Rouen – Montpellier 2-0
What on earth happened?
On Sunday night, as I was heading home, I received a message from Huskies’ Sports Director Sylvain Virey, who said, among other things: “I didn’t understand this second game at all”? and another from Huskies’ Manager Boris Marche with these words: “I’ve never seen anything like this…”.
Even as victors, even with a strong foot in the final, the Huskies were still in a state of shock.
But how could Montpellier let this game slip away? This is undoubtedly the worst collapse in French baseball history. Leading 8-0 in the 9th inning and losing 12-13 in the 11th is something that should never happen.
But let’s revisit the scene of the disaster.
For 7 innings, Mathis Nayral did whatever he wanted with the Huskies’ offense. There, we saw the ugly side of the Rouen team, already glimpsed this season, a lack of concentration, rushed at-bats, no intensity, as if the work had already been done with the victory in game 1 and it wasn’t worth exhausting themselves in game 2. Nayral, on the other hand, was racking up outs; 16 in a row to start the game, a first hit by Viger in the 6th inning, immediately erased by a double play.
His offense was giving him a bit of oxygen. Facing Quentin Moulin, who has been a bit off this season, Guiraud and Brossier produced the first two runs in the 3rd. Then the same Paolo Brossier greeted Esteban Prioul in the 6th inning with a home run on the first pitch. The Barracudas’ center field ended the game with 5-6 and 3 RBI. Then in the 7th inning, the Australian Van Steensel did what he does best since he arrived: get destroyed: 4 runs on 5 hits.
It was 8-0 for Montpellier entering the 8th inning. After one out, Nayral allowed his 2nd hit of the game. The 95-pitch mark was approaching, and Jean-Michel Mayeur logically called on Sigiura. The Japanese showed some signs of weakness with 2BB, but got out of it with the bases loaded. Everything was going well for Montpellier and no one (except maybe the Huskies’ players, and even then…) could think that Rouen would win.
In the 9th inning, Montpellier’s reliever gave up 4BB (with a K to Dagneau in between). The score was 8-1, nothing serious. Guiraud came in relief. A double, a ground ball, then 3BB in a row. The score went to 8-5 with two outs and the bases loaded. This would have been the time to give the ball to a pitcher who had time to warm up, an Ozanich or a Canelon. The first is probably injured, the second was perhaps tired, but I can’t believe he wouldn’t have been able to get the 3rd out. It was Soriano who was called in relief. A ground ball by Hernandez to the shortstop. The game is over? No, Guiraud’s pitch was wild, the 41st error of the season for Montpellier. A wild pitch and a new BB later, Rouen tied it at 8-8.
But it wasn’t over. Two sacrifice flies scored 2 runs for the Barracudas in the 10th. 3BB and a wild pitch, and Rouen tied it at 10-10. Then Montpellier took the lead 12-10 before Vissac closed the deal with a single.
A game ending that bore no resemblance to baseball at all, but whose intensity reached rarely equaled heights.
It was much more relaxed on Saturday. A very solid Canelon for 8 innings, who resisted the few threats from the Huskies (runner on 2nd and 3rd, 2 outs in the 1st, runner on 2nd, no outs in the 5th, runners on 1st and 2nd, one out in the 6th) and a Gomez who answered blow for blow. A first turning point occurred in the 5th inning. Doat received a BB, but after several pick-offs, he was caught off guard by a quick movement from the left-handed Rouen pitcher. As Nayral would receive a BB and Sigiura would hit a double later, it was a run that could have been scored and perhaps changed the face of the game. Prioul came in relief in the 8th and retired the three batters he faced.
The 9th inning arrived. After one out, Brainville hit his second hit of the game. Hernandez was retired on three strikes. Dagneau stepped up to the plate. He already had a single, a double, and a BBI. This time, it would be a powerful line drive to center that flew to the fence, Brainville rounded the bases and scored the first Rouen run. Another run came on a wild pitch from Sigiura, who came in relief. Prioul did not flinch against Brossier, Soriano, and Anderson, retired in order.
