Series 16: Buffleheads Put Exclamation Point on Surprising Season with Series Win vs. Margo

The Budd Bay Buffleheads clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs by taking two out of three from Margo Adams Fan Club this weekend at Margo’s adopted home in San Francisco.  The change in venue allowed Buffleheads’ Manager Arne Olson to commute to work via the N-Judah streetcar line.  Minions of Jobu can match the Buffleheads’ 35-13 record with a sweep of the East Dayton Hilljacks, but the Buffleheads win the head-to-head tiebreaker by virtue of a 2-1 series win in February.  The Buffleheads will face the winner of this week’s Margo – Spahn series.

Game 1:  Margo 6, Buffleheads 1
C.C. Sabathia broke out of his season-long slump by allowing only two hits through 6.1 innings and striking out eleven Buffleheads as Margo won the opener.  Jhonny Peralta’s lead off homer was the only blemish for Sabathia.  But Margo struck back in the bottom of the first, scoring four runs on four hits and a walk off Jered Weaver (3-3).  Margo scored two more in the bottom of the 5th on a solo homer by Travis Hafner and an RBI single by Orlando Cabrera.  Grady Sizemore, Jorge Posada, Nick Markakis and Carl Crawford each had two hits for the home team, and Francisco Rodriguez retired all seven batters he faced in relief of Sabathia (3-4).

Game 2:  Buffleheads 4, Margo 1
Tim Wakefield scattered eight hits over 6.2 innings and Travis Hafner doubled and homered twice to lead the Buffleheads in Game 2.  The visitors got single runs on solo homers from Mike Napoli and Hafner off the recently-recalled Ervin Santana (0-1).  Hafner’s line shot just inside the foul pole in right scored J.D. Drew to make it 4-0 Buffleheads.  The home squad put plenty of men on base, but couldn’t break through against Wakefield (5-1) until Kevin Youkilis’ two-out single plated Carl Crawford in the bottom of the 7th and put runners on first and third for Carlos Pena.  But Rafael Perez came on and got Pena to pop out to end the threat.  Jon Papelbon pitched the 9th for his 10th save.

Game 3:  Buffleheads 7, Margo 5
Buffleheads’ ace Roy Halladay took the mound in Game 3 looking to record his league-leading 8th win against Joe Saunders.  The Buffleheads got on the board early when Jason Varitek doubled to lead off the game and came home on Mike Lowell’s RBI single.  The Ducks got two in the 4th on Adam Jones’ two-run homer, and Asdrubal Cabrera’s three-run blast gave the Buffleheads a 6-0 lead after five.  Halladay cruised through the first six innings, but ran into trouble in the 7th when a walk and two singles loaded the bases with no outs.  Margo manager Igor Greenwald then sent Alex Rios out to pinch hit for Grady Sizemore against Ducks’ reliever Rafael Perez.  Sizemore was surprised, to say the least, but the gamble paid off when Rios lined a single to left center to score two.  After Perez popped up Kevin Youkilis and struck out Carlos Pena, Mike Lowell bobbled a ground ball off the bat of Travis Hafner to allow another run to score.  Varitek’s third
homer got a run back in the bottom of the frame.  The home squad made things interesting in the top of the 9th when four consecutive singles off Mariano Rivera brought the winning run to the plate with no one out.  But after Hafner struck out, Jon Papelbon came on to fan Jorge Posada and Nick Markakis to pick up his 11th save.

Series 15: Buffleheads Clinch Tie for First with Sweep of Eight Men Out

The Budd Bay Buffleheads clinched at least a tie for the Paige Division title with a three-game sweep of Eight Men Out at Shea Stadium this week.  The Buffleheads went back to the locker room after the series to root for Spahn and Sain and Pray for Rain to take at least one game against Margo Adams Fan Club.  If Margo’s men can stay alive with a sweep, they will have a chance to tie the Buffleheads by sweeping of this weekend’s series in Boston.  But a single loss will hand the crown to the Buffleheads.  The Buffleheads’ sweep eliminated Eight Men Out and finalized the MWO 2008 playoff lineup. 

