Rabbits Loses Game 5 Heartbreaker to Oysters (Hoppy Endings, pre-Doubleday sim) [PP:2054.36]

[neugey]

With 2 close wins on the road in Rocky Mountain, Edmonton managed to grab a 2-0 series lead to return home with two chances to close it out. But the Oysters collected themselves and won 3 straight games to edge past the Jackrabbits and move onto the Doubleday round.

Chris “The Wolf” Moran carried the team in Game 1, pitching 7 innings of 2-hit, 1 run ball and recording the win. But his Game 5 outing wasn’t as tight, as he gave up 7 hits and 4 runs (3 earned) over 5.1 innings. With the pressure on in the final three innings, Edmonton couldn’t manage to produce the runs need to tie the game or go ahead and lost 4-3 and returned home to Edmonton with a long and sad flight.

The health of Gonzalo Martinez, who battled the flu bug going into the series, remained a big story and possibly cost Edmonton the series.

“We decided to play Gonzo for Game 1, then rest him for Game 2 to give him two consecutive days considering the travel day,” explained GM Mike Bauer. “Then we got shut out in Game 3, and in Game 4 Gonzo started to put it together. He had a 3-run homer in the 3rd to help us out in a big way. But then in the bottom of the 5th, he hit a weak grounder and ran desperately to try to beat the throw to first. He got there and was called safe but managed to break a rib in the process. It was difficult to see him get hurt on an effort play like that, and just as he was starting to excel in the postseason. Really could have used him in Game 5 when we lost by one run again. The baseball gods have been really cruel to Gonzo over the last week.”

“But credit to the Rocky Mountain Oysters, they truly have giant balls and are named properly as shown by the last 3 games of the series. They are a very dangerous team when their back is against the wall. I think other teams in the playoffs may find that out for themselves soon.”

“But in 2055 the Jackrabbits will be back. Our front office is going to take a few days off to collect ourselves and reflect on what we were able to achieve in 2054, then it’s back to work. We’ll have more remarks for you later on what things may look like for next year.”

[KJChmura]

Lot of player options… if they all stay, you guys will be dangerous next year