2026 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #17

On the mound, Paul Skenes was utterly dominant, stifling Chicago’s hitters and racking up nine strikeouts. However, with just two outs remaining in the ninth inning and a shutout well within reach, Skenes was abruptly ejected after hitting Riley Greene with a pitch. Gabe Speier surrendered an RBI single to lose the shutout, but the game was already long decided.

Final Score: Detroit 15 – Chicago 1

Win: Paul Skenes 9-6 (2.61)
Loss: MacKenzie Gore 2-7 (5.98)

Chicago threatened to close the gap with a three-run fourth inning, highlighted by a Willy Adames RBI single, but Detroit’s bullpen locked things down. Aaron Nola earned the win after seven strong innings, and Jason Adam stepped in to secure a perfect ninth for the save.

Final Score: Detroit 6 – Chicago 3

Win: Aaron Nola 3-2 (3.88)
Loss: Jesus Luzardo 10-5 (3.74)
Save: Jason Adam #2

Logan Gilbert was magnificent on the mound for Chicago, striking out ten batters over seven and two-thirds innings while scattering just three hits. Kyle Schwarber launched a solo home run in the fourth, and Randy Arozarena added a two-run blast in the ninth for Detroit, but a bases-loaded, three-run double by Yandy Díaz in the eighth ensured Chicago kept the game well out of reach.

Final Score: Chicago 9 – Detroit 3

Win: Logan Gilbert 5-5 (3.62)
Loss: Sean Manaea 5-6 (4.85)

Detroit manufactured the only run they would need in the second inning. After Randy Arozarena was drilled by a pitch and forced to leave the game with an injury, pinch-runner Andy Ibáñez stole second and scored on a two-out RBI double by Rafael Marchan. Hunter Brown pitched well for Chicago, but a bases-loaded walk to Kyle Schwarber in the fifth added a crucial insurance run for the Crime.

The physical, high-stakes nature of the division rivalry boiled over in the fourth inning when Chicago’s Yordan Alvarez was ejected for aggressively arguing a pickoff call at first base. Injuries also piled up for both sides: Arozarena’s day ended early in the second, and Chicago catcher Henry Davis was forced out of the game in the fifth after taking a fastball to the lower back, resulting in a four-day injury diagnosis.

Final Score: Detroit 2 – Chicago 0

Win: Zack Wheeler 7-7 (4.10)
Loss: Hunter Brown 10-6 (2.26)

MacKenzie Gore earned the victory, striking out eight across seven innings. Detroit mounted a furious late-inning rally in the eighth, blasting back-to-back home runs courtesy of Manny Machado and Randy Arozarena, but Chicago’s bullpen closed the door to secure the win.

Final Score: Chicago 10 – Detroit 6

Win: MacKenzie Gore 3-7 (6.19)
Loss: Janson Junk 9-4 (3.06)

Refusing to back down, the AL Central-leading Mobsters rallied furiously to claim the final games. Backed by a 10-strikeout masterpiece from Logan Gilbert, Chicago secured a dominant 9-3 victory before unleashing a relentless, seven-run third inning to capture a 10-6 finale, successfully halting Detroit’s momentum in an unforgettable series.

The Dallas Cougars are in second place in the AL West, just two games behind the league-leading Crushers. Offensively, Dallas leads the league with a .248 team batting average and also ranks first in runs scored and slugging percentage. The Cougars are second in home runs with 124, third in stolen bases with 71, and third in on-base percentage. On the mound, Dallas owns the league’s fourth-best ERA at 3.22. The Cougars are 31-16 at home.

DALLAS — The Dallas Cougars continued their torrid run Friday night, edging the first-place Coconut Creek Crushers 3-1 behind another strong outing from Adrian Houser and timely late-game hitting.

The win was Dallas’ eighth straight, improving the club to 59-36, while the Crushers dropped their third consecutive game despite repeatedly threatening throughout the evening.

Houser worked six innings to earn his ninth victory of the season. The right-hander scattered seven hits, struck out six, and escaped several jams, stranding 11 Coconut Creek runners before departing with the game tied.

Dallas struck first in the second inning. Luis Matos singled with two outs and came all the way around to score when Brooks Lee ripped a double into the right-field corner, giving the Cougars a 1-0 lead.
The Crushers finally broke through in the sixth. T.J. Friedl singled, stole second, and scored on Geraldo Perdomo’s two-out single up the middle to tie the game at 1-1.

The deadlock lasted only a half-inning. Warming Bernabel doubled with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, and pinch-hitter Carlos Cortes followed with a sharp RBI single to center, putting Dallas back in front 2-1.

