Hickory tied up its series with Seattle with a 3-2 victory. Seattle took a 2-0 lead in the third on a two-run homer by Dong Lutz. Hickory, responded with a three spot in the fourth on three hits (including a Willy Guzman triple) and a sac fly.
River Cities had to claw back by inch-by-inch to avoid falling into a 3-1 deficit in the series. The Steamers started off the game by scoring five runs in the bottom of the first off of starter Ed Scull. It was looking bad for the Sternwheelers - but then they started inching their way back.
They scratched together one run in the fifth on a single, walk, hit by pitch and a fielding choice. Another run was produced in the sixth on a walk and a double. However, it was in the ninth that the Steamer's defense fell apart. River Cities pushed across three runs on two errors, two hits, a walk and a fielder's choice to send the game into extra innings. 3B Bill Allen's solo home run in the 11th put the Sternwheelers ahead for good and tied up the series.
Game 5 on Saturday night.
Zev
Man, this is a tight series. Heck, both of them are.
ReplyDeleteAnother flame out for a starter, on my end. And Miller, the middle reliever who went five in game one, goes four in game four. So he's pitched nine full innings in this series so far.
Jeremy, did you have Kaler listed as a reliever? I note he pitched almost three in relief and took the loss.
At some point it would be nice if the bats woke up.
Hukill .182
Palacio .176
Suarez .222
DuBreuil .154
Not exactly what I'm hoping for out of those four, sadly.
Bring on Frank Wooster and Game Five!
Yeah, I did move Kaler to the bullpen after his game one start (which was not that good). I don't think he is ready for the prime time playoff pressure. He did pitch well for 2.1 IP (including striking out the side int he 10th) and then he gave up the HR to Allen in the 11th.
ReplyDeleteAs for my hitting it is really doing well (I hope it keeps up):
Goss .500
Thomas .333
Aikin .313
Burton .368
It is helping me stay in this thing. Now if only Fiala would pitch like he did during the season and not like he is an 18 year old in his first playoffs.
Also, Mack and Nate you are doing a good job of making me eat my words. I now say there is a 75% chance that one of you will lose and a 50% chance that both of you lose :)
ReplyDeleteYou would think that, given an offense that scored 948 runs this year and four quality starts in four outings, that I'd be doing a bit better than 2-2 in the series. (And yes, I know quality starts aren't a great stat, but they do represent something.)
ReplyDeleteI said after the last game that it seems to me that each game turns on whether the Monarchs offense shows up or not. But, for this game, I have to tip my hat to Hickory and Donald Hunnicut. Hunnicut struck out 14 Monarchs in seven innings. Sewell and Beeks came through with two perfect innings of relief and three more Ks. It's hard to win when you send 35 men to the plate and 17 of them trudge back, failing to even put the ball in play.
Macaluso pitched well. Hunnicut pitched better.
Or, I can just blame it on Jeremy's failure to hold a ninth inning again. Since apparently one favorite, and only one favorite, can win each day, I clearly lost because of Fiala and the Steamers' crappy ninth inning defense.
And, by the way, the math is now down to 56% that both favorites advance. But, that is based on the .673 winning percentage of Seattle and River Cities. That winning percentage appears increasingly irrelevant.
On the plus side, I have Placencia and Hester on full rest for games five and six. Hopefully, they can do what I am paying them oh-so-well to do.
ReplyDeleteSo with the only one underdog can win per day, then I would win in 7 and Mack would win in 7 if we keep alternating the way we are...
ReplyDeleteI'm comfortable with that result. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not! Take that, foul Seattlite!
ReplyDeleteI'm likely pitching Wooster in game give, and I should have Villatoro back on full rest for game six. With luck that 1-2 punch should do it.
Well, maybe this will finally answer the interminable Wooster debate.
ReplyDeleteOK, probably not since I'm not conceding anything even if he throws a perfect game. Small sample size and all that.
You're a hard man, counselor. A hard man.
ReplyDeleteYOU WILL BOW DOWN BEFORE ME, MACK-EL!