike Out b-0
2 P.Sandoval
6- 9 0 Strike Out b-0
*** BOTTOM OF
INNING 8 ***
SUBSTITUTE DH-
Bryce Harper
0 J.Martinez
4- 6 0 Walk b-1
0 1 E.Encarnaci 5- 5 0 Strike Out b-0
1 1 C.Santana
3- 6 0 Ground Out 1-2 b-0
2 2
N.Arenado 4- 7 0 Walk b-1
2 12 E.Andrus
6-11 0 Fly Out b-0
*** TOP OF INNING
9 ***
SUBSTITUTE LF-
Peter Bourjos
0 J.Werth
4- 8 0 Strike Out b-0
1 J.Reyes
3- 8 0 Single b-1
1 1 C.Iannetta
2- 7 12 0 Single 1-2 b-1
1 12 A.McCutchen 1- 8 15 0 Line Out b-0
SUBSTITUTE P - Ken
Giles
2 12 R.Cano
2- 8 0 Ground Out b-0
