2018 World Series Game 6

We are back in sunny Miami for Game 6, which is a rematch of Game 2 starters Pedro Lewis and Scott Elzy.  Pedro is looking to redeem himself after allowing 7 runs and recording only 4 outs.  Meanwhile, Elzy would not mind the replay, coming off a 13 strikeout performance.

New York opts to run out their defense with the DH rule in effect, playing Chad White at DH, Luis Harris in LF, and Victor Jacobs in RF.  In the top of the first, Lee Thompson leads off with a single and steals second.  David Jackson then crushes the Elzy offering over the wall for a 2-0 lead.  Elzy then settles in by striking out the side.

Pedro cruises through the first inning, and in the top of the second, Victor Jacobs hits a solo homerun to make it 3-0.  In the bottom of the second, Miami gets their first baserunner as Ortiz gets a single.  Down 3 runs, he tries to steal and is gunned down by Bowman.

In the top of the 4th, Nick McKeller gets a one-out single.  Jeff Bowman then follows with a two-run homerun to make the score 5-0, and knock Scott Elzy out of the game.  In the bottom of the 4th, New York pulls McKeller from the game in an effort to maximize the defense.  Erik Smith now is playing shortstop as David Jackson slides over to third base.

With one out in the bottom of the 4th, Billy Bass singles and attempts to steal 2nd down by 5 runs.  He is gunned down by Bowman.  In the top of the 5th, Travis Howard gets Klein to strike out before allowing a single to Lee Thompson, a walk to David Jackson, and another single to W. Gehrig Bear to load the bases.  Miami goes to the pen again, bringing in Ervin Russell to face the righty Chad White.  White strikes out and Erik Smith grounds to second to end the threat.

In the bottom of the 5th, Miami stages a mini two out rally with back to back singles from Ortiz and Cabrera.  In a big spot, Peter Rabbit grounds out to second base to end the inning.  Both pitchers cruised through the 6th and top of the 7th innings.  In the bottom of the 7th, Miami had their 3-4-5 hitters, including two lefties due up.

George Kird decides to pre-emptively pull Pedro Lewis from the game and go with his dominant lefty reliever Stephen Jiannetti.  Pedro's line was 6-4-0-0-0-3.  Leading off the 7th, Arceneaux connects for a double in the gap.  Trevor Burton then hits a grounder back to Jiannetti.  Jiannetti fires wildly to first, allowing a two-base throwing error that scores Arceneaux.  He then gets a strikeout and grounder back to the mound to put Burton on third with 2 outs.  Oswipe Cabrera then works a walk.  The struggling Peter Rabbit is not able to extend the rally as he strikes out to end the inning.  Going to the top of the 8th, New York leads 5-1 and is only 6 outs away from repeating as World Champions.

In the top of the 8th, Miami summons lefty Stan Justice to face W. Gehrig Bear.  Bear smashes a double, and Miami pulls Justice for the righty Lou Watson.  Watson gets Chad White to fly out to right field, but on his follow-through, Watson planted awkwardly and has to leave the game.  Tom Knight comes in and strands the runner, getting Erik Smith and Jeff Bowman to ground out.

In the bottom of the 8th, Johnny Lewis pinch hits facing Jiannetti and flys out.  Since Jiannetti was struggling and threw a lot of pitches to get through the 7th inning, New York pulls him for Todd McCarthy to face the top of the order.  Ricky Buckley rises to the challenge and connects for a homerun for the 3rd straight game.  Now its 5-2 New York.  Billy Bass then gets an infield hit and Arceneaux hits another double to put runners on the corners.

George Kird has seen enough from McCarthy and goes to the lefty Paul Miller to face the lefty Trevor Burton.  Playing the infield back, Burton hits a hard grounder to first.  W. Gehrig Bear fields it cleanly, checks the runner, and gets the out at first.  New York then pulls Miller for Nolan Stephens to face the righty Merkich.  Merkich delivers a single to cut the lead to 5-3.  Ortiz then grounds out to end the inning.

To the 9th inning, Tom Knight gets Jacobs to ground out.  Luis Harris then singles and steals 2nd and 3rd to get into scoring position.  Daniel Klein (more on him later) is not able to plate the runner, as he grounds out to third base with the pulled-in infield.  Lee Thompson is then intentionally walked, and steals second.  With runners at 2nd and 3rd, Knight strikes out David Jackson to end the inning.

We go to the bottom of the 9th, New York leads 5-3, and is three outs away from repeating as champions.  Leading off the 9th, Cabrera grounds out to third.  Peter Rabbit then takes Stephens for a long ride, hitting a solo homerun to make it 5-4.  Johnny Lewis then grounds out to shortstop, bringing up Ricky Buckley.  New York opts to go with a fresh pitcher, bringing in Bryan Avila.  Buckley connects for a deep fly, going back to right center field, giving chase is Klein, but he can't get there.  The ball bounces off the wall for a double.  Billy Bass then works the two-out walk.

It all comes down to this.  Reigning MVP Devan Arceneaux facing Bryan Avila, with 2 outs and runners on first and second.  Arceneaux is hot, having hit doubles in the 7th and 8th innings.  Arceneaux sees a pitch he likes and smashes it up the middle for a base hit.  With 2 outs, Buckley is running on contact and is flying around third base representing the tying run.  Daniel Klein charges in and in one motion, fields the ball and lets fly.  He fires a perfect no bounce throw to the plate, and it will be a close one.  Buckley slides in to home, but Bowman is able to apply the tag and the umpire calls him out.  What an amazing throw, and a very shocking end to the World Series.  Bryan Avila will be credited for the save by allowing a double, walk, and single, but gets bailed out by Klein.  Miami will always wonder "what if" they didn't send Buckley and kept the bases loaded for Burton against a depleted New York bullpen.

New York wins the game 5-4 and claims their second straight championship.  Lee Thompson is named the MVP.  The turning point for New York's season was their trade deadline acquisitions to bring in Daniel Klein and Luis Harris.  This move bolstered the team defense which was the key for them winning several close playoff games and series.  Meanwhile, Chad White ends his career the same way he started it, as a World Series Champion.