The Isotopes have too much.

Welcome to the 2018 TBBL World Series featuring the Atlanta Knights representing the National League and the Springfield Isotopes from the American League.  One of these teams will bring home their first TBBL title. 

The Atlanta Knights took home their first division title and NL Pennant in their very first year of existence and are following the path of another first year Knights team - the Vegas Golden Knights - who made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals in their first year. 

The Isotopes are back in the World Series for the second year in a row and are hoping to avoid a Dodger-esque performance of losing two World Series in a row after last year’s defeat at the hands of the Paddlers.

Game 1 in Atlanta saw the hometown Knights send out TBBL NL Cy Young runner-up, Justin Verlander, against the Isotopes’ Chris Sale.  The Knights break a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the 5^th with RBI groundouts from NL MVP Joey Votto and Johan Camargo to go up 3-1.  Four straight singles by Seager, Correa, Donaldson and Fowler plus a Mookie sac fly off of Verlander in the sixth knot the game up at 3 apiece.  The game remains 3-3 all the way into the 12^th inning.  Steve Pearce leads off the 12^th with a double followed by a Corey Seager homerun to put the Isotopes up 5-3.  Last man standing in the bullpen, Pat Neshek, gets the last five outs, including Yoenis Cespedes grounding out leaving Marwin Gonzalez stranded at second base.  Isotopes up 1-0.

Game 2 featured Jordan Montgomery for the Knights against TBBL AL Cy Young runner-up, Michael Fulmer.  Isotopes jump out to a 3-0 lead early with a two-run Josh Donaldson home run and a Mookie Betts solo shot.  Knights answer back with two runs in the 4^th on a Matt Adams single.  A Donaldson single for the Isotopes scores Betts and another Matt Adams RBI plates a run for the Knights, keeping the Isotopes up by a run, 4-3.  Fast forward to the bottom of the 7^th, when Cespedes blasts a two-run homer to give the Knights a 5-4 lead that they won’t relinquish as Fernando Rodney comes in to close the door and shoot the arrow high into the Atlanta night (Knight?).   Series tied 1-1.

Game 3 moves to Springfield.  The Knights send first round playoff hero Alex Wood fresh off his no-hitter to the mound to face Mike Clevinger.   An early Carlos Correa HR for the home team and a Denard Span single for the visiting Knights, makes it 1-1.  In the bottom of the 5^th, the Isotopes load the bases with no outs.  The Knights almost escape with minimal damage after a Mookie double play ground out but Correa hits his second bomb of the game to make it 4-1.  Isotopes score three more in the next frame from Seager and Betts doubles to go up 7-1.  The Knights’ Tommy Pham doubles home two in the next inning to cut it to 7-3 but the Isotopes tack on three more and win 10-3.  Isotopes up 2 games to 1.

Game 4 is another Verlander-Sale matchup.  A Corey Seager two-run blast in the first for the home team matched by the Knights’ Joey Votto two-run shot evens the game.  A Cespedes HR the next inning puts the Knights up 3-2.  The bottom of the 6^th proves to be the pivotal moment in the game.  With two outs, Joc Pederson clears the bases with a three-run double followed by a Mookie Betts HR on the next pitch to put the Isotopes up 7-3.  Steve Pearce doubles home two more to put the home team up 9-3.  Joey Votto scores on a wild pitch to inch the Knights closer but the game ends with the score 9-4.  Isotopes up 3 games to 1.

Game 5 sees the visiting Knights send Jordan Montgomery back to the mound for a Michael Fulmer rematch.  A Josh Donaldson single for the home team and a Joe Panik single for the Knights puts the score at 1-1.  With two outs and the bases loaded, Corey Seager blasts a monstrous grand slam that puts the home team up 5-1.  A Matt Adams double gets the Knights a bit closer at 5-2 in the 6^th but that would be the final run of the World Series as Keone Kela and Carl Edwards set down the next 11 Knights in order to nail down the Isotopes’ first TBBL World Championship!

The Isotopes were fortunate to have 27 extra base hits to the Knights’ 14.  Part time players Joc Pederson, Steve Pearce, David Freese and AJ Ellis combined to go 8-15 and 6 walks for a collective .667 OBP.  Josh Donaldson went .409/.458/.591 and Carlos Correa chipped in with .316/.350/.737 but the co-World Series MVPs are Corey Seager (.350/.435/.900, 2 2Bs and 3 HRs) and Mookie Betts (.435/.417/.913, 5 2Bs and 2 HRs).

What an inaugural year for Gabe and his Knights!  Had there not been a two-out Carlos Correa three run blast in Game 3 or a two-out Joc Pederson bases loaded double in Game 4 or a two-out Corey Seager grand slam in Game 5, these games could’ve gone either way.  Not sure I would’ve been as nice about it as Gabe was if I had been on the other end of these!  Led by Joey Votto who was at his Joey Votto-est with a .350/.409/.600 line and Justin Verlander, the Knights will be contenders for a long time to come!

Special thanks to Rob for all the effort that he puts into running the league!  We all know it's a thankless job, but thanks.