In their previous match-up, the Red Wings were all over the Mets 13-2. The Mets had played three games in four days, and by the time they took the field to face the Wings, they had burned through their pitching staff. This time around, both the Mets and the Red Wings would have all of their pitchers rested and available. Rumors had been circulating throughout AA ballparks of a lights-out righty on the Mets' staff who, late in the season, had been shutting down some of the best hitters in the league. He had been dominant in the Mets' 6-0 first round victory. The Red Wings knew this would be a very different kind of game than their first meeting.
Red Wings starting pitcher Eric came out throwing fire and struck out the Mets' leadoff guy. But a lineup like the Mets was not going to go down quietly. The next two batters would single. A couple more would earn walks. Eric showed good poise to strike out two more and kill the rally, limiting the Mets to only two runs.
In the Wings' half of the first, Tom singled on a hard shot to left. The left fielder made a good stop and throw to hold Tom at first. Will walked to put two on with one out. But the Wings' threat would end there. The Mets' starter was throwing dominant stuff, and he had great support in the field behind him.
2-0, Mets after one.
The Wings looked to work the count and make the Mets' fireballer throw as many pitches as possible. Easier said than done, but Alejandro put in an outstanding effort, laying off what looked to him like ball four after forcing 7 pitches. Strike was called, but this is exactly the kind of at-bat the Red Wings needed from him. Josh also worked the count full, fouled one off, and then connected to send one up the middle. The pitcher got a glove on it and fired to first to end the inning. The Wings did not put any runs up but smart at-bats forced many more pitches than the Mets would have liked.
Still down 2-0, Will took the mound for the Wings in the third, and he was sharp. Very sharp. He struck out the heart of the Mets' order--an inning of backwards Ks.
In the bottom of the third, Micah knocked one up the middle, but the pitcher put leather on it and he was out at first. With one out, Alex singled to left, and it looked like the Wings might get something going. Noah stepped in and worked the count full. Like Alejandro's at-bat an inning earlier, this one was an epic battle. Strike three was on the outside corner. Noah had to swing. He did what he could to put wood on it, but it was a very tough pitch. Noah succeeded in making the Mets' starter work, though, and the Wings' dugout could sense that he was starting to tire. Drew would make him work again, forcing six pitches, and even though he went down swinging, he did his part to set the Wings up for a big fourth.
Will owned the top of the fourth, striking out the side again and leaving no daylight for the Mets to pick up any insurance on their slim 2-run lead. He finished with 6 Ks over two innings of no-hit, shut-out ball.
Will was on fire at the plate as well. With two out in the bottom of the fourth, he ripped the first pitch he saw and sent it to deep left field for a double. With the way the Mets' starter had been pitching, their 2-run lead had looked more like a 10-run lead, but with one swing of the bat, Will brought the mighty Mets right back down to earth. A tense silence fell over their dugout as Sam stepped in. Yes, Sammy Whammy, Grand Sam, the Big Bang, Mr. Clutch. Sam fell behind 1-2, fouled one off, took a ball low, and then took a big swing at a 2-2 fastball. He crushed it, launching it over the shortstop into gap in left center--an RBI double, and the Wings were on the board, 2-1. With the tying run on second, Parker, who has been on an absolute tear during the second half of the season, drove the first pitch he saw over the head of the center fielder, way back and nearly onto the playground. A triple to score Sam and tie the game. The Wings' dugout erupted, but the inning wasn't over yet. Jack was not satisfied just to tie the game. He wanted to win it right then and there and proceeded to send the 1-0 pitch into left field for a single and what would be the winning run. Wings 3, Mets 2.
For Jack, a job well done at the plate, but there was still the business of protecting the Wings' lead for two more innings. That would be Jack's job, too. The closer took the mound in the fifth and struck out the side with 12 pitches. He had dominant stuff working for him and looked quite comfortable with a 1-run lead in his pocket.
The Wings went hunting for insurance in their half of the fifth. Josh walked to put himself on with nobody out. Micah would work a walk as well, and the Wings were threatening. Alex hit a hard line drive to short, but the Mets' shortstop was there to make the catch. Noah would walk, too, but with the bases loaded, the Mets' reliever got himself and his team out of the jam. 3-2 Wings going into the sixth.
The game was now in Jack's hands as he stared in at the heart of the Mets' order. He was throwing a searing fastball and locating it, and the Mets couldn't touch him. He struck out the side, all three looking, on 13 pitches for the save and the win.
The final score: Red Wings 3, Mets 2.
Another hard-fought win for the Red Wings and a great effort all around. The game ball went to Parker for his heroics at the plate. He tied the game with a triple in the fourth and then scored the winning run. The Hustle Award went to Noah for working the count in the third and doing his part to force as many pitches as possible out of the hard-throwing Mets starter.
With the win tonight, the Red Wings advance to the National Division Championship Game Monday at Eliot. We will be playing for the National Division title and a chance to play for the Needham Little League AA Championship next Saturday, June 18. We will take on the Express, with their arsenal of hard-throwing pitchers and punishing lineup. This will be a lot of fun!
