61.30 Cinderella Montreal Wins Doubleday Series, Advances to League Championship Series

[Bob Breum]

Montreal was a heavy underdog going into the Doubleday Series. Not a single pundit picked them to beat 101-win Las Vegas. By almost every metric, Vegas was the better team. They ranked first in Runs Against, thanks to their top-ranked rotation and strong defense (ranked second in both DER and ZR). They ranked second in Runs Scored and top three in every offensive measure except base running.

The Blazers, on the other hand, ranked dead last in Runs Scored and almost every other offensive metric. Montreal pitching was respectable, ranking third in pitching WAR, but they got little help from a defense that ranked 11th.

It appeared to be a colossal mismatch. But if you looked closer, you could see reasons for hope if you were a Blazers fan. During the months of August and September, the two teams appeared to converge. Montreal went 30-22 while Las Vegas went 27-25. But this was intradivision play. What would happen when the two met head-to-head?

It was encouraging for Montreal fans that the team's offense erupted during the first playoff round, plating 32 runs in four games. Was this real, or would the team go back to their anemic offensive ways in round two?

Las Vegas played host for the first two games. Palace Station Ballpark is a bandbox. Could the Blazers hitters keep up with the home team's hitters? Indeed, it seemed that the Blazers' offensive breakout was for real, with Montreal scoring twenty runs to win both games. Game two was in doubt until the 11th inning, but the Blazers scored four runs in the top of the inning and then called on veteran reliever Joshua Blenkhorn to get the last three outs, which he did without much drama. An amusing footnote, although probably not to Ed Rooney, is that the Montreal centerfielder, who was batting leadoff, tied the JL playoff record by striking out five times in game two. On a less amusing note, Las Vegas starting pitcher Carlos Berrera injured his elbow and will require surgery.

Back home in Montreal, the Blazers welcomed back their ace, Lucio Juarez, by hanging seven runs on Vegas southpaw Owen Geddes (14-8, 3.91) and coming within one game of a sweep with a 7-3 win. But the Hustlers weren't ready to go home yet. They won game four in ten innings and then embarrassed Montreal starting pitcher Samuel Nebraska with six earned runs in a 9-1 rout.

Could Las Vegas come all the way back from a 3-0 deficit? Back home in Palace Station, their fans hoped so. But it was not to be. The Blazers' stopper blew the save, surrendering a solo home run in the eighth inning, forcing extra innings. But Montreal right fielder Herman de Jonge led off the tenth with a double and later was replaced by the speedy Tsu-bahr Hru on second base. With two outs, Rooney singled up the middle and Hru beat the throw from center field to plate the go-ahead run. Montreal summoned their closer, Augusto Ayala, and he put an end to the hopes of the Las Vegas fans.

Team captain Dan Wilkinson was named MVP of the Doubleday Series, after winning the MVP nod in the previous Geoghegan Series as well. Wilkinson has hit .419 with eight doubles, two home runs, and 13 RBIs this postseason.

Next up for the Blazers is a trip to Charm City to play for the Johnson League championship. Montreal was 6-8 versus Charm City this season. The Jimmies boast the best offense in the league and their pitching and defense is not far behind. Expect them to be heavy favorites. Can Montreal continue its Cinderella ways?

[lordtoffee]

Congrats gentlemen on advancing to the Cartwright Cup.

[DaveB]

Good luck. When I see Montreal I see a team that is built similarly to ours. It’ll be a fun series.

[Bob Breum]

When I see Montreal I see a team that is built similarly to ours.

I am greatly flattered. Erik and I hold up your team as the measuring stick of our progress. Just as Ron is always going on about that division on the west coast, our goal is to hoist an Atlantic Division banner someday.

[trmmilwwi]

It's been fun watching the Blazers' offseason for sure!