Beaumont vs. Vancouver - NLCS Games 1 & 2 RESULTS

[Aaron Knorr]

Beaumont Rams (103-59, 1st NL East) vs. Vancouver Knights (112-50, 1st NL West)

It's a showdown between the top two records in the NL for the pennant. This will mark the third post-season meeting between the two franchises -- each of the previous series have gone to Beaumont, including an NLCS matchup in 2018 that propelled the Rams to the World Series. New year, a lot of new faces... on to the first pitch...

Game 1: BEA - Trevor Bauer (19-4, 2.35 ERA) vs. VAN - Shane Bieber (18-8, 2.46 ERA)

With both the AL and NL MLB Cy Young's toeing the rubber in Game 1, runs were likely to be at a premium. No one told Edwin Rios though, as he put the Rams up in the 2nd on a 2 run shot to open the scoring. Tommy La Stella cut the lead in half in the 4th, posting a long ball of his own to make it 2-1. That's where the score would remain until Bieber issued a 2-out pass in the 7th which prompted Vancouver to go to the 'pen... Clearly the Knights' skipper pushed the wrong button, as Austin Slater welcomed 23* Chris Martin with a long homer, extending the lead to 4-1. Vancouver tried a couple of different arms to keep it close, but each gave up another Beaumont homer, with JT Realmuto and Charlie Blackmon getting in on the act to put the game out of reach at 7-1. Bauer handed it off to the Rams 'pen to finish it off in the 9th after 8 innings of 4-hit ball to earn the victory.

Beaumont 3b Edwin Rios admires a 2nd inning go-ahead homer in Game 1.

FINAL: Beaumont 7, Vancouver 1

Game 2: BEA - Brad Keller (7-6, 3.86 ERA) vs. VAN - Kwang Hyun Kim (11-3, 2.84 ERA)

Luis Robert was inserted into the Knights lineup for Game 2, a move that paid early dividends when the young slugger squared up a 2-run bomb in the 2nd for an early Vancouver lead. The blast must have shaken Brad Keller a bit, as he promptly gave up a single and two walks to load the bases with 2 outs for the dangerous Juan Soto... but Keller pulled himself together, getting the Knights star to pop out to catcher. Charlie Blackmon started to chip away the next inning, hitting a solo homer to bring the Rams within a run. Adam Duvall flashed some leather for Beaumont in the 5th, taking extra base hits away from Tommy La Stella and Salvador Perez with a pair of great catches to keep the score close. Top 6, the Knights opt to go to the 'pen and just as in Game 1, the move backfires instantaneously. This time it was JT Realmuto cranking a game-tying blast for the Rams and we're back to even. Vancouver mounted a threat in the bottom half though, with the first two hitters reaching base. Up stepped rookie Luis Robert who seems to relish the big stage... 3-run bomb, his second long ball of the game to put the Knights in front 5-2. Vancouver added on a couple more in the 7th to seemingly put the game out of reach... but that would not quite be the case. After the Rams put a runner aboard in the 8th with 1 out, the Knights called on stopper AJ Minter... and once more a new Vancouver pitcher was welcomed by the long ball. A 2-run shot for Blackmon, his second of the game, brought the Rams to within 7-4. Realmuto then walked, and a sense of "the wheels are about to come off" filled the ballpark... but Minter settled down to get Marcell Ozuna and Adam Duvall to end the threat... then record a 1-2-3 9th to seal a crucial win for Vancouver.

Vancouver rookie Luis Robert follows through on this second homer of the game, a 6th inning go-ahead blast.

FINAL: Vancouver 7, Beaumont 4

All tied up at 1 game a piece heading to Beaumont. Attached f-file ready to go...

Thanks, and happy new year!

Aaron

[Randy]

Great write-up Aaron!

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