At age 28, Walt Tyus broke out this season. Reaching 500 at bats for the first time (558), he collected 170 hits for a .305 average. He clubbed nine homers with a career high 31 doubles and also stole a personal best 35 bases. He posted a .383 on base percentage.

But around the league Tyus was still relatively unknown. Fans in Plympton were hip to his skills and the rest of the world finally got to see them in the Series. The scrappy leadoff hitter won MVP honors in leading the Wrecking Crew to a quick five-game triumph over the heavily favored (favoured?) Nishinomiya Dragons.

Tyus jumped out of the gate in Game 1, collected three hits in a 3-2 Crew win. He was hitless in Game 2 as his team was shut out by George Spinney & Co. In Game 3, he delivered the bases-loaded double (scoring everyone) that secured a 5-1 win. He had two hits on the day. In Game 4, his 3-run homer in the second was all his club would need in a 5-1 win. Tyus doubled twice in Game 5 as the Crew won 5-0 to take the series in five.

He hit .381 in the series (8-for-21) with a Series-high six runs batted in. He doubled three times and homered once. He scored a pair of runs, as well.

Special mention should be given to Brooks Lopez. Lopez won a game and picked up two holds in the series, throwing 6.2 scoreless innings. Throughout the entire postseason, Lopez threw 13.2 scoreless innings.

There’s this thing about George Spinney and short rest. You just never know how much you’re gonna get.

Spinney fanned six over three scoreless inning, but that’s all he did—three innings. Brickyard Hudock came on in the fourth and surrendered a 2-run blast to Ray Lewis. That’s the way it stayed until the eighth, when Jose Weinstein, Jeff Hernandez, and Lewis went BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK to make it 5-0. And that’s how it ended.

That’s how the series ended.

That’s how the season ended.

That’s how this phase of the TWML came to a close.

Gail Farrell allowed three hits over 6.2 scoreless innings (without recording a strikeout). Brooks Lopez once again bridged the gap (four scorleess outs) to Roger Mateo. Mateo worked a 1-2-3 ninth to clinch the 4-1 series victory. That put Lopez at 13.2 scoreless innings in the postseason.

It was the first title for the Plympton franchise—a franchise that has had four different names. They started as the original Carolina Steam, moved to Providence to become the Providence Pioneers, lit ‘em up to become the Jamaica Queens Rastafarians, and finally settled in Plympton.
The Commissioner’s Office is expected to name the Series MVP over the next couple days. In the meantime, it is time to celebrate in Plympton!

Congratulations to the 2017 World Champion Plympton Wrecking Crew!

Walt Tyus again provided exactly what the Wrecking Crew needed and Dennis Napolitano went the distance, securing a 5-1 win and a commanding 3-1 series lead for Plympton.

Tyus blasted a 3-run homer off Nishinomiya starter Kid McMillin in the second inning. A bases loaded walk to Sherry Murguia made it 4-0 before McMillin was chased after just 4.2 innings. In the bottom of the fifth, the Dragons got what would be their only run on a sacrifice fly by Tom Wilson. Plympton added a run in the sixth as Craig Wilson grounded into a fielders choice that plated Jose Pannell. That’s how it would end.

Napolitano allowed a run on six hits and three walks, throwing 124 pitches. He fanned seven and is now 2-0 in two postseason starts with a 2.25 ERA. Brickyard Hudock threw 4.1 innings in relief, allowing just a single hit (and an unearned run). His postseason ERA is 0.53. Tyus homered and drove in three while Craig Wilson collected three hits. Nishinomiya managed just six singles.

Napolitano was pushed into duty due to the injury to Lucky Moore in Game 1. He came through in a big way. The scrappy 31-year old veteran is a fan favorite and is very highly respected in the league.

Game 5 will be tomorrow night in Nishinomiya. Gail Farrell (1-2, 3.80 in four postseason starts) will square off against George Spinney (2-2, 3.45 in six starts).

The Crew got off to an early lead in the top of the first. Walt Tyus reached base by a bunt single. Craig Wilson singled him to third. Odie Hernandez then grounded out with Tyus scoring. In the bottom half, the Dragons got the run back on a Charlie Herd home run.

That’s the way things stayed until the top of the fourth. Jose Weinstein and Sherry Marguia led off with singles. Then Ray Lewis grounded a potential double play ball to first. Tip Twigg dropped it, though, loading the bases with nobody out. Ken Ives then lifted a sacrifice fly, scoring Weinstein to make it 2-1. Jose Pannell then struck out for the second out. Buggs dropped another grounder that was gaffed by Mike Drummer. Bases loaded again. That made two errors in the inning. Walt Tyus made them pay with a bases clearing double. With the game now 5-1, Gallion was chased. That’s how it would stay.

Bill Buggs went 6.2 innings, allowing a run on just two hits (and four walks). Brooks Lopez then got four more outs, keeping his scoreless streak alive. Roger Mateo pitched the ninth. The Dragon pen was great, but it was too late. John Pontiff (2.1 IP), Walt Garcia (1 IP), and John Clayton (2 IP), were unscored upon. At the plate, Tyus was the big bopper, collecting two hits and three RBI while Buggs also singled and scored.

Game 4 will feature Dennis Napolitano (1-0, 3.86 in his only postseason start) against Kid McMillin (0-2, 6.86 ERA in 4 starts).

George Spinney may not have looked himself so far in October, but he made up for it in Game 2. Plympton managed just two singles and a double over 7.2 innings against the Spinmaster as Nishinomiya took Game 2 5-0 to tie the series at one game apiece.

Brickyard Hudock handled the last four outs for Spin, though it wasn’t a save situation. Gail Farrell went just 4.1 innings, allowing all five runs (four earned). Brooks Lopez continued his stellar postseason with 2.2 scoreless frames (with 4 Ks) and Roger Mateo was perfect over the final two.

The Dragons scored in the first when Tom Wilson singled home Matt Martinez with two outs. With two outs in the third, Charlie Herd blasted a homer to go up 2-0. Wilson then singled and was driven in on a Mike Drummer double to make it 3-0. Wilson was in the thick of it in the fifth, as he doubled home La-Vel Payne and Charlie Herd to make it 5-0.

Wilson had three hits and three RBI while Herd crossed the plate twice (once from his home run). Only a Jeff Hernandez double went for extra bases on the Plympton side. The other two hits were singles by Craig Wilson and Jose Pannell.

The series will travel to Nishinomiya for Game 3 where Plympton will be DH-less. The Dragons will send Fernando Gaillion to the hill (2-0 in four October starts with a 2.55 ERA) to face Bill Buggs (2-0 in three starts, 3.77 ERA). Gallion is coming off his Game 7 victory to finish the LCS.