61.26 Montreal Secures First Playoff Berth Since 2058

[Bob Breum]

Montreal entered the last day of the season with a razor thin one game lead over Rocky Mountain for the final wildcard spot. A win over Charm City or a loss by the Oysters would clinch a spot in the playoffs and avoid a game 163 tiebreaker.

Unfortunately for Montreal, the 103-win Jimmies dominated the Blazers, leading 10-0 entering the bottom of the ninth. The home team scored four runs in garbage time before the Jimmies summoned their stopper to close out the win, 10-4.

Now Blazers players and fans alike were reduced to watching the Rocky Mountain game on Ubisoft Field’s big screen, as the two-hour time difference meant that their contest with Mexico City was far from over. After six innings, it was tied at one apiece.

It was after midnight in Montreal when Mexico City finally broke through, plating an unearned run with two outs in the top of the tenth inning. Rocky Mountain put a runner into scoring position with two outs in the bottom of the frame, but could not drive him in. Montreal was headed to the playoffs after a two-year drought.

The Blazers will fly to Atlantic City tomorrow to face the Gamblers in the Geoghegan Round. Montreal had a 9-5 record against Atlantic City during the regular season.

[Krathan]

Congrats and good luck.