2025 N.L. DIVISION SERIES #2

Tempe Tempers: Key Players to Watch
The Tempe Tempers’ success is heavily reliant on their pitching staff, particularly their starting rotation. Leading the charge is Freddy Peralta, who has a 19-11 win-loss record and a 0.633 winning percentage. He also leads the team in innings pitched with 207.1 and has an impressive 22 quality starts. Shane Gray is another dominant force on the mound, with a team-high 256 strikeouts and a stellar 3.01 ERA. He also has the lowest Baserunners Per 9 Innings (BR/9-s) among starters at 9.3. On the offensive side, Jose Ramirez is a major contributor, leading the team in runs (109), runs batted in (127), and hits (174). He also leads the team in total average (TA) with a .933.

Triple Creek Patriots: Key Players to Watch

The Triple Creek Patriots counter with their own set of aces. On offense, Corey Seager and Jonathan India are crucial to the team’s production. Seager leads the team in home runs with 28 and has the highest total average (TA) at .780. India leads the team in walks (75) and has created 73.2 runs. On the pitching side, starting pitcher Jose Quintana has the lowest ERA at 2.43 and has prevented the most earned runs with 25.3. The Patriots also boast a formidable bullpen, anchored by Matt Strahm, who has a team-leading 35 saves and the highest save opportunity percentage at 94.6%. Strahm also has the lowest ERA for a relief pitcher on the team at 0.93.

Series Impact

The series could very well come down to a battle of the bullpens. While the Tempers’ starters Gray and Peralta are dominant, the Patriots’ relief corps, led by Strahm and Jimenez, have been incredibly effective at preventing runs and securing wins. Whichever team’s bullpen can better hold a lead late in the game will likely emerge victorious. The offensive matchup between the Tempers’ Ramirez and the Patriots’ Seager will also be a key factor in the series

GAME #1 – Jameson Taillon  14-7  (2.99) vs. Trevor Williams  10-2  (1.32)

TEMPE—The Tempe Tempers kicked off the series with a decisive 5-0 victory over the Triple Creek Patriots, fueled by a dominant pitching performance from T. Williams and a first-inning power surge. The game, played on Thursday, October 9, 2025, saw the Tempers’ offense come alive early and never look back.

Tempe’s T. Williams proved to be the story of the game, earning the win after a spectacular outing. Williams was in command from the start, striking out L. Nootbaar in the first inning. Williams finished the game with 6 strikeouts and only one walk. The only walk issued by Williams was to C. Yelich in the fourth inning.

The Tempers’ bats ignited in the bottom of the first inning against Patriots pitcher J. Taillon. After a single by S. Kwan , M. Ozuna crushed a two-run home run to deep center field. The offensive onslaught continued as J. Ramirez followed with a back-to-back homer, also to center, putting the Tempers up 3-0. Not to be outdone, W. Abreu added another solo shot later in the inning, his blast to deep right-center field increasing the lead to 4-0.

The Tempers added their final run in the fifth inning when X. Bogaerts, pinch-running for Ozuna, scored on an RBI single by J. Ramirez.

The Patriots’ offense struggled to generate any momentum against the Tempe pitching staff. L. Nootbaar recorded a hit in the sixth inning but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. The team’s only other hit came from J. Mateo, a double in the fourth inning.

Triple Creek’s J. Taillon took the loss, giving up 5 runs on 7 hits, including three home runs, over six innings of work. He walked 2 and struck out 6. Relief pitchers A. Banda and B. Wilson combined for two scoreless innings in relief for the Patriots.

The game concluded with a final score of 5-0 after R. Refsynder flew out to center field in the top of the ninth inning. No major injuries were reported that would sideline a player for an extended period.

Tempe 5 – Triple Creek 0

Win: Trevor Williams  1-0  (0.00)
Loss: Jameson Taillon  0-1  (7.50)

GAME #2 – Michael Lorenzen  12-7  (3.40) vs. Sonny Gray 19-12 (3.01)

TEMPE, AZ — The Tempe Tempers took a commanding 2-0 lead in the Division Series with a hard-fought 6-4 victory over the Triple Creek Patriots on Friday afternoon. In a game filled with timely hitting, defensive miscues, and a few fireworks, Tempe’s early offense and late-inning bullpen work proved just enough to withstand a Patriots rally.

