Speakers Avoid The Plague

Game 1 – The Speakers use a 2-out Kenta Maeda wild pitch immediately followed by a James McCann passed ball to score Mookie Betts in the top of the 1st. Anthony Rizzo doubles the lead by connecting (2) to lead off the 4th.

A 2-out Betts walk precedes a pair of singles in the 5th. Manny Machado’s 9 plates Betts for a 3-0 lead. A pair of 2-run homers in the 8th by Javy Baez (5) and Juan Soto (3) put the opener out of reach, 7-0.

Reynoldo Lopez (2-2) goes the distance, allowing a Michael Brantley RP single in the 1st and a Paul Goldschmidt 7 to lead off the 8th. Lopez records just takeaways, facing only 31 batters.

Game 2 – Baez clubs #6 to lead off the 2nd. Brandon Nimmo answers in the bottom half with a 2-run double to put The Plague on the scoreboard for the first time in the series.

The Speakers manufacture the tying run in the 3rd on 2 walks, a Kyle Gibson wild pitch, and a Mitch Haniger sac fly. Nimmo loses a walk and a home run, but doubles home Max Kepler in the 4th for a 3-2 home team advantage.

The Plague holds the Speakers to a Haniger double (turned back by Gibson’s +14) the rest of the way. Goldy’s 2-run blast in the 8th clinches a 7-2 series-tying win, the first time The Plague have defeated the Speakers this season.

Mike Mikolas surrenders 10 hits in 6.2 IP and falls to 4-3.

Game 3 – Machado’s first error and Francisco Lindor’s 2-out RBI single give The Plague the early lead.

The Speakers answer immediately as Lindor boots a ball to begin the 2nd. Luis Severino uncorks a wild pitch, Cody Bellinger doubles home Baez for a 1-1 tie. However, the Speakers aren’t done.

Severino walks Omar Narvaez and Juan Soto with 1 away. Betts strokes a 2-run single (10), David Dahl singles home another (7), and with 2 outs, Rizzo clears the bases with a 2-run double. Speakers lead, 6-1.

Ross Stripling retires the next 7 hitters, but Lindor triples in the 4th and Kevin Kiermaier lofts a sac fly to right. The Speakers continue to add on as Dahl deposits a 2-run HR (2) over the fence in right in the 6th.

After stranding a pair in the 5th, The Plague take advantage of an Andrelton Simmons error with 1 out in the 6th. Kiermaier follows with a 2-run blast to match Dahl.

The Speakers pen squashes any hope of a comeback. Speakers win, 8-4, as Edwin Diaz sets down The Plague in order. Ross Stripling improves to 2-1. Speakers take the series, 2-1, and climb back to .500, 15-15.

Manager Brian

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.