[EagleFan]

PBL Championship

Grants Pass Complete vs. Tucson Sams

Game 1
Tucson (Garcia) @ Grants Pass (Lacy)

Pitching is the name of the game. Tucson pitcher Rafael retires the first 11 batters before giving up a 2 out single to Rob Davis in the 4th. Neither team is able to threaten and the game is scoreless through 9 and heads to extra innings tied 0-0.

In the top of the 10th Tucson gets back to back singles to open the inning and give them runners at 1st and 2nd with no outs. After a strike out and a fielder's choice give them runners at the corners with two outs. Jacob Minihan is then called out looking to end the inning and keep the game scoreless. Grants Pass goes down in order, on just 7 pitches in the bottom of the 10th.

In the 11th Tucson again starts the inning off with back to back singles for 1st and 2nd with no outs. After Bob Mills strikes out Juan Romero singles to right but the runners advance only one base to load the bases with one out. On the next pitch a passed ball advances the runners one base and gives Tucson a 1-0 lead. Mario Mateo then pops out to third for the second out. With Eugene Church up a wild pitch brings another runner home and gives them a 2-0 lead. A walk and fly out end the inning. Tucson leads 2-0 thanks to a passed ball and wild pitch.

Ruben Bonilla comes in to pitch the 11th for Tucson. He gets the first two batters out on a ground out and fly out. Rod Hendricks singles to left on the first pitch to bring the tying run to the plate. Charles Gray grounds to 2nd on a 2-1 pitch but the ball is booted and he reaches on an error. Runners are not at 1st and 2nd with two outs as the tying run it on first and potential winning run is at the plate. Rob Davis steps up and rips a line drive between third and shirt but the third baseman makes an incredible diving catch to end the game.

Tucson wins game 1 by a 2-0 score in 11 innings and takes a 1-0 lead in the series.

Game 2
Tucson (Rodriguez) @ Grants Pass (Brown)

Grants Pass starts the best pitcher in the world trying to tie the series up.

Neither team can get anything going until the bottom of the 4th. Back to back sacrifice flies by Fernando Villa and Augusto Santos gives Grants Pass a 2-0 lead through 4 innings of play.

After a scoreless 5th Tucson finally gets to Brown in the top of the 6th. Tucson loads the bases with 2 outs. Juan Romero lines a single to right center on a 2-0 pitch and two runs score to tie the game 2-2. After 6 innings of play the game is tied 2-2.

The 7th and 8th are both scoreless innings keeping it tied 2-2 going into the 9th.

Jose Colon in to pitch for Grants Pass. He walks the first batter on 4 pitches but gets the next batter to pop out and then gets a strikeout for the second out of the inning. Paul Tatunay singles sending Mateo to 3rd giving them runners at the corners. Jacob Minihan hits a bases clearing double to give Tucson a 4-2 lead. Robert Powell in to pitch for Grants Pass and he gets the next batter to fly out to right. Going into the bottom of the 9th Tucson leads 4-2. Alejandro Silva on to pitch for Tucson . He gets the first batter to ground out to short on a 3-2 pitch. After the count is worked to 3-1 on the second batter he gets him to pop out to second. On the first pitch the next batter ground out to end the game.

Tucson wins 4-2 to take a 2-0 series lead. Brown struck out 10, walked none and allowed the 2 runs in the loss; only a decent outing by his standards.

Game 3
Grants Pass (Taylor) @ Tucson (Lester)

Tucson has a chance to put a stranglehold on the series with a win today as they return home leading 2-0.

Ken Lester pitches a fine game and allows only 1 run on a solo homerun as he gives up just 3 hits in 8 innings. Mario Mateo knocks in two for Tucson with a double and homerun.

Tucson wins the game 2-1 and take a 3-0 lead in the series in front of 39,182.

Game 4
Grants Pass (Lacy) @ Tucson (Garcia)

Tucson lead the series 2-0 as they return home and send Garcia to the mound who was 8-1 in the regular season. It looks good for them.

Games are not played on paper as Grants Pass scores early and chases Garcia as they lead 7-0 after 5 innings on their way to a 7-2 victory.

Tucson still has a 3-1 lead in the series.

Game 5
Grants Pass (Brown 0-0, 2.57) @ Tucson (Pena)

Grants Pass looks to stay alive and return home as they send the best pitcher in the world to the mound as they appear heavily favored today on paper.

Brown is sailing along until he buckles over after throwing a pitch in the 6th inning and is removed from the game with an injury. In 5.2 innings he had allowed only 2 hits while striking out 10 and walking no one. They lead 8-0 at the time he is removed and go on to win 11-0.

Grants Pass wins 11-0 and return home still trailing 3-2 in the series.

Game 6
Tucson (Lester 1-0, 1.13) @ Grants Pass (Lopez)

Tucson is desperately trying to avoid being the second team to lose a 3-0 series lead and be forced into a game 7.

Grants Pass leads 4-3 going into the top of the 9th. Guang T'sai in to try to close it out. Bob Mills would foul off several pitches to work a 3-2 count and then sends a fastball 360 feet, just over the right field wall for a solo homerun to tie the game 4-4. The next two batters would strike out.

The game would remain 4-4 until the bottom of the 10th. After a leadoff single and walk gives Grants Pass runners at 1st and 2nd with no outs. A sacrifice gives them runners at 2nd and 3rd with one out. After an intentional walk of Rod Hendricks would load the bases with one out it would bring up Ismael Escamilla. He would fall behind 0-2 then foul a ball off. The next pitch misses, 1-2. Pitch number 5 would be outside, 2-2. He fouls pitch number 6 straight back. Pitch number 7 is low, 3-2. Pitch number 8 is ripped down the third baseline foul. Pitch number 9 is outside, ball 4. The winning run is walked in.

Grants Pass wins the game 5-4 in 10 innings and evens the series up 3-3 after trailing 3-0 in the series.

Game 7
Tucson (Garcia 0-1, 5.56) @ Grants Pass (Lacy 1-0, 1.20)

Grants Pass gave Garcia as many post season losses as he had regular season losses in his last outing in the series. They hope to do more of the same to him tonight.

Garcia comes up big as he goes 6 scoreless innings in a 3-0 Tucson victory as Grants Pass gets only 3 hits in the game. Tucson avoids blowing a 3-0 series lead.

The Tucson Sams are the 2013 PBL Champions!

Third baseman Brent Jones is named the series MVP as he hit .367 with 1 homerun and 3 RBI's but created a lot of havoc from the leadoff spot.