Lions Capture Second Straight MMDA Title

The Mohawk Valley Lions roared to a second straight MMDA title with an unlikely sweep of the top-seeded Northwest Stars in the World Series. The Lions overcame early deficits in three of the four games, a feat made possible by a pitching staff (and defense) that allowed just seven runs and a 1.75 ERA in the World Series.

Andrew McCutchen hit .333 with two home runs and
six RBIs in four World Series games

Luck never seemed to leave the Lions' side in the 2015 postseason. They went 5-2 in one-run games, 4-0 in extra-inning games and 7-1 on the road. They lost their first two playoff games at home, when they scored only one run in 18 innings against the Pilots' Jake Arrieta and Carlos Carrasco. Then they played 19 extra innings in six tense games with the Crows in which Spokane outscored Mohawk Valley by one run. The Lions lost the first game of that series at home, too.

Two of Mohawk Valley's biggest stars shined brightly in the World Series, when league MVP Andrew McCutchen and league Cy Young Award winner David Price stepped up their games. McCutchen hit .333 (5-for-15) with two home runs, a double, three walks, four runs and six RBIs. He drove in the game-winning runs in Games One and Four. Price picked up the win in the title-clinching Game Four, and in his two starts logged a 1.74 ERA with 12 strikeouts, three walks and nine hits allowed in 10 1/3 innings.

Brief capsules of each World Series game follow.

2015 Playoffs: League Leaders, Award Winners And More

LEAGUE LEADERS FOR 2015 MMDA Playoff                                  

 ----BATTING AVERAGE----   --------AT BATS--------   ------RUNS SCORED------  
 M.Cabrera     BRK  .429   A.Jones       NWS    72   A.Jones       NWS    13   
 J.Reyes       HUS  .391   A.McCutchen   MVL    66   A.McCutchen   MVL    10   
 J.Turner      HUS  .348   C.Santana     NWS    66   D.Span        MVL    10   
 J.Rollins     BRK  .333   B.Dozier      NWS    66   B.Dozier      NWS    10   
 J.Heyward     NWS  .326   D.Span        MVL    65   M.Ozuna       MIA     8   
 H.Ramirez     MIA  .317   J.Martinez    MVL    65   J.Heyward     NWS     8   
 M.Dominguez   MIA  .306   C.Crawford    MVL    62   M.Cabrera     BRK     7   
 J.Jay         BRK  .304   A.Pujols      MVL    62   N.Walker      BRK     7   
 D.Ortiz       HUS  .300   B.Zobrist     MVL    62   A.Pujols      MVL     7   
 C.Iannetta    BRK  .296   Y.Gomes       MVL    61   N.Cruz        MIA     7   
 L.Martin      HUS  .294   A.Gordon      NWS    61   H.Ramirez     MIA     7   
 J.Uribe       SPO  .279   J.Morneau     NWS    61   OTHERS TIED WITH      6   

 ----------HITS---------   --------DOUBLES--------   --------TRIPLES--------  
 A.Jones       NWS    18   D.Span        MVL     6   S.Perez       HUS     1   
 A.McCutchen   MVL    17   H.Ramirez     MIA     5   J.Reyes       HUS     1   
 D.Span        MVL    16   B.Dozier      NWS     5   G.Blanco      HOR     1   
 C.Crawford    MVL    16   J.Reyes       HUS     4   Y.Gomes       MVL     1   
 K.Seager      NWS    16   C.Iannetta    BRK     4   C.Pennington  MVL     1   
 J.Martinez    MVL    15   A.McCutchen   MVL     4   C.Utley       ROC     1   
 J.Heyward     NWS    15   J.Martinez    MVL     3   I.Desmond     MIA     1   
 B.Dozier      NWS    15   R.Weeks       MIA     3   M.Saunders    NWS     1   
 A.Pujols      MVL    13   C.Santana     NWS     3                             
 N.Cruz        MIA    13   J.Morneau     NWS     3                             
 H.Ramirez     MIA    13   Y.Grandal     SPO     3                             
 J.Morneau     NWS    13   OTHERS TIED WITH      2                             

 -------HOME RUNS-------   -----RUNS BATTED IN----   ---------WALKS---------  
 A.Jones       NWS     9   A.Jones       NWS    17   D.Span        MVL    11   
 N.Cruz        MIA     5   A.Pujols      MVL    12   A.McCutchen   MVL    10   
 A.McCutchen   MVL     4   A.McCutchen   MVL    11   J.Heyward     NWS    10   
 A.Pujols      MVL     3   B.Dozier      NWS    10   B.Zobrist     MVL     9   
 M.Dominguez   MIA     3   J.Martinez    MVL     8   C.Santana     NWS     9   
 H.Ramirez     MIA     3   N.Cruz        MIA     7   B.Dozier      NWS     9   
 B.Dozier      NWS     3   K.Seager      NWS     7   E.Andrus      NWS     8   
 OTHERS TIED WITH      2   C.Iannetta    BRK     6   A.Gordon      NWS     8   
                           T.Plouffe     BRK     6   K.Seager      NWS     8   
                           C.Crawford    MVL     6   J.Martinez    MVL     7   
                           M.Dominguez   MIA     6   Y.Grandal     SPO     6   
                           H.Ramirez     MIA     6   OTHERS TIED WITH      5   

World Series: Mohawk Valley 4, Northwest 0

Game recaps from the Strat-generated box scores. In this World Series matchup, the No. 1 Northwest Stars (117-45) had home-field advantage versus the No. 2 Mohawk Valley Lions (113-49).