The Cougars added an insurance run in the seventh after loading the bases. Pinch-hitter Nick Kurtz drew a bases-loaded walk from reliever Matt Brash, forcing home Jarren Duran and stretching the lead to 3-1.
Dallas threatened to blow the game open, leaving the bases loaded in both the seventh and eighth innings, but the pitching staff made the slim advantage stand.

Justin Wilson, Brock Stewart, and Adrian Morejon combined for three scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Morejon recorded the final five outs for his fourth save, retiring Matt Olson on a called third strike before inducing key outs from Kyle Stowers and Brandon Marsh. He sealed the victory when Ramon Laureano tracked down Brandon Nimmo’s deep drive at the warning track in right field.

Lee finished 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, while Laureano reached base four times with two hits and two walks. Bernabel added two hits, including the go-ahead rally-starting double.

For Coconut Creek, Friedl collected two hits and scored the lone run, while Perdomo notched his 100th hit of the season and drove in the Crushers’ only run.

Despite outhitting Dallas 10-9, the Crushers stranded 14 runners and went scoreless in multiple bases-loaded opportunities as the Cougars opened the six-game series with a hard-earned 3-1 victory.

DALLAS — The Dallas Cougars watched a four-run lead disappear, then answered with late-game heroics to edge the Coconut Creek Crushers, 8-7, in a wild back-and-forth contest Friday night.

Dallas struck first and struck hard, erupting for four runs in the opening inning against Crushers starter Spencer Schwellenbach. Jarren Duran ignited the offense with a leadoff home run, ending a 34-game homerless drought, and the Cougars piled on with RBI singles from Carlos Cortes and Kyle Manzardo while taking advantage of a wild pitch to build a 4-0 advantage.

The Cougars extended the lead to 5-0 in the second when Duran tripled and scored on Brooks Lee‘s RBI single. Duran finished one of his best games of the season, collecting a homer, a triple, three hits, and two RBIs.

Coconut Creek slowly chipped away. An error by catcher Victor Caratini in the third helped the Crushers get on the board, and Matt Olson‘s two-run double in the fifth cut Dallas’ lead to 5-3.

The turning point appeared to come in the sixth. After Dallas had stretched its lead to 6-3 on Manzardo’s RBI single, the Crushers erupted for four runs in the top of the sixth. T.J. Friedl delivered a two-run single, and Ivan Herrera followed with a two-run double after Patrick Corbin was ejected for hitting Geraldo Perdomo with a pitch. Suddenly, Coconut Creek had stormed ahead 7-6.

Dallas answered in the seventh. With runners at the corners, Duran lined a game-tying RBI single to score Manzardo and knot the score at 7-7.

The decisive blow came an inning later. After Nick Kurtz doubled and Cortes drew an intentional walk, Manzardo singled to put runners on the corners. Although the Crushers cut down Kurtz at the plate, Caratini came through moments later with a bloop RBI single that scored Cortes and gave Dallas an 8-7 lead.
The Crushers threatened in the ninth when Perdomo drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second, bringing the tying run into scoring position. But Dallas closer Daniel Palencia escaped the jam, preserving the victory.

Manzardo paced the Cougars with three hits and three RBIs, while Cortes added three hits, two runs scored, and an RBI. Herrera led Coconut Creek with three hits and two RBIs, and Friedl drove in two runs during the Crushers’ comeback effort.

After nearly letting an early rout slip away, the Cougars had just enough offense in the late innings to secure their ninth consecutive victory and move into a tie for first place.

DALLAS — The Coconut Creek Crushers ended Dallas’ nine-game winning streak Friday night, using timely hitting and a late power surge to defeat the Cougars 7-3 before a disappointed home crowd.

The Crushers struck immediately when leadoff hitter Geraldo Perdomo launched a solo home run to right-center in the first inning, giving Coconut Creek a quick 1-0 lead. They added another run in the second on Alec Bohm’s RBI single, building a 2-0 advantage against Dallas starter Emerson Hancock.

Dallas finally broke through in the third when Kyle Manzardo crushed a solo homer, his 19th of the season, to cut the deficit to 2-1. The Cougars drew even an inning later as Nick Kurtz doubled and Ramon Laureano followed with a run-scoring double into the corner to tie the game at 2-2.

The contest remained deadlocked until the sixth, when the Crushers capitalized on a pair of extra-base hits. Bohm’s double helped set up an RBI groundout by Josh H. Smith, and Perdomo added another run with a productive ground ball to put Coconut Creek ahead 4-2.

Dallas answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning. Alek Thomas singled, stole second, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on Sal Frelick’s RBI double down the right-field line, trimming the margin to 4-3.

