Jackson Holy Cows 114-61 vs.
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Game | Location | Results | Win | Loss | Save |
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1 | at Hannibal | Holy Cows 5, Cannibals 1 | J.Verlander(3-1) | S.Strider(2-2) | None |
HR – M.Carpenter(6), K.Higashioka(4) | |||||
2 | at Hannibal | Holy Cows 2, Cannibals 1 | M.Scherzer(2-2) | R.Helsley(1-1) | S.Barlow(3) |
HR – J.Chisholm(3), X.Bogaerts(1) | |||||
3 | at Jackson | Holy Cows 3, Cannibals 2 | M.Mikolas(4-0) | T.Skubal(0-1) | S.Barlow(4) |
HR – A.Pujols(5), M.Olson(3) | |||||
4 | at Jackson | Holy Cows 5, Cannibals 2 | G.Hill(1-0) | R.Hill(1-2) | AJ.Minter(1) |
HR – J.Chisholm(4), X.Bogaerts(2) |
Jackson wins World Series 4-0
Game 1 – It was a cloudy, 67-degree evening with light rain at Busch Stadium for Game 1 of the 2023 SWBA World Series. The visiting NL Champs, the Jackson Holy Cows came in with an overall 114-61 record. The AL Champion Hannibal Cannibals were hosting with a 103-70 mark. Both teams got a runner aboard in the first inning, but neither managed to score. The 2nd inning saw AL co-MVP Spencer Strider walk Albert Pujols and Dan Vogelbach before yielding a 3-run HR 374 feet down the LF line to Kyle Higashioka. Strider managed to get the 2nd out with a K, but got wild again – hitting the next batter and walking 3 straight to trail 4-0. Strider was pulled after 3 innings in favor of Austin Gomber and he got the first two batters he faced out; but Matt Carpenter hit a solo homer to right-center, his 6th of this post-season, to make it 5-nothing. Hannibal got a run back in the bottom half on a Trea Turner double and an Alex Verdugo RBI single. Both bullpens did their job and JHC took home field advantage with this game one victory. Justin Verlander pitched 6 innings of 4-hit ball while fanning 6 batters for the win. Adolis Garcia had 3 hits for the visitors and Pujols drew FOUR walks as HAC’s pitching uncharacteristically allowed a total of 12 BB’s. Turner and Verdugo each had two hits for Hannibal.
Game 2 – Game two was 66° with the wind blowing out to right-center, but that didn’t affect Max Scherzer and Lance Lynn. Despite getting a couple runners on base, both teams were scoreless thru the first 5-1/2 innings. In the bottom of the 6th, Jazz Chisholm drilled one 344 feet down the RF line to give Hannibal a one-run lead. The Cows responded in the top of the 7th with Xander Bogaerts going yard 403 feet to left-center with a runner aboard. The Cannibals threatened with four deep flies in the last three innings, but they weren’t deep enough to tie the game. They did get a 2-out single in the bottom of the 9th, but Scott Barlow fanned Mike Brosseau to end the game. Jackson heads home to PNC Park for game 3 with a 2-game lead. Bogaerts and Adolis Garcia each had 2 hits for JHC. Scherzer fanned 7 batters and allowed 5 hits in 7 innings for the win. Lynn escaped with a no-decision as Ryan Helsley was saddled with the loss.
Game 3 – When game 3 started at PNC Park, it was a nice 65° afternoon. Miles Mikolas, 3-0 during this post-season, took the hill for Jackson and sat down the first 6 hitters he faced. Tarik Skubal was the opposing pitcher and he got a little roughed up in the bottom of the 2nd. Ji Man Choi hit a two-out RBI single and scored on Yoan Moncada’s double to give the home town fans a 2-nothing lead to cheer about. Albert Pujols gave one a ride in the 6th and the Holy Cows were up 3-0. Hannibal was ecstatic to see Mikolas hit the showers after 7 complete innings. Alex Verdugo greeted AJ Minter with a leadoff triple and scored on Eric Hosmer’s single. They squandered the rest of the inning leaving 2 ducks on the pond. In the top of the 9th, Matt Olson hit a one-out homer off closer Scott Barlow to cut the lead to one. Barlow got the next two batters to end the game and put JHC up 3 games to none. Mikolas got the win, allowing only one hit and one walk while fanning 5. Skubal got the defeat. Choi and Pujols each had two hits on the day.
Game 4 – The fans at PNC Park were treated to a 61° afternoon for game 4 of the 2023 SWBA World Series. It was standing room only as the stadium crew managed to squeeze 38,750 people into the ballpark. With their backs to the wall, the Cannibals jumped to a lead in the first on shaky defense by the Cows. Brandon Nimmo led off with a single and advanced to 2nd on Xander Bogaerts’ throwing error. He advanced to 3rd on Trea Turner’s grounder and scored on Matt Olson’s fly out to left-center. The Cannibals got two runners aboard in the 2nd on an error by JHC starter Garrett Hill and then a walk. G.Hill then got the next three batters out to keep the score 1-0. In the bottom of the 2nd, Ji Man Choi raked a 2-out double that plated Kyle Higashioka to tie the game. In the bottom of the 4th, Bogaerts redeemed his error by sending Rich Hill’s 2-1 offering into the cheap seats down the LF line. Adolis Garcia then tripled down the RF line and scored on Higashioka’s sac fly to make it 3-1 Jackson. Garcia extended the lead with 2-out single that scored 2 in the 5th. Jazz Chisholm hit a solo HR in the 7th to make it 5-2 Cows. Scott Barlow allowed a hit and a walk after retiring the 1st two batters in the 9th, prompting Jackson’s manager to bring in AJ Minter to face Chisholm, the tying run at the plate. Mike Brosseau came in to pinch hit and lofted the 3-2 pitch into CF and Garcia squeezed it to end the game and give the Jackson franchise their first World Series win in their first appearance. The Cows’ offense was somewhat held in check by Hannibal, but the Cannibals had a hard time generating much offense with Nimmo getting 1 single and 2 walks and Realmuto’s only time on base during the 4-game series was on a HBP. Garcia and Choi were the only two players with 2 hits. Garrett Hill got the win, Rich Hill the loss.
2023 World Series MVP – Kyle Higashioka
.429/.500/.857 1 HR 4 RBI 0 SB Att Against