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Game One
Lions 3, Stars 2

Starters: David Price @ Doug Fister

Mohawk Valley brought 2 runs across the plate in the 5th inning when they had 3 base hits. The key at-bat was by Andrew McCutchen who quieted the crowd when he clubbed a two-run home run.  Northwest made it exciting in the 9th, but they were unable to push the needed runs across.

The win went to Fernando Abad (2-0), who allowed no runs in 1 2/3 innings. Abad was helped out by Joe Smith, who recorded his 4th save. Doug Fister (0-2) was the losing pitcher. 

Round Two: Northwest 4, Miami 3

Game recaps from the Strat-generated box scores. In this Round Two matchup, the No. 1 Northwest Stars (117-45) had home-field advantage versus the No. 5 Miami Manatees (90-72).

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Game One
Stars 6, Manatees 3

Starters: Corey Kluber @ Scott Kazmir

First baseman Justin Morneau had 2 base hits at Star Dome as the Northwest Stars beat the Miami Manatees by the count of 6 to 3.

Northwest claimed the early lead in the first inning when they came up with 3 runs on 3 hits. The highlight belonged to Adam Jones who came through for the home fans when he clubbed a three-run home run. Northwest and Miami each finished the night with 8 hits.

Scott Kazmir (1-0) got credit for the victory, pitching 8 innings and allowing 3 runs. Kazmir got help from Craig Kimbrel who earned his 2nd save. Corey Kluber (2-1) took the loss. He surrendered 7 hits and 6 walks in 6 innings.

Round Two: Mohawk Valley 4, Spokane 2

Game recaps from the Strat-generated box scores. In this Round Two matchup, the No. 2 Mohawk Valley Lions (113-49) had home-field advantage versus the No. 6 Spokane Hooded Crows (88-74).

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Game One
Crows 2, Lions 1

Starters: Cole Hamels @ Stephen Strasburg

At The Lion's Den, the Mohawk Valley fans witnessed a great pitcher's duel. Cole Hamels (1-1) finally bested his Mohawk Valley opposite, Stephen Strasburg (1-1), by the score of 2 to 1.

Hamels gave a fine effort for Spokane. He surrendered 5 hits and 2 walks in 6 1/3 innings. Spokane finished with just 4 hits in the victory.

Hamels got help from Tony Sipp who earned his 4th save. The loss was charged to Strasburg. He pitched 7 1/3 innings giving up only 3 hits and 1 walk.

Round One: Northwest 4, Brooklyn 3

Game recaps from the Strat-generated box scores. In this Round One matchup, the No. 1 Northwest Stars (117-45) had home-field advantage versus the No. 8 Brooklyn Dodgers (85-77).

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Game One
Stars 6, Dodgers 3

Starters: Danny Duffy @ Jordan Zimmermann

The Northwest Stars bested the Brooklyn Dodgers by a 6 to 3 score at Star Dome.

Jordan Zimmermann (1-0) had a fairly solid outing. He surrendered 7 hits and 1 walk in 5 innings. Brooklyn had 12 hits in the game while Northwest had 6, but Northwest had the more timely hits. 

Zimmermann got help from Craig Kimbrel who was credited with his 1st save. Danny Duffy (0-1) was the losing pitcher. He allowed Northwest 6 runs in 5 1/3 innings of work.

Round One: Miami 4, Northeast 1

Game recaps from the Strat-generated box scores. In this Round One matchup, the No. 4 Northeast Huskies (94-68) had home-field advantage versus the No. 5 Miami Manatees (90-72).

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Game One
Manatees 8, Huskies 6

Starters: Corey Kluber @ Adam Wainwright

Ian Desmond smacked 2 home runs and had 3 RBI at Huskie Park as the Miami Manatees beat the Northeast Huskies by the count of 8 to 6.

Desmond was a thorn in the side of the hometown fans as he enjoyed a fine day at their team's expense. He ripped a solo home run in the 3rd inning, delivered a solo blast in the 5th inning and laced a base hit which brought home a run in the 6th inning. Northeast had a chance to come back in the 9th but came up short.

Corey Kluber (1-0) got credit for the victory, pitching 6 innings and allowing 1 run. Kluber was helped out by Koji Uehara who recorded his 1st save. Adam Wainwright (0-1) was the losing pitcher. He allowed 3 home runs in 5 2/3 innings of work.