Santa Barbara fought off a furious Metropolis rally to hold on to the win in Game Five and send the series to a Game Six. The hometown Outlaws have Alex Cobb on the mound and the Avengers counter with righty Corey Kluber.
Cobb was a little shaky in the first inning, walking the first two batters - Andrew McCutchen and Robinson Cano - while throwing just two strikes. Steve Pearce surprised everyone by swinging at the first pitch he saw, and he was rewarded with a ground ball out. He did move the runners up 90 feet, but may have done better by making Cobb throw some more pitches. Melky Cabrera had two runners in scoring position and hit a bouncer up the middle which looked like a base hit. Shortstop Elvis Andrus made a great play to retire Cabrera, but McCutchen scored on the play to give the Avengers a 1-0 lead.
Metropolis looked to add to their lead in the second inning. After one out, Jayson Werth singled and stole second to get into scoring position. He advanced to third on a Pablo Sandoval single, but Werth chose not to challenge Jason Heyward's arm by trying to score. Unfortunately for Metropolis, Chris Iannetta and McCutchen both struck out, stranding Werth at third and Sandoval at first and keeping the game 1-0 Metropolis.
Santa Barbara rallied in the bottom of the fourth when Jose Altuve led off with a single and Heyward walked. Team leader Buster Posey came to the plate with the opportunity to do some damage, but he hit a custom-made double play ball to Sandoval. However, Kluber still needed to get the third out and Altuve was only 90 feet from tying the game with JD Martinez at the plate. Martinez ripped a double between McCutchen and Werth, easily scoring Altuve and knotting the game at one.
The Outlaws took the lead in the bottom of the next inning. DH Carlos Santana walked to start the frame and advanced to second on an Andrus sacrifice bunt. The bunt was the second out of the inning, but Santa Barbara trusted Denard Span to come through in the clutch, and they weren't disappointed. His single to center was solid, but not too hard to prevent
Santana from trying to score. McCutchen unleashed a strong throw to the plate, but it was slightly up the first base line and Santana scored half a step in front of Iannetta's tag. The small ball and aggressive base running gave the Outlaws a 2-1 lead in their effort to force a Game Seven.
Metropolis gave itself chances to score in the next two innings, but couldn't come through with a clutch hit. Jose Reyes started the top of the seventh with a double, but was was stranded there when Jayson Werth lined out and Gregorio Petit and Chris Iannetta struck out. They put two on in the eighth with the help of an error and a Steve Pearce walk. Pinch hitter Matt Wieters popped out and Jose Bautista hit a fly ball to end the inning and strand two runners.
It was more of the same in the ninth inning, as Sean Doolittle retired Reyes and Ken Giles struck out Werth to get two quick outs. Michael McKenry came up as a pinch hitter for Petit and tried to get on base to extend the game. He did his job, working a nine-pitch walk from Giles and bringing the go ahead run to the plate. Metropolis called back Iannetta and sent Bryce Harper to the plate as a pinch hitter. Harper took the first pitch from Giles and turned it into a lightning bolt, crushing it deep into the stands for a shocking home run and an Avenger lead. The Outlaw fans were stunned silent as Harper sprinted around the bases and raced to the dugout to reach his celebrating teammates. The Avenger hitters, however, weren't done. McCutchen and Cano followed Harper's blast with singles and hoped Pearce could add an insurance run (or more) with another clutch hit. Giles settled down and struck out Pearce to end the inning, but the damage was done and the Avengers were just three outs from their second-straight world championship.
Metropolis brought in Zach Putnam to close out the inning, game, series, and season, but he walked Buster Posey to start the inning. The Avengers had lefty flamethrower Aroldis Chapman warm in the
pen, but stuck with Putnam to face pinch hitter Zach Walters, who was the winning run, with no one out. Two pitches later, Walters one-upped Harper and hit a blast of his own. This one was down the left field line and curled around the foul pole, sending the fans into crazed celebration as Walters circled the bases before being mobbed by his teammates at the plate.
It will be hard for Game Seven to match the excitement of the ninth inning of Game Six, but we'll find out tomorrow night. The Avengers send Collin McHugh to the mound, hoping to avoid blowing a 3-1 series lead. The Outlaws have lefty Cole Hamels on the mound, hoping the lefty can keep the team's roll going for one more game.
