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2026 Playoffs
Championship Round
The EL Championship series was between Chicago and wildcard entry New York with the Zephyrs looking to avenge their playoff loss to the Senators the previous year. Game 1 was a tight affair with neither team giving an inch until the bottom of the ninth when with one out and one man on base, Chicago 3B Jose Munoz slammed a walk-off two-run homer to left field to give the Zephyrs a thrilling 4-2 victory. Where game 1 had been closely fought, game 2 proved to be the opposite, the Senators jumped on Chicago starter Jorge Carrasco blasting their way to an early six-run lead while New York starter David Gonzalez didn’t allow a run until the seventh and kept a lid on Chicago’s offense to tie the series at one game each. Game three back in New York was over as a contest by the end of the first inning, the Senators batters took a liking to Chicago starter Justin Babbitt, plating six runs on five hits and two walks with C Max Johnson hitting a grand slam, every member of their line-up came up to bat before the carnage was over. New York added two more in the third ending Babbitt’s day with him having conceded more runs (8) than he retired batters (7), New York cruised to a crushing 10-0 victory with Adam Reid, Matt McKeochan and Curt Rice combining for the shutout. Chicago actually out hit New York (12 to 10) but were their own worst enemies hitting into five double plays on the day. Game four saw Chicago take a first inning lead before New York tied the game in the third and went ahead in the fourth, a 1B Ben Cox homerun in the fifth extended the lead further. New York starter Loren Neal went seven before handing the game over to the pen, Chicago 1B Matt Henderson finally collected his first RBI the series in the eighth where his solo homerun cut the lead to one before New York called on Carlos Correa for a four out save leaving the Senators on the verge of the World Series. Game five saw Orlando Vicenteno (NY) and Jose Cuesta (CHI) both pitch seven strong innings, their final lines were very similar, both surrendering 2 runs on five hits with Cuesta having the edge on strikeouts 8 to 7. New York immediately took the lead in the eighth only for Chicago to tie the game in the top of the ninth against closer Carlos Correa. Chicago finally got a big hit from 1B Matt Henderson in the 10th when he slammed the go-ahead homer before closer Andrew Jones made short work of the Senators to keep the Zephyrs alive and send the series back to Chicago. Game six saw Chicago build a 4-0 lead behind the pitching of Jorge Carrrasco, once he left the game with a blister in the seventh inning things began to change. The New York hitters having struggled to come to terms with Carrasco took the game to the Zephyrs pen, scoring twice in the eighth to halve the deficit, then taking the lead in the ninth when veteran catcher Jack Epps launched a three-run homer off closer Andrew Jones which instantly quietened the stadium. Carlos Correa made tough work of the save putting two men on base before enticing Scott Winters to hit into a game ending double play punching the Senators ticket to the World Series.
The WL Pennant Series featured two teams that had never been this far before, Las Vegas and Phoenix. The Gamblers had struggled against Phoenix during the regular season losing 13 of the 20 games they had played, but regular season form counts for nothing come playoff time as Phoenix proved when they beat San Diego. Games one and two in Las Vegas went the way of the home team with starters Dave Cahill and Max Castle combining for 5 hits and just 3 runs with 17K’s in two lopsided wins. Will Spencer took the mound in game three for the Gamblers and his wildness was once again on show, scattering five walks and nine hits over just five innings before getting the hook. While Las Vegas were in a 5-1 hole courtesy of Spencer, Phoenix starter Manny Garza was in control, he went seven strong innings before handing over to the bullpen. Las Vegas found the change to their liking plating three runs and forcing the Eagles to use three relievers in the inning. In the bottom of the eighth Phoenix LF Wes Lauderdale slammed a solo homerun off Rolando Cerny to extend the lead to three before veteran closer Min-Jae Choi made short work of Las Vegas to close out the 6-3 win. Game four saw Kunihuko Suzuki on the mound for Phoenix while Stevie Lopez drew the assignment for the Gamblers. In a game remarkably similar to the opening games of the series Las Vegas dominated, opening an 8-2 lead before a late 3B David Leach 2-run homer gave the final 8-4 score some respectability. Dave Cahill was back on the mound for the Gamblers in game five and while he pitched very well through seven innings, this time, so too did his Phoenix counterpart Raul Martinez. Both teams turned to their bullpens in the eighth, the Gamblers struck first to break the 2-2 tie when 1B Santiago Ybarra slugged a solo bomb off the pitching of David Rios before Phoenix answered in the home half to once again knot the score. Rios took the mound again in the ninth for the Eagles and immediately dug himself a hole allowing both PH Van Hanna and 2B Earl Malone to reach base. Catcher Chris Coates advanced the runners when he ground out and when Arlan Bresnahan (hitting for pitcher Leland Watson) popped out to third, it appeared Rios may get out of the jam. It was not to be, as Brian Quinborough smashed the first pitch he saw down the left field line to clear the bases and give the Gamblers a late 5-3 lead. Closer Davis Robinson got the call for the ninth, looking to finish the game and just eight pitches later, the game and series were over, and Las Vegas were off to their first World Series.
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