Bricktown Showdown

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 City RedHawks, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

History

On July 12, 2006, a press release 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. [ [http://tripleabaseball.com/releases/btsd01.pdf "Bricktown Showdown To Determine Triple-A Baseball Champion."] Triple-A Baseball. Press Release. 12 July 2006.] 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. [ [http://tripleabaseball.com/releases/btsd03.pdf "Triple-A Baseball Championship Game To Remain in Oklahoma City for 2007 and 2008."] Triple-A Baseball. Press Release. 11 January 2007.]

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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.

Past Bricktown Showdowns

2006

Infobox Bricktown Showdown
date = September 19, 2006
away
home
ILchamp = Toledo Mudhens
IL_MLB = Detroit Tigers
PCLchamp = Tucson Sidewinders
PCL_MLB = Arizona Diamondbacks
winningcity = Tucson
losingcity = Toledo
score = 5–2
mvpname = Scott Hairston
mvpposition = OF
mvpcity = Tucson
mvpstats = .500, 1 RBIThe 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.

2007

Infobox Bricktown Showdown
date = September 18, 2007
away
homelogo =
ILchamp = Richmond Braves
IL_MLB = Atlanta Braves
PCLchamp = Sacramento River Cats
PCL_MLB = Oakland Athletics
winningcity = Sacramento
losingcity = Richmond
score = 7–1
mvpname = Lou Merloni
mvpposition = 3B
mvpcity = Sacramento
mvpstats = .400, 1 HR, 4 RBIThe 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. The ESPN2 broadcast featured the same announcing team as 2006's game, with Howard Kellman and Tommy John in the booth and RedHawks radio man Jim Byers on the field.

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.

2008

Infobox Bricktown Showdown
date = September 16, 2008
away
home
ILchamp = Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees
IL_MLB = New York Yankees
PCLchamp = Sacramento RiverCats
PCL_MLB = Oakland Athletics
winningcity = Sacramento
losingcity = Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
score = 4–1
mvpname = Chris Gissell
mvpposition = P
mvpcity = Sacramento
mvpstats = 3.00 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 SOThe PCL won the 2008 Triple-A All-Star Game on July 16, 2008, giving them home team status for the 2008 Bricktown Showdown. The IL's Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees faced off against the returning-champion Sacramento RiverCats of the PCL.

The game was viewed by a national television audience as well as 8,213 in attendance. The ESPN2 broadcast team included Howard Kellman and Ron Swoboda in the booth, with field reporter Jim Byers.

The Yankees had the bases loaded with two outs in the first inning against Sacramento starter Brad Knox, but failed to capitalize when Matt Carson flied out to deep centerfield. In the RiverCats half of the inning, Chris Denorfia led off with a double, later advancing to third base. After walking Carlos González, Wes Bankston singled in the first run for Sacramento. Brooks Conrad's RBI single, followed Casey Rogowski's fielder's choice out added two runs, making the score 3–0 in favor of Sacramento. Donnie Murphy drove in another run in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 4–0.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's Matt Carson's RBI single scored Ramiro Pena from second base to account for the only Yankees run of the game.

The Sacramento RiverCats won the third Bricktown Showdown by a final score of 4–1. Pitcher Chris Gissell (1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO) earned the victory, after working three innings. Gissell was also named the game's Most Valuable Player.-

Future Bricktown Showdowns

2009

The 2009 Bricktown Showdown is scheduled to be played on September 22. The 2009 Triple-A All-Star Game will be held on July 15; it will determine which team is given home team status.

References

* [http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/playoffs/y2006/btsd.jsp "2006 Bricktown Showdown."] "Minor League Baseball." 19 September 2006. 5 September 2007.
* [http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/playoffs/y2007/btsd.jsp "2007 Bricktown Showdown."] "Minor League Baseball." 18 September 2007. 19 September 2007.
* [http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/playoffs/y2008/btsd.jsp "2008 Bricktown Showdown."] "Minor League Baseball." 16 September 2008. 17 September 2008.

External links

* [http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/playoffs/y2008/btsd.jsp 2007 Bricktown Showdown at Minor League Baseball.com]
* [http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/playoffs/y2007/btsd.jsp 2008 Bricktown Showdown at Minor League Baseball.com]
* [http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/playoffs/y2006/btsd.jsp 2006 Bricktown Showdown at Minor League Baseball.com]
* [http://www.triple-abaseball.com/PostSeason.jsp Bricktown Showdown at Triple-A Baseball.com]