BOXSCORE: 2015 Metropolis Avengers At 2015 Santa Barbara Outlaws 11/8/2015
 |
| Pablo Sandoval singled in the second. |
 |
| Jose Altuve reacts after tying the game. |
Santa Barbara rallied in the bottom of the fourth when Jose Altuve led off with a single and Heyward walked. Team leader Buster Posey came to the plate with the opportunity to do some damage, but he hit a custom-made double play ball to Sandoval. However, Kluber still needed to get the third out and Altuve was only 90 feet from tying the game with JD Martinez at the plate. Martinez ripped a double between McCutchen and Werth, easily scoring Altuve and knotting the game at one.
 |
| Denard Span's clutch hit gave Santa Barbara the lead. |
Santana from trying to score. McCutchen unleashed a strong throw to the plate, but it was slightly up the first base line and Santana scored half a step in front of Iannetta's tag. The small ball and aggressive base running gave the Outlaws a 2-1 lead in their effort to force a Game Seven.
Metropolis gave itself chances to score in the next two innings, but couldn't come through with a clutch hit. Jose Reyes started the top of the seventh with a double, but was was stranded there when Jayson Werth lined out and Gregorio Petit and Chris Iannetta struck out. They put two on in the eighth with the help of an error and a Steve Pearce walk. Pinch hitter Matt Wieters popped out and Jose Bautista hit a fly ball to end the inning and strand two runners.
 |
| Harper's home run put the Avengers three outs from a title. |
 |
| Zach Walters hit a shocking walk-off homer to send the series to Game Seven. |
pen, but stuck with Putnam to face pinch hitter Zach Walters, who was the winning run, with no one out. Two pitches later, Walters one-upped Harper and hit a blast of his own. This one was down the left field line and curled around the foul pole, sending the fans into crazed celebration as Walters circled the bases before being mobbed by his teammates at the plate.
It will be hard for Game Seven to match the excitement of the ninth inning of Game Six, but we'll find out tomorrow night. The Avengers send Collin McHugh to the mound, hoping to avoid blowing a 3-1 series lead. The Outlaws have lefty Cole Hamels on the mound, hoping the lefty can keep the team's roll going for one more game.
BOXSCORE: 2015 Metropolis Avengers At 2015 Santa Barbara Outlaws 11/8/2015
Avengers AB
R H RBI AVG Outlaws AB
R H RBI AVG
A.McCutchen CF 4
1 2 0 .383
D.Span CF 4 0
2 1 .269
R.Cano 2B
4 0
1 0 .364 J.Altuve 2B 4
1 2 0 .278
S.Pearce 1B 4
0 1 0 .224
J.Heyward RF 3 0
0 0 .250
M.Cabrera DH 3
0 0 1 .211
B.Posey C 3 1
1 0 .304
D-M.Wieters
PH,DH 1 0 0 0 .273
J.Martinez LF 3 0 1 1 .269
J.Bautista RF 4
0 0 0 .157
A-P.Bourjos LF 0 0
0 0 .200
J.Reyes SS 4
0 1 0 .250
H-Z.Walters PH 1 1
1 2 .200
J.Werth LF 4
0 1 0 .333
E.Encarnacion 1B 3
0 1 0 .203
P.Sandoval 3B 2
0 1 0 .140
C.Santana DH 1 1
0 0 .160
B-G.Petit
PH,3B 1 0
0 0 .231 C-D.Young PH,DH 1
0 0 0 .250
E-M.McKenry
PH,C 0 1
0 0 .273 N.Arenado 3B 3
0 0 0 .222
C.Iannetta C 3
0 0 0 .105
E.Andrus SS 2 0
0 0 .233
F-B.Harper
PH 1 1
1 2 .184
G-R.Rua 3B 0
0 0 0 ----
-- -- -- --- -- -- -- ---
Totals 35
3 8 3
Totals 28 4
8 4
A-Subbed
Defensively (LF) For Martinez In 7th Inning
B-Pinch Hit For
Sandoval In 7th Inning
C-Pinch Hit For
Santana In 7th Inning
D-Pinch Hit For
Cabrera In 8th Inning
E-Pinch Hit For
Petit In 9th Inning
F-Pinch Hit For
Iannetta In 9th Inning
G-Subbed
Defensively (3B) For Harper In 9th Inning
H-Pinch Hit For
Bourjos In 9th Inning
Avengers........
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
- 3 8 0
Outlaws.........
