Sun. 8/27 - Do-or-Die for a League Championship

[Ro Mueller]

An RBI infield single from 1B Yeison Perez makes it 2-0, followed by a run-scoring GIDP, then a run-scoring error. It's 4-0 through going into the bottom of the 2nd inning. Go Brewers!!!

[Ro Mueller]

Two 3rd inning singles didn't bring in any runs, so the Brewers got a double (1B Yeison Perez), single (SS Cooper Pratt) and sacrifice fly (2B Juan Baez) in the 4th inning to now lead 5-0.

[Ro Mueller]

Trouble in the bottom of the 4th inning: back-to-back one-out walks from starting RHP Felipe De Los Santos prompt a mound visit, followed immediately by an RBI double and a pitching change.

Undrafted 23-year old RHP KC Hunt enters with a 5-1 lead, runners on 2nd and 3rd base and one out in the bottom of the 4th inning. Hunt was last seen conceding two runs (one earned) in 1.2 IP in Thursday's playoff semifinal. Bear down, Mr. Hunt! 

[Ro Mueller]

KC Hunt got the two strikeouts, but they sandwiched a 2-run single to reduce our lead to 5-3 going into the 5th inning.

The D-backs only have 3 hits but are 2-3 w/RISP vs. 1-for-6 w/RISP for the Brewers. That’s what’s keeping this game tight.

Suggested strategy; let’s keep hitting and scoring.

[Ro Mueller]

Gulp. Edgardo Ordonez walked and Miguel Briceno doubled him to third with one out, but neither run comes home. Now 1-for-8 with RISP.

The D-backs actually played the match-up, bringing in a LHP to face left-handed hitting RF Reece Walling (strikeout) and CF Luis Medina (groundout), with the Brewers not subbing in any of the 6 right-handed bats on the bench.

21-year old RHP Brailin Rodriguez now comes in for the bottom of the 5th inning.

[wiguy94]

Brailin Rodriguez was pulled with 2 outs and a runner on 1st in the 7th. Morris Austin in to replace him immediately issued a walk. Then Morris Austin gave up a double to RF but a Reece Walling to Yeison Perez to Edgardo Ordonez really prevents the tying run from scoring. 5-4 Brewers after 7. Need the offense to wake back up because Arizona is not going to give up easily. 

[Joseph Zarr]

39 minutes ago, damuelle said:

Gulp. Edgardo Ordonez walked and Miguel Briceno doubled him to third with one out, but neither run comes home. Now 1-for-8 with RISP.

The D-backs actually played the match-up, bringing in a LHP to face left-handed hitting RF Reece Walling (strikeout) and CF Luis Medina (groundout), with the Brewers not subbing in any of the 6 right-handed bats on the bench.

21-year old RHP Brailin Rodriguez now comes in for the bottom of the 5th inning.

Rodriguez gave his team 2 2/3 very solid scoreless innings - he'll be credited with an earned run but that was off the continued struggles of 10th rounder Morris Austin who has yet to find his footing in pro ball. Austin came to the hill with two down in the 7th and the ACL Crew clinging to a 5-2 lead. Situation: two down and a man on 1B. He walked his first batter. He then gave up a run-scoring double but the mighty play of RF Reece Walling and his relay to 1B Yeison Perez nabbed the runner out at home plate. Yeeeeeesh. 5-4 ACL Crew and we head to the top of the 8th frame.

 

[Joseph Zarr]

CF Luis Medina got aboard with two down by ripping a two-bagger to RF but 1B Yeison Perez struck out swinging and the ACL Crew fall to 1-for-9 with RISP. They've now left 7 men on base. IF they should fall in these late innings they can look to their failure to add insurance runs. Let's hope the pitching can keep it together. 5-4 and we head to the D-Backs half of the 8th.

[wiguy94]

Luis Medina hits a 2 out double but Yeison Perez strikes out. Brewers now 1-9 with RISP today while the Dbacks are 3-4 in RISP. Going to need the pitching staff to be perfect in the 8th and 9th as the offense might be tapped out.