The Cougars threatened several times but could not find the tying run. Dallas left runners stranded in scoring position in both the fifth and sixth innings, while reliever Justin Wilson escaped a seventh-inning jam for the Crushers.

Coconut Creek put the game away in the eighth. After a stolen base and a passed ball moved pinch-runner Nico Hoerner to third, Matt Olson blasted a two-run homer down the left-field line. Giancarlo Stanton followed immediately with a solo shot, giving the Crushers back-to-back home runs and extending the lead to 7-3.

The Cougars managed only one baserunner in the ninth before David Morgan closed the door.
Jack Leiter earned the victory, improving to 12-3. He allowed three runs on six hits over six innings. Hancock took the loss for Dallas, surrendering four runs over six innings.

Top Performers

• Coconut Creek: Alec Bohm went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored; Geraldo Perdomo homered and drove in two; Matt Olson and Giancarlo Stanton hit eighth-inning home runs.
• Dallas: Ramon Laureano collected two hits and an RBI; Kyle Manzardo homered and walked twice; Sal Frelick added two hits, including an RBI double.
The victory lifted the first-place Crushers to 60-35 and snapped a four-game losing streak, while Dallas saw its nine-game winning streak come to an end in a 7-3 defeat.

DALLAS — The Dallas Cougars struck early and never looked back Thursday, riding a dominant start from Cole Ragans and a three-run first inning to a 5-2 win over the Coconut Creek Crushers.
The victory gave Dallas a 3-1 edge in the six-game series and improved the Cougars to 61-37, while the first-place Crushers fell to 60-36.

Dallas wasted no time against Crushers ace Logan Webb as Jarren Duran ignited the offense with a leadoff triple in the first inning and scored on Brooks Lee’s RBI single. Nick Kurtz later added a run-scoring hit, and a wild pitch brought home another run as the Cougars built a 3-0 lead before Webb could record an out.

The Cougars added insurance runs in the second and third innings. Sal Frelick doubled home Duran in the second, and Andres Gimenez contributed a sacrifice fly in the third to stretch the advantage to 5-0.
Meanwhile, Ragans was in control on the mound. After escaping a first-inning threat with the help of a remarkable 9-2-6 double play, the left-hander retired 14 of the next 16 batters he faced. The Crushers managed just three hits against him through six innings.

Coconut Creek finally broke through in the sixth when Ivan Herrera launched a two-run homer just inside the left-field foul pole, cutting the deficit to 5-2. It was the Crushers’ only extra-base hit of the afternoon.
Ragans (5-3) earned the win, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out six over six innings. Webb (11-3) took the loss surrendering five runs on eight hits in five innings.

Dallas’ bullpen combined to shut the door over the final three frames. Brock Stewart recorded the final three outs after Daniel Palencia was ejected for hitting Herrera with a pitch to begin the ninth inning. Stewart immediately erased Herrera on the bases with a double play from Matt Olson and retired Brandon Nimmo on a popup to secure his second save.

Frelick paced the Cougars offense with two doubles and an RBI, while Duran scored twice and Lee drove in the game’s first run. Kyle Manzardo added two hits as Dallas collected eight hits overall.
The Crushers were limited to four hits, with Herrera accounting for half of them and driving in both Coconut Creek runs.

Final: Cougars 5, Crushers 2.

Dallas rallies late, stuns Coconut Creek 4-3 on dramatic ninth-inning blast

DALLAS — The Dallas Cougars continued their torrid stretch Friday night, erasing a late deficit and walking off the Coconut Creek Crushers 4-3 on Kyle Manzardo’s two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Manzardo delivered the decisive blow with one out in the ninth, launching a towering shot to right field off Crushers closer Mason Miller after pinch-hitter Carlos Cortes doubled into scoring position. The blast capped a comeback victory and gave Dallas its fourth win in five games of the six-game series.

The game was a classic pitchers’ duel for much of the evening. Dallas starter Lucas Giolito matched Coconut Creek’s Hunter Greene inning for inning through the first four scoreless frames. Giolito allowed just five hits over eight innings while striking out six, though two Dallas errors proved costly.

The Crushers finally broke through in the fifth. Nico Hoerner opened the inning with a double and scored on Kyle Karros’ RBI double down the right-field line for a 1-0 lead.

Dallas answered immediately in the bottom half when Manzardo crushed a solo homer to right, his 20th of the season, tying the game at 1-1.

The Cougars grabbed their first lead in the sixth after reliever Justin Sterner replaced Greene. Nick Kurtz greeted the move with a two-out solo homer to right-center, extending his on-base streak to 27 games and putting Dallas ahead 2-1.

