2021 AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD CARD SERIES “D”

Virginia Sluggers @ Fremont Cannons

VirginiaFremontSERIES PREVIEW – #4 seed Fremont takes on #5 seed Virginia. Tied going into the last two games of the regular season, Virginia rested their regulars and lost both games. Fremont swept their last two games to edge out Virginia in the standings.
GAME #1 – Triston McKenzie (2-3 2.51) vs. Dylan Bundy (4-2 2.85)

A trio of homers by VIR put them out front 5-0. J.Bradley and G.Springer lofted solo shots and W,Merrifield a 2-run blast. Despite getting only 4 hits in the game, FRE came back on T.Hernandez’ 2-run homer and RBI’s from Y.Gurriel and M.Brosseau. But VIR’s bullpen came on to throw 3 innings of no-hit ball and give VIR a surprising win.

Virginia 5 – Fremont 4

W-T.McKenzie (1-0) – L-D.Bundy (0-1) – SV- T.Webb (1)
HR – VIR- W.Merrifield (1), J.Bradley (1), G.Springer (1) FRE- T.Hernandez (1)

GAME #2 – Trevor Williams (2-5 11.32) vs. Zac Gallen (6-4 4.14)

Virginia exploded out of the gate. A 2-run homer from E.Jimenez in the 1st, two solo shots from C.Biggio in the 2nd and 3rd, and a 2-run blast from J.Segura in the 3rd. Just like that it was 6-0 VIR. Before the end of the 2nd inning, Z.Gallen had enough and plunked two VIR batters. The umps quickly gave him the heave-ho. Two innings later VIR’s E.Hernandez had a little retaliation and nailed M.Brosseau,…for which he received an early exit from the game. T.Hernandez’ 2-RBI double gave FRE their firsst runs in the 5th. Y.Gurriel and M.Thaiss tried to help Fremont with solo long balls later in the game, but VIR held on to get the win and head home with a 2-0 advantage. By the way, FRE’s two firstbasemen, Gurriel and Thaiss, were a combined 4-4 with 2 runs, 2 RBI and 2 HR.

Virginia 7 – Fremont 4

W- T. Williams (1-0) – L-Z.Gallen (0-1)
HR – VIR- E.Jimenez (1), C,Biggio 2(2), J.Segura (1) FRE-Y,Gurriel (1), M.Thaiss (1)

GAME #3 – Danny Duffy (2-6 4.55) vs. Luis Castillo (6-4 3.42)

The series shifted to Virginia with Virginia holding a 2-0 lead in the series. Fremont’s T.Hernandez, who was 3-7 with a homer and 4 RBI in the first two games, started off the Fremont scoring in the first by ripping a fastball over the LF wall to give Fremont a 1-0 lead. A.Rizzo tied it for VIR with a RBI single in the 2nd. Y.Gurriel’s blast over the CF wall followed shortly by T.Hernandez’ 2nd homer of the game, a 2-run shot, put FRE up 4-1 in the 5th. VIR came right back in the bottom of the 5th. A.Rizzo lined one out in CF. C.Biggio walked and W.Merrifield stepped in the box, “W. MERRIFIELD facing D. DUFFY, B 5th, No Outs, Runner on 2nd, Behind 2-4 …He comes home … that’s hit … back and deep the other way … back … back… … back……HEY-HEY!! … a two-run shot over the right center field wall … attaboy MERRIFIELD…CANNONS 4, SLUGGERS 4.” One inning later, with the bases loaded, C,Biggio sliced one in the hole driving in 2 and giving VIR a 6-4 lead. M.Margot got FRE within 1 with a SF in the 8th, but once again VIR’s bullpen held on and VIR eked out another close win.

Virginia 6 – Fremont 5

W-L.Castillo (1-0) W-D.Duffy (0-1) SV-T.Webb (2)
HR – FRE-T.Hernandez 2(3), Y.Gurriel (2) VIR-W.Merrifield (2), A.Rizzo (1)

GAME #4 – Zac Gallen (6-4 4.14) vs. Adam Plutko (8-2 1.72)

Down 3 games to none, Fremont needed a win to stay alive. Well, the hot bat of T.Hernandez got them off on the right foot, “ T. HERNANDEZ facing A. PLUTKO, T 3rd, 2 Outs, Runner on 1st, Tied 0-0 …The pitch … high fly ball to center … BRADLEY’s racing to the track … he’s against the wall…but there’s nothing he can do … it’s long gone! … a two-run shot…CANNONS 2, SLUGGERS 0.” Virginia had their own hot bat in the form of #9 batter A.Rizzo, “A. RIZZO facing Z. GALLEN, B 3rd, No Outs, 2nd and 3rd, Behind 0-2 …Infield deep … SEGURA with a head fake at third … the pitch … and it’s pulled hard to right…it’s deep enough if it’s fair … hooking … fair ball! … a three-run homer for RIZZO…Anthony trots around the bases … he loves a trip downtown … he claps his hands…he’s greeted at home plate … congratulations all around … GALLEN is giving himself a lecture…CANNONS 2, SLUGGERS 3.” In the bottom of the 4th inning J.Bradley stepped up with 1 out and nobody on, “BRADLEY hits it nine miles … deep to right field … fair ball!…and it’s long gone! … home run for BRADLEY …CANNONS 2, SLUGGERS 4.” In the top of the 8th, that guy T.Hernandez (what a series he had) got FRE within 1, “HARTLIEB with the pitch … uh-oh! … way back … SPRINGER looks up … put it on the board… YES!
CANNONS 3, SLUGGERS 4.” FRE was not going to go away easily. Unfortunately for them, R.Devers finally got in the long ball game, “R. DEVERS facing G. GALLEGOS, B 8th, 2 Outs, Runner on 2nd, Ahead 4-3 …FRAZIER at second takes a big lead … he lets it go … and DEVERS unloads on it…that’s long gone … a tape measure job deep to right…CANNONS 3, SLUGGERS 6” With a 3 run lead, the pen came in once again and gave VIR it’s first Playoff series win in so long I can’t remember when the last time was.

Virginia 6 – Fremont 3

W-A.Plutko (1-0) L-Z.Gallen (0-2)
HR – FRE-T.Hernandez 2(5) VIR- R.Devers (1), J.Bradley (2), A.Rizzo (2)

SERIES SUMMARY – Surprising Virginia sweeps Fremont 4-0. A close series from two evenly matched teams. Frmeont just ran into some bad luck. If T.Hernandez had some help, this could have easily gone Fremont’s way.  Virginia got power production and key hits from several unusual sources and the bullpen was outstanding when it counted. Virginia moves on with Brian Devine handling the team from here out as Paul Roe will be out of the country for the next 2 weeks. My congratulations to Casey and his Fremont Cannons on a good year and a fun series. Thanks Casey.
STATS:Fremont –
T.Hernandez 8-15 .533 5 runs, 10 RBI, 5 HR (Series MVP )
M.Kepler 6-13 .462 1 run
Y.Gurriel 4-14 .286 2 runs, 3 RBI, 2 HR
Virginia –

W.Merrifield 6-12 .500 3 runs, 4 RBI 2 HR
A.Rizzo 4-10 .400 3 runs, 3 RBI 2 HR
C.Biggio 5-14 .357 3 runs, 5 RBI 2 HR
J.Segura 5-14 .357 3 runs, 2 RBI 1 HRVIR – .258 Team Batting Average
FRE – .213 Team Batting AverageVIR out homered FRE 12-8
20 HR’s in a 4 game series

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WEDNESDAY 07/24/2024
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