September 21 - Playoffs round 1, Game 1
MSB Playoff Results – September 21, 2024
First Round, Game 1 – Playoff Edition
🏆 **GAME OF THE DAY:** Thunder Stage Dramatic Walk-Off in Playoff Opener, Edge Brewers 2-1
TRUIST PARK - Solano delivered a pinch-hit walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Thunder stunned the Brewers 2-1 in a playoff thriller that showcased dominant pitching and clutch late-inning heroics. For eight innings, Brewers starter Paul Skenes was absolutely untouchable, carrying a shutout into the eighth while striking out six and allowing just five hits. The right-hander looked poised to steal Game 1 with a vintage playoff performance.
The Brewers finally broke through in the eighth when Robles ignited a rally with his third stolen base of the game, eventually scoring on Rooker's clutch RBI single to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. But the Thunder refused to let their playoff hopes slip away quietly. Facing Brewers closer Jason Adam in the ninth, Ramirez led off with a single and Busch followed with a double to put runners at second and third with nobody out. Nimmo's groundout to first brought home the tying run while advancing Busch to third, setting the stage for McNeil's game-tying RBI single to right field. Solano, batting for Arozarena, then lined the first pitch he saw into left field to score McNeil and send the home crowd into a frenzy.
"That's playoff baseball right there," said Thunder manager after the dramatic victory. "You're never out of it until the final out. Our guys stayed locked in against one of the best young pitchers in the game and found a way." Turnbull earned the win with four strong innings of relief, striking out six while allowing just one run. The comeback spoiled an outstanding playoff debut by Skenes and puts the Thunder in the driver's seat heading into Game 2.
Final: Thunder 2, Brewers 1
📊 Full Box Score
Rum Runners Walk Off in Playoff Opener, Top Kraken 4-3
FENWAY PARK - The Rum Runners survived a late-game scare and used timely hitting to defeat the Kraken 4-3 in an intense playoff opener at Fenway Park. Tarik Skubal was masterful through seven innings for the Rum Runners, striking out an impressive 14 batters while holding the Kraken to just two runs. The home team built leads of 1-0 and 3-1 behind solo homers from Lowe in the second and Merrill's two-run blast in the seventh inning.
But the Kraken refused to go quietly, mounting a fierce comeback in the eighth. Paredes tied the game with a towering solo homer off closer Edwin Diaz, who had entered trying to protect the two-run lead. The dramatic blast silenced the Fenway faithful and knotted the score at 3-3, setting up a tense bottom of the eighth. The Rum Runners responded immediately when Lowe led off with a single and Realmuto followed with a double to put runners at second and third with nobody out. Santana relieved and Fry delivered the game-winning hit, lining a single to right that scored Lowe and gave the Rum Runners a crucial 4-3 lead.
Alvarado slammed the door in the ninth, retiring the side in order to preserve the victory and earn the win. "Playoff baseball - you've got to grind out every pitch," said Rum Runners catcher Realmuto. "We got some huge hits when we needed them most." The victory gives the Rum Runners home-field advantage heading into Game 2, though the Kraken showed they won't go down without a fight.
Final: Rum Runners 4, Kraken 3
📊 Full Box Score
Dogs Pitching Dominates in Playoff Victory Over Landlubbers 2-1
CITI FIELD - Chris Sale delivered a vintage playoff performance and the Dogs' bullpen locked things down as they defeated the Landlubbers 2-1 in a tense defensive battle to open their first-round series. Sale was at his dominant best, working 5.1 innings while allowing just one run and striking out seven. The veteran left-hander set the tone early, navigating traffic in the first inning and then settling into a rhythm that kept the Landlubbers off-balance throughout his outing.
The Dogs manufactured their runs in the third inning after Harper reached on an error by Ortiz at third base. Seager followed with an infield single, and Ohtani's double to right center put runners at second and third with one out. Devers then delivered the big blow, lining a two-run double to right center that gave the Dogs a 2-0 advantage. The lead held up thanks to stellar relief work from Walker, Fairbanks, and closer Trevor Megill, who combined for 3.2 scoreless innings.
