Beaumont vs. Vancouver - NLCS RESULTS

[Aaron Knorr]

The NLCS heads back to Vancouver with the Knights one win away from a World Series berth... but Beaumont remains very much alive with a loaded pitching staff capable of taking control of a game. On to the conclusion of the series...

Game 6: BEA - Ian Anderson (9-4, 1.68 ERA) vs. VAN - Tony Gonsolin (13-4, 3.06 ERA)

Gonsolin dug his team into a massive hole in the 1st, giving up a pair of 2-out singles then a long homer by Adam Duvall... followed by a JT Realmuto solo shot to make it 4-0. Luis Robert dropped a 2-out pop up in the 3rd allowing another run to score for Beaumont. Bottom of 3, the Knights loaded the bases with 2 outs and Ian Happ connected for a 2-run single to shrink the lead to 5-2. Top of 4 it was Beaumont's turn to load 'em up. Marcell Ozuna got the job done with a sac fly to extend the lead back to 4. Alejandro Kirk poked an RBI single in the bottom half to get the run back for the Knights and Joey Gallo followed with a 2-out double to give the Knights a sense of life and tighten the score to 6-4. A hit by pitch and walk then loaded the bases for Ian Happ... who popped out to 1b ending the golden opportunity for Vancouver. JT Realmuto doubled for Beaumont in the 5th, then was driven in on a Jesus Aguilar single to make it 7-4. Vancouver countered in the bottom of 5 as Matt Chapman plated a run on a triple bringing the Knights again back within 2. Out with Anderson, in with relief ace John Curtiss who got the next 2 outs to strand Chapman and get out of the inning. Top of 8, Austin Slater provided some cushion for the Rams with a 2-out solo homer. That's all the Rams would need as the 'pen pitched around a 1-out Juan Soto double to clamp down the must-win victory and push all the chips forward to Game 7...

Beaumont reliever Jose Alvarez celebrates after recording the last out to force a Game 7.

FINAL: Beaumont 8, Vancouver 5

Game 7: BEA - Brad Keller (7-6, 3.86 ERA) vs. VAN - Shane Bieber (18-8, 2.46 ERA )

Bieber walked the first two Rams hitters in the 2nd, but regained his composure to set down the next 3 batters in order. Both pitchers were clearly up to the Game 7 spotlight, as each team had just a single hit through 5 1/2 innings. It was Joey Wendle who finally broke through the goose eggs with a solo homer to right with 1 out in the 6th, putting the Knights ahead 1-0. Shane Bieber was finally relieved with 1 out in the 8th, after registering 7-1/3 innings of one-hit work. LHP Ryan Sherriff laid down the law, retiring the next 2 hitters to close out the inning. Brett Gardner continued a huge series by hooking a homer inside the right field foul pole to lead off the bottom of the 8th and give the Knights a precious insurance run. When Juan Soto walked with 2 outs in the inning, Brad Keller was finally relieved after 7-2/3 very solid innings of work, but on the wrong side of a 2-0 score. Jose Alvarez gave up a stolen base and a walk but struck out Salvador Perez to send it to the 9th...

Chris Martin came on for the Knights tasked with closing out the series. The first Beaumont hitter he faced was Austin Slater, who reached base on a fielding error by Jean Segura to bring the tying run to the plate. Beaumont tried to get something going by putting the hit-and-run play on... but Charlie Blackmon couldn't put the ball in play and Slater was thrown out at 2nd for a costly first out of the inning. Blackmon then grounded out to third, bringing pinch hitter Kyle Higashioka to the plate with 2 down... Martin pumped a fastball by him to end the ballgame, sending the hometown Vancouver crowd into a frenzy as the Knights clinched their first trip to the World Series since 2017!

Vancouver 2b Joey Wendle connects for a go-ahead solo homer in the 6th inning of Game 7.

FINAL: Vancouver 2, Beaumont 0

Hats off to Beaumont on a terrific season; and a more than formidable NLCS battle that easily could have tilted the other way over the course of seven games. A weary Vancouver club awaits the winner of Twin Falls vs. Polish...

Thanks,

Aaron