The Tempers wasted no time getting on the board, as Marcell Ozuna launched a solo home run in the bottom of the first off Michael Lorenzen to give Tempe an early 1-0 lead. The second inning saw the Tempers break things open, capitalizing on a Freddie Freeman infield single, a J.T. Realmuto single, and a clutch two-run triple by Ozzie Albies. Jorge Mateo’s squeeze bunt plated Albies, pushing the lead to 4-0.

Triple Creek clawed back in the fourth, taking advantage of some wildness from Sonny Gray and a costly error by Mateo. Christian Yelich’s RBI single, a bases-loaded walk to Corey Seager, and a grounder that Mateo threw away allowed the Patriots to close the gap to 4-3. But Tempe responded immediately, with Albies’ sacrifice fly in the bottom half restoring a two-run cushion.

The Patriots’ bullpen kept things close, but Tempe tacked on another run in the fifth when José Ramírez doubled home Victor Robles. Triple Creek’s Lourdes Gurriel Jr. provided a spark in the seventh, crushing a solo homer off Kenley Jansen to make it 6-4, but that was as close as the Patriots would get.

Andrés Munoz came on for Tempe in the eighth and slammed the door, retiring all six batters he faced to earn the save.

Highlights & Noteworthy Performances:
Marcell Ozuna’s first-inning homer set the tone for Tempe.
Ozzie Albies drove in three runs, including a two-run triple and a sacrifice fly.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. homered for Triple Creek in the seventh.
Tempe’s bullpen trio of Luke Little, Kenley Jansen, and Andrés Munoz combined for 3.2 innings of one-run ball.
Triple Creek’s defense struggled, committing three errors that led to unearned runs.
No injuries were reported that are expected to sideline players for more than a few days.

The series shifts to Triple Creek for Game 3, with the Patriots looking to stave off elimination and the Tempers aiming to punch their ticket to the next round.

Tempe 6 – Triple Creek 4

Win: Sonny Gray 1-0 (3.38)
Loss: Michael Lorenzen  0-1  (7.71)
Save: Andres Munoz #1

GAME #3 – Yu Darvish  11-2  (1.69) vs. Jose Quintana  16-7  (2.43)

In a pivotal championship clash on Sunday, the Triple Creek Patriots stormed back from an early deficit to rout the Tempe Tempers 10-3, seizing control of the series with a relentless offensive display and timely pitching.

The Tempers jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first, capitalizing on a walk, a double by Steven Kwan, and clutch RBIs from José Ramírez and Freddie Freeman. J.T. Realmuto capped the rally with a sharp single, giving Tempe early momentum and chasing Patriots starter José Quintana for 3 runs in the opening frame.

But the Patriots answered with authority in the bottom of the second. Cody Bellinger ignited the comeback with an RBI triple, and then Lars Nootbaar electrified the home crowd with a towering three-run homer to right, flipping the score to 4-3. The onslaught continued as Jonathan India and Christian Yelich delivered back-to-back hits, with Yelich’s triple driving in another run to make it 5-3.

Triple Creek’s bats stayed hot in the fourth. Nootbaar drew a walk and India followed with a two-run blast to center, stretching the lead to 7-3. Corey Seager then launched a two-run homer of his own, and by the end of the inning, the Patriots had blown the game open at 9-3.

Nootbaar wasn’t done, adding a solo shot in the fifth—his second homer of the game and third extra-base hit—to put the game out of reach at 10-3. He finished the day 2-for-4 with 4 RBIs and 2 home runs, earning player of the game honors.

On the mound, the Patriots’ bullpen was stellar. Ben Joyce (1-0) picked up the win with a scoreless fourth, while Landon Knack, Jose Ferrer, and Bryse Wilson combined for five shutout innings, allowing just one hit and keeping the Tempers off the board after the first inning.

Tempe’s starter Yu Darvish (0-1) struggled, lasting just 1.2 innings and surrendering 5 runs on 5 hits, including Nootbaar’s pivotal homer. The Tempers’ bullpen couldn’t stem the tide, giving up 5 more runs as the Patriots piled up 15 hits.

