MVN: Most Valuable Network

The Scorpions carried a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the 9th inning, but that was when disaster struck.  With TJ Large (Red Sox) on the mound, the Saguaros hit five consecutive singles without an out being recorded, giving them three runs and a walk-off win.  The Scorpions scored three runs in the 4th inning, with 3B Ryan Rohlinger (Giants), RF Josh Reddick (Red Sox), and DH Mark Ori (Astros) picking up RBI.  They added another run in the 8th on a double by LF Chris Pettit (Angels) and an RBI single by 1B Mark Trumbo (Angels).  None of the Pirates' farmhands got into the game.  

The game between the Cane Fires and the Honu was cancelled, due to rain.  Not a problem, since the Cane Fires were already West Division winners and the Honu were already out of it.  

In the other game, which would determine the East Division champion, the Waikiki Beach Boys entered the top of the 9th inning trailing the Honolulu Sharks 4-3.  A wild pitch on strike three put a runner on base, and moments later, pinch hitter Marquez Smith (Cubs) blasted a two-run homer to give the Beach Boys a 5-4 lead.  Then the Beach Boys had to hold off a Shark attack in the bottom of the inning.  Reliever Jeremy Papelbon (Cubs) gave up two singles to begin the inning, and a sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third.  He intentionally walked Kala Ka'aihue (Braves) to load the bases, but then got a pop out and a fly out to end the game.

The Cane Fires and the Beach Boys will play the championship game today at 1 pm Hawaiian  Time (6 pm Eastern).

John Van Benschoten had another tough start for Culiacan.  In the 1st inning, two singles and a passed ball brought in one run before Van Benschoten could even record an out.  A 2-run homer put him behind 3-0.  In the 2nd inning, a single, a ground out, and a wild pitch brought in the first run.  Another 2-run homer marked the end of Van Benschoten's night.  Culiacan came roaring back, scoring in five straight innings, including 5 runs in the 5th and 4 runs in the 6th.  Four homers, two by 3B Casey McGehee (Brewers) helped their cause, and kept Van Benschoten from being tagged with a loss.

Mazatlan was clinging to a 1-0 lead when Evan Meek entered the game in the bottom of the 8th inning with a runner on third base and two outs.  Meek got a quick ground out to end that inning, but in the 9th, he walked the first batter, who then stole second base, went to third on a ground out, and scored on a sacrifice fly to tie the game.  Meek was charged with a Blown Save.  Mazatlan scored two in the top of the 11th, on C Hector Paez's RBI double, and held on to win the game.

CF Luis Cruz singled to lead off the 4th inning, and singled again in the 8th inning, but was not able to come around to score either time.  Obregon scored all four of their runs in the 3rd inning.  After two singles, former Indy Indian (2005) Alfredo Amezaga (Marlins) was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  A walk forced in one run, then two more singles scored three more.  Hermosillo tied the score in the 7th on a 2-run homer by former Pirate Humberto Cota, and then added 4 more runs in the 8th inning.  

Romulo Sanchez earned the win for Caracas, as he faced 4 batters and retired them all in order.  He entered the game in the top of the 7th inning with runners on first and second bases and two outs.  He got a grounder force out to end the inning, and then put the side down in order in the 8th, including a strikeout.  

RF Jose Tabata had a double and two RBI for Los Caribes, as they scored all of their runs in the 6th inning, to take a 4-2 lead.  Aragua came back with one in the 7th and 3 in the 8th to get the win.