The Seattle Monarchs took a 3-1 lead in their playoff searies against Maui behind eight strong innings from starter Joseph Macaluso and a 2-4 day from catcher Alberto Granado.
Both teams were scoreless until the fourth inning when a triple, a walk and then a three run homerun by Granado gave the Monarchs a lead they would never relinquish. Maui loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth with one out, but Macaluso induced a ground ball double play to end the inning. Seattle added two more in the top of the fifth on three hits, a wild pitch and a fielder's choice. After that, Maui never even got close to being back in the game. They got a duece in the eighth off a two-run homerun, but could not score again in the game.
The Sternwheelers outlasted the Mashers 2-1 to tie up their series at 2 games apiece. Both teams were scoreless until the fourth when the Sternwheelers pushed across a run with a one-out single by Patrick Valdez and a triple by Lindsay Walker. The 'wheelers put another one on the board in the sixth with a single, followed by a double by Walker. Saskatoon managed to make it a 2-1 game with a solo home run by Bruce Frison, but they could not get the tying run across the plate.
Game 5: Wednesday night.
Well, Villatoro and Walker take another step towards being MVPs for the series if we win. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out.
ReplyDeleteFinally, a home run for each team in the Maui-Seattle series. Luckily, the Monarchs got three with Granado's and the Mashers only got two with Lefebvre's.
ReplyDeleteSo far, Seattle's starting pitching has gone eight innings or more in every game. That's the kind of starting pitching our weakened offense needs.
Although, I suppose it's not a big surprise both offenses are struggling with both teams missing their two best hitting outfielders.