 

Game 1:  Buffleheads 10, Eight Men Out 1

The Buffleheads’ win was overshadowed when Frank Catalanotto suffered a concussion after being hit in the face by a Carlos Zambrano fastball in the 7th inning.  Catalanotto remained motionless on the field for several minutes before being placed in a neck brace and taken to a local hospital.  He’ll miss the rest of the season, but is expected back for the playoffs.  The Buffleheads broke out early against Zambrano (3-4).  J.D. Drew walked to lead off the game and scored on a triple to deep right-center by Travis Hafner.  Carlos Pena followed with a towering home run to right center for a 3-0 Buffleheads lead.  The Buffleheads got two more in the 2^nd when Drew singled and Zambrano walked Hafner and Pena to load the bases with one out.  Mike Lowell then hit a sharp grounder that handcuffed Mark DeRosa for an error, and another run scored on a groundout by Wilson Betemit.  Jason Varitek followed Catalanotto’s beaning with a two-run blast in the 7^th to make it 7-0 Buffleheads.  Rich Harden allowed only three hits and struck out eleven in seven innings for his league-leading 7^th victory against only one defeat.   

 

Game 2:  Buffleheads 16, Eight Men Out 4

Carlos Pena hit two home runs and  he and Travis Hafner each drove in four runs to lead the Buffleheads to a blowout victory in Game 2.  Pena hit a two-run homer in the 1^st for the second game in a row to stake the Ducks to an early lead.  Eight Men Out struck back for a run in the bottom of the inning when Willy Tavares was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on a single by Brandon Phillips.  The Ducks picked up another run in the 5^th off Eight Men Out starter John Smoltz when Jhonny Peralta doubled and scored on a Hafner single.  Budd Bay broke the game open in the 6^th when Wilson Betemit walked, Jason Varitek reached on an error and David DeJesus hit his first home run of the year for a 6-1 lead.  Pena’s second homer of the game and 13^th of the year extended the lead to seven runs in the 7^th, and the Buffleheads scored five runs in the 9^th off emergency pitcher Dan Uggla.  Roy Halladay gave up two runs in seven innings to tie teammate Rich Harden at seven wins on the year. 

 

Game 3:  Buffleheads 7, Eight Men Out 1

Johnny Peralta hit a grand slam home run off John Maine to break open a tight game in the 4^th inning in Wednesday’s getaway game.  Mike Lowell singled and Wilson Betemit walked to lead off the inning, and after a wild pitch put runners on second and third, Brad Wilkerson was walked intentionally to set up the double play.  But the move backfired when Maine (5-4) walked Mike Napoli to force in a run, giving the Buffleheads a 2-1 lead.  Peralta then followed with a fly ball down the left field line that just made its way into the seats in front of a stunned crowd.  Mike Lowell hit his sixth homer in the 7^th off Maine to complete the scoring.  Andy Pettitte (4-3) threw eight innings for the visitors, allowing a single run on five hits and two walks. 

Series 15: Margo Adams takes 2 of 3 from Spahn and Sain in Convincing Fashion

In what could be a first round playoff preview, Margo Adams took two of three on the road from Spahn and Sain outscoring them 25-6 in the series. Game one was the only close contest as Spahn and Sain scored a 4-3 victory. Spahn and Sain got on the board first with a solo homer by Miguel Cabrera in the second inning off Margo starter Johan Santana. Margo Adams would tie the game at one in the top of the fourth on an RBI single by Orlando Cabrera that drove in Nick Markakis, but Spahn and Sain would come right back in the bottom of the inning with a sacrifice fly by Luis Gonzalez scoring Carlos Beltran to move back in front 2-1. There would be no more scoring until the top of the seventh when Grady Sizemore led off the inning with a single and Kevin Youkilis chased Spahn and Sain starter Yovanni Gallardo from the game with a two run homer to put Margo Adams in front 3-2. But once again, Spahn and Sain would answer, this time with a two run homer by JJ Hardy in the bottom of the inning driving in Miguel Cabrera who had led off with a single. Brian Fuentes and Manny Corpas would make this lead stand up as Spahn and Sain took the victory 4-3.