Coconut Creek capitalized on Dallas miscues in the seventh. An error allowed Karros to reach, and Geraldo Perdomo followed with a game-tying RBI triple to right-center. Two batters later, Kyle Stowers lined a run-scoring single to right, giving the Crushers a 3-2 advantage.

Dallas nearly tied the game in the eighth when Andres Gimenez doubled and advanced to third with one out. However, Perdomo made a sparkling stop on Brooks Lee’s grounder, and the Crushers cut down Gimenez at the plate, preserving the lead.

That set the stage for the ninth-inning heroics. After Kurtz flew out, Cortes came off the bench and ripped a pinch-hit double. Manzardo then launched Miller’s offering deep into the Dallas night, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and ending the game instantly.

Manzardo finished 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBIs, while Kurtz added his 20th homer of the season. Gimenez collected two hits, including a key eighth-inning double.

Perdomo led Coconut Creek with a double, triple, RBI, and run scored. Karros drove in a run and scored another, while Hoerner scored the Crushers’ first run.

Emmanuel Clase earned the victory with a scoreless ninth inning, improving to 2-0. Miller suffered the loss after surrendering the game-winning homer.

With the victory, Dallas improved to 62-37 and took sole possession of first place in the AL West while winning for the 10th time in its last 11 games. The Crushers fell to 60-37.

Final: Cougars 4, Crushers 3.

The first-place Dallas Cougars had won nine of their last 10 games and entered Thursday looking to complete a dominant series, but the visiting Coconut Creek Crushers rode outstanding pitching and a pair of timely home runs to a 3-0 victory.

Matt Boyd continued his remarkable run on the mound, working 6⅔ scoreless innings while allowing just four hits as the Crushers salvaged the finale of the six-game set. The win was Boyd’s 11th of the season and his 11th consecutive winning decision.

For six innings, the game was a classic pitchers’ duel between Boyd and Dallas right-hander Adrian Houser. Both starters repeatedly escaped trouble, with the Cougars’ best opportunity coming in the first inning when Ramon Laureano and Andy Pages delivered two-out singles to put runners on the corners. Boyd responded by retiring Josh Jung on a deep fly ball to end the threat.

Houser was equally sharp, scattering four hits through six scoreless innings. The veteran right-hander worked out of jams in the fourth and fifth innings, stranding runners after a Matt Olson walk and a T.J. Friedl leadoff single.

The deadlock finally broke in the seventh. After Brandon Marsh drew a leadoff walk and Friedl struck out, Yainer Diaz turned on a Houser pitch and launched a two-run homer to give Coconut Creek a 2-0 lead. The blast, Diaz’s 14th of the season, ended a scoreless battle and provided all the offense the Crushers would need.

Dallas threatened in the sixth when Jarren Duran doubled off the wall in right-center with nobody out, but Boyd struck out Miguel Rojas and retired the next two hitters to preserve the tie.

The Crushers added insurance in the eighth when Giancarlo Stanton hammered a solo home run to deep left off reliever Justin Wilson, extending the lead to 3-0.

The Cougars managed five hits, including two by Duran, but never advanced a runner past second base after the first inning. Coconut Creek’s bullpen combination of Matt Brash, Mason Miller and Shawn Armstrong closed the door, with Armstrong recording the final three outs for his sixth save.
Houser (9-3) suffered his first loss since early in the season despite allowing just two runs over seven innings.

Final: Coconut Creek Crushers 3, Dallas Cougars 0.

W: B. Little (3-0)
L: J. Flaherty (5-8) 1.2IP 7H 9R 5ER
S: C. Thielbar (10)

Tijuana starter – L. Gil 4.2IP 6H 6R

3 RBI and a homer for Corbin Carroll.

W: S. Strider (3-6) 7IP 5H 2R 13K
L: T. Gonsolin (0-8) 5IP 6H 3R 4K

Carroll hits a grand slam; he now has 7 RBI in the series.

W: C. Sanchez (12-1) 7IP 4H 3R 2K
L: Z. Gallen (2-13) 5IP 4H 4R 6K

Carroll only gets an RBI triple, BUT Caminero goes 4/5 with 2 HR and 6 RBI.

W: W. Peralta (1-2)
L: C. Thielbar (3-4)

starters:
GST – B. Brown 3IP 7H 6R 4K
TIJ F. Valdez 5.2IP 6H 2R 5K

Seiya Suzuki walks it off with a solo shot in the 9th.

