2026 N.L. DIVISION SERIES #1
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SERIES PREVIEW – For the second year in a row, the Triple Creek Patriots will face the Tempe Tempers with the winner going to the NLCS. It will be hard to top last year’s matchup, which went all seven games and set a MWBL record for the longest playoff game with a 23-inning ultra marathon. |
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GAME #1 – Kevin Gausman 13-8 (3.66) vs. Freddy Peralta 22-4 (1.92) The scoring started early with the Patriots putting two on the board via a two-run homer from Yelich. Tempe scratched one back in the bottom half when Raleigh singled in Ramirez, who’d walked and stolen 2B. A perfectly executed hit-and-run by Neto put runners on the corners in the 4th, and a sac fly from Gurriel made it 3-1. In the bottom of the 4th, Gausman hit Polanco on the hands, ending his series and forcing Albies into the starting lineup for the rest of the series. Triple Creek went up 4-1 in the sixth when Jansen struck out Neto, but Raleigh dropped it and then threw the ball into right field. Tempe rallied back in the bottom half when Raleigh redeemed himself with a solo shot, and Albies slapped an RBI single after Pasquantino doubled. The Pirates turned to their closer Henderson in the 7th after Tempe threatened, and he put out the fire. Banda pitched a quiet 8th and then stayed in for the 9th. Ozuna pinch-hit for Albies to start the bottom of the 9th and crushed a solo shot to tie the game 4-4. Strahm replaced Banda and got two outs but then loaded the bases before popping up Raleigh for the final out. Tempe brought on their closer Munoz in the extra innings, and he pitched a scoreless 10th, 11th, and 12th. Strahm pitched a scoreless 10th and 11th with Brubaker taking over the 12th. In the top of the 13th, Munoz came back for his 4th inning of work and recorded two more quick outs. Fatigue finally caught up with Munoz, and he walked Kelly. Tempe turned to Santana to face Seager. “Lifted down the right field line … that could be trouble. SPRINGER races over … into the corner … he leaps … just out of reach … it’s gone!” In the bottom of the 13th, Brubaker struck out Freeman, popped up Tauchman, and got some help from Yelich, who took a homer away from Jackson. TCP 6 – TEM 4 (13 Innings) Win: J.T. Brubaker 1-0 (0.00) |
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GAME #2 – Shane Bieber 5-1 (1.34) vs. Jacob deGrom 28-5 (1.65) Déjà vu all over again! Another first-inning two-run homer from ( give him the C for Captain) Yelich. Ramirez went deep with a solo shot to put Tempe on the board in the bottom of the first. Degrom shook off the Yelich homer and dominated the next three innings before turning it over to Mattson in the 5th. In the 3rd, Springer’s double and Freeman’s RBI single tied it up. Bieber settled down and pitched until the sixth against the team that originally drafted him. Mattson pitched a perfect 5th, 6th, and 7th for Tempe. Ferrer and Walker pitched a quiet 6th and 7th for Triple Creek. Santanna shut down the Patriots in the 8th, and Fermin matched him. In the Top of the 9th, Yelich walked and stole second base. Santanna popped up Bellinger, then IW walked Zeto to set up the double play. Refsnyder grounded to third, and Ramirez started the double play. In the bottom of the 9th, Crawford walked with one out. Albies couldn’t get the bunt down but ended up singling to put the go-ahead run on 2nd. Patriots brought on Ashby. Ashby didn’t get the double play, but he popped up Springer and struck out Ramirez. Jansen pitched the 10th and worked around a double by Nootbaar. In the bottom of the 10th, Raliegh singled, and Robles came on to pinch run. Triple Creek quickly counted by replacing catcher Smith with Kelly. Robles stayed on first, and Ashby got three outs to send it to the 11th. Yelich singled with one out in the 11th. Tempe brought on the LOOGY Chafin, but Bellinger was patient and worked a walk to put the go-ahead runner at 2nd. With a thinner bullpen from yesterday’s extra-inning game, Tempe turned to their #4 starter. Kolek got Neto and Refsnyder to fly out. Ashby worked an easy 11th. In the top of the 12th, India doubled with one out. Tempe turned to lefty Ferguson. Nootbaar moved India to third on a fielder’s choice, but Kelly flew out to the warning track. In the bottom of the 12th, Springer singled to start the inning. Henderson was called on to face Ramirez. Tempe rolled the dice and sent Springer, who beat the throw from the +5 arm. Henderson popped up Ramirez and Robles, but couldn’t get Mr. Clutch. Freeman lined one to the gap to end it. TEM 3 – TCP 2 (12 Innings) Win: Caleb Ferguson 1-0 (0.00) |
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GAME #3 – Freddy Peralta 22-4 (1.92) vs. Jameson Taillon 13-5 (2.04) After two extra-inning nail-biter games, this one was a bit of a letdown. Yelich didn’t homer in the first; this time, Peralta looked much sharper in this one. Tallion had a simple first inning, but things got complicated in the 2nd. Abrue walked with one out. Kwan executed a perfect hit-and-run to put runners on the corners. Crawford was intentionally walked to load the bases. Tallion got Albies to pop up, but then served up a grand slam homer to potential NL MVP George Springer. Tallion did recover to put up zeros in the 3rd-6th. Kremer replaced him in the 7th and allowed the first seven hitters to reach as Tempe hit around and put six runs on the board. Peralta went 8 innings, gave up three hits, and struck out 10. TEM 10 – TCP 1 Win: Freddy Peralta 1-0 (2.92) |
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GAME #4 – Jacob deGrom 28-5 (1.65) vs. Jose Quintana 5-10 (3.96) Tempe got to Quintana early with two runs in the 1st, led by a Springer leadoff homer. Albies went deep in the 2nd to make it 3-0. In the 4th, Raleigh’s RBI double and Freeman’s sac fly made it 5-0. DeGrom made just one mistake in the 4th, giving up a solo home run to Bellinger. He turned it over to the pen in the 7th. Neto got a solo homer off Jansen in the 7th, but that was all the Patriots could muster as Munoz closed it out. TEM 5 – TCP 2 Win: Jacob deGrom 1-0 (2.79) |
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GAME #5 – Andrew Alvarez 4-2 (2.50) vs. Kevin Gausman 13-8 (3.66) Crawford led off the 3rd with a walk, then stole a base. Albies moved him to 3rd, and Springer hit a soft liner for the first run. In the 5th, Albies led off with a single, stole 2nd, and scored on a Springer double. With the series on the line, the Patriots brought on the lefty Ashby, who put out the fire, getting the heart of Tempe’s order. In the 5th, Kwan singled, and Albies doubled him in with two outs to make it 3-0. Alvarez pitched five scoreless innings for Tempe and handed it off to the pen in the 6th with a 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the 6th, Santanna made an error and then gave up a two-run homer to Seager, bringing the Patriots within one. In the bottom of the 7th, Gurriel doubled with one out. Nootbaar pinch-hit for Refsnyder. Tempe counted with LOGGY King, who popped him up. Tempe then turned to the closer, Munoz, to strike out Smith. Munoz stayed on and closed it out for the seven-out save. TEM 3 – TCP 2 Win: Andrew Alvarez 1-0 (0.00) |
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SERIES SUMMARY – Tempe wins three close games to take the series in five games and move on to the NLCS. Polanco’s loss for the series proved a blessing for Tempe, as Ozzie Albies finished as Tempe’s 2nd-best hitter with a .353 AVG and .588 SLG. George Springer was the series MVP, hitting .453 with a 1.283 OPS. |