The Landlubbers made things interesting in the fourth when Tovar's RBI single cut the deficit to 2-1, but they couldn't generate another rally against the stifling Dogs pitching staff. The visitors left nine runners on base despite collecting nine hits, as the Dogs' defense made several key plays to escape jams. "That's playoff pitching right there," said Dogs manager after the win. "Sale gave us everything we needed and the bullpen was lights out." The victory puts the Dogs in control of the series as they head to Game 2.
Final: Dogs 2, Landlubbers 1
📊 Full Box Score
Auk Pitching Shuts Down Argonauts in 5-0 Playoff Whitewash
ORACLE PARK - Seth Lugo threw six shutout innings and Jose Rojas homered as the Auk dominated the Argonauts 5-0 in a one-sided playoff opener played in challenging wind conditions at Oracle Park. Lugo was outstanding in his postseason debut, allowing just three hits while striking out 10 batters. The right-hander worked efficiently through the Argonauts lineup, keeping them off-balance with his devastating changeup and pinpoint command.
The Auk struck first in the bottom of the first when Ozuna launched a solo homer to left field, giving the home team an early 1-0 lead. They extended the advantage in the fifth inning when Rojas crushed a two-run homer that plated Olson and made it 3-0. The duo struck again in the eighth inning off reliever Chris Martin, with Rojas delivering a run-scoring triple and then coming home on Ozuna's sacrifice fly to push the lead to 5-0.
The Argonauts never mounted a serious threat against the dominant Auk pitching staff. Holton and Hoffman combined for three scoreless innings of relief to complete the shutout, with 23-mph winds swirling throughout the game making hitting conditions extremely difficult. "We got outstanding pitching from start to finish," said Auk manager after the comprehensive victory. "Lugo set the tone and our offense came through when we needed it." The shutout victory gives the Auk firm control of the series heading into Game 2.
Final: Auk 5, Argonauts 0
📊 Full Box Score
📈 Statistical Highlights
Home Run Leaders:
• Lowe,N (1st inning solo shot), Merrill (7th inning 2-run HR), Paredes,I (game-tying 8th inning blast), Ozuna (1st inning leadoff HR, game 2), Rojas,Jos (5th inning 2-run HR)
Multi-Hit Performances:
• Rojas,Jos (2-for-3, HR, triple, 3 RBIs), Diaz,Yai (3-for-4), Correa (2-for-4), De La Cruz,E (2-for-4), Gonzales,N (2-for-3), Gurriel,L (2-for-4), Tovar (2-for-4), Arraez (2-for-4)
Pitching Gems:
• Skenes (7 IP, 0 ER, 6 K - no decision), Skubal (7 IP, 2 ER, 14 K - no decision), Lugo (6 IP, 0 ER, 10 K, WIN), Sale (5.1 IP, 1 ER, 7 K, WIN), Turnbull (4 IP, 1 ER, 6 K, WIN)
Walk-Off Winners:
• Thunder rallied from 1-0 deficit in 9th inning to win 2-1 on Solano's pinch-hit single
• Rum Runners scored winning run in 8th after Kraken tied game at 3-3
Dominant Strikeout Performances:
• Skubal's 14 strikeouts led all pitchers in playoff opener
• Lugo fanned 10 Argonauts in commanding shutout performance
• Combined 52 strikeouts across all four playoff games
Weather Conditions:
• 93° and clear at Truist Park for Thunder-Brewers
• 74° with 4 MPH winds at Fenway for Rum Runners-Kraken
• 63° partly cloudy with 9 MPH winds at Citi Field for Dogs-Landlubbers
• 56° clear with challenging 23 MPH winds at Oracle Park for Auk-Argonauts
Notable Achievements:
• Two walk-off victories in playoff openers (Thunder, Rum Runners via 8th inning)
• Three games decided by one run, showcasing playoff intensity
• Auk recorded only shutout of the night with dominant 5-0 victory
• Four different pitchers earned wins in their playoff debuts
Topic: September 21 - Playoffs round 1, Game 1 (Read 1425 times)
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