Altuve powers Tucson to Game 7 win

Tucson will return to the DMBL Finals for the 3rd time in 6 seasons, defeating Allentown, 5-2, on the road in a Game 7 on Saturday night.

The No. 3 King Snakes will try to win the DMBL title in each of the last three even-numbered seasons. Tucson defeated Arkansas in 2016 and Hopatcong in 2018, both in 5 games.

Tucson got to work early with Ketel Marte leading off the game with a single. Jose Altuve continued a blistering postseason with a his 4th homer of the playoffs to provide the King Snakes with an early 2-0 advantage. Marcus Semien doubled to left center and it looked like it could be a tough start for Allentown starter Michael Pineda. But he settled down to retire three batters in a row to get out of the 1st.

The 2nd-seeded Mules answered in the bottom of the inning when Ozzie Albies connected on the first pitch he saw from Chris Paddack, slashing the Tucson lead to 2-1.

Tucson got the run right back after Nolan Arenado's one-out solo jack in the top of the 2nd, for a 3-1 advantage. The King Snakes threatened in the 4th, getting a runner to 3rd base, and in the 7th, after two one-out singles by Marte and Altuve put runners on the corners. Allentown starter Michael Pineda got the hook. Adam Ottavino came on, inducing a pop-out by Semien and striking out Hunter Pence to get out of the jam, still down only 3-1.

Meanwhile, Paddack settled in, scattering just a couple of walks over the next 6 innings. He took the mound to start the bottom of the 8th having thrown just 87 pitches. David Dahl deposited his 88th pitch into the seats deep down the right field line, energizing the Allentown faithful and making it just a one-run game, 3-2.

Marcus Walden came on to relieve Paddack and then set the 8th down in order. In the top of the 9th, the Mules called on closer Kirby Yates to keep it close. After two quick outs, Altuve grounded a single up the middle and then scored an insurance run on Marcus Semien's double down 3rd base line for a 4-2 lead. Hunter Pence stepped in and chopped a grounder back to Yates, who turned to 1st and launched it up the right field line, allowing Semien to score while Pence took 2nd. Down 5-2, Casey Sadler relief Yates, walking Matt Olson intentionally to pitch to Willson Contreras, who grounded out to short to end the inning.

The Mules couldn't muster anything against Tucson closer Liam Hendriks (S, 4) in the bottom of the 9th, despite the heart of the order getting one last chance. Mike Trout struck out, Didi Gregorious popped out to center as a pinch-hitter for Manny Machado, and Max Muncy struck out, sending Tucson to the finals.

Allentown was limited to just 3 hits and 2 runs, leaving 4 men on base. Tucson pounded out 13 hits and 5 runs, and left 10 men aboard. Altuve finished with 4 hits in Game 7, giving him a league-leading 17 in the postseason, along with a DMBL-best 12 RBI in 12 games.

Pineda was banged around for 11 hits in 6 1/3 innings, giving up 3 earned runs and striking out 3 on 89 pitches, 60 for strikes (.674). Paddack scattered 3 hits over 7 innings, with 4 strikeouts and 2 walks, and 2 earned runs allowed. Fifty-eight of his 88 pitches went for strikes (.659).

No. 2 Allentown, winners of 94 games in the regular season, came back from a 3-1 deficit to force a Game 7. Tucson, which went 90-72 in the regular season, outscored Allentown, 32-26, in the 7 games.

Tucson and Allentown played to a 5-5 record in 10 games during the regular season, as did Sardine City and Tucson. Among playoff teams, the best records head to head were Sardine City against Hopatcong (8-2) and Hopatcong against Livingston (8-2).