Mariners are 2024 World Series Champs with sweep of the Cubs

GAME TWO RBRL WORLD SERIES 6-12-24 CUBS VS MARINERS

Reading- On Wednesday evening a large crowd was greeted with beautiful weather and a well-played finish to our league’s 50th World Series with a 4-0 shutout of the Cubs .

It was the Mariner’s year to shine the brightest as they played consistent baseball, after a slow start to the season, they played the game right and limited the mistakes.

“We weren’t a team of stars we won as a team 1 through 14”. said Mariner Coach Mike Rizzo, “We were picked in the preseason as a solidly middle of the pack team but we played good defense, had pitchers who threw strikes and scratched out enough offense to win games.”

The Cubs had a nice 3-0 playoff run to earn their World Series berth, beating a one-loss Phillie team and the defending champion Pirates. The Cubs had a roster with some star power, and they clearly belonged in our biggest showcase.

In a neatly played 90-minute game (thank you teams), the Mariners scored all the runs they needed before the Cubs had their turn at the plate.

It was a doubles parade for the M’s as after one out Nolan Bentley and Jack Sullivan doubled to put the first run on the board.

Jay Wang followed with a single and rookie Jack Furrier (3 for 3) doubled home two runs.

From there it was a pitchers’ duel between Andrew Wright and Furrier through three innings.

Furrier was relieved by Bentley in the fourth and he pitched three scoreless innings allowing two hits, two walks and three strikeouts.

For the Cubs Wright went five innings keeping his team in the game and allowing just one more unearned run in the fifth.

The Cubs only threat was in the sixth inning when John Austin walked to start the inning and Alex Van Horn doubled.

Bentley bore down to keep the shut-out alive and striking out the last two hitters of the inning.

Alex Vigorito threw two scoreless innings for the Cubs after Wright departed.

The Series closer was AJ Rizzo who took the underhanded flip from first baseman Connor Jack and spiked the first base bag to bring the Mariners their second RBRL championship in three years (third title all-time).

Rizzo was named MVP by the press table. As the lead-off batter he went 4 for 7, with a double, four stolen bases, two runs scored, roamed centerfield with five putouts and finished off the series with a scoreless inning pitched.

Thanks go out to all of the many contributors to putting on an excellent showcase for the league. Most of all the players, the coaches on both teams for the field prep, Mike Wondolowski (Wondo) field superintendent, Jeanette Vigorito and Tara Byrne photographers, and Nathan Terry assistant to the President.

CUBS (0)- Wright 2-1, E. Audley 2-1, Lepore 1-0, Capalino 1-0, Vigorito 2-0, Austin 0-0, Van Horn 2-1, R. Audley 2-0, Melanson 2-0, Mercurio 3-0, Kane 2-0, Schneeberg 2-0, Williams 2-1, Brown 2-0. Totals 24-3

MARINERS (4) – Rizzo 3-1, Bentley 3-1, Sullivan 2-1, Wang 3-2, Furrier 3-3, O’Mara 3-0, Holton 3-0, Jack 3-0, Byrne 1-0, Van Geons 2-0, Sarofeen 2-0, Bowers 2-0. Totals 30-8

Doubles: Bentley, Sullivan, Furrier, Rizzo, Van Horn

WP- Furrier

LP- Wright