[Westheim]

2028 CLCS

There was of course another series being played in the other league, that one featuring the best team in baseball, the Los Angeles Pacifics (100-62), and the Topeka Buffaloes (90-72). Not only had the Pacifics the better record, they had also played in the toughest division in the ABL this year, while the Buffaloes had won the weakest division in the league… and just barely at that.

The Pacifics had led the Federal League in runs scored with a strong .355 team OBP and solid, but not overwhelming numbers in terms of power and speed. Their pitching had been rock solid, with the fourth-fewest runs allowed. Their run differential was a cool +150. It was not ALL shiny, though. While they had two of the best starting pitchers in the league, Dave Christiansen (19-8, 2.90 ERA) and Gavin Lee (19-8, 2.65 ERA), their other two starters had hardly shone a light on themselves and they would have to make to with Shane Baker and his 4.76 ERA for at least one game in the series. Their pen had about four stud relievers, pinnacled by Joe Moore and his 48 saves this season, but was also weak around the underbelly. No Pacific had managed to hit more than 14 homers, which was the mark of OF Justin Fowler (.336, 14 HR, 69 RBI), but then again Fowler had missed 55 games to injury and looked already like a pretty good copy of Dave Garcia from the CL South. Jonathan Morales had driven in 101 runs, and Chris Owen had batted .301, but the team still struggled for a second impact bat in addition to Fowler (when healthy). They were solid and dense throughout the lineup, though.

Offense was not really the Buffaloes’ tune. They had scored the fourth-fewest runs in the Federal League and had more feasted on their overall top 3 pitching. They had a rotation full of low-3 hurlers for the playoffs and a pen that was packed with strong guys with track record even when some of them were former starters. Jose Lerma (16-10, 3.02 ERA) was their ace at this point. Offensively, as hinted at, they could have been better. They ranked fourth in homers, but there was really no speed lost on this team. Their crew did have the best D in the Federal League, though. They also had a 20-HR hitter in Pat Green, added Ken Hess with 15 on top of that, and that was only the guys that had been with Topeka all year. Jay Elder (17 HR) and Giovanni James (15 HR) also had reached the 15-HR mark after midseason trades from New York and Boston, respectively. But the team was not much into hitting for average or getting on base, sitting eighth in either category. They were more of a close-combat, impact gang.

Yeah, the pundits can’t help but be more impressed with the Pacifics, who made their 12th playoff appearance and had four rings already. The Buffaloes were in the postseason for the eighth time, but had never won the championship, one of four teams to lack any ring at all.

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Buffaloes @ Pacifics … 4-2 … Buffaloes lead 1-0 … TOP Pat Green 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI; TOP Ernesto Juan 7.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, W (1-0);

Buffaloes @ Pacifics … 9-3 … Buffaloes lead 2-0 … TOP Jay Elder 2-4, HR, 2B, RBI; TOP Travis Benson 3-5, 2B, 2 RBI; TOP Ken Hess 3-4, BB, HR, 2 RBI; TOP Jose Lerma 9.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 11 K, W (1-0) and 2-4, RBI;

At this point the Pacifics probably felt insecure. The Buffaloes had beaten both Christiansen (in Game 1) and routed Lee in this game, and would face at least one weaker hurler now.

Pacifics @ Buffaloes … 2-7 … Buffaloes lead 3-0 … TOP Alex Majano 3-5; TOP Giovanni James 2-5, 2 RBI; TOP Travis Benson 2-3, 2 BB;

Major upset in the works! The Pacifics had yet to get at least a pair of players to hit for multiple hits in the same game… let alone win a game…

Pacifics @ Buffaloes … 1-0 (13) … Buffaloes lead 3-1 … LAP Mike Rucker 2-6, HR, RBI; LAP Dave Christiansen 7.2 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K; LAP Chris Cooper 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, W (1-0); TOP Jay Elder 2-5, 3B; TOP Ernesto Lujan 7.1 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K; TOP Vince Devereaux 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K;

Pacifics @ Buffaloes … 2-5 … Buffaloes win 4-1 … LAP Oscar Mendoza 2-3, 2B; LAP Mike Rucker 3-4, HR, 2 RBI; TOP Alex Majano 3-4, 3B, 2 RBI; TOP Jay Elder 2-3, RBI; TOP Travis Benson 2-3, BB; TOP Jose Lerma 8.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, W (2-0);

Upset complete!

Also the first Buffaloes pennant in 27 years. Back then in 2001 they lost to the Titans.