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2025 Playoffs
Divisional Round
Chicago would begin their World Series defence against wildcard entry New York while Boston would take on New Orleans. In the west, Denver were looking to reach the World Series for the third consecutive season and would begin their quest against Houston while wildcard team Las Vegas would take on Seattle.
Chicago’s title defence got off to the perfect start with Jose Cuesta hurling a three-hit shutout of New York in game one of the EL Divisional series. New York answered in game two, with catcher Max Johnson taking Chicago starter Justin Babbitt deep in the second inning to give the Senators a lead they would not relinquish, tying the series at one with a 4-2 victory. Game three in New York swung back in favour of Chicago with Jose Munoz, Scott Coleman and Juan Feuntes all hitting homeruns while starter Carlos Correa turned in his best pitching performance of the year, holding the Senators to just three hits and one run in a 6-1 Chicago win. New York came roaring back the following night knocking Jose Cuesta out of the game early and piling on the runs against a series of Chicago relievers, to make matters worse for the Zephyrs Jose Munoz rolled his ankle in the sixth inning and was out of the deciding game five. Two days later back in Chicago, the Senators took the lead in the third inning when Max Johnson hit his second home run of the postseason (also his second against Chicago Starter Justin Babbitt). Chicago hit a two-run homer in the fourth courtesy of Matt Henderson to go ahead only for Babbitt to serve up yet another homerun to Johnson in the sixth. The bullpens took over from there, but a tired Chicago pen couldn’t keep New York off the scoreboard, allowing runs in the seventh and eighth to leave Chicago on the brink of elimination. New York closer Curt Rice struggled through the ninth inning allowing one run to score, but try as they might Chicago couldn’t find a way to score again with Rice eventually enticing Scott Winters to pop out after a mammoth 11-pitch at bat to end the game, sending the Senators on to the EL Pennant series.
Boston started their series against New Orleans in explosive fashion, slamming 5 homeruns including 2 from LF Stephen Thomas and a grand slam from RF Jared Guest on their way to a 14-4 game 1 victory. Game two was closer but the Pilgrims still hit another two homeruns as they ran out 5-3 winners to take a two-game lead. New Orleans were not going to lie down for Boston and in game three they came to play, in front of a sellout crowd pitcher Kenny Law proceeded to shut down the potent Boston offense, restricting them to just four hits through seven innings however the Boston pitching had been excellent too allowing only five hits, unfortunately one of them had been a two-run bomb to Damon Massingham. In the eighth inning the Pilgrim hitters finally got to Law, plating one run and loading the bases with one out, this was the signal for New Orleans to call on closer Kendrick Younger for a five out save. Boston couldn’t gain any traction against Younger as he closed out the game to preserve the win. A Daniel Garcia 3-run Homer was all the run support Javier Rosado needed in game four, as New Orleans tied the series with a 3-0 shutout. The series returned to Boston for the deciding game and the Pilgrims offense came alive, shelling Blues starter Felix Hernandez for eight runs over the first four innings and sending him for an early shower. The Blues bullpen finally put the brakes on the Pilgrims but the game was already over as a contest, Boston ran out easy 9-1 winners and the Blues slipped out of the playoffs with barely a whimper, a disappointing end to promising season.
In the west, Houston went into Denver and behind a quality start from ace Marc Birstall, took down the reigning WL champs in game one. Homeruns from RF Joey Buhler and C Don Bernard were enough with Birstall all but unhittable through eight innings and closer Richard Bridgewater shutting the door on Denver in the ninth. Game two started better for Denver as first Jamie Boden then Dixon Bodean went deep for an early three run lead, Denver starter Pablo Estrada was masterful through the first four innings but left the game with a shoulder injury in the fifth. Denver’s bullpen couldn’t keep a lid on Houston’s offense and the game was all square by the sixth. Denver’s problems grew to titanic proportions over the next three innings as first superstar LF Dixon Bodean pulled up lame with a hamstring injury and was forced to leave the game, then 1B Jamie Boden was hit on the hand by a pitch from Bryant Hooper and also left the game. Houston finally broke Denver’s resistance in the top of the ninth when Dustin Polk scored on a Joey Buhler sacrifice fly before closer Richard Bridgewater again shut the door on the Wildcats with a clean ninth inning. Denver entered game three in Houston with their backs firmly against the wall and missing two of their best players in Dixon Bodean and Jamie Boden. Houston were in no mood to feel sorry for their opponents battering Denver starter Thomas Zimmerman into submission, chasing him from the game having scored six runs on eleven hits. Houston pitcher David Cook went the distance in a dominating Stars win, the only damage was a Raul Escobar homerun in the eighth inning as the Wildcats quest to reach their third consecutive World Series ended in humiliating fashion, swept out of the playoffs at the first hurdle.
Seattle, back in the playoffs for the first time since their World Series win in 2016, took an early lead against Las Vegas star Anthony Barrett and never looked back taking game one 6-3. Las Vegas starter Will Spencer proved to be almost unhittable the following night surrendering just a solo bomb to Stephen Miller and two walks through eight innings before handing over to closer Stephen Davis to protect their slim 2-1 lead. Davis couldn’t get the job done and with two out and men on the corners, lefty Rolando Cerny was called upon to match up with left-handed hitter Bob Williams. The two battled to a full count before Williams hit a line drive into the right field corner, plating the two runners and giving Seattle a thrilling 3-2 walk off win. Game three back in Las Vegas went to the home side, Dave Cahill drew the start for the Gamblers and proceeded to strike out Mariners for fun while Matt Powell struggled for Seattle as the Gamblers cruised to a comfortable 11-2 victory to stay alive in the series. Game four saw Las Vegas ace Anthony Barrett match up with Seattle’s Chris Romero and in a tight pitcher’s duel the Seattle man came out on top as Barrett gave up a pair of homeruns while Romero’s only blip was a solo shot to Las Vegas CF Brian Quinborough. A Gamblers ninth inning rally ended when Seattle closer Chuck Patrick struck out 2B Earl Malone, stranding a pair of runners on base to preserve Seattle’s 3-1 lead and send the Mariners to the WL Pennant series.
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