W: R. Olson (6-3) 6IP 3H 2R
L: L. Evans (3-6) 4.1IP 7H 5R 4ER 2K

BANDICOOTS 0 / 8 / 0
COMETS 3 / 8 / 0
WP – Cannon (7-6)
LP – Wacha (9-6)
S – Phillips (8)

BANDICOOTS 2 / 3 / 2
COMETS 10 / 14 / 0
WP – Priester (6-2)
LP – Springs (8-6)

BANDICOOTS 8 / 12 / 2
COMETS 12 / 17 / 1
WP – Maxwell (2-0)
LP – Keller (8-10)

BANDICOOTS 5 / 6 / 1
COMETS 0 / 2 / 0
WP – Paddack (2-0)
LP – Sheehan (1-3)

BANDICOOTS 2 / 4 / 0
COMETS 5 / 11 / 1
WP – Horton (5-3)
LP – Kirby (1-3)
S – Phillips (9)

Alamo 1 Fremont 0

Fremont 5 Alamo 0

Fremont 5 Alamo 1

Alamo 5 Fremont 2

Fremont 6 Alamo 1

Overview

In a tight, low-scoring affair at Tampa Bay, the Expos scratched out just enough offense to take Game 1 of the series. M. King settled in after a rocky first inning, and a shutdown bullpen did the rest as Tampa held on for the 3-2 victory.

Pitching

M. King earned his 6th win of the season, working 5.0 innings and allowing 2 earned runs on 6 hits while striking out 5. He was efficient enough to hand the ball to a dominant trio out of the pen. R. Montero was electric — 2.0 perfect innings with 3 strikeouts, earning a hold. H. Harris added a clean 7th, and P. Fairbanks slammed the door in the 9th for his 12th save of the season, needing just 5 batters to close it out. Tampa’s staff combined for 9 strikeouts and zero errors — a complete team effort on the mound.

Long Beach starter J.T. Ginn took the loss, dropping to 0-3. He labored through 5.2 innings, surrendering 3 runs (2 earned) on 7 hits with 9 strikeouts — a strong strikeout number that didn’t translate to a win. The bullpen of Butto and Burrows held Tampa scoreless the rest of the way, but the damage was already done.

Offense — Tampa Bay Expos

C. Moore provided the biggest swing of the game — a solo home run (his stat line: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI) that proved to be the difference-maker. J. Altuve continued his consistent ways, going 2-for-5. D. Smith chipped in with a 2-hit game at first base, and B. Bichette added an RBI double. K. Tucker scored after drawing a pair of walks, setting the table in the early innings. The Expos left 12 on base, a number that could have inflated the margin significantly with more timely hitting.

Offense — Long Beach Dirt Dogs

J. Pena was the standout for Long Beach, going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI — the best individual line of the game. T. Soderstrom added a 2-hit, 1-RBI performance. C. Young contributed 2 hits from the bottom of the order. However, the Dirt Dogs stranded 9 runners and committed 2 infield errors (Ortiz and Young), both of which contributed to the 3-9 record in the loss column.

Key Takeaways

Fairbanks is locked in as one of the elite closers in the league — save #12 on the season
Moore’s HR was the decisive blow in an otherwise pitching-dominated game
Long Beach left 9 on base and committed 2 errors — both killers in a one-run game
Tampa’s bullpen threw 4.0 shutout innings to preserve the win

Overview

The Dirt Dogs evened the series at one game apiece, rallying past the Expos in a game Tampa let slip away. The Expos jumped out to a 4-0 lead after a four-run fourth inning powered by home runs up and down the lineup, but Long Beach chipped away and ultimately outlasted Tampa in nine innings. Three Expos errors and a blown save proved to be the decisive difference.

Pitching

S. Gray took the no-decision but showed some wear, working 6.0 innings, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits with 9 strikeouts. His ERA climbs to 4.69 — the walks (4) and one error behind him cost Tampa early control of the game. S. Barlow entered in the 7th and immediately surrendered a blown save — his second of the season — giving up 1 run on 2 hits. H. Harris took the loss (0-2), allowing a critical homer in the 9th that sealed Long Beach’s victory. Arrighetti finished cleanly with a scoreless final frame.

For Long Beach, S. Cecconi was solid through 6.2 innings, allowing 4 earned runs on 5 hits with 6 strikeouts. K. Harrison earned the win in relief — getting the final out of the 7th in just 1/3 of an inning. B. Woodruff closed it out for save #4, though he did surrender a solo HR to make it interesting in the 9th.

Offense — Tampa Bay Expos

The 4th inning was electric — the Expos put up four runs on back-to-back-to-back home runs. J. Altuve launched a solo shot (1-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI), J. Soto connected for a solo homer (1-for-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI, stolen base), B. Bichette added another solo blast (1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI), and T. Gray went deep as well (1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI). Four home runs in the game total — a power display that should have been enough. But Tampa’s offense went cold after the 4th, managing only 2 more hits the rest of the way and leaving just 3 on base. The lack of situational hitting and 3 team errors ultimately cost them.