Highlights & Noteworthy Moments:
Lars Nootbaar’s two home runs and 4 RBIs led the Patriots’ attack.
Jonathan India and Corey Seager each homered, with India driving in 2 runs.
Cody Bellinger and Christian Yelich both tripled, with Yelich collecting 2 hits and an RBI.
The Patriots’ bullpen allowed just one hit over the final five innings.
No injuries lasting more than 3-4 days were reported.

With the win, Triple Creek takes a commanding lead in the series, fueled by power, pitching, and a raucous home crowd.

Triple Creek 10 – Tempe 3

Win: Ben Joyce  1-0  (0.00)
Loss: Yu Darvish  0-1  (27.00)

GAME #4 – Gerrit Cole  13-2  (2.90) vs. Kevin Gausman  13-10  (2.71)

In a pivotal Game 4 of the Division Series, the Tempe Tempers rode timely hitting and a shutdown bullpen to a 4-1 victory over the Triple Creek Patriots on Monday afternoon. With the win, Tempe moves one step closer to a championship, while Triple Creek faces elimination.

The Patriots struck first in the bottom of the second. Jose Miranda led off with a double to center and came around to score on Jesse Winker’s sharp single, giving Triple Creek a 1-0 lead. But Tempe wasted little time responding. In the top of the third, after a walk and a sacrifice, Victor Robles delivered the game’s biggest blow—a two-run double down the left field line, putting the Tempers ahead 2-1.

From there, both starting pitchers settled in. Gerrit Cole (Tempe) worked 4.2 innings, allowing just one run on five hits and striking out five. Kevin Gausman (Triple Creek) was strong through five, but ran into trouble in the seventh. After a single by Xander Bogaerts, Robles struck again, launching a two-run homer to left to extend Tempe’s lead to 4-1.

The Tempers’ bullpen was nearly flawless. Luke Little, Andrew Kittredge, Scott Blewett, Kenley Jansen, and Andres Munoz combined for 4.1 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just two hits and striking out four. Munoz earned the save with two shutout innings, working out of a ninth-inning jam after Cody Bellinger and Jesse Winker reached base.

Triple Creek’s offense, meanwhile, was stymied after the second inning. Despite seven hits, the Patriots stranded nine runners and grounded into three double plays, killing several rallies. Lars Nootbaar was a bright spot, collecting two doubles, but the heart of the order failed to deliver in key moments.

Highlights & Noteworthy Moments:

• Victor Robles was the star, going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, and four RBIs.

• Tempe’s defense turned three double plays, snuffing out Patriot threats.

• No injuries were reported that will sideline players for more than a few days.

• The game featured crisp defense and efficient pitching changes, with both managers making strategic bullpen moves.

With the series now tilting in Tempe’s favor, Triple Creek will need to regroup quickly to keep their championship hopes alive.

Tempe 4 – Triple Creek 1

Win: Luke Little  1-0  (0.00)
Loss: Kevin Gausman  0-1 (3.38)
Save: Andres Munoz #2

GAME #5 – Sonny Gray 19-12 (3.01) vs. Jameson Taillon  14-7  (2.99)

In a game for the ages, the Triple Creek Patriots edged the Tempe Tempers 3-2 in a marathon 23-inning Division Series Game 5, clinching the series in front of a stunned home crowd. The contest, which lasted over seven hours, featured clutch pitching, defensive gems, and a walk-off single by Cody Bellinger that finally ended the stalemate.

Early Drama and See-Saw Scoring

The Tempers struck first in the third, capitalizing on a dropped fly ball by right fielder Lars Nootbaar and aggressive baserunning by Jorge Mateo. The Patriots answered in the fourth, as Jose Miranda doubled and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. followed with a two-run homer to put Triple Creek ahead 2-1.

Tempe’s Jose Ramirez responded in the sixth, launching a solo shot to tie the game at 2-2 and chase Patriots starter Jameson Taillon. From there, both bullpens took over, trading zeros for inning after inning.

Pitching Dominance and Defensive Highlights

Both teams’ relievers were heroic. Triple Creek’s Matt Strahm tossed five shutout innings, while Tempe’s pen, led by Trevor Williams and Kenley Jansen, matched him frame for frame. The Patriots’ Anthony Banda and Bryse Wilson combined for 6.2 scoreless innings, stranding Tempers runners in extra innings.

