October 5 - Playoffs round 2, Game 5
MSB Playoff Results – Game 5, Second Round
Dogs clinch series and advance! Thunder force Game 6 with dramatic comeback
🏆 **GAME OF THE DAY:** Dogs Close Out Rum Runners 5-2, Advance to Championship Series
CITI FIELD - Chris Sale delivered when it mattered most, working six solid innings as the Dogs defeated the Rum Runners 5-2 in Game 5 to close out their Second Round series 4-1 and punch their ticket to the Championship Series. Corey Seager provided the pivotal blow with a two-run homer in the fourth inning that tied the game at 2-2, while Arraez delivered the go-ahead RBI single in the fifth that put the Dogs ahead for good. Bryce Harper added a crushing two-run insurance homer in the eighth that sealed the victory and sent the home crowd into a championship celebration. The Dogs overcame an early deficit when Fry launched a solo homer in the second inning to give the Rum Runners a 1-0 lead, but Sale settled down and kept his team in position to mount their comeback.
Seager, who was brilliant throughout the series, came through in the clutch again in the fourth inning after Devers walked to reach base. The shortstop launched a towering drive to right field that tied the game at 2-2 and shifted all the momentum to the Dogs. In the fifth inning, Varsho doubled and Arraez followed with a clutch single to left center that scored Varsho and gave the Dogs their first lead at 3-2. The Rum Runners threatened in the late innings, but the Dogs bullpen of Chapman, Walker, and Joyce combined for three scoreless frames to preserve the victory. "This team has shown incredible heart and determination all series long," said Dogs manager after clinching. "Sale was outstanding when we needed him most, and our offense came through in the big moments. Now we move on to the Championship Series." Harper's eighth-inning blast provided the final margin, and Joyce closed out the series with a perfect ninth inning to earn his second save. The Dogs now await the winner of the Auk-Thunder series.
Final: Dogs 5, Rum Runners 2
Series: Dogs win series 4-1 and advance to Championship Series
📊 Full Box Score
Thunder Stave Off Elimination With 5-4 Victory, Force Game 6
TRUIST PARK - Jose Ramirez crushed a two-run homer in the fifth inning and Tyler Glasnow pitched 7.2 strong innings as the Thunder defeated the Auk 5-4 in a thrilling Game 5 to stave off elimination and force a Game 6 back at Oracle Park. Facing elimination for the second time in the series, the Thunder jumped out to an early 2-0 lead when Brandon Nimmo launched a two-run homer in the first inning that scored Busch and gave the home crowd reason for optimism. The Auk answered immediately in the top of the first when Carroll walked, stole second, and scored on Bohm's infield single to cut the deficit to 2-1, setting up a tense back-and-forth battle that would go down to the final out.
The decisive fifth inning saw the Thunder break the game open with a three-run explosion that put them ahead 5-2. After Pederson walked, Ramirez delivered the knockout blow with a towering two-run homer to right field that gave the Thunder a 4-2 advantage. Busch followed immediately with a solo shot of his own that extended the lead to 5-2 and sent the home crowd into a frenzy. The Auk refused to go quietly, fighting back in the eighth inning when Contreras launched a solo homer and Ozuna followed with his second home run of the game to cut the deficit to 5-4. "Our guys showed tremendous heart tonight," said Thunder manager after the victory. "Down 3-1 in the series, facing elimination at home, and we find a way to win. Now we get another chance in Game 6." Glasnow was masterful, scattering six hits while allowing four runs over 7.2 innings, and Vest earned the save with a perfect ninth inning that included two strikeouts. The series now shifts back to Oracle Park with the Auk leading 3-2 and needing just one victory to advance to the Championship Series.
Final: Thunder 5, Auk 4
Series: Auk lead 3-2
📊 Full Box Score
📈 Statistical Highlights
Series-Clinching Performances:
• Sale (W, 6 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 5 K) delivered series-clinching victory for Dogs
• Seager went 3-for-4 with HR and 2 RBI in clincher
• Harper's 2-run insurance homer in 8th sealed Dogs' series victory
• Joyce earned save to close out Rum Runners in Game 5
Home Run Leaders:
• Seager (2-run HR, 4th inning), Harper (2-run HR, 8th inning), Fry (solo HR, 2nd inning), Nimmo (2-run HR, 1st inning), Ramirez,J (2-run HR, 5th inning), Busch (solo HR, 5th inning), Ozuna (2 solo HRs, 5th and 8th innings), Contreras (solo HR, 8th inning)
Multi-Hit Performances:
• Seager (3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, R) - Dominated in series clincher
• Ramirez,J (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, R), Contreras (2-for-3, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, R)
Pitching Gems:
• Sale (W, 6 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 5 K) - Clinched series for Dogs
• Glasnow (W, 7.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 7 K) - Kept Thunder alive
• Vest (S, 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 K) - Preserved elimination-game victory
• Joyce (S, 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 K) - Closed out series for Dogs
• Dogs bullpen combined for 3 scoreless innings in clincher
Elimination-Game Drama:
• Thunder forced Game 6 with gutsy performance facing elimination
• Ramirez and Busch hit back-to-back homers in decisive 5th inning
• Auk battled back with two homers in 8th but fell short
• Dogs closed out series on home field with dominant eighth inning
• Thunder extended series with second elimination-game victory
Clutch Performances:
• Arraez delivered go-ahead RBI single in 5th inning for Dogs
• Nimmo's first-inning homer gave Thunder early 2-0 lead
• Harper's insurance homer provided crucial cushion for Dogs
• Thunder's three-run fifth inning proved to be difference
• Seager's two-run homer tied game and shifted momentum to Dogs
Weather Conditions:
• Clear, 80 degrees with 9 mph winds at Truist Park - perfect elimination-game weather
• Partly cloudy, 65 degrees with 10 mph winds at Citi Field - ideal series-clinching conditions
Series Results:
• **DOGS DEFEAT RUM RUNNERS 4-1 (W 11-2, W 2-0, L 0-2, W 9-0, W 5-2)**
• **Dogs advance to Championship Series to await opponent**
• Auk lead Thunder 3-2 (W 4-2, W 6-1, L 4-5 15inn, W 4-1, L 4-5)
• Game 6 returns to Oracle Park with Auk one win from advancing
• Thunder must win Game 6 to force winner-take-all Game 7
• Dogs await winner of Auk-Thunder series for Championship Series matchup
Notable Achievements:
• Dogs close out series at home with dominant performance
• Sale earned second victory of series in clincher
• Thunder show championship resilience with second straight elimination-game win
• Seager's three-hit performance highlighted Dogs' offensive attack in clincher
• Ramirez and Busch provided back-to-back power surge to save Thunder's season
• Dogs advance to Championship Series for first time
• Thunder force Game 6 after trailing series 3-1
• Dogs scored in three different innings to pull away in clincher
Topic: October 5 - Playoffs round 2, Game 5 (Read 2173 times)
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