October 7 - Playoffs round 2, Game 6
MSB Playoff Results – Game 6, Second Round
McCarthy's walk-off blast sends Auk to Championship Series!
🏆 **SERIES CLINCHER:** McCarthy's Walk-Off Homer Gives Auk 5-3 Extra-Inning Victory, Series Win
ORACLE PARK - In one of the most dramatic playoff finishes in recent memory, Andy McCarthy launched a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Auk a thrilling 5-3 victory over the Thunder and clinch their Second Round series 4-2, sending them to the Championship Series to face the Dogs. The Oracle Park crowd erupted as McCarthy's blast sailed over the right field wall, capping an incredible comeback after the Thunder had tied the game in the ninth inning on Cody Rafaela's solo homer. After Pages walked to lead off the 10th, Ozuna lined out before McCarthy stepped to the plate and delivered the series-clinching blow on the first pitch he saw, launching it deep to right field and igniting a wild celebration at home plate.
The game was a tense back-and-forth affair that showcased everything playoff baseball has to offer. The Auk jumped ahead 1-0 in the first inning when Ozuna crushed a solo homer to left field, then extended their lead to 2-0 in the fourth when Bohm launched his own solo shot to left. The advantage grew to 3-1 in the sixth when Bohm doubled and Albies followed with an RBI single that scored him and gave Seth Lugo plenty of cushion to work with. Lugo was masterful for seven innings, scattering seven hits while allowing just one run and striking out seven to keep the Thunder at bay. But the visitors refused to go quietly, with Santiago Espinal crushing a solo homer in the eighth to cut the deficit to 3-2 before Rafaela's dramatic game-tying blast in the ninth sent the contest to extra innings.
"This team has fought all series long, and to win it in this fashion is just incredible," said Auk manager after the celebration. "McCarthy came through with one of the biggest hits in franchise history, and now we're headed to the Championship Series." The Thunder showed tremendous heart throughout the series, winning Games 3 and 5 to extend their season, but ultimately fell short against the superior Auk pitching and timely hitting. Ginkel earned the victory with a perfect 0.1 innings of work, while Turnbull took the loss after allowing McCarthy's walk-off homer. The Auk now await the Dogs in what promises to be an epic Championship Series showdown between two of the league's best teams.
Final: Auk 5, Thunder 3 (10 innings)
Series: Auk win series 4-2 and advance to Championship Series
📊 Full Box Score
📈 Statistical Highlights
Walk-Off Hero:
• McCarthy's 2-run walk-off homer in 10th inning clinched series for Auk
• McCarthy finished 1-for-1 with HR and 2 RBI in limited action
• First pitch he saw in 10th inning resulted in series-clinching blast
• Walk-off homer capped dramatic comeback after Thunder tied game in 9th
Home Run Barrage:
• Six home runs hit in Game 6 elimination contest
• Ozuna (solo, 1st inning), Bohm (solo, 4th inning), McNeil (solo, 6th inning), Espinal (solo, 8th inning), Rafaela (solo, 9th inning), McCarthy (2-run walk-off, 10th inning)
• Thunder's Rafaela and Espinal hit clutch homers to extend game
Multi-Hit Performances:
• Rafaela (3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) - Tied game with dramatic 9th-inning homer
• Ozuna (2-for-5, HR, RBI), Bohm (2-for-4, HR, 2B, RBI), Albies (2-for-3, 2B, RBI, HBP)
• Arozarena (2-for-5), Smith,WD (2-for-5, 2B), Pederson (1-for-5, 2B)
Pitching Performances:
• Lugo (7 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 7 K) - Outstanding in series clincher
• Ginkel (W, 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER) - Got final out before walk-off
• Steele (6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 9 K) - Quality start wasted in elimination game
• Turnbull (L, 0.1 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 1 BB) - Allowed walk-off homer
• Miller,M blew save but Auk rallied to win in extras
Extra-Inning Drama:
• Thunder tied game 3-3 on Rafaela's homer in top of 9th
• Game went to 10th inning tied at 3-3
• Pages walked to lead off 10th for Auk
• McCarthy ended it with first-pitch walk-off homer
• Auk won series with dramatic extra-inning victory at home
Series-Clinching Moments:[/b>
• Auk overcame Thunder's resilient comeback attempts
• Thunder showed heart by winning Games 3 and 5 to extend series
• Auk's pitching dominated throughout series (allowed 3.5 runs per game)
• Home runs decided tight Game 6 elimination contest
• McCarthy's heroics sent Oracle Park crowd into frenzy
Weather Conditions:[/b>
• Partly cloudy, 60 degrees with 10 mph winds at Oracle Park - perfect for playoff drama
Championship Series Set:
• **AUK ADVANCE TO FACE DOGS IN CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES**
• Auk defeated Thunder 4-2 (W 4-2, W 6-1, L 4-5 15inn, W 4-1, L 4-5, W 5-3 10inn)
• Dogs defeated Rum Runners 4-1 (W 11-2, W 2-0, L 0-2, W 9-0, W 5-2)
• Championship Series features two dominant teams
• Auk averaged 4.5 runs per game in series victory
• Thunder fought valiantly but couldn't overcome Auk's balanced attack
Notable Achievements:
• McCarthy's walk-off homer ranks among most dramatic moments in playoff history
• Auk win series at home with thrilling extra-inning victory
• Thunder extended series to six games with gutsy performances in Games 3 and 5
• Rafaela's game-tying homer in 9th gave Thunder hope before McCarthy's heroics
• Auk's pitching staff combined to limit Thunder to 3 runs in clincher
• Six different players homered in Game 6 slugfest
• Auk advance to Championship Series for first time in franchise history
• Dogs and Auk will meet for championship with series starting soon
• Both teams showed championship mettle in winning their respective series 4-2 and 4-1
Topic: October 7 - Playoffs round 2, Game 6 (Read 2746 times)
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