2025 NATIONAL LEAGUE WILD CARD SERIES “B”
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| SERIES PREVIEW – #7 Alamo Defenders 94-68 vs. #2 Tempe Tempers 115-47
Alamo has a powerful 1-9 lineup, an outstanding bullpen, and a collection of gold glove catchers to shut down the run game. With 94 wins, the Defenders would normally be a much higher playoff seed and would have avoided the dreaded ghost win disadvantage. Unfortunately for them, this is the first a year team has won over 90 wins and been seeded below a #6. They’ll need a lot of luck to beat Tempe who has the NL’s #1 pitching, #1 defense, and #3 offense. Plus a 1-0 series lead before the first pitch. |
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GAME #1 – Luis M. Castillo 11-7 (2.81) vs. Sonny Gray 19-12 (3.01) The Defenders struck quickly in the first with a two-run homerun from Tovar after Devers worked a walk. Defenders threatened again in the 3rd, but Gray got Devers and Tovar this time to strand two runners. The Tempers got on the board in the bottom of the 3rd on an Albies solo homerun. Ozuna tied it with a solo in the 4th and Tempe took the lead later in the inning when Freeman reached on a BB, moved to 3rd on an error and scored on a sac fly from Realmuto. The Tempers went up 4-2 in the 5th on a Robles double and a Ruiz rbi single. Both pens did their job the rest of the way. Munoz picked up a two inning save. Tempe 4- Alamo 2 Win: A.J. Minter 1-0 (0.00) |
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GAME #2 – Pablo Lopez 17-7 (2.89) vs. Trevor Williams 10-2 (1.32) Tempe pounded Lopez for eight runs and knocked him out of the game after only 2.2 innings. Avila replaced him and gave up a couple more runs in the 4th. Williams tossed five hit-less innings for Tempe and left with a 10-0 lead when all the other Tempe subs replaced the starters in the 6th. The Defenders only managed two hits but they did avoid the shutout when Ward hit a solo homerun in the 9th. Albies hit his second homer of the series and Rosario also went deep as a defensive sub. Tempe 11- Alamo 1 Win: Trevor Williams 1-0 (0.00) |
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GAME #3 – Sonny Gray 19-12 (3.01) vs. Ben Lively 12-10 (3.14) Ramirez led off the 2nd with a single, but was gunned at 2B when he tried to steal on Bailey’s gold glove arm. Albies doubled in the 3rd, but Lively worked out of the jam. Tempe also put runners on the bases in 4th and 5th, but Lively continued to hold strong. In the bottom of the 5th, Ward led off with a double for the Defenders first hit of the game. The next batter grounded to the right side, but Freeman kept it from going to the outfield and then gunned Ward when he rounded third base for the defensive play of the series. De La Cruz and Raley singled later in the inning to load the bases, but Gray got Fraley to end the threat. Lively’s luck ran out in the 6th when he hit Robles, gave up a single to Kwan and then a three-run bomb to Ozuna. In the bottom of the 6th, Cronenworth worked a lead off walk and Tempe turned to the pen. Little got Devers, but Tovar hit his second two run homer of the series off Jansen to make it a one run game. Lynch worked a quiet 7th for the Alamo. In the bottom of the 7th, Bailey and De La Cruz singled off Jansen. Tempe brought on Minter to face the lefty and Alamo counted with Rengifo as a pinch hitter. Rengifo singled to center field to load the bases. Merrifield replaced Bailey at 3B for some added speed. The move paid off when Fraley grounded to 3rd base and Ramirez could only get the force at 3B. 3-3. Minters got Cronenworth and Devers to end the inning. In the top of the 8th, Kwan worked a one out hit off Sands. Palacios then pinch ran and stole 2B. Defenders turned to Yates with the series on the line. Yates walked Ozuna and threw a wild pitch to allow Kwan to reach 3B before getting Ramirez and Freeman to preserve the tie. Tovar singled to start the bottom of the 8th and Ward bunted him to second base. Blewett rallied to get Santana and Rogers to keep things tied. Yates gave up a single to Hedges in the 9th, but that was all Tempe could manage off the 26 grade. Tempe left Blewet in the game for the 9th and he unfortunately blew it when Rengifo took him deep with a walk off solo shot. Alamo 4 – Tempe 3 Win: Kirby Yates 1-0 (0.00) |
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GAME #4 – Freddy Peralta 19-11 (3.47) vs. Joe Ryan 11-7 (3.24) Realmuto had the first hit of the game in the 3rd with a deep fly that kept carrying and gave Tempe a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the 5th, Tovar led off with the first and only hit of the game for the Defenders. Peralta then made a fielding error and walked Santana to load the bases with no outs. Tempe went to the pen and Darvish limited the damage only giving up a sac fly to De La Cruz. 1-1. In the 6th, Kwan doubled but Ryan struckout Ozuna to keep it tied. Little pitched a perfect bottom sixth. In the top of the 7th, Abrue singled to right field with two outs and Ward had the ball role through his legs. Abrue kept running and finished with a little league homerun. 2-1. A very well rested Munoz came on to try and get a three inning save in the 7th. Munoz gave up a walk in the 7th, but then got a double play to only face three hitters. Bogaerts doubled in the 8th, but Holton struckout Kwan to keep it tight. Munoz worked a perfect 8th and Holton was also perfect in the top of the 9th. In the bottom of the 9th, Munoz got the first two outs, but then Devers worked a walk to bring the go ahead run to the plate. Tovar was looking for his third homerun of the series, but he got under one and popped it up to end the series. Tempe 2- Alamo 1 Win: Luke Little 1-0 (0.00) |
| SERIES SUMMARY – Tempe wins the series in four games behind outstanding pitching and timely defense. The Defenders only hit .146 during the series and their best player Devers was limited to only 1 hit the entire series. Tempe hit .273 and slugged .455 in the series, but it was skewed by the one blowout. Alamo’s pitching gave them the opportunity to win 3 of the 4 games. Albies edged out Ramirez and Ozuna for the series MVP with a .308 AVG, .846 SLG and a couple great defensive plays. |