64.61 Geoghegan Goes Five, Montreal Exits

[Bob Breum]

Montreal entered the Geoghegan Round fully healthy with home field advantage, but Las Vegas outplayed them to advance to the Doubleday Series. Montreal committed five errors in as many games along with a passed ball.

Game one went eleven innings with Las Vegas taking a two-run lead in the top of the last frame only to see Montreal win with a Kent Gill pinch-hit walk-off grand slam. Samuel Nebraska recorded a quality start, allowing only two runs in six innings, but after regulation it was tied at two.

Game two was a low scoring affair with the Blazers losing 4-2. Montreal only managed five hits, Las Vegas six. The Hustlers jumped out to a 4-0 lead and held on to win.

The series moved to Las Vegas for game three and the offenses exploded. After 27 hits and 9 walks between the two clubs, Las Vegas emerged victorious with a 3-run comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning off Montreal closer Jorge Trinidad to win 11-10. Four of the Hustlers’ runs were unearned as a result of a Jaime Serna error and a Luis Campos passed ball in the seventh inning.

Game four saw Lúcio Juárez pitched a vintage gem in what is almost certainly his last appearance in Montreal green and gold. He went 8 2/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits, with Montreal tying the series at two games apiece by a score of 4-1.

It was back to Montreal for game five with Nebraska once again on the hill. He did not make it out of the first inning, allowing four unearned runs on two home runs and a double after he muffed catching the throw while covering first on a groundball to the right side by the leadoff hitter. The Blazers tied it in the fourth inning, but Las Vegas scored three runs off long reliever Huang Cheng in the fifth to take a lead that they would not relinquish. Montreal scored twice more but ultimately lost 7-6.

Las Vegas advances to the best-of-seven Doubleday Series to face the formidable Phoenix Talons (102-60), who had a first-round bye.