0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2
- 4 8 1
Avengers
(11-4) IP H
R ER BB
SO HR ERA
SCORESHEET
C.Kluber 5 5
2 2 2
5 0 2.35
A1 C1
J.Benoit 2 2
0 0 0
1 0 1.14
C2 C9
C.Kimbrel 1 0
0 0 0
2 0 0.61
D1 D3
Z.Putnam L(1-1)
BS(1st) 0 1
2 2 1
0 1 4.32
D4
Totals 8 8
4 4 3 8 1
Outlaws
(11-8) IP H
R ER BB
SO HR ERA
SCORESHEET
A.Cobb 6 5
1 1 2
6 0 2.65
A1 C6
B.Carlyle
HOLD(3rd) 0 1/3 0
0 0 0
0 0 3.18
C7 C7
A.Miller
HOLD(5th) 1 0
0 0 0
2 0 0.82
C8 D2
D.Storen 0 0
0 0 1
0 0 9.64
D3 D3
J.Papelbon
HOLD(2nd) 0 2/3 0
0 0 0
0 0 3.86
D4 D5
S.Doolittle
HOLD(3rd) 0 1/3 0
0 0 0
0 0 2.16
D6 D6
K.Giles WIN(1-0)
BS(1st) 0 2/3 3
2 2 1
2 1 3.52
D7
Totals 9 8
3 3 4
10 1
ATTENDANCE-
46,333 DATE- Sunday, November 8th 2015 TIME- Night WEATHER- Good
UMPIRES- Jeff
Nelson, Mark Carlson, Tim Tschida, Jim Joyce
T- 2:29
LEFT ON BASE-
Avengers: 9 Outlaws: 4
DOUBLE PLAYS-
Avengers: 2 Outlaws: 1
ERRORS-
E.Encarnacion
DOUBLES-
J.Reyes(6th), J.Martinez(5th)
HOME RUNS-
B.Harper(1st), Z.Walters(1st)
RBIs-
M.Cabrera(6th), B.Harper-2(5th), D.Span(8th), J.Martinez(11th),
Z.Walters-2(2nd)
STOLEN BASES-
J.Werth(3rd)
CAUGHT STEALING-
D.Span
SACRIFICE HITS-
E.Andrus
WALKS-
A.McCutchen, R.Cano, S.Pearce, M.McKenry, J.Heyward, B.Posey, C.Santana
STRIKE OUTS-
A.McCutchen, S.Pearce-2, J.Bautista, J.Werth, P.Sandoval, G.Petit,
C.Iannetta-3, D.Span, J.Altuve,
J.Heyward, B.Posey, J.Martinez,
E.Encarnacion, N.Arenado, E.Andrus
GIDP- M.Cabrera,
J.Altuve, B.Posey
2-out RBI-
J.Martinez, D.Span, B.Harper-2
RLISP 2-out-
J.Bautista-2, A.McCutchen, E.Encarnacion-2, C.Iannetta, S.Pearce
TEAM RISP-
Avengers: 1 for 12 Outlaws: 2 for 6
*** TOP OF INNING
1 ***
0 A.McCutchen 5- 4 0 Walk b-1
0 1 R.Cano
4- 9 0 Walk 1-2 b-1
0 12 S.Pearce
6- 7 0 Ground Out 2-3 1-2 b-0
1 23 M.Cabrera
1- 3 0 Ground Out 3-H 2-3 b-0
2 3 J.Bautista
5- 8 0 Strike Out b-0
*** BOTTOM OF
INNING 1 ***
0 D.Span
3-10 0 Single b-1
0 1 J.Altuve
2- 7 0 Ground Out Double
Play 1-o b-0
2 J.Heyward
6- 7 0 Ground Out b-0
*** TOP OF INNING
2 ***
0 J.Reyes
1- 5 0 Ground Out b-0
1 J.Werth
5- 6 0 Single b-1
1 1 0 Stolen Base 1-2
1 2
P.Sandoval 5- 3 9 0
Single 2-3 b-1
1 1 3
C.Iannetta 4- 5 0 Strike Out b-0
2 1 3 A.McCutchen
3- 4 0 Strike Out b-0
*** BOTTOM OF
INNING 2 ***
0 B.Posey
4- 7 0 Strike Out b-0
1 J.Martinez
4- 7 0 Strike Out b-0
2 E.Encarnaci 3- 5 0 Single b-1
2 1 C.Santana
4- 2 11 0 Line Out b-0
*** TOP OF INNING
3 ***
0 R.Cano
2- 7 0 Ground Out b-0
1 S.Pearce
4- 2 2 0 Single b-1
1 1 M.Cabrera
3- 4 0 Ground Out Double
Play 1-o b-0
*** BOTTOM OF
INNING 3 ***
0 N.Arenado
3- 9 0 Ground Out b-0
1 E.Andrus
4- 6 0 Strike Out b-0
2 D.Span
5- 2 0 Fly Out b-0