Game two would see Jake Peavy have his first bad start of the year for Spahn and Sain providing James Shields with plenty of run support to lead Margo Adams to an easy victory. Peavy allowed eight runs over four and a third innings and Billy Traber and Michael Wuertz allowed four more combined in relief. Shields would only last five and a third innings allowing three runs, but the Margo bullpen combined for three and two thirds scoreless innings to wrap things up. Nick Markakis had a home run for Margo Adams while Grady Sizemore, Jorge Posada and Carl Crawford each had three hits to lead the offensive onslaught.

Game three would be another convincing Margo Adams victory with Clay Buchholz leading the way with a dominating performance. He allowed only two hits and no runs over eight and a third innings to lead Margo Adams to a 9-0 victory. Orlando Hernandez struggled in his start for Spahn and Sain walking six and allowing eight runs through three and a third innings. Youkilis and Napoli each homered for Margo Adams while Carlos Pena led the offense with a three for four performance and a pair of home runs.

Spahn and Sain will finish the regular season at home against Suicide Squeeze while Margo Adams will return home to battle the division leading Budd Bay Buffleheads.

Series 14: Spahn and Sain takes 2 of 3 from Ivy Dwellers

Game one turned out to be one of the wildest finishes in MWO history.  Rich Hill was brilliant for The Ivy Dwellers allowing only four hits and one run over seven innings and Brad Thompson had pitched a perfect eighth inning in relief, but in the ninth, everthing would unravel.  Thompson remained in the game and started the inning with an error that put Miguel Cabrera on second base.  Luis Gonzalez followed with an RBI single and then stole second.  JJ Hardy was then hit by a pitch and The Ivy Dwellers went to the pen calling Will Ohman’s name, but he would just add fuel to the fire.  A walk to Luke Scott, a single by Geoff Blum and a pinch hit single by Tony Graffanino would chase Ohman with the score now 7-4.  The Ivy Dwellers turned to closer Jason Isringhausen who recorded the first out of the inning on a sac fly by Moises Alou cutting the lead to two.  Carlos Beltran followed with an RBI single and Albert Pujols drew a walk to load the bases.  Miguel Cabrera followed with a grounder to first, but there was no play at the plate so The Ivy Dwellers took the the sure out at first allowing the game to be tied.  Luis Gonzalez was then walked to load the bases creating a force out at any base, but JJ Hardy would break the game wide open with a grand slam putting Spahn and Sain in front 11-7.  Luke Scott would then line a single and Geoff Blum followed him with another single, but Scott was thrown out trying to take third ending the inning.  After two quick outs recorded by Mike Gonzalez in the bottom of the ninth, The Ivy Dwellers would try to mount a rally with a walk and a single.  But it was too little too late as Manny Corpas came in to record the save with the final score 11-8.

Game two wasn’t quite as unbelievable, but it was just as high scoring.  Spahn and Sain scored six in the first inning off Shawn Hill and would get eight runs total in his four and a third innings.  But The Ivy Dwellers would answer with three in the second and two more each in the fourth and fifth off Juan Gutierrez to cut the lead to one at 8-7.  That was as close as they would get though as Joe Beimel, Michael Wuertz, Billy Traber and Chad Qualls would combine for four and two thirds scoreless innings of relief to close out the game with Spahn and Sain claiming a 12-7 victory.

In game three, Spahn and Sain jumped out to another early lead with a run in the second and three more in the third off Dave Bush, but this time The Ivy Dwellers would come roaring back with six runs off Spahn and Sain starter Chad Billingsley and five more off three different relievers.  Brad Thompson redeemed himself from the game one debacle with two scoreless innings and The Ivy Dwellers won 11-5.