And that’s how the Huskies will head to Montpellier with two wins in their pocket. We witnessed a miracle on Sunday, another one will be needed next weekend for the Barracudas to turn the tide.
Savigny – La Rochelle 2-0
Who will tame the Lions?
Savigny is on a mission. The Lions want to exorcise those years when they were deprived of their fields, when results were not up to par, at least at the highest level. Patiently, discreetly, intelligently, they have built a team that has learned to win together and believes more than ever in their chances.
And they would be wrong not to believe in it. When you’re on a streak of 12 straight wins, having in the process pinned Rouen, Montigny, and La Rochelle, you don’t want to lose anymore, you don’t know how to lose. And then the Lions never die. They came back from behind against Montigny (from 1-7 to 8-7), twice against Rouen (from 4-5 to 7-5 and from 2-4 to 7-4) and they did it again against the Buccaneers, from 4-6 to 8-6. It’s a sign that doesn’t lie: the confidence is there. And with confidence, you can go very, very far.
Confidence, it’s also read in the choices of Thomas Salado. He took the gamble of going with Gédéon Coste in game 1, against La Rochelle’s ace, Will Nieves. And the left-hander delivered, with notably 0BB, even though we know that’s one of his weaknesses since the beginning of his career. And as Nieves was a bit less dominant than usual (10 hits allowed, that had only happened to him once this season, against Montpellier, and 5K, his lowest total in a start), Savigny had all the assets in hand in this game 1.
One could fear that La Rochelle might lack a bit of competition, it was felt as early as the 2nd inning with two errors that cost dearly. But La Rochelle also knows how to never let go, and without a great defensive play Dahan – Gonzales – Acuna to cut off Rosell at home on Milar’s double in the 5th inning, the score would have been tied. But as we repeat, it’s the year of the Lions. They succeed in everything they touch.
In this kind of game, it’s important that the best are the best. In other words, that the leaders produce. Ruiz understood the message by scoring the insurance run in the 6th inning. And Parades, who came in relief with 2 runners on base in the same inning, then closed the door. Not without La Rochelle offering a last push in the very last inning. De La Rosa represented the winning run, after Suazo had scored Rosell. But a flyout to center field put an end to the Buccaneers’ hopes.
When Savigny scored the first run in the first inning of game 2, we thought the game was over. That the Lions would stamp their mark on this match and quickly widen the gap. But it was the opposite, the start of three very intense innings, with a lot of pressure on the pitchers from both sides, a lot of intensity, and some bad decisions. 2-2 after 3 innings, everything was to be done again.
Savigny took the lead again in the 7th on the strong trend of the semifinals: the bases-loaded walk. Orozco was on the mound and again one could think that Savigny would manage to keep the advantage.
But La Rochelle didn’t qualify for the playoffs by chance. An error opened the door for their return to the plate. And the Buccaneers showed they could be very dangerous, with their offensive leader Théo Lakhmeche at the helm. 4 runs scored, a score that goes to 6-4 in favor of the home team.
This match wasn’t over yet. It was really a merciless battle, a breathless tug-of-war between two very good teams. One could fear for La Rochelle the lack of pitching in relief. De La Rosa had missed his, at least compared to what he has shown this season. Torres was called to the mound, successfully in the 7th, it was too complicated against the top of the lineup in the 8th. Savigny showed its resilience by scoring 4 times (with another BB with the bases loaded…), almost surgically, hit after hit, with calm and determination.
It was enough for Orozco who, this time, didn’t hesitate to close the door.
It will be tough, too tough certainly for La Rochelle next weekend. Savigny will find the championship final, for the first time since 2010! It was against Rouen, and the Huskies had prevailed, as they did in 2003, 2005, and 2009.
After the regular season and after the first weekend of the semifinals, we will give a small advantage to the Lions, no matter who their opponent is in the final. But we will have the opportunity to talk about it again.
François Colombier
