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.
