Reeling from a tough 3 game plowing from The Plague the AB’s decided to get back on the bike w/ some changes as they hosted the Browns on Tuesday evening. Tony was gracious enough to pick up delicious Mother’s Subs from their new location on 2nd & Maclay – if you haven’t tried them…your loss. On to the rolling….
Game 1
Gallardo v Scherzer. The AB’s would enjoy one of their ‘easiest’ games of the year as the SB’s only mustered about 3 hit numbers in a 6-1 dominant Max outing. Max went the distance yielding only a Salvy solo HR in the 8th cruising to a 6-1 two hit, 14 K, no BB’s CG performance. The AB’s pushed 3 across in the 2nd sending 8 men to the plate. Gardner drove in Piscotty on a single, Russell had an RBI groundout plating Turner who had doubled; and then, Trout knocked in Gardner on a rare 2-out RBI single. AB’s got two more in the 6th as Gardner, who BB’s, scored on a double by Russell and a butcher job by Odubel in LF. Panik then had another 2-out RBI single to plate Russell. The AB’s ended their scoring in the 8th on doubles by Trout and Stanton.
Game 2
Cueto v Miller. Trout led the bottom of the first off w/ a solo HR. The SB’s would tie it in the 4th on a 2-out RBI single by Danny plating Hairpin. In the 5th the SB’s would take the lead on a 2 RBI single by Odubel that plated Salvy and Burns to go up 3-1. Then in the middle of the 5th (night)….the sun came oat. Russell reached on a F3 roll on a F2 fielding pitcher Cueto. Trout then BB’d. Panik popped to 3rd and Stanton K’d for the 2nd out. Then Agone hit an RP pop up that was lost in this mysterious sun in the middle of the night that fell in for an RBI single which plated Russell as Trout stopped at 3rd. Piscotty then delivered a ringing double that scored both Trout and Agone and put the AB’s up to stay 4-3. The Browns would threaten in the 7th getting their first two men on but Salvy was mysteriously picked off of 1st and Melancon & Thornton were able to get out of the jam. Miller collected the win while Cueto went the distance in a tough loss. Wade Davis notched a Save. 4-3 final.
Between games the Mothers Subs were consumed to the delight of Tony and Steve….rumors that they crossed arms are totally unfounded.
Game 3
Shields v Salazar. The SB’s opened the scoring in the 2nd on another 2-out RBI single from Iglesias that plated Danny. Addy Russell jacked a solo HR in the 3rd to tie the game at 1-1. David Wright led off the 6th w/ a single, but Gardner (who has earned more playing time due to his ability to get on base) butchered the single allowing Captain America to circle the bases with a Little League HR. (Just to note in the previous series w/ The Plague the AB’s scored a run on the EXACT same RP board result….you just can’t make this stuff up). The AB’s would get a 6th inning 2-out double by Trout, a 7th inning 2-out double by Piscotty and a 9th inning 2-out triple by Stanton…..but not score another run and drop game three 2-1 as the Browns finally got their first franchise win vs. the AB’s. Shields went 8 innings w/ 10 K’s and yielded only 4 hits to pick up the W. Salazar took a tough loss and Albers pitched the 9th for the save.
SB’s went 3 for 12 with RISP….the least amount of opps for an AB’s opponent this year. Tony dropped a ton of double numbers…just not for his batters.
AB’s went 7 for 32 with RISP…..5 for 17 in game one but 2 for 15 over the last two games.
AB’s are now 22-20 and may look to play next week sometime.