Tucson blasts its way into the final

Blasting five solo home runs, including two 8th-inning shot that proved to be the difference, top-seeded Tucson defeated 5th-seeded Allentown, 5-4, in the clinching Game 5 of the semifinal series. It was the third one-run game in the Best-of-Seven series.

With the 4 games to 1 series victory, Tucson moves on to the DMBL World Series to face defending champion Arkansas, the No. 2 seed. Game 1 is scheduled for Tuesday in Tucson, with likely starters Jake Arrieta for the Scorpions against Dallas Keuchel for the Golden Falcons. Arkansas won the season series, 6-4, and was 29-29 (.500) against the playoff field compared with Tucson's 26-24 (.520) mark.

In Game 5, Allentown and Tucson got the scoring started early. Jacoby Ellsbury hit a one-out single and came home on Mike Trout's triple down the right field line. With Trout on 3rd and just one out though, the Mules couldn't take advantage. Adrian Gonzalez walked, Giancarlo Stanton popped out to second and Jose Abreu struck out to end the inning with the Mules ahead 1-0.

Starling Marte knotted the game up at 1-1 with a solo home run in the bottom of the inning.

The Scorpions scored single runs in the 3rd and 4th on more solo shots. Michael Brantley had one-out blast to right center in the 3rd, and with two out in the 4th, Brandon Crawford drilled one deep to right. After 4, the Scorpions led 3-1 and it was relatively quiet for 3 more innings.

Allentown made a little noise in the 7th after a lead-off walk to Gonzalez, a passed ball and another walk to Stanton. With two men on, Greinke got a big strikeout of Abreu before inducing a yuge inning-ending double play by Manny Machado.

Maybe it was that 7th inning rally that got the Mules going. Staring just six outs away from elimination, pinch-hitter Nick Markakis led off with a double. Ian Kinsler's groundout to second got Markakis to second and then Greinke walked Ellsbury, his last batter of the night.

Tony Watson, who saved 2 Scorpions' victories earlier in the series, came on with two out, runners on the corners, trying to protect a 3-1 lead He walked Trout to load the bases. Gonzalez came to the plate and had his second bases-clearing hit of the series, driving in three with a double down the right-field line and a 4-3 Mules lead. Watson wanted nothing to do with Stanton, walking him intentionally to get to Abreu. Allentown countered with pinch-hitter Chase Headley who ended the 8th with a grounder to second.

Allentown's euphoria was as short-lived as its 4-3 lead. In the bottom of the 8th, Marte led off the bottom of the 8th with the second game-tying home run of the game, sending it deep to left. One out later, Nolan Arenado did the same and the Scorpions were back on top, 5-4. Iwakuma struck out Kyle Schwarber and Nelson Cruz and hoped for the Mules to stage a comeback in the 9th.

With Watson still on the mound for Tucson, Machado lined a single to left center to get the tying run aboard. That was promptly snuffed out by a Russell Martin double play to short. Matt Kemp came to the plate for Erick Aybar as the Mules' last hope but he grounded to first to end the game.

Iwakuma had his worst start of the postseason but it was still decent. He again went 8 innings, yielding 8 hits but the bugaboo was that 5 of them went for home runs. Take away the 5 dingers (yes, it's asking a lot), and he tossed a 3-hitter and went pretty smoothly through 8 innings, with nary a batter advancing to 2nd base. He struck out 6 and walked 1 in taking the loss.

Greinke was solid if unspectacular, tossing 7 2/3 innings before making way for Watson. He gave up just 3 runs on 3 hits and struck out 5. His 4 walks hurt him but thanks to Watson's blown save, he got a no-decision. His line was almost identical to his Game 2 start. Watson vultured the win thanks to Tucson's 8th inning home runs. He went 1 1/3 innings, giving up 2 hits, 1 run and 2 walks (1 intentional).

Marte was the hitting star for the Scorpions in the clincher, going 3-for-5, with two home runs. He had been 1-for-8 in the series platooning in center field with Marcell Ozuna.

For the third time in the series, the Mules took advantage as best they could, scoring one less run than they had hits. Allentown actually outscored Tucson in the 5-game series, 21-16, but that included a 10-0 pasting in Game 4. Gonzalez and Stanton both finished with 6 RBI in the series, including 3 home runs by Stanton, in addition to 8 strikeouts.

Iwakuma suffered two losses but pitched well, going 8 innings in both outings for a 3.93 ERA/0.94 WHIP and 11:1 K:BB. But 7 of the 14 hits were solo home runs.

Watson had 2 saves and a win but another bullpen arm gave the Scorpions some huge performances. Carlos Villanueva made three appearances, yielding just 2 hits while striking out 7 and walking 1 over 7 innings. Twice he had scoreless, 3-inning outings. Cruz was hitless in Games 1, 4 and 5 but delivered big hits in Games 2 and 3, going 5-for-19 (.263) in the series with 4 runs, 3 RBI, and a home run.