Defensively, both clubs sparkled. Corey Seager and Jose Miranda made several tough plays on the infield, while Victor Robles and Randal Grichuk covered acres in the outfield for Tempe and Triple Creek, respectively.

Late-Inning Tension and Walk-Off Heroics

The Tempers threatened repeatedly, with Robles swiping three bases and reaching five times, but each time the Patriots’ bullpen escaped. In the bottom of the 23rd, Seager singled, Miranda beat out an infield hit, and after a flyout, Bellinger lined a single to right. Seager raced home, sliding in just ahead of the throw to send the Patriots to the next round and set off a wild celebration.

Noteworthy Performances

Victor Robles (TEM): 2-for-9, 2B, 2 SB, 1 R, reached base five times.
Jose Ramirez (TEM): 2-for-9, HR, 2B, 1 RBI.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (TCP): 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI.
Cody Bellinger (TCP): 3-for-9, walk-off single, 2B, RBI.
Matt Strahm (TCP): 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 6 K in relief.
Scott Blewett (TEM): 7.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R (walk-off), 5 K in relief.

Triple Creek 3 – Tempe 2  (23 INNINGS)

Win: Bryse Wilson  1-0  (0.00)
Loss: Scott Blewitt  0-1  (1.00)

GAME #6 – Michael Lorenzen  12-7  (3.40) vs. Yu Darvish  11-2  (1.69)

TEMPE, AZ — The Triple Creek Patriots stormed out of the gates and never looked back, defeating the Tempe Tempers 8-4 in Game 6 of the Division Series to clinch the championship in convincing fashion. The Patriots’ bats came alive early, and despite a late rally by the Tempers, the visitors held firm to secure the series.

First-Inning Fireworks Set the Tone

Triple Creek wasted no time, plating three runs in the top of the first off Tempe starter Yu Darvish. Jonathan India, Christian Yelich, and Corey Seager strung together three consecutive singles, with India scoring the game’s first run. Jose Miranda and Cody Bellinger added RBI grounders, giving the Patriots a quick 3-0 lead.

Tempe answered in the second with a Freddie Freeman double and a triple from Wilyer Abreu, but Patriots starter Michael Lorenzen limited the damage, stranding Abreu at third.

Patriots Capitalize on Tempers’ Miscues

The Patriots extended their lead in the fifth, aided by a costly error from Tempe catcher J.T. Realmuto. Bellinger’s RBI triple and Jesse Winker’s RBI single pushed the score to 5-1. Tempe’s defense faltered again in the eighth, committing two errors that led to three more Patriots runs and put the game out of reach at 8-1.

Tempers’ Ninth-Inning Rally Falls Short

Down 8-1 entering the ninth, the Tempers mounted a late comeback. Pinch-hitter Hunter Renfroe doubled, and RBI hits from Jose Ramirez, Freeman, and Realmuto cut the deficit to 8-4. But reliever Jose Ferrer slammed the door, retiring Jorge Mateo to end the game and the series.

Injury Woes for Patriots

The only sour note for Triple Creek came in the seventh, when first baseman Cody Bellinger and catcher Will Smith collided on a foul pop-up. Both players were forced to leave the game, with Bellinger expected to miss 14 days and Smith sidelined for 7 days—potentially impacting the Patriots’ lineup in the next round.

Pitching Lines

Michael Lorenzen (W, 1-1) delivered a strong start, going 6 innings and allowing just one run on six hits. Aaron Ashby and Jose Ferrer finished the job, with Ferrer weathering the ninth-inning storm. Darvish (L, 0-2) took the loss for Tempe, surrendering five runs (three earned) over 6.2 innings.

Highlights

Corey Seager and Christian Yelich each collected three hits for Triple Creek.
The Patriots took advantage of four Tempe errors, scoring three unearned runs.
Tempe’s late rally featured three consecutive extra-base hits in the ninth, but it was too little, too late.

With the victory, the Patriots advance, but will have to navigate the next round without two key starters.

