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Harlingen Aztecs 100-62 vs.
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| Game | Location | Results | Win | Loss | Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | at Hannibal | Cannibals 2, Aztecs 1 (11) | R.Helsley(1-0) | K.Finnegan(0-1) | None |
| HR – J.Profar(1) | |||||
| 2 | at Hannibal | Aztecs 7, Cannibals 6 | B.Ober(1-0) | R.Rodriguez(0-1) | K.Finnegan(1) |
| HR – J.Chisholm(1) | 3 | at Harlingen | Aztecs 3, Cannibals 1 | B.Francis(1-0) | B.Bello(0-1) | J.Tinoco(1) |
| HR – C.Walker(1) | |||||
| 4 | at Harlingen | Aztecs 6, Cannibals 2 | D.Herz(1-0) | E.Cabrera(0-1) | None |
| HR – C.Walker(2), J.Pena(1), M.Ozuna(1) | |||||
| 5 | at Harlingen | Aztecs 5, Cannibals 4 | H.Strickland(1-0) | T.Skubal(0-1) | J.Junis(1) |
| HR – D.Cameron(1) | |||||
Harlingen wins series 4-1
Game 1 – Both teams’ aces started – Tarik Skubal for Hannibal and Michael King for Harlingen. The Cannibals struck first with a solo homer in the 1st by Jurickson Profar. In the top of the 4th Jeremy Pena doubled home Bryson Stott with the tying run. Both aces traded scoreless innings with King leaving after the 6th inning, scattering 5 hits. Skubal made it thru 8 innings allowing only back-to-back hits in the 4th and struck out 10. Both bullpens were great but in the bottom of the 11th J.T. Realmuto reached on a Pena error and Matt Olson walked. With Matt Chapman up, Kyle Finnegan threw a wild pitch and then intentionally walked Chapman. Pete Crowe-Armstrong stepped up to the plate and received a signal for a squeeze play and properly executed it as HAC sneaks out a 2-1 walk-off victory. Profar was the only player with 2 hits on the day.
Game 2 – HAZ sends Bailey Ober to the mound against Lance Lynn for HAC. In the 3rd after Bryson Stott led off with a double Lynn walked 3 of the next 4 batters to force in a run and then gold glover muffed a grounder for an error and a 2-0 lead for HAZ. HAC fought back to tie it in the 3rd on a 2-run double. In the top of the 4th Lukes led off with a triple and scored on a ground out but HAC tied it in the bottom of the 4th on a Jazz Chisholm solo shot. Hannibal’s bullpen weakened allowing 2 in the 7th and 2 in the 8th but Chapman got a 2 run double in the 8th to cut the Aztec lead to 7-5. In the bottom of the 9th HAC gets a bases loaded walk to make it 7-6 but Mr. Clutch Matt Olson strikes out for the 4th time in the game to end it. The series heads to Harlingen for game 3.
Game 3 – The Harlingen Aztecs return home to the park which favors their RH power hitters. Game 3 starters are Brayan Bello (13-9, 3.80) for the Cannibals and Bowden Francis (6-5, 4.00) for HAZ. The Aztecs jump out to an early lead in the bottom of the first thanks to a Bryson Stott leadoff double, a Jeremy Pena single, and a Marcell Ozuna sacrifice fly. Hannibal ties it in the top of the 2nd with Masyn Winn singling in Pete Crow-Armstrong. Harlingen took the lead for good in the 4th on a Christian Walker 2-run dinger. The game ended with a 3-1 score to elate the hometown faithful. Francis pitched 6 innings for the win with Jesus Tinoco earning the save. Bello took the loss. Harlingen now has a 2-1 series lead.
Game 4 – Game 4 starters are Edward Cabrera (8-7, 2.93) for Hannibal and rookie DJ Herz (8-4, 3,27) for Harlingen. The Aztecs start off strong in the bottom of the first with a Bryson Stott leadoff walk followed by back-to-back home runs by Jeremy Pena and Marcell Ozuna. It is 3-0 HAZ after one inning. Harlingen strikes again in the 3rd. Pena leads off with a single. Ozuna follows with a single and Christian Walker drives them in with a deep blast to make it 6-0 in favor of the home team after three. Herz has a no-hitter going for 6.2 innings before JT Realmuto breaks it up with a single. In the 8th, Hannibal finally breaks through as two walks and two singles result in 2 runs and a 6-2 game after 8 innings. The Ryan Division Champs can’t score in the 9th and the game ends 6-2. Herz gets the win and Cabrera the loss. HAZ leads the series 3-1.
Game 5 – Game 5 features a repeat of the Game 1 aces: Skubal and King. Neither are sharp in this one. A hit batter and doubles by Edwards, Chapman, and Olsen result in a 3-0 lead for HAC after 2 innings. Olsen singles in another run in the 4th to extend HAC’s lead to 4-0. HAZ gets one back in the bottom of the frame on a Cameron HR to make it 4-1 after 4. In the bottom of the 5th, Varsho hits a leadoff single. Pham follows with a single and a Pena ground out moves the runners to 2nd and 3rd. Wilson flies out. With 2 out, Ozuna laces a single scoring Pham and Varsho. Stallings then doubles in Ozuna and Cameron singles in Stallings to give HAZ a 5-4 lead after 5 innings. The game remains scoreless after that for the next three innings. In the top of the 9th, Chapman leads off with a double but Junis retires the next three batters to preserve the victory to win the series. The Aztecs take it in 5 games. Ozuna was the MVP with a .375 average and 1013 OPS. Walker hit only .167 but two of his three hits were HRs and he led the team with 6 RBI.
