Batavia Muckdogs 109-60 vs. Chattanooga Lookouts 110-59

Batavia leads NLCS 2-1

Game 1 – In a thrilling opener to the National League Championship Series, the defending champion Batavia Muckdogs edged their Aaron Division rivals, the Chattanooga Lookouts, 4-3 in extra innings on October 11, 2025, at Comerica Park. The Muckdogs, who posted a stellar 105-57 regular-season record, overcame early deficits and a key injury to steal a critical road victory in this best-of-seven showdown between two of the SWBA’s top teams. Chattanooga, the division champions with a 106-56 mark, appeared poised to take control multiple times but couldn’t hold leads against Batavia’s resilient lineup. The game featured back-and-forth drama from the start. Batavia grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second on Gabriel Moreno’s RBI double that plated Nate Lowe, but the Lookouts answered in the third with a two-run single from Riley Greene to go ahead 2-1. After Jose Caballero exited with an injury in the third (prompting a defensive shuffle), Batavia tied it in the fifth via Richie Palacios’ RBI groundout, then surged ahead 3-2 in the seventh on Trey Sweeney’s go-ahead single. Chattanooga’s Paul Goldschmidt delivered a clutch double in the bottom half to knot the score at 3-3. The decisive moment came in the 10th, when Mickey Moniak lined a single to score Jose Ramirez for the go-ahead run after a steal of second. Kenley Jansen slammed the door with two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win, while Clay Holmes took the loss after allowing the extra-inning tally. Moreno, with his early double and key contributions throughout, was named Game MVP in a contest that lasted 3 hours and 27 minutes under cool night conditions. This victory gives the Muckdogs a 1-0 series lead, setting the stage for what promises to be an intense battle between these powerhouse franchises in the SouthWest Baseball Association playoffs.

Game 2 – ​The Chattanooga Lookouts tied the National League Championship Series with a decisive 4-0 victory over the Batavia Muckdogs in Game 2 on Monday night at Comerica Park. In a pitcher’s duel that leaned heavily toward the home side, veteran left-hander Jose Quintana delivered a masterful performance, shutting down the potent Batavia lineup over six innings to earn the win​.​ ​The crafty Colombian southpaw scattered just four hits while walking one and striking out five. He ​d​idn’t allow any runs and kept Batavia’s high-powered offense — featuring stars like Kyle Schwarber, Jose Ramirez, and ​N​athaniel Lowe — off balance all evening. The 3​6-year-old Quintana improved to ​2-0 in the postseason with the gem, relying on his varied arsenal to induce weak contact and timely strikeouts. “Quintana was outstanding,” said Lookouts manager ​Donald Ward after the game. “He set the tone early and gave us exactly what we needed in a big spot.” Opposing him was Batavia ace Chris Sale​ (18-6 regular season), the lanky lefty who battled through six innings but absorbed the loss. Sale surrendered seven hits and four earned runs while fanning seven without issuing a walk. ​H​e fell to 0-1 in the series, as Chattanooga capitalized on key mistakes and timely hitting. The Lookouts struck first in the second inning. Ketel Marte singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch from Sale. Riley Greene — the rising star outfielder — then ripped a double off the wall in right field to plate Marte for the game’s first run, giving Chattanooga a 1-0 lead. The third inning proved decisive. After a leadoff flyout, Brenton Doyle singled up the middle. Paul Goldschmidt followed with a sharp single to put runners on the corners. Marte delivered again, lacing a double down the left-field line that scored both runners and extended the advantage to 3-0. The two-run knock highlighted Marte’s clutch postseason play and put Batavia in an early hole. Chattanooga tacked on insurance in the sixth when Jordan Westburg, the versatile infielder, crushed a solo home run down the left-field line — his third homer of the playoffs — for a 349-foot shot that made it 4-0. The blast came off Sale and effectively sealed the outcome. Batavia managed only four hits all night and never seriously threatened. Schwarber singled to lead off the game but was caught stealing second. A double by ​Heliot Ramos in the first and another by Gabriel Moreno in the second represented their best chances, but Quintana and the Chattanooga bullpen shut the door. Relievers, including Aaron Bummer who handled the final 1.2 innings hitless for his first save of the ​playoffs, preserved the shutout. The series shifts to Batavia for Game 3, where the​ ‘Dogs will look to their pitching depth to​ finish the series on their home field. Game time was 2:53 under clear 61-degree conditions with an 11 mph wind blowing out to right field. The night belonged to the Lookouts, who showed why they​ won 107 games during the regular season.

Game 3 – Batavia was glad to be home after escaping with a split in Chattanooga.  The starter match-up is Merrill Kelly for the Lookouts and Division Series hero Kutter Crawford for the home team.  The Muckdogs struck first in the bottom of the 1st as Kelly got into trouble early.  Richie Palacios hit an infield single and Jose Ramirez walked.  The unsettled Kelly balked to advance the runners to second and third and no out.  The dangerous Kyle Schwarber stepped to the plate and took a big cut driving it to the wall, but not over, to be caught.  Palacios scampered home to score the game’s first run.  Kelly regained his composure to get the final two outs in the inning.  In the second inning disaster struck as Kelly got hurt on an infield single.  Kelly is helped off the field as even the home crowd grew silent. Fernando Cruz got the final out to begin the string of bullpen pitchers for the Lookouts.  The Lookouts evened up the score with a Brenton Doyle homer down the LF line.  The Lookouts get a second HR from Lawrence Butler in the 5th off Crawford, who when he gives up a hit, an infrequent event, it is usually a HR.  The Muckdogs got a homer of their own from Pavin Smith in the bottom of the sixth to tie up the game at 2 a piece.  Both Bullpens held in the 7th. Eli Morgan entered in the bottom of the 8th with 2 out and was greeted by Schwarber’s deep fly to RCF and this one cleared the fence for a Muckdog 3-2 lead.  Morgan is not sharp as Smith followed Schwarber with a double down the RF line and he intentionally walked the dangerous Mike Trout to face Nate Lowe, the hot hitter of the Divisional Series.  Morgan finally recorded his first out and the last out of the inning by getting him to ground out to Paul Goldschmidt at first to end the threat.  Kenley Jansen came on to close out the game and pick up a save.  He does so in undramatic fashion by getting PH Garrett Mitchell and Butler to ground out and gets the hot hitting Doyle to strikeout to end the game.  The Muckdog fans leave happy with a 2-1 series lead.

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NLCS MVP
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