CHICAGO- The Gray Stockings defeated the Cleveland Lake Shores in a classic 7-game series to win their first NL Pennant in team history. Chicago fell behind 3-2 but managed to win both Games 6 and 7 earning a trip to the World Series. The series was very tight, and hotly contested with three of the games decided by a single run. The MVP of the series was SP Carter Maybin, who continues to have an excellent postseason run. He had two starts in the series, went 1-0 with 16 innings pitched and a 2.25 ERA. CF Butch Ramirez and 3B Yusmeiro Martin lead the team in home runs (with 4 each) and RBI (with 14 and 15 respectively). MVP candidate 1B Russ Charleston has been the most potent offensive weapon for Chicago. In the postseason, he has an OPS of 1.029 with 9 RBI, 1 home runs and 4 doubles. The deciding Game 7 was a game for the ages. Ramirez was the hero for the Gray Sox, knocking in all three of their runs. He had a game tying solo home run in the fourth and a go-ahead, 2-out, 2-run single in the bottom of the eighth. The Lake Shores threatened in the ninth. C Matt Wolf singled in a run with two outs. But 1B Oswaldo Canseco grounded out to end the game, stranding the game tying runner at third base. Chicago's three home games are already sold out, and Gray Stocking Fever is rampant on the South Side.
BALTIMORE- Revolution fans were stunned when the Rainbow Warriors gave them one hell of a series. Baltimore had to win the series despite LF Frank Edwards missing the last four games of the series due to a strained neck. The team says he will be ready to go for the World Series though, and he is expected to start in Game 1. 1B Delvi Borges is leading the team in home runs (5) and RBI (12) but only has an OBP of .300. RF Jung-Lee Martin, 1B Bruce Donovan and RF Aureilio Diaz have been the most consistent players with the stick. They have combined for an OBP of above .429 with 4 home runs and 15 RBI. The star for Baltimore has been SP Tony Espinosa. He is 3-0 in his 3 starts with 17 innings pitched with an ERA of 0.53. The Revolution have now made it to their fourth World Series in the last eight seasons.
Projected Pitching Matchups:
Game 1: Camden Yards, CHI: Carter Maybin (20-4) vs. BAL: Damaso Solano (22-3)
Game 2: Camden Yards, CHI: Julio Telemaco (13-7) vs. BAL: Tony Espinosa (17-4)
Game 3: US Cellular Field, BAL: Jared White (16-1) vs. CHI: Wayne Spence (11-8)
Editor's Pick:
Game 1 of this series should have plenty of hype. Future HOFer Damaso Solano matches up with one of the NL's top young pitchers and Cy Young candidate Carter Maybin. Maybin was dominant all season long, but there isn't an offense in the NL that is as potent as Baltimore's. It remains to be seen if he can keep up his dominance against the high scoring Revolution. For the games in Baltimore, the Gray Stockings will use veteran slugger 1B/DH Jesse Miller in the DH spot, while the Revolution will have to do without the services of Borges for the games in Chicago. The series should be compelling and competitive, but Baltimore's lineup is a murderer's row. It should wear down Chicago's pitching and be the difference in the series. Baltimore wins in six.
