The Mallards are a couple of games ahead of the Hares in the standings. Can they go get 'em?
Game 1
SP: Alois Herzog
The French Mallards right fielder Michel Clerc made his presence felt in the 8-5 Mallards triumph over the Sheffield Mountain Hares. Clerc hit 2 home runs. He drove in 6 runs and scored twice. Bodil Didenksen closed the door for Madrid, picking up his 2nd save of the year, extending Madrid’s win streak to 3 games.
The game was won in the bottom of the seventh, when Clerc hit his 28th home run of the season. The grand slam home run off Mikala Enosa made it 8-5, Madrid. Koehler, Morales and Garay all hit homers for Sheffield, but unfortunately they were all of the one-run variety.
Player of the game: Michel Clerc
Game 2
SP: Mototomo Motoyanagi
Sheffield first baseman Willie Perez had a 5-RBI performance, including two soaring home runs which helped his team down the Madrid Mallards, 13-8. The win puts Sheffield at 64-60 this season, and puts Perez’ home run total to 40 - of course the first time that milestone has ever been met at the club. Motoyanagi was unspectacular, but certainly did enough to keep his team in it. Rob Graham went off after a collision on the bases, and Hares fans are very much hoping the team’s star rookie isn’t out for long.
Sheffield used the clutch hitting of Yun Qiu to capture the win. In only his 27th appearance of the season for the Hares, the center fielder drilled a 2-run double in the top of the tenth inning to give the Mountain Hares the lead, 10-8. For the game, Qiu had 2 singles and 1 double in 5 at-bats.
Player of the game: Willie Perez
Game 3
SP: Yushua bin Saqr
It feels like a while since Sheffield have had a standout pitcher performance, but Yushua bin Saqr certainly gave that in their 5-4 win over the Mallards, to take the series 2-1. He pitched 7.1 innings, giving up only 1 run, as Rutz and Koehler smashed homers on the offensive side to guide the Hares to a narrow win. The Hares are now 65-60 as they aim to finish above .500 for the first time in their history. They’re also only 5 games back from a playoff berth, though I think even the most optimistic Sheffield fan will say that’s a tough ask.
Player of the game: Yushua bin Saqr
