Marte’s Late Blast Forces Game 7 as Bays Edge Bruins 2–1

Samy Linedriv - TABL Beat Writer If October baseball has a heartbeat, you could hear it in Boston tonight. Every pitch carried weight, every out carried consequence. When it was over, the San Francisco Bays had survived, and the Boston Bruins had been reminded that momentum, like the ball itself, can change direction in an instant.

It was Ketel Marte’s turn to play hero. With two outs in the eighth and Paul Skenes still on the mound, Marte sent a fastball soaring into the right-field bleachers to break a 1–1 tie and give San Francisco a 2–1 victory, forcing a decisive Game Seven.

Before that moment, it was all tension and missed chances. The Bays opened the scoring in the second when Yainer Díaz jumped on a hanging slider for a solo homer. Josh Smith followed with a double, but Skenes battled back, retiring the next two hitters to limit the damage.

Boston responded quickly in the bottom half, as Randal Grichuk launched a solo shot of his own to even the score. From there, both pitchers settled in. Justin Steele was sharp and deliberate, scattering three hits over 5⅓ innings before handing it off to Eli Morgan, who escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth by striking out Giancarlo Stanton and coaxing a fly out from Grichuk.

The missed opportunity loomed large. Skenes, the Bruins’ prized rookie, was brilliant for most of the night, seven strikeouts, no walks, and just one mistake too many.

After Marte’s blast in the eighth, the rookie walked off to a thunderous ovation from the home crowd, but the lead was gone.

Will Vest bridged the gap in the eighth for San Francisco, stranding Jazz Chisholm after a walk and stolen base. Then came the closer, Emmanuel Clase, who slammed the door in the ninth. Grichuk grounded out, Pavin Smith drew a walk, and Luis Robert came on to pinch-run, stealing second to bring the crowd back to life. But Lane Thomas stole it right back, making a diving catch on a sharp liner by Schanuel. One batter later, Austin Wells grounded out, and the Bays stormed the field in triumph.

Marte’s home run wasn’t loud because of distance; it was loud because of timing. With that swing, he turned silence into sound, despair into one more day.

And now, one game remains. Game Seven. Hunter Greene for the Bruins. Ben Lively for the Bays. Everything, the noise, the nerves, the season...comes down to tomorrow. W – Scott (1–0)

L – Skenes (0–1)

SV – Clase (3)

HR – Díaz, Marte (SFB); Grichuk (BOS)