Series 13: Buffleheads Clinch Post-Season Berth with Series Win Against Spahn and Sain

With Miguel Cabrera out with an injury, Spahn’s big three of Alou, Beltran and Pujols combined to go 5-for-36 during the series.  The Buffleheads clinched at least a tie with Whitey Ball with their 27th win in 39 contests.  Spahn travels to San Francisco to take on the Ivy Dwellers this weekend, while Budd Bay goes out on the road against Suicide Squeeze.

Game 1:  Buffleheads 5, Spahn 1
Wilson Betemit got the Buffleheads on the board first with a two-run double in the bottom of the first, and Carlos Pena doubled in a run in the 2nd for a 3-0 Buffleheads lead.  Spahn starter Chad Billingsley (3-5) departed after allowing 11 baserunners through 3.2 innings.  Tony Graffanino, subbing at third base for an injured Miguel Cabrera, connected for a solo shot for Spahn in the top of the 7th, but Travis Hafner’s two-run single in the bottom of the 8th put the game away for the home team.  Rich Harden (6-1) struck out eight over 6.2 innings for the Buffleheads.

Game 2:  Spahn 8, Buffleheads 5
Luke Scott hit two home runs and and RBI single as Spahn took Game 2.  Scott homered in front of back-to-back doubles by Geoff Blum and Brayan Pena in for a 2-0 lead in the top of the 4th.  In the 5th, Moises Alou singled and stole second.  After a flyout by Carlos Beltran, Albert Pujols was intentionally walked to set up the double play, but Luis Gonzalez made the Ducks pay with a long double over the head of Buffleheads’ center fielder David DeJesus.  Scott then singled in Gonzalez for a 5-1 Spahn lead.  But the Ducks came back to tie the game with four runs in the bottom of the frame off Spahn phenom Yovani Gallardo.  Travis Hafner singled in David DeJesus, and Hafner and JD Drew then scored on a three-run homer off the bat of Mike Lowell.  But Scott’s biggest blow of the day was the game-winner.  Pujols doubled with one out in the 7th for Spahn, and Justin Speier (0-2) walked Gonzalez.  Scott then followed with a fly ball just inside the foul
pole in right for the final margin.  Brian Fuentes (2-0) was the winner for Spahn, and Manny Corpas picked up his 7th save.

Game 3:  Buffleheads 3, Spahn 1
Game 3 featured a pitchers’ duel between ERA leader Jake Peavy and Buffleheads ace Roy Halladay.  The game was scoreless until the 6th when Geoff Blum booted Travis Hafner’s routine grounder to second.  Peavy then promptly gave up a two-run homer to Carlos Pena, his 10th on the year, and that was all Halladay (6-0) needed.  Spahn finally got on the scoreboard in the 8th when Halladay fumbled a swinging bunt off the bat of Blum, and Tony Graffanino followed with a run-scoring double.  But Buffleheads’ closer Jon Papelbon came on to slam the door by striking out Carlos Beltran with the tying run on second.  Mike Lowell’s pinch-hit double off Joe Beimel in the bottom of the 8th gave the Ducks an insurance run, and Papelbon retired the side in order in the 9th for his 7th save.  Peavy fell to 4-3 on the year.

