In late May, the Lemonheads try to avenge last year’s 2-8 disastrous head-to-head record against the Speakers, including an 0-4 start in the 2016 1st period.
Game 1 – The Lemonheads start innocently enough, scoring an unearned run in the 3rd. Then the flood gates open.
Six straight ‘Heads reach in the 4th leading to a 5-spot (4 ER). They one-up that barrage in the 7th. The first 4 batters reach. After 2 whiffs, the next 5 go single (0), single (7), single (4), 3-run HR, double!
When the dust settles, the Lemonheads make a 14-2 statement. Only Ian Kinsler’s 7th inning 2-run triple prevents another Speakers’ shutout. Former Speaker Daniel Murphy and Charlie Blackmon each stroke 3 hits, including a homer.
W – Drew Pomeranz; L – Carlos Martinez (4-2)
Game 2 – The hitting shoes transfer to the other dugout as the Speakers pound out 13 hits in a 9-3 final. Bases-loaded triples are wild for both sides. Nelson Cruz clears the bases with 2 outs in the 5th. Carlos Gonzalez answers in the 6th with a sacs loaded 3-base hit of his own.
Mookie Betts (4-5, RBI, 3-R), Anthony Rizzo (3-4, 2-D, RBI, 3-R, BB), and CarGo (4-5, T, HR, 6-RBI, R) lead the offense. The Speakers score against all 3 Lemonheads pitchers.
W – Jake Arrieta (5-1); L – Jake Odorizzi
Game 3 – Gonzalez needed a double for the cycle yesterday. He gaps a 1st inning RBI variety 2-base hit in the 1st inning today. Rizzo deposits a 3-run homer in the 5th for a commanding 5-0 lead. 2 more runs in the 7th make it 7-0.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Hellickson has not allowed a base runner through 6. After the stretch, lead off hitter Blackmon grounds to short. Murphy steps in, argues about Strike One, and then ruins the perfect game, no-hitter and shutout with one swing!
That would be the only Lemonheads’ base runner in the 7-1 final. Hellickson pitches a gem (9 IP, 1-H, 1-ER, 0-BB, 11-K).
W – Hellickson (4-3); L – Dan Straily
Game 4 – Murphy homers again in the 1st off David Price. Machado matches that solo (5) in the 4th. CarGo smacks a solo (3) in the 6th for a 2-1 Speakers’ lead.
That slim margin holds until the pen for the Lemonheads falters in the 9th. After Will Smith walks Rizzo to start the inning, Joaquin Benoit gets Kris Bryant to fly to left. Then Benoit serves up a 2-run homer to Roughned Odor (4). Kinsler follows with a double and Javy Baez connects (1) to make it 6-1.
After the 1st inning homer, Price allows a walk to Murphy and 2-out Adam Duvall single in the 4th; and, a 2-out double to Cruz in the 6th. The Lemonheads go quietly the rest of the way (10 in a row) for a 6-1 final.
W – Price (1-2); L – Ian Kennedy; S – Jeremy Jeffress (3)