Bricktown Showdown
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The Bricktown Showdown is a single championship game held annually between the league champions of the International League (IL) and Pacific Coast League (PCL) Triple-A leagues of minor league baseball to determine an overall champion of class Triple-A baseball.
It was first held in 2006 at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, home of the Oklahoma Redhawks, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The 2008 event is scheduled to take place on September 16, 2008.
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[edit] History
On July 12, 2006, a press release[1] was issued with the announcement of a single championship game to determine an overall league champion of Triple-A's International League and Pacific Coast League. It was planned to take place at Oklahoma City’s AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, hence the name Bricktown Showdown; it would also be broadcast on ESPN2.
This championship game was the first time since the Las Vegas Triple-A World Series (1998-2000) that the IL and PCL would meet to determine a Triple-A champion. A previous World Series was also held in 1983 and also included the now defunct American Association (AA). Prior to this, the IL and AA (excluding the PCL) held a series of championships between the two leagues, called the Triple-A Classic (1988-1991) and also the Little World Series or Junior World Series (1905-1975).
The goal was for the Bricktown Showdown to develop and prosper like the Triple-A All-Star Game did since its inception in 1987. The Showdown was only approved as a one-time meeting by Major League Baseball. Following the inaugural event's success, subsequent meetings were planned for 2007 and 2008[2].
[edit] Structure
The championship consists of a single nine-inning game to determine a champion. Which team will serve as the home team is determined by the outcome of the Triple-A All-Star Game; the team from the winning league is designated as the home team.
[edit] Past Bricktown Showdowns
[edit] 2006
| Bricktown Showdown September 19, 2006 |
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| League Champions | |||
| IL: | Toledo Mudhens (Detroit Tigers) |
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| PCL: | Tucson Sidewinders (Arizona Diamondbacks) |
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| Final Score | |||
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Tucson def. Toledo, (5-2) |
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| MVP | |||
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Scott Hairston |
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The International League defeated the Pacific Coast League in the 2006 All-Star Game (6-0), so the IL Toledo Mud Hens were given home team status; the PCL Tucson Sidewinders were designated the away team.
The inaugural Bricktown Showdown was held before a near sell-out crowd of 12,572 as well as a national television audience. Announcers for the ESPN2 broadcast included Triple-A veteran Howard Kellman who served as the play-by-play voice. Kellman was joined by former player Tommy John, serving as analyst, and Oklahoma RedHawks broadcaster Jim Byers, serving as the field reporter.
The Sidewinders scored early as Donnie Sadler scored a triple of the wall in deep right-center field in the first inning. After two batters, he scored on Scott Hairston's sacrifice fly. Hairston almost gave Tucson a 2-0 lead in the third when he lined a two-out double into the left-field corner, but Jon Weber, who tried to score from first, was thrown out at home.
Max St-Pierre, tied the game (1-1) for Toledo in the bottom of the fourth with a single that scored Ryan Raburn.
Tucson catcher Juan Brito accounted for the go-ahead run, a solo home run off Eulogio De La Cruz to lead off the fifth inning, giving the Sidewinders a 2-1 lead. Tucson’s Micah Owings got out of his final jam in the bottom of the fifth when Ryan Ludwick grounded a one-out single but was thrown out trying to stretch into a double.
In the ninth inning, Tucson second baseman Matt Erickson singled through a drawn-in infield with the bases loaded, scoring two runners. Later, Sadler would single, scoring a runner, and increasing the Sidewinders’ lead to 5-1. Toledo’s David Espinosa picked up an RBI when his single scored one run in the bottom of the ninth.
The Tucson Sidewinders won the first Bricktown Showdown by a final score of 5-2. Micah Owings (6 SO, 4 BB, 5 H) earned the victory, extending his unbeaten streak to 22 games after going five solid innings. Scott Hairston (.500, 1 RBI) was named the game's Most Valuable Player.
[edit] 2007
| Bricktown Showdown September 18, 2007 |
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| League Champions | |||
| IL: | Richmond Braves (Atlanta Braves) |
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| PCL: | Sacramento River Cats (Oakland Athletics) |
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| Final Score | |||
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Sacramento def. Richmond, (7-1) |
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| MVP | |||
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Lou Merloni |
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The International League defeated the Pacific Coast League in the 2007 All-Star Game (7-5), so the IL Richmond Braves were given home team status; the PCL Sacramento River Cats were designated the away team.
The event was held before a crowd of 11,124 as well as a national television audience. Announcers for the ESPN2 broadcast included Triple-A veteran Howard Kellman who served as the play-by-play voice. Kellman was joined by former player Tommy John, serving as analyst, and Oklahoma RedHawks broadcaster Jim Byers, serving as the field reporter.
Shane Komine, starting pitcher for Sacramento, left after only 1⅔ innings, retiring five of the six hitters he faced. Shoulder stiffness was cited as the reason for his early departure; the situation was not serious and his departure was strictly precautionary. He was replaced by Kazuhito Tadano.
After scoreless first and second innings, the RiverCats recorded the first runs of the game in the top of the third inning. After a Danny Putnam walk and a Nick Blasi single, third baseman Lou Merloni hit a three run homer. Later, in the same half-inning, Jorge Piedra singled and Brant Colamarino hit a two run homer. Sacramento scored again in the top of the sixth inning when Putnam scored on a Merloni single.
Richmond scored their first, and only, run of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. Following singles by Brandon Jones and Larry Bigbie, Doug Clark grounded into a double play allowing Jones to score.
In the top of the ninth inning, Piedra walked and later scored on a Colamarino single, tacking on one final run for Sacramento.
The Sacramento RiverCats won the second Bricktown Showdown by a final score of 7-1. Kazuhito Tadano (4 SO, 3 H, 1 R) earned the victory, after pitching 4⅓ innings. Lou Merloni (.400, 1 HR, 4 RBI) was named the game's Most Valuable Player.
[edit] Future Bricktown Showdowns
[edit] 2008
The 2008 Bricktown Showdown is scheduled to be played on September 16, 2008. The 2008 Triple-A All-Star Game will be held on July 16, 2008; it will determine which team is given home team status.
[edit] References
- "2006 Bricktown Showdown." Minor League Baseball. 19 September 2006. 5 September 2007.
- "2007 Bricktown Showdown." Minor League Baseball. 18 September 2006. 19 September 2007.
- ^ "Bricktown Showdown To Determine Triple-A Baseball Champion." Triple-A Baseball. Press Release. 12 July 2006.
- ^ "Triple-A Baseball Championship Game To Remain in Oklahoma City for 2007 and 2008." Triple-A Baseball. Press Release. 11 January 2007.
