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JayW UK · 09-22-2025, 02:52 AM

2033 Playoffs

Divisional Round

The 2033 edition of the playoffs saw Chicago, making their playoff return after a seven-year absence, face off against Philadelphia while Washington would once again take on the east’s #1 team, Tampa Bay. Over in the west, Oklahoma City and Dallas were set to renew their playoff rivalry with Las Vegas facing a San Jose team experiencing the rarefied air of postseason baseball for the first time in franchise history.

With home advantage and led by superstar and ex-Zephyr Matt Henderson, Philadelphia were seen as favourites for their series with a young Chicago team who, despite their underdog status, arrived in the city of brotherly love in confident mood. Game one saw an impressive pitching display from Chicago, as Logan Jones and Harvey Widdowes combined to allow just a single run on six hits as the Zephyrs squeezed past Philadelphia 3-1 to take the series opener. Philadelphia starter John Ford laboured through five innings the following night, surrendering four runs including a towering three run homer to C Eduardo Moreno, even after Ford left the game the Philadelphia bullpen didn’t help matters, allowing Chicago to plate four more runs in a wild sixth inning. Zephyr starter Eugene Fey was in total control until injury forced him from the game in the sixth, but relievers Daniel Samuels and Justin Babbitt saw Chicago home to leave Philadelphia reeling. Two nights later back in Chicago the teams faced off once again with the Independence needing a minor miracle to advance, starter Bernie Baldwin was strong through five innings (3H, 1 ER) but Chicago starter Mike Harden was stronger, pitching a shutout through five. With two out and the bases loaded in the top of the sixth and with Bernie Baldwin up next, Philadelphia manager Raul Aguilar chose to send Broderick Hill to the plate to pinch hit for his pitcher, the move failed as Hill tamely ground out to end the inning. To cap things off the Philadelphia bullpen imploded next inning with Stan Fleming and Larry Hoffman coughing up homeruns to put Chicago in the driving seat and with the home fans partying in the stands, Terry Anthony and Phil Hopkins finished off the Independence, sending Chicago on to the EL pennant series for the third time in their history.

Washington travelled to Tampa Bay determined to avenge their defeat at the hands of the Hurricanes the previous year, but the series didn’t start well for the visitors as a 2-run Jose Muniz homer and an Andres Montoya RBI single were all the runs Tampa Bay needed. Angel Castro was masterful, scattering five hits and one run over eight innings before closer Josh Renshaw wrapped things up for Tampa Bay with a clean ninth. After slipping to defeat in game one Washington once again found themselves behind, 5-0 down after starter Yasutoki Sugiyama struggled early. Homeruns from C Aaron Harris and 1B Anibal Trueba sparked a furious comeback from the Generals sending the game to extra innings where in the top of the fourteenth, SS Christian Moore scored on a Bob Hall sacrifice fly to seemingly complete the comeback. With regular closer Steve Berg back in the clubhouse having already pitched, the Generals turned to Francisco Perez to finish the game, Perez proceeded to retire the first two hitters he faced before surrendering back-to-back singles leaving men on the corners with two out. With the pitcher’s spot next up and their bench empty, Tampa Bay had no choice but to send pitcher Anastasio Perez to the plate, in the biggest moment of his career, Perez (a lifetime .056 hitter) smashed the second ball he saw into the right-field corner for a bases clearing walk-off double, giving the Hurricanes a dramatic 7-6 win. With the series moving back to Washington the Generals needed to up their game, but game three opened in a familiar pattern, starter Will Christopher fell behind early surrendering homeruns to C Marcos Ocasio and RF Dixon Bodean to put his team behind the eight ball. Even a big day from catcher Aaron Harris (3-4, HR, 4 RBI) couldn’t help Washington as try as they might the Generals couldn’t find a way back into the game and when TB closer Josh Renshaw took the mound for the ninth, even the most diehard Washington fans knew that their season was over. Renshaw blew through the Generals lineup sending Tampa Bay on to the ELCS at the expense of Washington for the second consecutive year.

The pick of the divisional round matchups was between 104-win Oklahoma City and defending champions Dallas, a strength-on-strength matchup pitting OKC’s #1 scoring offense against the Mustangs #1 defense. In a pitching battle of the highest calibre game one went to the visiting Mustangs, as ace Juan Rangel outlasted OKC’s Rafer MacNeil, the critical score being a veteran 1B Nelson Vasquez RBI double in the seventh before reliever Luis Torres finished the job, closing out a 2-1 victory. OKC returned the favour the following night as Ronald Shockley and Kikaku Aoki held off Dallas in a hard fought 3-1 series tying win, Dallas starter Cristobal Chapa struck out 10 in just five innings but did surrender a 2-run homer to Chance Merritt in the fifth to earn the loss. In a wild game three which saw six lead changes it was Dallas who held their nerve to sneak home 7-5, veteran 1B Nelson Vasquez was once again the hero, collecting 3 hits (2 doubles, 1 HR) and driving in three runs including the go-ahead 2-run bomb in the eighth. The following night with a chance to clinch the series Dallas turned to ace Juan Rangel to get the job done, after six innings he appeared on their way to doing just that as OKC were held off the board while the Mustangs built a narrow two run lead. An unfortunate error by 1B Nelson Vasquez opened the door for OKC and they took advantage, tying the game in the eighth before pinch hitter Clyde Christian’s clean single in the ninth scored Desi Wright for what turned out to be the winning run, OKC closer Kikaku Aoki cruised through an uneventful ninth inning to set up a deciding game five. Looking to avenge their game five defeat to Dallas the previous year OKC started fast plating three runs in the first inning off Cristobal Chapa and with their nerves calmed not even a massive 2-run homerun from Nelson Vasquez could deny the Outlaws, as they ran out 4-2 winners to book their place in the WL Pennant series.

