Game 3 shifts to Hiram Bithorn Stadium in hot and humid San Juan. The starting pitchers are Charlotte's Joaquin Trevino, 15-8 overall, 3.86 era, and a 2-0 playoff record, against San Juan's Jordan Bailey, 13-8 overall, 3.99 era, and a 1-1 playoff record....a pretty even matchup on paper.
San Juan jumps right out of the box again in this game, just as they have done in the previous two games, with putting a two spot on the board in the bottom of the first. The inning's highlight was Frank Becker driving in the two runs with a single. Charlotte bounces back two innings later, first with a solo blast by Luis Romano (#5), then two runs scoring on a single by Louis Thompson, with Ryan Jacobs coming all the way around from 1st base. To top of the inning, another run scores on a single by Joaquin Beltran, making it Charlotte 4-2 over San Juan.
The next inning and a half feature 3 and outs, until the 5th when Charlotte's Jacobs hits a grounder to third that is muffed by Sean Manning. Jacobs then proceeds to steal second, and comes around home on Belliard's RBI double to make it 5-2. The bottom of the 5th has San Juan getting that run back on a RBI single by Enrique Diaz, making it 5-3. These two championships teams continue to trade punches as it is now Charlotte's turn to extend the lead once more. Santana gets a one out single to bring up Luis Romano. Romano proceeds to drill a fastball to deep CF whereupon it ricochets off the wall out of the reach of the CF Dean Ramirez. While tracking the ball down, the above average runner Romano is being waved around the bases, and proceeds to get an inside the park homer. With Romano's second homer on the day, Charlotte jumps to a 7-3 lead and ends the day for the Crabbers pitcher Bailey. Bailey's stat line shows 7 runs given up (6 earned) in 5 1/3 innings. Alex Yamaguchi is now the new pitcher.
In the bottom of the 7th the Castoffs pitcher Trevino gets himself into a jam by sandwiching two walks around a single, to load up the bases and end the day for him. His stat line shows 6 innings pitched and ultimately 6 runs scored. Tony Mendez comes in to pitch, and promptly walks in a run to make it 7-4. Pedro Perez grounds a single to score two, followed by a RBI groundout by Sammy Mercedes and the score is now tied at 7. Mendez is yanked after blowing that save chance, and Al Mendez gets the call and retires the side.
The Castoffs continue to show their grit and determination as Beltran leads off the 8th with a single, and after Barker gets a fielder's choice, Julio Santana steps to the plate and crushes Yamaguchi's first pitch well over the left field wall for his 6th playoff homer and a 9-7 lead for Charlotte. As we enter the bottom of the ninth, the fans at Bithorn Stadium are on their feet trying to get a rally from their beloved Crabbers. The Castoffs manager makes an interesting pitching choice, and bring in Horacio Rijo to start the ninth, rather than their closer Tony Chong who appears to have fallen out of favor after having a down year. Mickey Ohlendorf is first up as a pinch hitter, and proceeds to deliver a lead off double. Mercedes then draws a walk, and after a flyout Sean Manning hits a single to left field but they decide not to test Barker's weaker arm, and being two runs down, hold Ohlendorf at third to load the bases with one out. With the stadium rocking, up comes leadoff hitter Harry Johnson, who proceeds to strike out swinging to a calm Rijo. The last hope for the Crabbers is Hawk Carlson. In a peculiar move in the seventh, while down by four, the Crabbers decided to rest their star player and all star game MVP, Omar Gonzalez (95 durability), and brought in Carlson. Rijo ends up bearing down, and Carlson does a baseball sin by leaving the bat on his shoulders for a called third strike.....game over. Charlotte grabs back home field advantage and takes a 2-1 series lead.
Player of the Game: Julio Santana
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