Triple Creek 8 – Tempe 4

Win: Michael Lorenzen  1-1  (4.22)
Loss: Yu Darvish  0-2  (8.64)

GAME #7 – Jose Quintana  16-7  (2.43) vs. Gerrit Cole  13-2  (2.90)

TEMPE, AZ — In a tense winner-take-all Game 7, the Tempe Tempers rode the power of J.T. Realmuto and a dominant bullpen to a 2-0 shutout victory over the Triple Creek Patriots, clinching the Division Series and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

Pitching Duel Defines the Day

Both teams leaned heavily on their pitching staffs, with Tempe’s arms combining for a four-hit shutout. Gerrit Cole started for the Tempers, working 2.2 scoreless innings before manager’s quick hook brought in lefty Luke Little. Little, Trevor Williams, and closer Andres Muñoz combined to keep the Patriots off the board, with Williams earning the win after 4.2 innings of one-hit relief. Muñoz notched his third save of the series, slamming the door in the ninth.

Triple Creek’s Jose Quintana matched zeros early, but faltered in the third when Realmuto launched a solo home run to deep center, giving Tempe a 1-0 lead. Quintana exited after three innings, charged with the loss.

Realmuto Delivers the Decisive Blows

Realmuto was the offensive star, homering twice—once in the third and again in the fifth, both solo shots off Patriots’ pitching. He finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs, accounting for all of Tempe’s runs. The rest of the Tempers’ lineup managed just three singles, but aggressive baserunning kept the pressure on, with three stolen bases on the day.

Patriots’ Missed Opportunities

Triple Creek’s best chance came in the fourth, when Corey Seager doubled and advanced to third with one out, but Williams struck out Randal Grichuk and induced a comebacker from Jesse Winker to escape the jam. The Patriots managed only four hits, with Seager and Jose Miranda each collecting doubles, but never advanced a runner past third base.

Defensive Gems and Noteworthy Moments

Ozzie Albies and Jorge Mateo anchored a flawless Tempers infield, turning key outs and making several sharp plays. The Tempers’ bullpen was lights out, retiring 18 of the final 22 batters faced.

There were no reported injuries lasting more than three or four days.

What’s Next

With the win, Tempe advances to the next round, their pitching staff riding a wave of momentum. For Triple Creek, the season ends with a valiant effort but an offense that ran out of steam at the worst possible time.

Tempe 2 – Triple Creek 0

Win: Luke Little  2-0  (1.23)
Loss: Jose Quintana  0-1  (6.00)
Save: Andres Munoz #3

The Tempers stormed out of the gate, taking the first two games at home behind dominant starts from Trevor Williams and Sonny Gray, and a barrage of early home runs from Marcell Ozuna, José Ramírez, and Ozzie Albies. Tempe’s bullpen, led by Andrés Muñoz, slammed the door late, while Triple Creek’s defense faltered under pressure.

But the Patriots roared back in Game 3, unleashing a 10-run outburst fueled by Lars Nootbaar’s two home runs and a relentless attack that chased Yu Darvish early. The momentum carried into Game 5, where Triple Creek outlasted Tempe in a marathon 23-inning epic—Cody Bellinger’s walk-off single capping one of the longest, most thrilling games in postseason history.

Game 4 saw Victor Robles emerge as Tempe’s hero, driving in all four runs and flashing leather as the Tempers’ defense turned three double plays. Yet, Triple Creek refused to fold, capitalizing on Tempe’s errors in Game 6 to clinch an 8-4 win, despite losing Cody Bellinger and Will Smith to injury.

With everything on the line in Game 7, Tempe’s pitching staff delivered a masterpiece. Gerrit Cole, Luke Little, Trevor Williams, and Muñoz combined for a four-hit shutout, while J.T. Realmuto provided all the offense with two towering solo home runs. The Patriots’ bats, so potent earlier, were silenced when it mattered most.

Key highlights included Nootbaar’s Game 3 heroics, Bellinger’s walk-off, Robles’ all-around brilliance, and Realmuto’s Game 7 heroics. Both bullpens were tested to their limits, but it was Tempe’s arms that stood tallest in the end.

The Tempers advance, battle-tested and brimming with confidence, while the Patriots bow out after a series for the ages—one that will be remembered for its tension, endurance, and unforgettable moments.