Las Vegas, making their sixth straight playoff appearance were the hot favourites to despatch postseason newbies San Jose who, with no expectations or pressure on them, were just determined to enjoy the entire playoff experience. In game one the Spartans played fast and loose but were given a lesson in playoff baseball by their more experienced opponents with Holden Willis and Rolando Cerny working a five-hit shutout between them. Game two saw 21-game winner Pedro Rosario on the mound for San Jose facing off against all-star Marc Birstall, both starters pitched well but neither of them made it out of the sixth inning, Birstall leaving in the fifth inning with a blister while Rosario took a sharp liner to the ankle in the sixth ending his night. With the game still scoreless the wheels fell off for Las Vegas in the seventh, as first Mike Cooper then Rolando Cerny surrendered homeruns to give San Jose the lead before things got worse for the home side when Rolando Cerny left the game with his own injury as the Spartans cruised to a series tying 5-1 victory. With the news that Rosario’s injury was not serious San Jose proceeded to hammer Las Vegas starter Jerry wood in game four, chasing him from the mound after just four innings, down 6-0 the Gamblers mounted a spirited fightback cutting the lead to two but the Spartans bullpen led by Rick Sauer, held the Gamblers at bay to preserve the vital 6-4 win. San Jose’s game three victory came at a cost as starting CF Many Chavez (elbow) joined Pedro Rosario (ankle) in the treatment room, although unlike Rosario the prognosis for Chavez was not good. Game four saw both starters from game one back on the mound, Holden Willis for LV and Julio Torres for San Jose, in a classic pitching duel neither player gave up much, both going seven innings and surrendering two runs apiece. San Jose broke Las Vegas hearts and the 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth, when 1B Don Clark drilled a Michinori Morita fastball over the fence for a 2-RBI homerun to spark pandemonium in the stands, the party continued through the ninth as a stunned Las Vegas team went down meekly to end the series.

