Thursday, November 1, 2091
2091 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 5 at The Swamp in LaGrange
LC TAKES PIVOTAL 5TH GAME FROM LAGRANGE BEHIND BARTELS
Don Bartels is a money pitcher. The 22-year-old righty hurled La Claire past LaGrange 4-1 in the fifth game of the Pro Cup Series for a three-games-to-two edge. One more win and the Lynx repeat as IPA Pro Cup champion. Bartels rose to the occasion on the road at The Swamp in LaGrange, going the distance, tossing 5-hit ball, striking out 3 batters and walking 2 to even his postseason mark at 2-2 and lowering his ERA to an impressive 1.72. It was a tough loss for Bucky Erdmann (1-1/1.87 ERA), who worked 8 strong innings and held the Lynx to 2 runs on 4 hits with 4 Ks and 2 bases on balls. Third baseman Howie Ellenberger hammered a home run in the top of the 4th for the decisive go-ahead run. La Claire now has two chances at home at Capitol Park Stadium to wrap up its second straight Pro Cup Trophy and third in five seasons. The Lynx also captured the IPA crown in 2087.
La Claire went in front in the 1st inning. Lyn Holman (.222 BA) singled and went to third on a base hit by David Glascock (.271 BA/6 HR/12 RBI) and was driven in by Howie Ellenbergr's grounder to second base. LaGrange did not tarry long before knotting the score at 1-1 in the last of the 2nd. Evon Layton (.329 BA/3 HR/12 RBI) doubled, advanced to third on a hit by Ricardo Zamora (.258 BA/3 HR/8 RBI) and scored on Lenny Lang's (.306 BA/2 HR/9 RBI) sac fly. There was no more scoring until the top of the 9th when Dennis Culpepper boomed a 2-run homer off reliever Julius Hauer.
Both clubs could only manage 5 hits apiece. Culpepper (.270 BA/2 HR/7 RBI) and Ellenberger (.234 BA/6 HR/17 RBI) paced the Lynx with 2 hits each.
Game six in La Claire will pit Shuggie Garsett (18-8/3.17 ERA) against Jules Le Royer (13-4/1.91 ERA). Garsett is 1-0 for the Lynx in 4 playoff starts with a strong 2.30 ERA. The Gators' Le Royer has been a standout with a superlative 1.56 ERA in 5 starts, but is 1-1 record-wise.
