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Game 1: Columbus Red Barons 6, Las Vegas Knights 5
LAS VEGAS, NV — The Columbus Red Barons narrowly defeated the Las Vegas Knights in a thrilling 6-5 contest at Knights Stadium. The game showcased impressive performances, clutch hits, and late-game heroics.
In the top of the second inning, Travis McLadd ignited the scoring with a solo home run, giving Columbus an early 1-0 lead. However, the Knights quickly responded in the bottom half with a run-scoring single by Lyle Good and an RBI single by Alfonzo Diaz, pushing Las Vegas ahead 2-1.
Columbus tied the game in the fourth inning when Dom Haslam singled home Travis McLadd. The Knights regained the lead in the fifth inning on George Gabriel’s RBI single and a sacrifice fly by Richard Callahan, making it 4-2.
The Red Barons staged a comeback in the seventh inning, with David Sexton’s two-run double tying the game at 4-4. In the eighth inning, Billy Latner delivered a two-run home run to center field, putting Columbus ahead 6-4.
Las Vegas made a valiant effort in the ninth inning with a solo home run by Alfonzo Diaz, but it wasn’t enough as Kenny Lafontaine closed the game for Columbus, securing a 6-5 victory.
Game 1 Box Score:
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Columbus Red Barons | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 14 | 0 |
Las Vegas Knights | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 0 |
Game 2: Las Vegas Knights 10, Columbus Red Barons 1
LAS VEGAS, NV — The Las Vegas Knights bounced back in dominant fashion, trouncing the Columbus Red Barons 10-1 in the second game of the series.
The Knights broke the game open in the fourth inning, scoring five runs. Ruben Valenzeula’s leadoff double set the stage, and Francis Rignow, Martin Figueroa, and Felix Navarro all contributed RBI singles. Valenzeula later doubled home two more runs, extending the lead to 5-0.
Ruby Yates pitched brilliantly for Las Vegas, shutting out Columbus through five innings. The Red Barons managed to score a lone run in the seventh inning, but the Knights responded with two runs in the bottom half, highlighted by Matt McKirahan’s two-run homer in the eighth inning.
Matthew Sherman closed the game for the Knights, ensuring a decisive 10-1 victory and evening the series.
Game 2 Box Score:
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Columbus Red Barons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 |
Las Vegas Knights | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | X | 10 | 16 | 0 |
Game 3: Columbus Red Barons 3, Las Vegas Knights 0 (10 innings)
LAS VEGAS, NV — The series finale between the Columbus Red Barons and the Las Vegas Knights was a nail-biting affair that extended into extra innings before Columbus clinched a 3-0 victory in the 10th inning.
The game was a pitcher's duel through nine innings, with both Andy Copeland for Columbus and Hank Henderson for Las Vegas delivering masterful performances. Neither team managed to score, and the game remained deadlocked at 0-0.
In the top of the 10th inning, Billy Latner reached on an error by first baseman Richard Callahan, followed by a clutch single from Dom Haslam, driving in the first run of the game. Ashley Mathews and David Sexton each drew walks, bringing home two more runs, and giving Columbus a 3-0 lead.
Mike Tapan and Warren Falco combined to shut down the Knights in the bottom of the 10th, securing the shutout victory for Columbus and the series win.
Game 3 Box Score:
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | R | H | E |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Columbus Red Barons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 0 |
Las Vegas Knights | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
Billy Latner was named the MVP of the series, delivering crucial hits and displaying consistent performance throughout the three games. Latner went 9-for-14 with a batting average of .643, including a game-winning two-run home run in Game 1 and multiple key singles in Games 2 and 3.
Series Stats:
Player Quotes:
Billy Latner: "It feels great to contribute to the team’s success. Everyone played their part, and it’s a team effort that got us this series win."
Dom Haslam: "Billy was incredible out there. His hits really sparked us, and his leadership on the field is something we all look up to."
Andy Copeland: "It was a tough series, but we showed a lot of grit. Winning in extra innings in Game 3 really showed our determination."
The Columbus Red Barons emerged victorious in this tightly contested series, showcasing resilience and clutch performances. The series win highlights their potential as a formidable team this season.