Québec's Two Homers in 7th Put Capitales on Brink of Title
QUÉBEC CITY, QUÉBEC, CA. (Sept. 13) – Washington belted four homers in Game 3 of the 2024 Frontier League Championship Series but it was two home runs in the seventh inning by Québec that downed the Wild Things in a crucial Game 3 that gives, with an 8-6 win for the Capitales, Québec a 2-1 series lead.
Jordan DiValerio got the start for Washington against Québec’s Abdiel Saldana. Tonight in his four innings of work, he allowed four runs (three earned) on three hits while striking out four and walking two.
The Wild Things struck first in the top of the first on a two-run home run by Tyreque Reed after a one-out walk to Tommy Caufield making it 2-0 in favor of Washington. Washington extended the lead to 3-0 in the top of the second on a solo home run by Brandon McIlwain, which was his first of the playoffs.
Québec answered right back in the bottom half of the second inning on a solo home run by Justin Gideon, his second of the series, cutting the Wild Things lead to 3-1. Later in the inning, Jake MacKenzie and Ruben Castro would hit back-to-back two-out RBI singles, scoring Anthony Quiron and Jonathan Lacroix to tie the game up at 3-3.
The Wild Things retook the lead in the top third on a Tommy Caufield solo home run, his second of the series, making it 4-3. Jalen Miller added to the lead with a first-pitch RBI double scoring Tyreque Reed making it 5-3 Washington.
The Capitales got one run back in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly by Quirion that scored Gideon, who reached on a hit-by-pitch and advanced third on a throwing error by catcher Jake Washer on a stolen base attempt to cut the Wild Things lead to 5-4.
And once again Washington answered right back in the top of the fourth on Caleb McNeely’s towering solo home run, the fourth home run of the game for the Wild Things, which extended the lead to 6-4.
The Capitales got a run back in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Ruben Castro scoring Lacroix who reached on a lead-off single and advanced to third on a walk and sacrifice bunt.
Québec took its first lead of the night and extended the lead two batters later, on a two-run home run by Quirion and a solo home run by Tommy Seidl making it 8-6 in favor of the Capitalesn after seven innings.
Ruben Ramirez picked up the win for Québec. He pitched five relief innings giving up one run on three hits while striking out seven. Nick Trabacchi picked up the save, his second of the postseason. Christian James picked up the loss after allowing the two home runs in the seventh inning.
Washington will look to force a championship-deciding game five in Québec City. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. tomorrow for Game 4 of the FLCS.
Th games will be broadcast on FloBaseball (subscription required) and on MixLR at bit.ly/wtmixlr.