*** TOP OF INNING
4 ***
0 J.Bautista
2- 5 7 0 Line Out b-0
1 J.Reyes
2-11 0 Foul Out b-0
2 J.Werth
6-11 0 Fly Out b-0
*** BOTTOM OF
INNING 4 ***
0 J.Altuve
1- 7 0 Single b-1
0 1 J.Heyward
4- 7 0 Walk 1-2 b-1
0 12 B.Posey
2-11 0 Ground Out Double
Play 2-3 1-o b-0
2 3 J.Martinez
4-11 0 Double 3-H b-2
2 2
E.Encarnaci 6- 9 0 Strike
Out b-0
*** TOP OF INNING
5 ***
0 P.Sandoval
2- 4 0 Strike Out b-0
1 C.Iannetta
2- 9 0 Strike Out b-0
2 A.McCutchen 1- 6 0 Single b-1
2 1 R.Cano
4-10 0 Fly Out b-0
*** BOTTOM OF
INNING 5 ***
0 C.Santana
2- 7 0 Walk b-1
0 1 N.Arenado
1- 5 0 Strike Out b-0
1 1 E.Andrus 0 Sac Bunt 1-2 b-0
2 2
D.Span 1- 7 19 0 Single 2-H b-1
2 1 0 Caught Stealing 1-o
*** TOP OF INNING
6 ***
0 S.Pearce
3- 6 0 Strike Out b-0
1 M.Cabrera
6- 5 0 Ground Out b-0
2 J.Bautista
4- 4 0 Ground Out b-0
*** BOTTOM OF
INNING 6 ***
SUBSTITUTE P -
Joaquin Benoit
0 J.Altuve
2- 3 7 0 Single b-1
0 1 J.Heyward
4- 8 0 Strike Out b-0
1 1 B.Posey
5- 3 0 Single 1-2 b-1
1 12 J.Martinez
6- 9 0 Force Play 2-3 1-o b-1
2 1 3 E.Encarnaci
1- 8 16 0 Line Out b-0
*** TOP OF INNING
7 ***
0 J.Reyes
3- 6 5 0 Double b-2
SUBSTITUTE LF-
Peter Bourjos
SUBSTITUTE P - Buddy
Carlyle
0 2
J.Werth 1- 4 18 0 Line Out b-0
SUBSTITUTE P -
Andrew Miller
SUBSTITUTE PH-
Gregorio Petit
1 2
G.Petit 1- 4 0 Strike Out b-0
2 2
C.Iannetta 3- 5 0 Strike Out b-0
*** BOTTOM OF
INNING 7 ***
SUBSTITUTE 3B-
Gregorio Petit
SUBSTITUTE PH-
Delmon Young
0 D.Young
2- 6 0 Ground Out b-0
1 N.Arenado
6-11 0 Fly Out b-0
2 E.Andrus
6- 6 0 Pop Out b-0
*** TOP OF INNING
8 ***
SUBSTITUTE DH-
Delmon Young
0 A.McCutchen 4-10 0 Fly Out b-0
1 R.Cano
4- 3 0 1 Base Error - 1B b-1
SUBSTITUTE P -
Drew Storen
1 1 S.Pearce
4- 7 0 Walk 1-2 b-1
SUBSTITUTE P -
Jonathan Papelbon
SUBSTITUTE PH-
Matt Wieters
1 12 M.Wieters
1- 9 0 Pop Out b-0
2 12 J.Bautista
4- 6 0 Fly Out b-0
*** BOTTOM OF
INNING 8 ***
SUBSTITUTE DH-
Matt Wieters
SUBSTITUTE P -
Craig Kimbrel
0 D.Span
4-10 0 Strike Out b-0
1 J.Altuve
5-10 0 Strike Out b-0
2 J.Heyward
3- 5 0 Ground Out b-0
*** TOP OF INNING
9 ***
SUBSTITUTE P -
Sean Doolittle
0 J.Reyes
4- 5 0 Ground Out b-0
SUBSTITUTE P - Ken
Giles
1 J.Werth
4- 8 0 Strike Out b-0
SUBSTITUTE PH-
Michael McKenry
2 M.McKenry
4- 6 0 Walk b-1
SUBSTITUTE PH-
Bryce Harper
2 1 B.Harper
2- 8 3 0 Home Run 1-H b-H
2 A.McCutchen 2- 8 9 0
Single b-1
2 1 R.Cano
4- 8 0 Single 1-3 b-1
2 1 3
S.Pearce 5- 7 0 Strike Out b-0
*** BOTTOM OF
INNING 9 ***
SUBSTITUTE C -
Michael McKenry
SUBSTITUTE 3B-
Ryan Rua
SUBSTITUTE P -
Zach Putnam
0 B.Posey
4- 6 0 Walk b-1
SUBSTITUTE PH-
Zach Walters
0 1 Z.Walters
1-11 11 0 Home Run 1-H b-H
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