09-22-2025, 02:52 AM	#147
JayW UK Minors (Triple A) Join Date: May 2019 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 272	2033 Playoffs Divisional Round The 2033 edition of the playoffs saw Chicago, making their playoff return after a seven-year absence, face off against Philadelphia while Washington would once again take on the east’s #1 team, Tampa Bay. Over in the west, Oklahoma City and Dallas were set to renew their playoff rivalry with Las Vegas facing a San Jose team experiencing the rarefied air of postseason baseball for the first time in franchise history. With home advantage and led by superstar and ex-Zephyr Matt Henderson, Philadelphia were seen as favourites for their series with a young Chicago team who, despite their underdog status, arrived in the city of brotherly love in confident mood. Game one saw an impressive pitching display from Chicago, as Logan Jones and Harvey Widdowes combined to allow just a single run on six hits as the Zephyrs squeezed past Philadelphia 3-1 to take the series opener. Philadelphia starter John Ford laboured through five innings the following night, surrendering four runs including a towering three run homer to C Eduardo Moreno, even after Ford left the game the Philadelphia bullpen didn’t help matters, allowing Chicago to plate four more runs in a wild sixth inning. Zephyr starter Eugene Fey was in total control until injury forced him from the game in the sixth, but relievers Daniel Samuels and Justin Babbitt saw Chicago home to leave Philadelphia reeling. Two nights later back in Chicago the teams faced off once again with the Independence needing a minor miracle to advance, starter Bernie Baldwin was strong through five innings (3H, 1 ER) but Chicago starter Mike Harden was stronger, pitching a shutout through five. With two out and the bases loaded in the top of the sixth and with Bernie Baldwin up next, Philadelphia manager Raul Aguilar chose to send Broderick Hill to the plate to pinch hit for his pitcher, the move failed as Hill tamely ground out to end the inning. To cap things off the Philadelphia bullpen imploded next inning with Stan Fleming and Larry Hoffman coughing up homeruns to put Chicago in the driving seat and with the home fans partying in the stands, Terry Anthony and Phil Hopkins finished off the Independence, sending Chicago on to the EL pennant series for the third time in their history. Washington travelled to Tampa Bay determined to avenge their defeat at the hands of the Hurricanes the previous year, but the series didn’t start well for the visitors as a 2-run Jose Muniz homer and an Andres Montoya RBI single were all the runs Tampa Bay needed. Angel Castro was masterful, scattering five hits and one run over eight innings before closer Josh Renshaw wrapped things up for Tampa Bay with a clean ninth. After slipping to defeat in game one Washington once again found themselves behind, 5-0 down after starter Yasutoki Sugiyama struggled early. Homeruns from C Aaron Harris and 1B Anibal Trueba sparked a furious comeback from the Generals sending the game to extra innings where in the top of the fourteenth, SS Christian Moore scored on a Bob Hall sacrifice fly to seemingly complete the comeback. With regular closer Steve Berg back in the clubhouse having already pitched, the Generals turned to Francisco Perez to finish the game, Perez proceeded to retire the first two hitters he faced before surrendering back-to-back singles leaving men on the corners with two out. With the pitcher’s spot next up and their bench empty, Tampa Bay had no choice but to send pitcher Anastasio Perez to the plate, in the biggest moment of his career, Perez (a lifetime .056 hitter) smashed the second ball he saw into the right-field corner for a bases clearing walk-off double, giving the Hurricanes a dramatic 7-6 win. With the series moving back to Washington the Generals needed to up their game, but game three opened in a familiar pattern, starter Will Christopher fell behind early surrendering homeruns to C Marcos Ocasio and RF Dixon Bodean to put his team behind the eight ball. Even a big day from catcher Aaron Harris (3-4, HR, 4 RBI) couldn’t help Washington as try as they might the Generals couldn’t find a way back into the game and when TB closer Josh Renshaw took the mound for the ninth, even the most diehard Washington fans knew that their season was over. Renshaw blew through the Generals lineup sending Tampa Bay on to the ELCS at the expense of Washington for the second consecutive year. The pick of the divisional round matchups was between 104-win Oklahoma City and defending champions Dallas, a strength-on-strength matchup pitting OKC’s #1 scoring offense against the Mustangs #1 defense. In a pitching battle of the highest calibre game one went to the visiting Mustangs, as ace Juan Rangel outlasted OKC’s Rafer MacNeil, the critical score being a veteran 1B Nelson Vasquez RBI double in the seventh before reliever Luis Torres finished the job, closing out a 2-1 victory. OKC returned the favour the following night as Ronald Shockley and Kikaku Aoki held off Dallas in a hard fought 3-1 series tying win, Dallas starter Cristobal Chapa struck out 10 in just five innings but did surrender a 2-run homer to Chance Merritt in the fifth to earn the loss. In a wild game three which saw six lead changes it was Dallas who held their nerve to sneak home 7-5, veteran 1B Nelson Vasquez was once again the hero, collecting 3 hits (2 doubles, 1 HR) and driving in three runs including the go-ahead 2-run bomb in the eighth. The following night with a chance to clinch the series Dallas turned to ace Juan Rangel to get the job done, after six innings he appeared on their way to doing just that as OKC were held off the board while the Mustangs built a narrow two run lead. An unfortunate error by 1B Nelson Vasquez opened the door for OKC and they took advantage, tying the game in the eighth before pinch hitter Clyde Christian’s clean single in the ninth scored Desi Wright for what turned out to be the winning run, OKC closer Kikaku Aoki cruised through an uneventful ninth inning to set up a deciding game five. Looking to avenge their game five defeat to Dallas the previous year OKC started fast plating three runs in the first inning off Cristobal Chapa and with their nerves calmed not even a massive 2-run homerun from Nelson Vasquez could deny the Outlaws, as they ran out 4-2 winners to book their place in the WL Pennant series. Las Vegas, making their sixth straight playoff appearance were the hot favourites to despatch postseason newbies San Jose who, with no expectations or pressure on them, were just determined to enjoy the entire playoff experience. In game one the Spartans played fast and loose but were given a lesson in playoff baseball by their more experienced opponents with Holden Willis and Rolando Cerny working a five-hit shutout between them. Game two saw 21-game winner Pedro Rosario on the mound for San Jose facing off against all-star Marc Birstall, both starters pitched well but neither of them made it out of the sixth inning, Birstall leaving in the fifth inning with a blister while Rosario took a sharp liner to the ankle in the sixth ending his night. With the game still scoreless the wheels fell off for Las Vegas in the seventh, as first Mike Cooper then Rolando Cerny surrendered homeruns to give San Jose the lead before things got worse for the home side when Rolando Cerny left the game with his own injury as the Spartans cruised to a series tying 5-1 victory. With the news that Rosario’s injury was not serious San Jose proceeded to hammer Las Vegas starter Jerry wood in game four, chasing him from the mound after just four innings, down 6-0 the Gamblers mounted a spirited fightback cutting the lead to two but the Spartans bullpen led by Rick Sauer, held the Gamblers at bay to preserve the vital 6-4 win. San Jose’s game three victory came at a cost as starting CF Many Chavez (elbow) joined Pedro Rosario (ankle) in the treatment room, although unlike Rosario the prognosis for Chavez was not good. Game four saw both starters from game one back on the mound, Holden Willis for LV and Julio Torres for San Jose, in a classic pitching duel neither player gave up much, both going seven innings and surrendering two runs apiece. San Jose broke Las Vegas hearts and the 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth, when 1B Don Clark drilled a Michinori Morita fastball over the fence for a 2-RBI homerun to spark pandemonium in the stands, the party continued through the ninth as a stunned Las Vegas team went down meekly to end the series.