Series 12: Buffleheads Clip Ivy, Keep Pressure on Margo

Game 1: Buffleheads 6, Ivy Dwellers 2Game 1 looked promising for the visitors, as ace Carlos Zambrano was set to face off against the Buffleheads’ Jered Weaver, who came into the match sporting an ERA over 8. But the home squad drew first blood when Dwellers’ shortstop Wilson Betemit fumbled a routine ground ball with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the third allowing a run to score. Zambrano struck out Jason Varitek to end the threat and Betemit redeemed himself in the next half-inning with a long fly ball to center that plated Geovanny Soto to even the game at 1-1. But the Buffleheads broke through in the bottom of the 5^th when Carlos Pena, Mike Lowell and their own private Betemit hit consecutive singles to start the inning, the latter scoring Pena for a 2-1 lead. Frank Catalanotto then bounced one off the wall in right center, scoring Lowell, and a sacrifice fly by Varitek and an RBI groundout by David DeJesus gave the Ducks a 5-1 lead. Weaver (3-2) allowed two runs while striking out seven in 5.2 innings, while Zambrano fell to 1-6 on the year. Pena went 4-4 with a walk and a solo homer and Mike Lowell had three hits for the Buffleheads. Soto singled twice and doubled for the Dwellers.

Game 2: Buffleheads 9, Ivy Dwellers 1

Game 2 started off as a pitchers’ duel between Ivy’s Ben Sheets and Budd Bay’s Roy Halladay, with each hurler allowing a single run through four. The Buffleheads’ run scored on an RBI double by Adam Jones, and Jeff Kent went yard to account for the Dwellers’ offense. But Jones was the catalyst again in the 5^th for the Buffleheads, this time with his legs. Jones led off the inning with a walk and promptly stole second off Sheets and Soto. Sheets then walked Mike Napoli, and Frank Catalanotto’s long fly ball to right moved Jones over to third. After Sheets struck out Jhonny Peralta, Jones swiped home on the front end of a double steal, with Napoli taking second. A sharp line drive off the bat of Adrubal Cabrera cashed Napoli, and then the wheels fell off for a disgusted Sheets as Carlos Pena walked, Mike Lowell reached on an error by Wilson Betemit, and Franklin Gutierrez brought home two with a double into the gap in left center. Jason Varitek singled in a run off reliever Jonathan Sanchez, and Jones finished what he started with an RBI single to give the home squad a 7-1 lead. Halladay allowed five hits and two walks in 7.1 innings, striking out eight Dwellers, to move to 5-0 on the year. Sheets dropped to 2-3.

Game 3: Ivy Dwellers 6, Buffleheads 4

Rich Hill held to the Buffleheads to one hit through seven innings to lead the Ivy Dwellers to victory in Game 3 of the series. Hill (2-3) retired the first ten batters and didn’t allow a hit until Jhonny Peralta connected for a two-run homer in the bottom of the 6^th. Jeff Kent led off the game with his 7^th homer for Ivy, and the visitors scored two more in the third on a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch from Ducks’ starter Rich Harden (5-2). Peralta’s blast brought the Buffleheads to within one, but the Dwellers loaded the bases with two out in the top of the 7^th against Rafael Perez and Geovanny Soto greeted vaunted Ducks’ closer Jon Papelbon with a bases-clearing double to give the Dwellers some breathing room. They would need it, because Mike Napoli hit a two-run blast off Dwellers’ reliever Brad Thompson in the bottom of the 8^th to make it 6-4.  But that was all the Duck’s could muster as the Dwellers salvaged a win in the final game of the series.

Things don’t get any easier for the Ivy Dwellers, who travel to Boston to take on Margo Adams’ Fan Club. The Buffleheads finish off a long, 15-game homestand against Spahn and Sain and Pray for Rain before going back out on the road for the final nine games of the season.

Series 11: Buffleheads Beat Back Minions in Final Interdivision Series

Game 1:  Buffleheads 7, Minions 1
Rich Harden silenced the powerful Minions of Jobu bats at Safeco Field Monday night, propelling the Budd Bay Buffleheads to a 7-1 home victory.  Harden (5-1) allowed only two hits in seven innings, striking out seven and walking six.  The Buffleheads struck for two in the 3rd when Jobu starter Chris Young (2-2) walked Travis Hafner and Carlos Pena with two outs, and then gave up consecutive singles to Wilson Betemit and Frank Catalanotto.  Jeremy Hermida brought the visitors to within one with a solo homer, his fifth, in the top of the 7th.  But Jhonny Peralta’s grand salami into the left field seats off Jobu reliever Rich Hill in the 8th inning sealed the deal for the home squad.