[wiguy94]

1 minute ago, Joseph Zarr said:

CF Luis Medina got aboard with two down by ripping a two-bagger to RF but 1B Yeison Perez struck out swinging and the ACL Crew fall to 1-for-9 with RISP. They've now left 7 men on base. IF they should fall in these late innings they can look to their failure to add insurance runs. Let's hope the pitching can keep it together. 5-4 and we head to the D-Backs half of the 8th.

Also doesn’t help that KC Hunt and Morris Austin allowed all 3 of their inherited runners to score. ACL manager’s mid-inning pitching changes have failed dramatically tonight.

[wiguy94]

Craig Yoho pitched a scoreless 8th with 2 strikeouts and a 2 out single. To the 9th inning we go. Brewers up 5-4!

[Joseph Zarr]

1 minute ago, wiguy94 said:

Craig Yoho pitched a scoreless 8th with 2 strikeouts and a 2 out single. To the 9th inning we go. Brewers up 5-4!

[Joseph Zarr]

The D-Backs start the top of the 9th with a mound visit. Pffffft. They can't get into our fearless youngsters' heads! Not on my (Gamecast) watch! OH NO!

Top of the order is due up for the Crew: Pratt, Baez, and Bitoni. Couldn't ask for a more intriguing set of bats to try and add an insurance policy to this high-risk environment we are living in tonight, folks.

[Joseph Zarr]

I don't know about you all, but I'm ready to watch one of these late night clips from Brewers PD:

Let's. GO!

[Joseph Zarr]

Pratt leads off and reaches 1B on an error from the D-Backs Rojo SS. We have a man aboard, Houston. Let's give the D-Backs a problem.

[Joseph Zarr]

Baez strikes out swinging. One down. Pratt still on 1B. Bitoni to the dish. Currently 0-for-3, 1 BB, 2 K.

[Joseph Zarr]

And...Bitoni also strikes out swinging. Johan Barrios will pinch hit for DH Satchell Norman (0-for-4, 3 K). The ACL Crew now have 12 K to the D-Backs 9. Lotta whiffs causing winds in the desert tonight.

[wiguy94]

4 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

And...Bitoni also strikes out swinging. Johan Barrios will pinch hit for DH Satchell Norman (0-for-4, 3 K). The ACL Crew now have 12 K to the D-Backs 9. Lotta whiffs causing winds in the desert tonight.

…and Barrios strikes out as well.

[Joseph Zarr]

AND Barrios adds to the trifecta: Pratt came aboard on the error. And the Crew responded with three consecutive K's. Not the type of momentum you want to hand over to your pitching staff. 13 K on the evening in regulation innings for the young ACL Crew. They still lead 5-4 headed to the make-or-break bottom of the 9th. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Oh baby. They are going with uber-talented UDFA (University of Utah) RHP Blake Whiting to try and close this Game 3 out - he last pitched August 19th. He has been stellar in his brief work and has tools for days. BUT, this will undoubtedly be his biggest moment as a young professional hurler. 

[wiguy94]

Whiting gives up a leadoff double. Things are not looking good.

[Joseph Zarr]

Gulp. He gives up a lead-off double. And we have a pinch runner aboard. Let's see if he can dig down deep for this one. Lead-off man on 2nd base. Nobody down. That's a tough position to be in.

[Joseph Zarr]

First out: A strikeout. This is what Whiting can do. He's a big swing-and-miss guy. He can do this. He can definitely get out of this. Let's go, young man. Dig deeeeeeep! One down. Man still on 2B.

[Joseph Zarr]

AND, another strikeout. LET'S GO!! I BELIEVE!!!!!! Two down. Man on 2B.

[wiguy94]

WHITING STRANDS THE LEADOFF DOUBLE! ACL BREWERS ARE CHAMPIONS!