[Westheim]

CONTINENTAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Portland Raccoons (95-67) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (93-69)

Game 6 – Logan Evans vs. Ralph Hoyles

One more to go to the World Series, boys! Hoyles had dominated us for six innings in the first game, but then had succumbed.

This time around, he succumbed much sooner, when Mark Dawson shot a 2-run dinger into the left field stands in the first inning.

The Thunder scored an unearned run on a Matt Workman error in the third inning. He was a prime slugger, but he was not a Gold Glove candidate, unfortunately, not even at first base.

Top 5th: Smith got on base with two out, and Hall drove a double into the left corner to score Smith from first. Dawson doubled in Hall. 4-1 Raccoons.

Evans had a flawless sixth, but was then battered in the seventh. Two runs scored, before he struck out Marc Shaw to end the inning (and his outing). Only 4-3 lead now.

Hoyles also was out of the game, and Wilson Cordova entered. He was their fifth starter, pushed out of the playoff rotation. The Furballs loaded the bags in the seventh, but could not score, Enrique Sanchez struck out to let the chance get away.

Workman made another critical error in the top 8th that put Leonardo Costa on second with two down. And Gonzales came up, who had already homered off Evans in his last at bat. Behind him was Aranda, a dangerous gap hitter, who hardly ever struck out. Richard Cunningham was told to go after Gonzales instead. Gonzales reached for the first pitch, but grounded out harmlessly to Walker.

Bottom 8th. Bowling was plunked with one out. Dicks struck out in the spot of Cunningham. Green came in for White, poked after a 3-0 pitch and made a pathetic out that ended the inning.

This sets the stage. Raccoons ahead 4-3. Top of the ninth. Grant West comes in. Alfonso Aranda led off with a single and was immediately replaced by Heliodoro Pastor, whose only nice quality was speed. Dave Peterson grounded out and Pastor went to second. West then struck out Sandro Delgado, which brought up Frederick Webb, who had hurt us before.

Behind Webb was the pitcher’s spot, but they would not keep Cordova in there. But we had scouted Webb with a bad eye. Maybe West could sneak three by him.

Grant West needed five pitches to strike out Webb.

4-3 Raccoons. Hall 2-3, BB, 2B, RBI; Dawson 2-3, BB, HR, 2B, 3 RBI;

We will go to the World Series.

(faints)