Thursday, 28 Vendémiaire 186 22:42
ch'Taala Reclaim Series Championship
by Ehsakh tr’Lleivau
CH'TAALA, L'NHRAEI (CSN) – Rarely was Yogi Berra more right than tonight. The sounds of Neil Railey could be heard outside Yankee Stadium as the 57,397 fans exited, celebrating the Yankees' come-from-behind Commonwealth Series win in the bottom of the ninth.
The game remained scoreless until the third inning, when Rhalennor tr'Eio sent the ball deep into centre field for a double. Antonio Mapes's single got tr'Eio to third two batters later, and left fielder Olardos tr'Vae brought tr'Eio home to give the Yankees the early lead.
Gaea, however, didn't let ch'Taala keep it for long. First baseman Clyde Bronstein was up first in the top of the 4th. He smacked the ball into the bleachers (which, of course, was promptly thrown back by the Bleacher Creatures), tying the game.
Things looked better for the Yankees in the 5th. Gaea pitcher Stephen Baskerville walked three to load the bases, but with two strikeouts, ch'Taala were unable to bring a runner home.
The Swordfish then took the advantage in the 6th inning, relying on a double by Bronstein, a sacrifice fly by Jo Griswald, and Camar tr'Fvi got the RBI with a single. This time, though, ch'Taala couldn't tie it. Baorin tr'Iyhwaelou walked, but was out at second on Krys Stuart's grounder. She was out a batter later along with Havraha tr'Ielmnu, who grounded into a double play.
Top of the 7th - Tallus tr'T'Rei's single is fumbled by tr'Vae, allowing Morekath tr'Vet to advance to third. Another sacrifice fly gave Gaea a 3-1 lead over ch'Taala.
When ch'Taala went three up and three down in the 7th and 8th, some fans started heading for the exits. Even the ones who stayed seemed resigned to a loss, especially following ch'Taala pitcher Vaebn tr'Atei walking in the winning run yesterday in Game 6, tying the Series at 3-3. Yankee Stadium was quiet.
ch'Taala made quick work of the Swordfish in the top of the 9th, as all three Gaea batters grounded out. Gaea brought in Traewyn tr'T'Kei to close, certainly hoping for three easy outs. Things certainly didn't go as Gaea planned. Stuart singled, but with tr'Ielmnu up next, she had to wait on base for several minutes. tr'Ielmnu had announced his retirement before the playoffs, and this was his last game in Yankee Stadium. As he stepped to the plate, the fans burst into applause and chanted his name.
When the pitches were finally thrown, tr'Ielmnu walked, sending Stuart to second. Gaea's choice of closer looked even worse when he made a throwing error to first, advancing Stuart to third, tr'Ielmnu to second, and Buck Felicione made it to first. Could the Yankees actually come back?
Pinch hitter Brumok tr'Yhjaedho came up next for tr'Eio, His grounder advanced tr'Ielmnu and Felicione, but Stuart was out at home. The bases were still loaded, and with only one out, the crowd began to come back to life. As they watched, catcher Gary Merrill stepped to the plate and got a hit into centre field, clearing the bases and giving ch'Taala a 4-3 win in not only Game 7 but the Series.
The win gives the Yankees their 42nd Commonwealth Series since the league was founded in 7 (including the L'nhraei Series prior to 67). ch'Taala finish the season with a 94-60 record, and Gaea are 84-70.
FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 R H E
Gaea 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 3 9 2
ch'Taala 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 4 6 1
One out when winning run scored.
GAEA AB R H BI BB SO LO AVG
BATTING
2B: tr'Eio (6, Holt); Baskerville (2, tr'T'Kei). RBI: tr'Vae (6); Merrill 3 (14).
GAEA
IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Stephen Baskerville
6 4 1
1 5 4 0 5.28
Zachary Breshears (H, 3) 2 0 0
0 1 1 0 2.57
Billy Wagner (L, 0-1) (BS, 1) 1/3 2 3 0 1 0 0 0.00
CH'TAALA
IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Nigel Benningfield
6 7
2 2 3 2 1 5.29
Miran tr'Etae
1 2 1 0 1 1 0 4.50
Kurt Mustain (W, 1-0) 2
0 0 0 0 1 0 2.84
Umpires: HP: Brandon Russ. 1B: Gary Dodson. 2B: Tyrone Vandergrift. 3B: Sean Hundley.
T: 3:00. Att: 57,397. Weather: 69 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to right.