Key West at Vancouver - NL Semi-Final FINAL RESULTS

[Aaron Knorr]

The series shifts back to Vancouver with the Knights season hanging on the brink. Having staved off elimination in both Games 4 and 5, Vancouver hopes to pull off an improbable comeback after being down 3-0 in the series. For Key West, it's all about finding a way to eke out one more win to pull off a big Round 1 upset...

Game 6: KEY - Luis Castillo (12-8, 4.48 ERA) vs. VAN - Tony Gonsolin (13-4, 3.06 ERA)

Vancouver quickly put pressure on Castillo in the bottom of the 1st as a Juan Soto walk was followed by a Luke Voit error to put runners on the corners with 1 out. But Castillo got a big strikeout then a foul pop to get out of the jam. Key West broke through for the game's first runs in the 3rd as Ketel Marte unloaded with a 2-run shot. The lead would be short lived... Randy Arozarena connected for a 2-run bomb in the bottom half to even things up at 2 a piece. The Manatees caught a break in the 5th as a would-be inning ending strikeout was waved off and Luis Arraez awarded first on catcher's interference... but Gonsolin got Luke Voit swinging to end the inning. Juan Soto drew a 1-out walk in the bottom of the 5th to bring Arozarena to the plate again with a runner aboard... and all he did was unload on his second 2-run homer of the game to put the Knights up 4-2. Castillo continued to tread water, surrendering a double then a pair of walks to load up the bases still with 1 out. Yolmer Sanchez grounded out to short, but another run came home to extend the lead to 5-2. To the top of 6, Mike Yastrzemski reached on a lead-off error by Joey Wendle... but Gonsolin struck out the next three Manatees to strand the runner. Juan Soto laced a 2-out double in the bottom of the 6th. Key West wanted nothing to do with Arozarena, giving him the free pass. James Karinchak did his job, getting Luis Robert to fly out to end the inning. Vancouver again put a pair aboard with 2 out in the 7th. Key West went to the 'pen once more, calling on Celeb Thielbar who got Joey Wendle to ground out. Key West called on Andrew Stevenson off the bench to lead off the 8th and he delivered with a double to the gap. Yastrzemski switched places with a 1-out double to narrow the lead to 5-3 and chase Gonsolin from the game. AJ Minter came on for the Knights and got the second out before issuing a walk to pinch hitter Evan Longoria, putting the tying run aboard. Brandon Crawford was up next and he unloaded on one deep to center... where Ian Happ went over the wall to bring back a would-be go-ahead blast! Anthony Rendon walked to lead off the bottom of the 8th then somehow stole second on his own with 2 outs... Luis Robert delivered a big insurance run, plating Rendon on a base hit. The Knights 'pen finished off the 6-3 victory to guarantee a Game 7 to decide the series...

Tony Gonsolin stepped up for Vancouver, saving the bullpen by going 7 1/3 and striking out 11 to earn the victory. But Randy Arozarena was the hero (mirroring his 2020 MLB postseason run), clubbing 2 homers that proved to be the difference in a do-or-die game.

Randy Arozarena rounds the bases after a go-ahead 2-run homer in the 5th inning.

FINAL: Vancouver 6, Key West 3

Game 7: KEY - Zach Plesac (12-7, 3.89 ERA) vs. VAN - Jose Berrios (14-10, 4.94 ERA)

And it comes down to Game 7... those two most magical words in baseball...

Jose Berrios, getting his first start of the series, worked around a 2-out single to get out of the 1st unscathed. Vancouver also got a 2-out baserunner as Randy Arozarena drew a base on balls in the bottom of the 1st. He was off and running as Salvador Perez laced a base hit to right, bringing Arozarena all the way around for the game's first run. Berrios got the quick hook after 2 shutout innings and Ramon Laureano greeted Bryan Garcia with a ringing double to lead off the top of the 3rd for Key West. Tyler Flowers tried to move him over but struck out after failing to get down the bunt and Garcia retired the next two Manatees to strand the runner. Still 1-0. Joey Wendle led off the bottom of the 3rd with a base hit, moved up on a groundout, then scored on a Juan Soto single to make it 2-0 Knights. Brett Gardner then led off the 5th for Vancouver by clubbing one just over the wall in right to extend the lead to 3-0. Ketel Marte reached second on a 1-out double for the Manatees in the 6th but was caught in a rundown on a come-backer and tagged out at third. Vancouver suffered a costly injury in the 6th as Arozarena was drilled and put out of commission for 11 days, likely to miss the NLCS should Vancouver advance. To the top of the 8th, Ramon Laureano finally put Key West on the board with a long 1-out homer. Ketel Marte followed with a 2-out double to bring the tying run to the plate. The Manatees called on AJ Pollock to pinch hit and he came through with a base hit to right... Marte came screaming around 3rd but looked like a dead duck at the plate... until Juan Soto's errant throw sailed wide allowing the run to score. The Knights fired down to second, nailing Pollock to end the inning, but Key West had drawn within a single run heading to the 9th. After a 1-2-3 8th by Plesac, AJ Minter returned to the hill trying to lock down the win for Vancouver. First up was the ever-dangerous Luke Voit who crushed a double off the wall, putting the tying run in scoring position right off the bat. Next up, Mike Yastrzemski bounced out to 1st with Voit having to hold on the play. Key West called on Jorge Polanco to pinch hit... and he flew out to left for the second out. Nick Solak was the last hope for the Manatees... Minter reached back for something extra and got him swinging to end the game and the series... an astonishing comeback by the Knights after being down 3-0 to start the series!

Great season and great series for Key West pushing the 112-win Knights to the absolute precipice. Just a hit here or there would have easily turned this series the other way...

Knights relief ace AJ Minter reacts after striking out Nick Solak to send Vancouver to the NLCS.

FINAL: Vancouver 3, Key West 2

Final F-file, and play-by-play files for all the games played in Vancouver, attached.

Thanks,

Aaron