Inning: 9th Deficit: 4 Type: walkoff Method: 2-RBI doubleHero: 2B Kensaku Kato Goat: P Ford Prefect
Game Log
As we noted, all WotY candidates are likely going to be underwhelming in contrast with the first game, but we continue on nonetheless. If that game was the pitchers' duel, extra-innings type, this Louisville/Madison game was the "how did you blow that lead?!" flavor. Madison SP Tyler Murray turned in a quality start allowing just 3 runs in 6 innings, but Sluggers starter Seiichi 'Onion' Suzuki was just a tad better allowing only 2 runs on his watch. Following Murray, however, was Wolves reliever Takahiro Fujii who let a close game get a bit out of hand giving up 4 hits and 2 runs in the end of the 7th and beginning of the 8th. All this resulted in Louisville holding a 3-2 lead headed into the latter inning. The two Takahiro allowed and an additional Sluggers tally in the top of the 9th had to feel like just wrapping up a win. And so Madison came into the bottom of the 9th down 6-2. Louisville reliever Ludwig Werberg was called on to usher out the victory but he allowed a leadoff double to Madison's Joe Drayton, Jr., got a hitter to ground out, then gave up a single to Wolves CF Gary Keller. The Sluggers at least acknowledged the danger quickly pulling Drayton in favor of closer Ford Prefect. Prefect took the hill with a 4-run lead and runners on 1st and 3rd with 1 out. He promptly gave up a 2-RBI triple to Madison 1B Ricardo Norman and it was a 2-run game with a runner on 3rd. Prefect added to the threat by walking Madison 3B Curt Holter and, again, runners were on the corners with one out. Prefect was next able to induce a ground ball, but Sluggers CF Winston Farthing, moving to second base after pinch running in the top of the frame, tried to get the out at home but was unsuccessful and now it was a tenous 1-run lead for Louisville with runners on first and second and, still, one out. Prefect probably thought he was out of the game after coaxing a ground ball from Madison RF Gary Fellers but the ball came back to the mound and Prefect couldn't make a good enough throw to 2nd for the Sluggers to convert a double play and runners were at the corners with two outs. That was when Prefect surrendered an ill-timed double that scored Madison 3B Curt Holter to score and Fellers used above-average speed to come around and score the winning run against a stunned Sluggers dugout.
