Hopatcong clobbers Nola for 3-1 series lead

Aaron Nola was lights out in Vancouver's 1st round series against Hillsborough but Hopatcong obliterated one of this postseason's best pitchers from the start on Friday night, coasting to a 13-5 triumph in Game 4.

The 2nd-seeded Floating Fish take a commanding 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven semi-final series against No. 4 Vancouver. Hopatcong can clinch the series and its first DMBL Series appearance with a win at home on Sunday in Game 5, with their ace, Stephen Strasburg on the mound. The Iron Fist likely will have James Paxton on the mound.

The league's top offense in the regular season (866 runs, 5.3/game), Hopatcong was the first squad to reach double-digits in a game in this postseason and the 13 runs is easily the highest so far.

Nola was human in Game 1, allowing 5 runs in 8 innings, after being lights out in two 1st round starts against Hillsborough, with 24 Ks in 14 2/3 innings.

Marwin Gonzalez led off the game with a home run and it was downhill for Nola from there. He walked Joey Votto and allowed a single to Bryce Harper. The first out came on a groundout by Ryan Zimmerman to put both runners in scoring position. Nola plunked Robinson Cano to load the bases but came back to strike out Gary Sanchez and was one out form getting out of the inning down just 1-0. Nick Castellanos had other plans, crushing a Nola offering deep to left center, clearing the bases with a double, to expand the lead to 4-0.

Things didn't get much better for Nola in the 2nd inning. Jacoby Ellsbury led off with a double to right center and took 3rd base on a fly ball to left by Gonzalez. Nola then walked Votto again, and also Bryce Harper to load the bases for the second consecutive inning. Zimmerman grounded to 1st but Vancouver could only get one out, allowing Ellsbury to score to make it 5-0. After Nola walked Cano to load the bases once more the Iron Fist had seen enough, calling on Joe Smith out of the bullpen.

That's when Sanchez blew the game open, lining a double to left center that again cleared the bases for an 8-0 lead. Sanchez took 3rd on an error by shortstop Jean Segura before Castellanos flied out to left to end the 2nd inning.

Vancouver got a run back in the bottom of the 3rd when Wil Myers smacked a solo homer deep to left. A walk to Alex Avila and an error by Cano got two runners on base for the Iron Fist but Josh Reddick popped out to short to end the inning, down 8-1.

It didn't get any better in the 4th inning for the Iron Fist. A one-out single by Sanchez was Smith's last batter. Trevor Rosenthal came on and allowed another double to right center by Castellanos. Back-to-back singles by Zack Cozart and Ellsbury plated two more runs to get to double-digits, up 10-1. Gonzalez then blasted his second homer of the game, a three-run shot that turned it into a laugher, 13-1.

The Fish kept threatening against Rosenthal, who gave up a single to Votto, then hit Harper. Fortunately for him, Zimmerman grounded into a double play to mercifully end the 4th inning.

Vancouver scratched back for 2 runs in the 6th. Anthony Rendon led off the inning with a homer, then Reddick and JD Martinez both beat out infield singles to put two men board. But the Iron Fist could only manage a pair of sacrifice files to score Reddick before ending the inning, down 13-3.

Vancouver would get two more runs in the bottom of the 7th, after Mychal Givens relieved Nick Blackburn. The Iron Fist loaded the bases with the first three batters: a single by pinch-hitter Carlos Santana, a double from Segura, and a hit batsman in Avila. Sanchez allowed a passed ball, scoring Santana and advancing runners to 2nd and 3rd. Givens reared back to strike out two batters and it looked like he'd escape the 7th. But he walked Martinez and then Schoop, to allow a run. Up 13-5, Hopatcong called on Aroldis Chapman with the bases loaded and he got an inning-ending ground ball to short from Charlie Blackmon.

Nola (1-2) was crushed for 8 runs on 4 hits and 4 walks in just 1 2/3 innings. He threw 57 pitches, just 26 for strikes (.456).  Smith went the next 1 2/3 innings, yielding 4 hits but just 1 run. Rosenthal threw gasoline on it, blasted for 5 hits and 4 runs in just 2/3 innings. Drew Pomeranz calmed things down with 3 1/3 innings of 2-hit ball. Jesus Alvarado wrapped up the final 1 2/3 innings for Vancouver, which walked 9 batters in all, on top of 17 hits.

Blackburn (1-0) was good enough in 6 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits. He struck out 3 and walked 1. Givens tossed 2/3 innings but walked 3, leading to 2 runs on 1 hit, with 2 strikeouts. Chapman finished up the final 2 1/3 innings, striking out 3 and walking 1 while allowing 1 hit. Floating Fish pitchers walked 5 of their own.

Hopatcong finished with 13 runs on 17 hits and even left 12 men on base. Gonzalez, Harper and Castellano each had 3 hits. Gonzalez led the Fish with 4 RBI on 2 HRs, and Castellanos and Sanchez each had 3 RBI. Cano was the only starter without a hit but scored two runs thanks to two walks. Votto walked 3 times.