In Game One, Alex Clemmey got the nod despite staff ace Travis Sykora being available. For three innings, it looked like it didn’t matter as the 19-y.o. Bay Stater dominated the Cannon Ballers, matching Tanner McDougal zero for zero like a Truth Social IRL get-together.
Alas, Clemmey had the One Bad Inning™ in the 4th and it was more than enough for Kannapolis to win this one as Fredericksburg was nearly no-hit, with Seaver King connecting for a two-out single in the 6th to interrupt a flurry of strikeouts (15 total), punctuated by the last three batters in the 7th after the FredNats managed to get the tying run to the plate after a walk and a Robles.
In Game Two, Sykora made the start and did what was expected – combining with two relievers to shut out Kannapolis, 3-0. The 20-y.o. Texan struck out nine without issuing a walk over five innings and was the winning pitcher.
Brandon Pimentel provided him with an early lead with a two-run HR in the 2nd while Nate Ochoa cashed in a two-out, two-base error with an RBI single that was Fredericksburg’s eighth hit of the game.
After Kevin Cranz cordero’d around two walks in the 6th, Anthony Arguelles retired the side in order, including a called third strike for his second whiff to save the game. The championship also is the first for the Washington Nationals organization since 2014, ending a ten-year drought.
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Probables |
| Rochester | Won, 4-3 | vs. Iowa, 6:05 p.m. | Ward (8-6, 5.65) vs. Supak (4-2, 4.83) |
Rochester 4 Iowa 3
• Watkins 5IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 3BB, 5K
• Willingham (BS, 5; W, 6-3) 1IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 2K
• R. Garcia (SV, 20) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Cluff 3-5, R, HR, 2RBI
• Stubbs 2-3, R, BB, 2-2B, RBI
Jackson Cluff’s third hit of the night snapped a 3-3 tie as the Red Wings evened the series with a 4-3 win over the Cubs. Spenser Watkins turned in five innings of two-run ball on five hits and three walks while striking out five. That became a no-decision when Amos Willingham coughed up a run in the 8th for his fifth blown save. Andrew Pinckney pinch-ran for C.J. Stubbs after drawing a two-out walk, stole second, and scored ahead of Cluff’s RBI single. Rico Garcia worked around a two-out single to earn his 20th save – the first 20-save season for the organization since the legendary Aaron Barrett saved 31 as a 31-y.o. for AA Harrisburg in 2019.