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California Coolers 94-38 vs.
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| Game | Location | Results | Win | Loss | Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | at St. Charles | Coolers 4, Saints 1 | C.Burnes(1-0) | G.Crochet(0-1) | T.Holton(1) |
| HR – None | |||||
| 2 | at St. Charles | Saints 7, Coolers 1 | R.Lopez(1-0) | D.Cease(0-1) | None |
| HR – Z.Neto(1) | |||||
| 3 | at California | Coolers 6, Saints 2 | N.Pivetta(1-0) | A.Nola(0-1) | D.Hudson(1) |
| HR – J.Bride(1), S.Suzuki(1) | |||||
| 4 | at California | Coolers 4, Saints 2 | A.Oller(1-0) | Z.Eflin(0-1) | D.Hudson(2) |
| HR – None | |||||
| 5 | at California | Coolers 8, Saints 3 | C.Burnes(2-0) | G.Crochet(0-2) | None |
| HR – Z.Neto(2) | |||||
California wins series 4-1
Game 1 – Guaranteed Rate Field — The Coolers squad used a combination of timely offense and dominant pitching to earn a 4–1 road victory over the Saints on October 1st. J.D. Davis led the way offensively, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs, including a key two-run double in the fourth inning to break a scoreless tie. That hit gave California an early 2–0 lead, and they never looked back. St. Charles answered in the sixth with an RBI single from Jose Iglesias, trimming the deficit to 2–1. But the Coolers responded quickly in the eighth, capitalizing on two hits and a walk. Ernie Clement came through in the clutch with a two-run single to restore the three-run cushion at 4–1. On the mound, Corbin Burnes was dominant, tossing six innings of one-run ball, striking out eight while allowing just three hits and no walks. The veteran right-hander came up big to secure the first win of the series. Tyler Holton finished off the game, recording the final four outs without allowing a hit to notch the save. Despite the loss, Garrett Crochet impressed for the Saints, striking out 10 batters in five innings. However, he was tagged with the loss after allowing two earned runs on just two hits and two walks. With the victory, California grabs a 1–0 lead in the ALDS over St. Charles.
Game 2 – October 2nd – Guaranteed Rate Field – St. Charles bounced back in a big way in Game 2, using a powerful offensive performance and solid pitching from Reynaldo López to defeat California 7–1 and even the ALDS at one game apiece.Zach Neto sparked the offense with a solo home run in the first inning to give the Saints an early 1–0 lead. He finished the night 2-for-4 with a double, home run, 3 RBIs, and 2 runs scored.In the second inning, Justin Turner delivered a two-run double to extend the lead to 3–0. The Coolers got on the board in the sixth when Ernie Clement hit a sacrifice fly, but that would be their only run of the game.St. Charles added a run in the bottom of the sixth on a Jose Iglesias RBI single, then broke things open in the seventh, sending seven batters to the plate and scoring three more runs. Neto doubled in two more, and Jake Meyers capped the rally with an RBI single to make it 7–1.Reynaldo López was outstanding on the mound, pitching 5.1 innings and allowing just 1 hit and 1 earned run, while striking out eight to pick up the win.Dylan Cease took the loss for California, giving up 3 earned runs over 5 innings, with 3 hits, 3 walks, and 5 strikeouts. With the series now tied 1–1, the ALDS shifts 8 miles north to Wrigley for Game 3.
Game 3 – Wrigley Field – California defends home field with solid pitching and hot bats to go up 2 games to 1 on St. Charles. In the top of the 1st inning, St Charles gets on the board, as California starter Nick Pivetta, couldn’t find the zone, walking Jarred Duran and Juan Soto, then uncorked a wild pitch putting runners at 2nd and 3rd with 1 out. Austin Riley’s sharp ground out to 3rd scored Duran, and St. Charles leads 1-0. California jumped ahead in the bottom of the inning as Brett Baty led off with a single, and scampered home on Seiya Suzuki’s double down the LF line. Aaron Judge then hit an RBI single, and California grabs a 2-1 lead after one. St.Charles evened the score in the 4th on a one-out blast to CF by Jonah Bride. California jumped back ahead in the 5th, sending 7 batters to the plate. Brett Baty led off with a single, Suzuki homered down the LF line scoring Baty, Aaron Judge followed with a single, and moved to 2nd base on a passed ball. Ernie Clement’s sac bunt moved Judge to 3rd base, and the big guy scored on Jake Cronenworth’s single to RF, 5-2 California. The hometown Coolers tallied one more run in the 8th, on a triple off the bat off Joey Ortiz, and an RBI grounder to first base by Miguel Rojas. Pivetta gets the win, and the California bullpen shuts out the powerful St.Charles offense, allowing only one walk over the last 4 innings. Aaron Nola pitched poorly, getting knocked around for 5 runs and 8 hits and was saddled with the loss.
Game 4 – Wrigley Field – After a scoreless 1st inning, California jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the 2nd inning. Back to back to back singles by Joey Ortiz, Ben Rortvedt and Miguel Rojas (rbi) and a Sac Fly by Leody Taverez staked the home team to the early lead. St. Charles got even in the top of the 4th, as California starter Adam Oller got a little wild, loading the bases by issuing 3 BBs and singles to Austin Riley and Jonah Bride, game knotted at 2-2. California wasted no time regaining the lead in the bottom half of the 4th. Joey Ortiz led off with a double to CF, and one out later Miguel Rojas recorded his second rbi, singling to left, Coolers up 3-2. In the top of the 8th, St. Charles loaded the bases again. A lead off single by Zach Neto, followed by a 1 out walk to Austin Riley and a 2 out walk by Jonah Bride, brought the dangerous bat of Jose Iglesias to the plate. Iglesias nailed a 2-2 offering from Bryan King, launching a deep fly to straight-away CF as the Wrigley faithful held their collective breath. Aaron Judge raced back, leaping at the 402 mark and robbed the Saints slugger of a game changing grand slam. After escaping with the lead still intact, California tacked on an insurance run. Jake Croneworth blooped a single to RF, and promptly stole 2b. With 2 out, Miguel Rojas collected his 3rd rbi, singling up the middle to push the lead to 4-2. Daniel Hudson came on to pitch the 9th for California and retired the side in order. Adam Oller pitched a solid 5 innings allowing 2 runs to earn the win. Zach Eflin pitched 6 innings, allowing 3 runs and took the loss. Daniel Hudson earned the save.
Game 5 – The California lineup exploded out of the gate, scoring seven runs in the first two innings en route to an 8–3 win over St. Charles. Aaron Judge and Triston Casas fueled the early outburst with back-to-back RBI hits, while Justyn-Henry Malloy, J.D. Davis, and Ernie Clement each added run-scoring singles in the second. Corbin Burnes was dominant on the mound, tossing 5.2 scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out four to improve to 2–0. The Saints’ Zach Neto provided a bright spot, blasting a solo homer in the seventh—his second of the series—and making a pair of stellar defensive plays. Jonah Bride added a two-run single in the ninth, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the early deficit. The California Coolers take the series 4 games to 1 advance to the American League Championship Series.