Offense — Long Beach Dirt Dogs

T. Soderstrom was the story of the game — going 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, and 2 RBI, anchoring the Long Beach offense throughout. D. Gilbert provided an early jolt with a solo home run (1-for-2, 1 HR, 1 RBI). M. Tauchman contributed a 2-hit, 1-RBI game out of the two-hole. The Dirt Dogs spread the damage across seven different innings, showing real resilience and lineup depth. They stranded 10 but made the clutch plays when it mattered.

Key Takeaways

Tampa’s 3 errors were a critical factor — uncharacteristic defensive breakdowns in a one-run game
Barlow’s blown save (2nd of the season) continues to be a bullpen liability
Harris takes his 2nd loss — the 9th inning HR he surrendered was the knockout punch
Long Beach hit 2 HRs to Tampa’s 4, but won — small ball and resilience won out
Series now tied 1-1 heading into Game 3

Overview

Tampa Bay bounced back in dominant fashion to retake the series lead, 2-1. The Expos exploded for a four-run 5th inning to break the game open, and C. Javier delivered one of the best outings of his season. Long Beach managed just 1 run on 7 hits but could never string anything together against a sharp Expos pitching staff.

Pitching

C. Javier was the story on the mound — pitching 6.0 shutout innings, allowing just 5 hits with 8 strikeouts and 1 walk. He earns his 2nd win of the season (2-7) and lowers his ERA to 6.25 — this was the kind of performance Tampa has been waiting for from him all year. S. Arrighetti came on in relief and tossed 2.0 innings with 2 strikeouts, allowing just 1 earned run. J. Tong closed it cleanly with a perfect 9th.

For Long Beach, J. Irvin absorbed the loss (2-11), giving up 6 runs (5 earned) on 9 hits over just 4.2 innings. His ERA sits at a rough 7.31. R. Vasquez was much better in relief — 3.1 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 4 walks — keeping Tampa off the board and giving Long Beach a chance to rally, but the damage was already done.

Offense — Tampa Bay Expos

The offense was balanced and relentless. J. Altuve was the standout, going 3-for-4 with a double — his best game of the series. K. Tucker went 2-for-5 and scored twice, continuing his solid stretch at the top of the order. D. Smith delivered the biggest hit of the game — a 2-RBI double (2-for-3) in the key 5th-inning rally. B. Bichette added an RBI knock, and M. Muncy chipped in with a sacrifice fly RBI. J. Berti contributed a sac fly as well. Six players recorded at least one hit — a complete team offensive performance.

Offense — Long Beach Dirt Dogs

Long Beach was held off the board until the 7th inning. T. Soderstrom continued his strong series with 2 hits, and C. Young added 2 hits from the bottom of the order. W. MacIver had the lone RBI of the game for Long Beach — a 4th-inning double. J. Ortiz reached on a hit and scored the team’s only run, but the Dirt Dogs stranded 8 and struck out 11 times — a rough offensive afternoon against a rolling Javier.

Key Takeaways

Javier’s shutout stretch was the best pitching performance of the series so far
Altuve’s 3-hit game signals he’s heating up at exactly the right time
Tampa’s 5th inning four-spot was the series’ most decisive offensive burst yet
Long Beach’s 11 strikeouts tell the story — they never found a rhythm at the plate
Tampa Bay leads the series 2-1 heading into Game 4

Overview

A pitcher’s duel that went to extras, and Long Beach pulled away with a three-run 10th to even the series at 2-2. Tampa’s J. Misiorowski was brilliant for 7 innings, and the Expos held a 1-0 lead into the 6th when Long Beach tied it. Neither team could score again until the 10th, when S. Baz imploded and handed the Dirt Dogs the game. A gut-punch loss for Tampa at home.

Pitching

J. Misiorowski was the best Expos starter of the series not named Javier — going 7.0 innings, allowing just 1 run on 4 hits with 11 strikeouts. Dominant stuff. His ERA drops to 7.61, but this outing was a statement. Unfortunately, S. Baz entered in extra innings and surrendered 3 runs on 5 hits in just 2.1 innings, taking the loss and dropping to 5-8. His ERA rises to 4.79. Harris closed out the 10th with 2/3 of a scoreless inning.

For Long Beach, G. Crochet was simply magnificent — 9.0 complete innings, allowing just 3 hits and 1 earned run with 9 strikeouts, earning his 9th win of the season. His ERA stands at an elite 2.52. Woodruff came on in the 10th and closed it with 2 strikeouts for save #5. A masterclass pitching performance by the Dirt Dogs.

