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Good evening, everybody, wherever you may be.
Tonight, at the United Center in Chicago, the Dallas Stars and the hometown Blackhawks gave us a ballgame that was less a duel and more a fireworks display. When the smoke finally cleared, Dallas prevailed, 21 to 15, in a slugfest that will be remembered for a single, unforgettable performance.
That performance belonged to Amenzu Jabiri. Imagine, if you will, four swings, four baseballs rocketing into the night, and one man circling the bases with the ease of a man who seemed born for the moment. Jabiri went four for five, drew a walk, scored five runs, and drove in seven. Four home runs in a playoff game — tying a record and etching his name alongside some of the game’s most remarkable feats.
The turning point came early. In the second inning, Dallas sent 13 men to the plate and scored nine times. The exclamation point in that frame belonged to Teiji Miyata, the catcher from Osaka, who with two outs and two men aboard, sent a drive over the left field wall. From there, the Stars never trailed.
Still, the Blackhawks battled back. They plated six runs in the seventh, and two more in both the eighth and ninth, with Connor Bedard and Ron Hextall each delivering long home runs. Chicago’s lineup did not go quietly — 15 runs on 15 hits would win you most games. But on this night, it was not nearly enough.
The two teams combined for 36 runs, 33 hits, and 13 home runs. It was a game that tested the scoreboards and the patience of the pitchers, but delighted the fans who braved a chilly October night.
So, as the series shifts to Dallas, the Stars head home with momentum and a tie series at 1 game apiece, thanks to the mighty bat of Amenzu Jabiri.
And so it goes, from Chicago — a game that began with the promise of October, and ended as a testament to power, persistence, and one man’s perfect night at the plate.
This is Vin Scully, wishing you all a very pleasant good evening, wherever you may be.
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