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 2nd 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 7th to make it 7-0 Buffleheads. Rich Harden allowed only three hits and struck out eleven in seven innings for his league-leading 7th 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 1st 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 5th 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 6th 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 13th of the year extended the lead to seven runs in the 7th, and the Buffleheads scored five runs in the 9th 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 4th 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 7th 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.