Offense — Tampa Bay Expos

Tampa’s offense was almost completely neutralized by Crochet. B. Bichette provided the lone bright spot — a solo home run (1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI) in the 5th inning that gave the Expos their only lead of the game. K. Tucker and J. Altuve each had singles, but Tampa left just 2 on base — a testament to how locked in Crochet was. The rest of the lineup was held hitless, with C. Moore, J. Wood, J. Berti, T. d’Arnaud, J. Soto, and C. Vazquez all going 0-for-3. Tampa struck out 11 times as a team.

Offense — Long Beach Dirt Dogs

M. Tauchman was the catalyst with a monster 3-for-5 afternoon, including a double. J. Pena delivered the go-ahead blow in the 10th — a 2-RBI double (1-for-5). R. Anthony provided the insurance with a solo home run (1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI). J. Ortiz added 2 hits, including a double. D. Gilbert drew 3 walks and came up with a clutch RBI. Long Beach stranded 10 but came through with the hits that mattered most in extras.

Key Takeaways

Crochet’s 9-inning, 3-hit gem was the pitching performance of the series
Baz is continuing to be a liability in high-leverage situations — this one cost Tampa the game
Misiorowski’s 11-strikeout outing was wasted by the bullpen’s collapse
Bichette’s HR was Tampa’s only real offensive moment all game
Series tied 2-2 — heading into a decisive Game 5

Overview

Tampa Bay took the series lead for good, delivering a dominant 4-1 victory behind a near-masterpiece from N. Crismatt and a timely home run from an unlikely hero. The Expos’ pitching staff was suffocating all night, holding Long Beach to just 1 run on 9 hits — stranding 8 Dirt Dogs on base. P. Fairbanks closed the door to earn save #13.

Pitching

N. Crismatt was exceptional — pitching 8.2 innings, allowing just 1 run on 9 hits with 8 strikeouts and zero walks. He earns his 2nd win of the season (2-1) and lowers his ERA to 3.72. This was arguably the most efficient outing of the entire series — he went deep into the game, kept the ball in the park, and never once lost command. Fairbanks came on for the final out and notched save #13, his ERA now sitting at a pristine 1.57.

For Long Beach, R. Feltner took the loss (1-2), working 6.0 innings and surrendering 3 earned runs on 4 hits. His ERA rises to 4.18. He was let down by the offense more than anything — the Dirt Dogs couldn’t string together runs despite consistently putting men on base. M. Burrows threw 2 solid innings in relief, but a 9th-inning run crossed on his watch.

Offense — Tampa Bay Expos

C. Vazquez was the hero of the night — delivering a 3-run home run (1-for-3, 1 HR, 3 RBI) that blew the game open in the 3rd inning. For a catcher hitting .187, this was a massive moment. J. Berti had a quietly outstanding game — going 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored and a stolen base, showing the kind of spark off the bench Tampa needs more of. T. d’Arnaud reached on a hit and drew an IBB, contributing to the late-inning insurance run. The Expos were economical — just 5 hits, but 4 runs — converting when it counted.

Offense — Long Beach Dirt Dogs

Long Beach had the hits — 9 of them — but couldn’t push runs across against Crismatt’s command. T. Soderstrom continued his strong series with 2 more hits. M. Mayer provided the lone run with a solo home run (2-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI) in the 9th — a consolation shot in a losing effort. J. Pena, R. Anthony, L. Rivas, and W. MacIver all had hits, but stranding 8 runners tells the story. Long Beach simply couldn’t find the two-out hit with runners in scoring position all game.

Key Takeaways

Crismatt’s 8.2-inning gem was the quiet pitching performance of the series
Vazquez’s 3-run HR was the single biggest offensive moment of the entire series
Berti’s 2-hit, 2-run, stolen base game was a huge spark at the bottom of the order
Long Beach had more hits, but Tampa had the only hits that mattered
Tampa Bay leads the series 3-2 — one win away from taking it

Overview

Tampa Bay closed out the series in dramatic fashion, rallying from a 3-2 deficit to score two runs in the 7th and put it away with a four-run 9th. The Expos trailed for most of the game but never panicked, and their bullpen — anchored by H. Harris and P. Fairbanks — held Long Beach scoreless over the final two innings to seal the series win. A hard-fought 4-3 victory and a series victory for the Tampa Bay Expos, 4 games to 2.

