Webb, Ichiro lead Rollers to their 3rd Lp2 Title!

The Ybor City Rollers counted on co-ace Brandon Webb throughout the regular season, getting 23 wins in the process. So it seemed only fitting that with a chance to finish off the Lp2 World Series they would hand the ball to their 28 year old ace.
Webb was masterful against the Finger Lakes Flashes, holding them to just a Maicer Izturis homerun in seven innings, handing the bullpen a 3-1 lead. B.J. Ryan and Joe Nathan, both acquired during the regular season, were up to the task, allowing just a Rich Aurilia homerun to seal a 5-2 victory and clinch the Rollers 3rd Lp2 title.
Mike Mussina was also brilliant in defeat, allowing just one run in six innings, striking out five. The bullpen couldn't stop the Rollers potent offense as Joel Zumaya and Brian Fuentes surrendered two runs each in the seventh and eighth innings.

Ichiro Suzuki was the catalyst the team needed, picking up four singles, stealing two bases, and driving in two runners. Joe Mauer (.458), Carlos Guillen (.478), Miguel Cabrera (.391) and World Series MVP Stan Musial (.478) all hit over .390 for the series, and were a big reason for the Rollers .318 team average and 40 runs in the six games.
"The Flashes are a fantastic organization who had an excellent season. They were playoff contenders from the outset of the season, battled 'til the very end to win the Wild Card and really turned some heads in the postseason," GM Morgan DeMarco commented. "The hard work that general manager and owner Harry Fanelli has put into that squad shows up in their team's effort, and they are a shining example of what happens when a bright GM sticks to a plan in the Lp2. We wish them all the best in the future and know that they will be a constant threat both for the Bambino Conference title as well as the Lp2 title."

2006 Postseason

Rollers Jump all over Verlander, Flashes; Move within a Game of Championship

In game one the Rollers used the longball to beat Justin Verlander, in game five they decided to use the same strategy, homering five times and chasing Verlander after three innings as they cruised to a 16-1 victory and a 3-2 series lead.

Carlos Guillen led the charge, as his three-run homer in the first put the Ybor City Rollers on the board first, he finished the game with three hits (two homers) and 6 RBI's. Stan Musial was a perfect 4-for-4 with five runs scored, and just needed a homerun to hit for the cycle. Joe Mauer and Miguel Cabrera added three hits and three runs apiece.

Verlander lasted just 3 2/3 in game one, allowing seven runs, and tonight he gave up eight runs in his three innings, walking one and striking out four. Rollers starter Chris Carpenter was very sharp, allowing just 3 hits in 7 innings, and registering 7 strikeouts.

The teams travel back to Ybor City for Game 6, where Brandon Webb will be looking to lead the Rollers to their 3rd Lp2 Championship, while Mike Mussina will be looking to force a game seven for the Finger Lakes Flashes.

Flashes use Longballs late to tie Series at 2

The Finger Lakes Flashes used four homeruns, including two from Manny Ramirez, to first erase a 5-2 Rollers lead, and finally earn a 9-6 victory in Game 4.

Ramirez, who homered in the bottom of the first to put the the Flashes ahead, had three hits on the night, to go with his four RBI's. His second homer, a 3-run shot off of Ruddy Lugo in the eighth, gave the Flashes some breathing room after they had taken a one run lead.
Bronson Arroyo wasn't as sharp as he would have liked, allowing five runs in 6 innings, including a solo homer to Raul Ibanez and a 3-run shot to Stan Musial.
His opponent, Ervin Santana, was better, allowing just 2 runs in 6 innings and departed with a 5-2 lead, but the normally stingy Ybor City Rollers bullpen allowed the Flashes back into the game. B.J. Ryan allowed 3 runs in the seventh on a Rich Aurilia homerun to tie the game, and Lugo allowed homers to Michael Barrett and Ramirez to take the loss.