Game 2:  Buffleheads 10, Minions 3
The Buffleheads’ onslaught continued against Ian Snell and three relievers in Game 2, lifting the Ducks into a momentary tie for first place in the Paige Division.  Frank Catalanotto’s third homer of the season got things started against Snell (2-1) in the bottom of the 2nd, and Asdrubal Caberera’s long ball brought home three more in the 4th.  Single runs in the 5th and 6th increased the Ducks’ lead to 6-0.  Meanwhile, Buffleheads’ starter Andy Pettitte (2-3) was cruising, allowing only two baserunners through seven innings.  Jobu touched Pettitte for two runs in the 8th on a solo homer by Jeremy Hermida and a sacrifice fly by Chase Utley, but the Ducks answered with four runs in the bottom of the 8th on only one hit off Jobu reliever Heath Bell to put the game away.  Three walks, a HPB, a single and a sacrifice fly accounted for the damage.

Game 3:  Minions 3, Buffleheads 1
Back-to-back-to-back home runs propelled the Minions of Jobu to a 3-1 victory in the getaway game of their series against the Budd Bay Buffleheads on Wednesday afternoon.  Jeremy Hermida, Chris Young and Stephen Drew each connected with one out in the second to hand Bufflheads’ starter Tim Wakefield his first defeat of the year against four wins.  Hermida’s homer was his seventh of the year and his third of the series.  Wakefield and two relievers blanked the Minions the rest of the way, but Cole Hamels allowed only a solo shot to Travis Hafner in eight strong innings to move to 5-1 on the year.  Jose Valverde finished up for his league-leading 12th save.

The Buffleheads (22-11) play host to the Ivy Dwellers this weekend, while Jobu (25-8) returns home to face Money Ball.

Series 11: Royale With Cheese takes 2 of 3 from Spahn and Sain in Injury Plagued Series

Game one got of to a rough start for Spahn and Sain when starting pitcher Chuck James was injured on the ninth pitch of the game and will be out two weeks.  Adding insult to injury, Derrek Lee hit that pitch for a solo HR to put Royale on the board.  Juan Gutierrez took over on the mound for the injured James and surrendered six more runs over five innings of work.  The big blows being a three run HR by Barry Bonds in the second and a solo shot from Chipper Jones in the third.  Spahn and Sain would stay in the game with four in the second and another in the fifth off Royale starter Micah Owings to make the score 7-5 after five innings.  Royale would plate three more in the sixth and Spahn and Sain would answer with single runs in the sixth and seventh to make the score 10-7 going to the bottom of the ninth.  Rafael Soriano got the first two outs easily, but Spahn and Sain wouldn’t go down without a fight.  JJ Hardy hit a solo HR to make it a two run game and Brian Fuentes was brought in to finish things off.  A walk to Luke Scott and a single by Geoff Blum brought the winning run to the plate in Brian McCann, but Fuentes struck him out to end the game.  Royale won 10-8.

With the Spahn and Sain bullpen depleted from game one, Royale with Cheese won game two easily 8-4.  Manny Parra pitched brilliantly allowing two runs through five and a third innings before leaving with an injury that will likely cost him the rest of the season.  The Royale bullpen was up to the task though with Aaron Heilman and Anthony Reyes combining to allow two runs through the final three and two thirds innings to preserve the win.

Spahn and Sain was able to avoid the sweep by salvaging a win in game three 6-4.  Royale’s Brandon Webb was touched up for six runs in six and a third innings while Orlando Hernandez allowed only two hits and three runs over six with Derrek Lee’s three run HR being his only big blemish.  Luke Scott was the hitting hero for Spahn and Sain with a single, a triple and three RBIs.

Spahn and Sain next hosts Eight Men Out while Royale With Cheese returns home to face Whitey Ball.

