2035 PLAYOFFS
By the time the Raccoons lost in seven, the FLCS was already over, naturally, since it also had been the first series to start. It had pitted a pair of 97-65 clubs against each other, with the twice-defending champs, the Warriors, coming from the CL South, which they had won by 11 games, and who had been assigned home field advantage. The Warriors had the best rotation in the Federal League (but a mediocre pen), and had the second-highest total of runs scored mostly on the strength of the long ball (173 HR, 1st in ABL); they had been average in batting average and on-base percentage, and they couldn’t steal bases at all. Besides almost an entire lineup filld to the brim with double-digit dinger swatters, they also had a balanced lineup that would give every pitcher a headache, while their starters were mostly southpaws.
Opposite them, the Capitals had won the CL North by four games. They had scored the most runs in the FL (beating the Warriors by 17 runs), and had used their league-leading .355 OBP and 155 stolen bases to drive the opposition crazy. They had the second-best rotation and a decent bullpen. Only Kelvin Winborn (.260, 22 HR, 83 RBI) had hit more than 20 dingers, and nobody had driven in more than 83 runs, although leadoff man Enrique Trevino matched that total. Lorenzo Viamontes (21-7, 2.85 ERA) had led the team in wins and ERA. Their lineup tended to lean to the left side, which made analysts give the Warriors an advantage.
This was the 12th playoff appearance for the Capitals, who had won three titles in the 1990s, but hadn’t been near the World Series in 12 years, most recently losing to the Titans in both 2022 and 2023. The Warriors made their 13th postseason and also had three titles, some of them even won recently. It was the first FLCS meeting for these teams in the century, but they had split a pair of meetings in the 90s; the Warriors had won the FLCS in ’94, but had lost to the Thunder in the World Series. The Capitals got back at them in ’97, then beat the rising Titans for their most-recent championship.
WAS @ SFW … 5-2 … (Capitals lead 1-0) … WAS Travis Adkins 3-4, 3B, RBI; SFW Mario Colon 3-4, HR, RBI;
WAS @ SFW … 7-0 … (Capitals lead 2-0) … WAS Scott Martin 2-4, 3B, 3 RBI; WAS Jerry Banda 9.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K, W (1-0)
The Capitals pour out six runs in the first inning and 25-year-old Jerry Banda paces himself for a complete-game win to take an early convincing lead.
SFW @ WAS … 3-2 … (Capitals lead 2-1)
SFW @ WAS … 3-15 … (Capitals lead 3-1) … WAS Adam Avakian 2-4, BB, 3 RBI; WAS Kelvin Winborn 2-4, 3 RBI; WAS Ross Sibley 2-5, 2B, 3 RBI; WAS Scott Martin 2-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI; WAS Noel Ferrero 4-4, BB, 2B, 2 RBI;
SFW @ WAS … 1-3 … (Capitals win 4-1) … WAS Travis Adkins 3-4, 2 2B, RBI; WAS Michael Frank 8.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, W (2-0);
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2035 WORLD SERIES
The well-rested Capitals got home field advantage in the second meeting of 97-65 teams in this World Series. Both teams had led their league in offense, and the Condors had even led theirs in terms of fewest runs allowed. They had the best rotation ERA in the CL, the best bullpen ERA, and also a better defense than the Capitals, at least. Both teams revolved around stolen bases and getting on base to strangulate the enemy, but the Capitals were better at it; while the Condors had scored the most runs in the CL, the Capitals in the traditionally more offensive-minded Federal League had outscored them by 72 runs – this year the difference in batting average between FL and CL was 11 points and the difference in league ERA was 22 points, but there was natural fluctuation there and occasionally the CL saw more scoring, which had happened three times in the last ten years, but on average the FL had about 5 points more in batting average and 7 points more in ERA.
Caps and Condors had met once in the World Series – the Capitals won the 1990 title in seven games against the Condors. Despite this, many considered the Condors the slightly better package overall, but they had the short turnaround and the Caps were as well rested as could be.
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TIJ @ WAS … 4-5 … (Capitals lead 1-0) … WAS Kelvin Winborn 2-4, HR, 2 RBI;
TIJ @ WAS … 1-2 … (Capitals lead 2-0) … WAS Nate Evans 2-3, BB, 2 RBI; WAS Jerry Banda 8.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, W (2-0);
WAS @ TIJ … 4-5 … (Capitals lead 2-1) … TIJ Shane Sanks 2-2, 2 BB, 3B, RBI;
WAS @ TIJ … 5-6 … (series tied 2-2) … WAS Kaleb Holder 3-4, BB, 2B; WAS Ross Sibley 3-4, 2B, RBI; TIJ Chris Murphy 2-3, BB, 3B, 2B, RBI;
WAS @ TIJ … 5-2 … (Capitals lead 3-2) … WAS Noel Ferrero 2-2, 2 BB, HR, 2 RBI; TIJ Chris Murphy 2-5, 2 RBI; TIJ Justin Williams 3-4;
The Condors lose the pivotal Game 5 despite out-hitting the Caps, 8-7, when they strand nine runner on base to the Caps’ three.
TIJ @ WAS … 2-6 … (Capitals win 4-2) … TIJ Juan Palbes 2-3, BB, RBI; WAS Kelvin Winborn 1-3, BB, HR, 3 RBI; WAS Jerry Banda 9.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, W (3-0);
A complete-game 6-hitter from Jerry Banda and a clutch first-inning, 2-out, 3-run homer of Omar Uribe (0-2, 6.00 ERA) get the Capitals into the fast lane. They never trail in the game and close out the series solidly for their first championship in almost 40 years!
2035 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS
Washington Capitals
(4th title)