The 2021 TBBL World Series came down to the Los
Angeles Halos, the winner of 128 regular season games in the AL,
and the Emerald City Bombers, the 2020 World Series Champs from
the NL.
Game 1 @ Halos - deGrom vs.
Woodruff
Game one started off with a
bang, much like a lot of the early games in the series. The
Bombers put up 4 in the 1st inning via three walks, four
singles and a hit-by-pitch. deGrom was shutting down the
Halos. The Bombers put three more up in the 5th and six in
the 8th, while the Halos failed to score a run. Story and
Brantley each getting three hits and three runs, deGrom
threw six shutout innings.
Final Score 13-0
Win - deGrom
Loss - Woodruff
Bombers 1, Halos 0
Game 2 @ Halos - Wheeler vs.
Castillo
Game two didn't feature any
runs in the 1st inning, but saw eleven get plated in the
2nd. One of those runs by the visiting Bombers and the other
ten by the Halos. The Halos never looked back. Luke Voit and
Jose Ramirez each put up three hits and Voit also homered.
Final Score 14-3
Win - Castillo
Loss - Wheeler
Halos 1, Bombers 1
Game 3 @ Bombers - Urias vs.
Keuchel
Another game started off
quickly with the Halos scoring four in the top of the 1st.
They tacked on another two runs in the 2nd, one in the 5th
and three in the 6th, continuing the lopsided outcomes of
the top two teams of the league. Willie Castro had four hits
and four RBI's, Dubon and Turner each had three hits of
their own.
Final Score 10-1
Win - Thielbar
Loss - Urias
Halos 2, Bombers 1
Game 4 @ Bombers - deGrom vs.
Houck
Game 4 started off relatively
quietly compared to the series so far, the Bombers put their
ace deGrom on the bump with three days rest, while the Halos
give Woodruff an extra day off to be more rested in game 5.
The Halos put up the game's first run in the 2nd inning,
another two runs in the 3rd, and three more in the 4th
chasing deGrom after only 3 2/3 innings and leading 6-0
after three-and-a-half innings. The Bombers were looking
grim being down big with their ace out of the game, but came
to life in the bottom of the 4th when 2 singles and a walk
loaded the bases for Dickerson's grand salami, bringing the
game to 6-4 and chasing the Halos starter. The Bombers
chipped away with a run in the bottom of the 6th and took
the lead with two more runs in the 7th to lead 7-6. WIth
another run in the 8th the momentum had swung all the way
back to the Bombers dugout, with the team feeling
revitalized. That's when the Halos mounted a rally that's
highlighted by Jose Ramirez's two-RBI double tying the game
8-8. Dickerson lead the bottom of the 9th off with a single
up the middle and Trevor Story promptly tripled him in,
capping the come-from-behind win in perfect fashion.
Final Score 9-8
Win - Tate
Loss - Thielbar
Bombers 2, Halos 2
Game 5 @ Bombers - Wheeler vs.
Woodruff
The Bombers momentum continued
in the final game at their home park this series, putting up
three runs in the bottom of the 1st with back-to-back HR's
by Winker and Goldschmidt. The game stayed 3-0 until the top
of the 5th inning when Trea Turner hit a sac fly to bring
the score to 3-1. The score stayed the same until the bottom
of the 7th when the Bombers put up three runs, two of which
came on an error by RF Whit Merrifield. The Bombers put
another run up in the 8th and the bullpen locked down the
win after five innings from Wheeler.
Final Score 7-1
Win - Wheeler
Loss - Woodruff
Bombers 3, Halos 2
Game 6 @ Halos - Hendricks vs.
Castillo
The Bombers manager decides to
break his rotation and starts Kyle Hendricks instead of
Julio Urias, who was roughed up badly in his first start
against the Halos this series. The Bombers jumped on the
board with one run in the 1st. The Halos tied it up in the
bottom of the 3rd with another Trea Turner sac fly. In the
top of the 4th, Michael Brantley hits a 3-run HR to put the
Bombers up 4-1. The Halos put their own solo-HR in the
bottom of the 4th thanks to Luke Voit, putting the game at
4-2. The score stayed the same until the top of the 8th
inning, when the Halos walked a run in and decided to turn
the double play up the middle and let another run score,
putting the Bombers lead at 6-2 with Kyle Hendricks still
sailing. The Bombers added one more in the 9th, putting the
icing on the cake and allowing Jordan Romano to shut the
series down, finishing a real gem by Hendricks.
Final Score 7-2
Win - Hendricks
Loss - Castillo
Bombers 4, Halos 2
The Bombers overcome a 2-1
series deficit with the 128-game winning Halos to secure
back-to-back Championships in the TBBL. Emerald City got on
base a lot more in the series, yet trailed in power. The
Bombers had a team line of .288/.383/.462 vs. the Halos's
.263/.299/.478. Neither team had a pretty ERA, Bombers
posting a 5.94 and the Halos putting up an equally
unimpressive 6.06. Only one game in the series was decided
by less than five runs, and that was the momentum swinging
9-8 win for Emerald City in game 4 of the series. The series
MVP goes to shortstop Trevor Story, hitting .400 in the
series and playing a stifling defense, leading a balanced
contribution for the reigning champs. Thanks to Greg for the
fun head-to-head play and communication throughout the busy
holiday season. Thanks to Rob for another great year as
commish!
Mark