Series 10: Royale With Cheese Takes 2 of 3 at Margo Adams

In San Francisco, Margo Adams got off to a quick start against Royale thanks to a three-run first inning jack by Carlos Pena off Brandon Webb. The lead swelled to 4-0 after two, but Margo starter Jaime Shields regressed toward the mean in the middle frames, giving up home runs to Derek Lee in the fifth and sixth innings as part of a five-run shelling that gave Royale a 5-4 lead. Webb pitched five+ scoreless frames after his rough start, while Billy Wagner and Jose Valverde shut down Margo’s offense in the endgame to secure the 6-4 win.

Royale drew first blood in the second game as Corey Hart to gopherific Johan Santana deep, but the 3-0 lead also didn’t last long. Five Margo singles in the third off Royale starter Ted Lilly knotted the score, while a run scoring double by Carlos Pena and Jorge Posada’s two-run round-tripper made it 6-3 Margo after four. Jayson Werth brought Royale back within a run with his two-run shot in the sixth, but Posada’s rbi single in the bottom of the inning gave margo a two-run cushion that was never threatened as Rafael Betancourt and Jonathan Papelbon combined for three innings of no-hit relief the rest of the way.

This set up a suitably wild rubber game. A solo shot by Royale slugger Barry Bonds in the second of Margo sumo wrestler C.C. Sabathia was answered by Grady Sizemore’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning. Royale struck again in the fourth as Hart lashed a triple into the gap and scored on Werth’s sac fly. The cheese lovers’ lead was stretched to 5-1 in the sixth on an rbi single by Werth and a two-run double by Bonds. But Margo fought back with three runs in the bottom of the inning on Posada’s two-run homer and a triple by Carl Crawford, who scored on Placido Polanco’s single.

Billy Wagner got two quick outs in the ninth, and looked set to preserve a 5-4 Royale win, but was pulled after giving up a seeing-eye single to Kevin Youkilis. Bob Howry came in but didn’t stay long after uncorking a wild picth and then walking Carlos Pena. Valverde came in and gave up a game-tying double down the third-base line to Nick Markakis, but Troy Tulowitzki’s relay cut down Pena at the dish as he tried to end the contest.

Things fell apart on Margo setup man Francisco Rodriguez in the 11th, as Chase’s Utley one-out double put runners on second and third, leading to an intentional walk of Chipper Jones to set up a forceout at the plate or else an inning-ending double play. Those hopes went awry, however, as Daryle Ward, pinch-hitting for Andruw Jones with the bases loaded, grounded a single scoring Bonds and Utley. Rafael Perez was brought in to face lefty-hitting Royale backstop Brian McCann, who didn’t let matchups bother him as he deposited Perez’s offering over the right-field bricks for a 10-5 lead, putting an exclamation point on a great series.

Series 10: Spahn and Sain Sweep Hilljacks to Get Back in Wild Card Race

Randy Johnson and Orlando Hernandez started the first game of the series with each allowing four runs.  The bullpens kept it a 4-4 tie until the bottom of the tenth when a one out walk to JJ Hardy was followed with singles by Luke Scott and Marcus Giles for Spahn and Sain to scratch out the deciding run against Heath Bell.

Game two saw Spahn and Sain score six runs off Roy Oswalt in five innings which was enough run support for Yovanni Gallardo and three relievers to claim an 8-4 victory.  Miguel Cabrera was the offensive hero with four RBIs.

In game three, each team started their ace Jake Peavy.  But while Spahn and Sain’s version pitched six scoreless innings, the Hilljack’s Peavy allowed four runs over six and two thirds with the big blow being a two run homer by Miguel Cabrera.  Michael Wuertz and Manny Corpas finished the game with three hitless innings to give Spahn and Sain the sweep.

Up next, the Hilljacks will try to turn things around when they travel to Margo Adams while Spahn and Sain will host Royale With Cheese in a critical battle for wild card position.