The Columbus Flatlanders became World Series Champions by defeating the Trenton Fire with an 11-8 win in game 6 of the series. This is Columbus' first World Series title. The Flatlanders came in as underdogs and walked out as Top dogs behind the offensive prowess of rookie 1B Chris Tobin.
After a 102-60 regular season record and a third straight World Series appearance, the Trenton Fire were the favorites against a Columbus team that barely made the playoffs by qualifying in the last day of the season. With an 88-74 record, the Flatlanders actually tied the Las Vegas High Rollers, but it was Columbus and not Las Vegas that qualified because of their regular season head to head record. Once in the playoffs, Columbus left no doubt that they belonged in this party. Division rival Portland was dispatched 3-1 despite losing the Division Play-In Series opener. Next up was Colorado, who fought hard but came up short in Game 5 of the Division Championship Series. Columbus then moved on to play the El Paso Fighting Tacos, and this series went 7 games, but Tobin, Tony Lunar and Dennis Lo brought the Flatlanders back late in Game 7 to clinch the League Championship and move to the first World Series appearance.
The World Series becamse the stage in which the Flatlanders' young players showcased their abilities, and the team outscored Trenton 39-29 in the 6 game series. Trenton had battled through a tough 7 game series in the AL Championship series against the AL's best record holder (New Britain), forcing them to shuffle their pitching corps for the World Series.
Game 1: Jackie Little (19-10, 3.70 ERA) vs Andrew Baxter (3-0, 4.05 ERA) in Trenton
Season 11 AL Cy Young Award Winner Andrew Baxter was limited to 24 innings for Trenton in the regular season after returning from a shoulder aneurysm surgery suffered late last season, but he was nothing short of spectacular in the post season. Columbus countered with their ace, 19 game winner and Cy Young candidate Jackie Little. Neither starter factored in the final score, as this game was won in the 10th inning on a walk-off homer by DH Emmett Halter off of a seemingly fatigued Bart Valdez in relief.
Final: Columbus 5, Trenton 6 . Trenton leads Series 1-0
Game 2: Rodrigo Jimenez (12-9, 4.57 ERA) vs Stewart Pose (14-11, 4.08 ERA) in Trenton
Pose started on short rest, and got lifted after 3 1/3 innings. Jorel Roth made an appearance in relief and picked up the loss after 3 1/3 innings. Columbus' Rodrigo Jimenez held on for 8 innings, picking up the win despite giving up 3 homers and 6 earned runs. Emmett Halter homered twice in the loss.
Final: Columbus 7, Trenton 6. Series Tied 1-1.
Game 3: Juan Marin (14-8, 3.65 ) vs Harry Harding (9-14, 4.60) in Columbus
The Series shifted to Columbus, and Harding, the 25yr old rookie from Halifax, Nova Scotia, quieted the Fire's bats by allowing 1 run in 8 innings. Trenton suffered from playing in a NL park without a DH, which meant that Emmett Halter, who had led with 3 HRs in 2 games against Columbus, was limited to a pinch hit appearance.
Final: Trenton 1, Columbus 5. Columbus Leads the Series 2-1.
Game 4: Jorel Roth (17-3, 3.74 ERA) vs Carlos Rosado (12-13, 4.58 ERA) in Columbus
Trenton jumped to an early lead after scoring 6 runs in the first inning off of Rosado. But Rosado, who had a 9+ ERA in the postseason, managed to hold on, settled down and shut down the Fire for the next 6 innings before turning it over to the bullpen after the Flatlanders' bats had come back. The Fire's starting pitcher, Jorel Roth, who had made a relief appearance in Game 2, pitched well early on but got tired and was charged with 10 earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.
Final: Trenton 6, Columbus 10. Columbus Leads the Series 3-1.
Game 5: Andrew Baxter (3-0, 4.05 ERA) vs Jackie Little (19-10, 3.70 ERA) in Columbus
This rematch of Game 1 was an old-fashioned pitching duel, with both starters pitching 8 innings and allowing a combined 9 hits. Columbus' rookie 1B Chris Tobin misplayed a groundball, allowing what would be the winning run to score and denying Columbus the chance to claim the title at home.
Final: Trenton 2, Columbus 1. Columbus Leads the Series 3-2.
Game 6: Rodrigo Jimenez (12-9, 4.57 ERA) vs Stewart Pose (14-11, 4.08 ERA) in Trenton
With the series moving back to Trenton, the hometeam led 8-3 in the bottom of the 4th after Jimenez gave up 8 Earned runs in 3 1/3 (inlcuding a 3-run homerun by C Albert Osuna). Columbus' rookie Harry Harding came in in relief and stopped the bleeding long enough to allow Columbus to come back. The Flatlanders' comeback started with a 3-run homerun by Chris Tobin in the top of the 5th to redeem himself from his Game 5 defensive woes. (Tobin was the DH in this game and went 3 for 4 with 5 RBI and a walk). The Fire's pitching could not contain Columbus' bats, with Pose pitching poorly (6 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, 2 BB) but avoiding the loss after leaving with a 2 run lead. Reliever Howie Herman faced 5 batters and recorded only one out, taking the loss after allowing 4 hits and being charged with 4 earned runs.
Final: Trenton 8, Columbus 11. Columbus WINS THE WORLD SERIES.
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