Pitching

M. King started and went 5.0 innings, giving up 2 earned runs on 5 hits with 5 strikeouts. Serviceable but not dominant — he handed a 2-0 Dirt Dogs lead to the bullpen. R. Montero came on and ran into trouble, surrendering a solo HR and taking on 2 walks in 1.1 innings. S. Barlow got one out cleanly. H. Harris turned in the pivotal performance of the game — 1.1 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, earning the win (1-2) and settling the bullpen down at a critical moment. P. Fairbanks was unhittable in the 9th — 1.0 inning, 0 hits, 2 strikeouts — locking down save #14 with his ERA now down to 1.52. What a season he’s having.

Long Beach’s J. Ginn took the loss again (0-4), working 7.0 solid innings but surrendering 4 earned runs on 8 hits. His ERA sits at 7.44 — a tough night that really came undone in the 7th and 9th innings. R. Vasquez threw a clean final inning in relief.

Offense — Tampa Bay Expos

C. Vazquez was the offensive hero again — delivering a solo home run and 2 RBI (1-for-2, 1 HR), continuing what has been a remarkable series for Tampa’s catcher. J. Altuve came through with a clutch 2-RBI triple (1-for-3) — the big knock in the Expos’ comeback. J. Berti once again proved his value, going 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored — his second straight multi-hit, multi-run game. D. Smith and B. Bichette each singled to keep innings alive. The Expos scored 4 in the 9th to erase a one-run deficit — a gutsy, veteran rally when the series was on the line.

Offense — Long Beach Dirt Dogs

Long Beach came out swinging — scoring 2 in the 1st and adding one in the 7th to take a 3-2 lead into the late innings. W. MacIver had the best individual line of the game for the Dirt Dogs — going 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI (1 HR, 1 RBI). R. Anthony doubled and scored. T. Soderstrom added a hit and an RBI. M. Vargas chipped in with an RBI single. But stranding 8 runners and going 0-for-the-clutch in the final two innings ultimately cost them the series.

Key Takeaways

Fairbanks save #14, ERA 1.52 — he is elite and the backbone of this bullpen
Vazquez has been the surprise offensive weapon of the entire series
Altuve’s 9th-inning triple was the single biggest hit of the series
Berti’s two-game surge (4-for-6, 4 runs scored) was a critical X-factor
Long Beach left 8 on base and couldn’t hold the lead — story of their series

Series Results
Game Winner Score
Game 1 Tampa Bay 3-2
Game 2 Long Beach 6-5
Game 3 Tampa Bay 6-1
Game 4 Long Beach 4-1 (10 inn.)
Game 5 Tampa Bay 4-1
Game 6 Tampa Bay 4-3

Series Pitching — Tampa Bay Expos

The pitching staff was the foundation of this series win. P. Fairbanks was perfect in three appearances — 0 runs allowed, 2 saves (series), finishing with a 1.52 ERA. N. Crismatt’s 8.2-inning gem in Game 5 was the single best pitching performance of the series. C. Javier’s 6-inning shutout in Game 3 was a close second. M. King was consistent across two starts. The bullpen was uneven — S. Barlow and S. Baz had costly outings — but H. Harris bounced back with two clean appearances late.

Series Pitching — Long Beach Dirt Dogs

G. Crochet’s complete game in Game 4 was the most dominant single pitching performance of the entire series — 9.0 innings, 3 hits, 1 ER, 9 K’s. Unfortunately, J. Ginn went 0-2 across two starts, and J. Irvin was knocked around early in Game 3. The bullpen was solid but rarely got the chance to matter given the starting rotation’s inconsistency.

Series Offense — Tampa Bay Expos

C. Vazquez was the unlikely MVP of the series — homering twice and driving in 5 runs across the 6 games, far outperforming his .187 batting average heading in. J. Berti was a revelation — combining for 4 hits, 4 runs scored, and multiple stolen bases across the final two games. B. Bichette hit .310+ throughout and contributed 2 HR. J. Altuve closed the series with the biggest hit — the go-ahead triple in Game 6. Tampa’s power was on full display: 7 home runs as a team across the series.

Series Offense — Long Beach Dirt Dogs

T. Soderstrom was the most consistent hitter in the series — reaching base in every game and providing extra-base punch throughout. M. Tauchman had a strong middle series. Long Beach hit 6 home runs but struggled with runners on base — stranding double-digit baserunners in three separate games. Their inability to convert in key situations was the defining offensive storyline of the series.

Series MVP: C. Vazquez (TB) — 2 HR, 5 RBI, clutch performances in Games 5 and 6. Series Best Pitcher: N. Crismatt (TB) — 8.2 IP, 1 ER, 8 K in Game 5. Honorable Mention: G. Crochet (LB) — Complete game masterpiece in Game 4