The Arabia Wolves held off a late Mid East Falcons comeback attempt to win 5-4 in a hard-fought victory in Game 3 of the Baseball United UAE Series at Baseball United’s new Dubai stadium to sweep the series.
The game started just like Game 2, with Robinson Canó recording an RBI single in the first inning to give the Wolves an early lead. Connor Panas followed Canó later in the inning and hit a three-run home run to extend the Wolves lead to 4-0.
After the Falcons failed to answer the four-run inning in the top of the second, Didi Gregorius hit a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the frame to extend the Wolves’ lead to 5-0.
The Falcons offense would stay quiet until the eighth inning when former Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Dillon Thomas stepped up with one out and the bases loaded. He hit a two-RBI double to bring the Falcons to within two runs. Gabriel Guerrero, cousin of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., hit into a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded to give the Falcons their fourth and final run.
The Wolves failed to add any insurance runs and turned to their closer, Dovydas Neverauskas. Yesterday, the Wolves used Ernest Ohandza, a Cameeroonian-born pitcher, in the ninth inning. This time, they went with Neverauskas, a Lithuanian-born pitcher and the only player born in Lithuania to ever pitch in Major League Baseball. He pitched in 76 MLB games for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2017-2020.
Neverauskas closed out the game successfully for the Wolves and just like in Game 1, the Wolves defeated the Falcons by one run in a game that came down to the wire.
Baseball United will now look to start its inaugural season later this year, featuring the Wolves and Falcons, along with the league’s other two franchises: The Mumbai Cobras and Karachi Monarchs.
WBN Baseball United: https://worldbaseball.com/league/baseball-united/
