The Dragons struck quickly with a two-run home run by Carlos Ortega in the top of the first. Seattle got one back on a sacrifice fly in the second, and tied the game at 2 with another sac fly in the 4th.
In the fifth inning, a three-run homer by Ortega, his second of the game, opened the game back up for the Dragons, but Yvon Settignano's solo shot in the bottom of the 5th cut into the Dragons' lead. The score was 5-3 London after five.
And so it remained through the sixth, seventh, and top of the eighth innings. In the bottom of the eighth, Norman Kuhn led off with a single, was doubled over to third by Sung-heun Hwa, and both runners scored later in the inning on back-to-back RBI singles by George Hendricks and Stephen Broadbent.
Yes, Seattle had come back again to tie the game. It was 5-5, heading into the ninth. The Dragons were sent down 1-2-3 by Gregg Fiala in the top of the 9th on a ground ball back to the pitcher and two strikeouts.
In the bottom of the ninth, London sent its closer, Bong-Ok Ch'on to the mound. Maximo Rodriguez led off for the Monarchs and flied to center.
Steve Jones then singled, and Settignano followed with a walk on four pitches. Norman Kuhn also walked, leaving the bases loaded with just one out. Hwa popped out to first, leaving Armando Soto the last hope for the Monarchs in the inning.
He left the bat on his shoulder for the entire at bat: ball, called strike, and then three consecutive balls forced in Steve Jones: the series was over, and the Seattle fans enjoyed a lovely shrimp dinner after the ballgame.
That's all for the LCS, on to game one of the Cecil Cup on Wednesday night: Brick Barracudas at Seattle Monarchs! Best of luck to Fred and Mack.
Congrats to Scott on a great season and a down-to-the-wire series.
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