Way back on March 19th, the ABs and Speakers clashed on Carol Drive.
Game 1 – Mookie Betts homers twice (3, 4) and knocks an RBI double in his first three trips to the plate. That’s all Carlos Martinez needs (7.2 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB) to pick up a 5-1 win.
Martinez turns away Evan Longoria’s homer in the 2nd and strands the bases loaded in the 5th. Roughned Odor chips in 3 singles (one on a hit-and-run 5 for an RBI).
W – C. Martinez (2-0); L – Danny Salazar
Game 2 – The ABs only manage 5 hits, but Kenta Maeda holds serve (8 IP, 5 H, 10 K). A scoreless tie reaches the 10th inning.
Joe Blanton strikes out Kevin Pillar to begin the bottom half. Tyler Saladino bunts for a hit. Addison Russell singles (9) to put the winning run at 2nd. Mike Trout pops to short.
With 2 away, Blanton loses Brett Gardner to load the bases. Stephen Piscotty attempts to walk, but Blanton denies him (+21). Piscotty then rolls another 14 for a walk off walk!
Bastards win 1-0. No Speaker makes it to 3rd base through 10 innings.
W – Brad Brach; L – Blanton (0-2)
Game 3 – With 2 on and 1 out in the 3rd, the Speakers break their scoreless streak. Kris Bryant’s 2-run triple gives the home team the early advantage.
Anthony Rendon walks with 2 outs in the 4th. Buster Posey reaches on Trout’s miscue in center, putting runners at 2nd and 3rd. Max Scherzer plunks Betts to load the bases; and then, he uncorks a run-scoring wild pitch. Speakers lead 3-0.
Jeremy Hellickson keeps the ABs at bay, except one innings gets away from the veteran. Russell doubles with 1 out in the 5th. Joe Panik pops to short for the 2nd out, but Trout’s 2nd hit of the series (11) scores Russell.
A rattled Hellickson balks and proceeds to walk Gardner and David Ortiz. Bases jammed. Giancarlo Stanton tries to walk for an RBI, but Hellickson (+26) turns it away and finally gets a 4-6 fielder’s choice to end the tense situation.
Bryant doubles to lead off the 7th. Carlos Gonzalez grounds out, moving Bryant to 3rd. Manny Machado lifts a fly ball to Stanton. Bryant breaks for the plate, but Stanton’s throw is on the money for a 9-2 double play!
Elvis Andrus starts the 9th with the ABs’ only other hit, a bunt single against Jeremy Jeffress. Evan Gattis promptly grounds into a tailor-made double play to erase the threat. Adrian Gonzalez grounds to short to bring down the curtain on a 3-1 Speakers’ win.
W – Hellickson (3-0, 7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 10 K); L – Scherzer; S – Jeffress (1)
Game 4 – Ervin Santana and Joe Ross lock horns for 4 scoreless innings. Longoria starts the ABs’ 5th with a double that injures Bryant in right field.
With 1 out, Russell doubles in Longoria. With 2 away, Panik singles home Russell. 2-0 ABs.
Another pair of extra base hits start the ABs’ 6th. Gonzalez doubles and Stanton triples him home. Longoria singles (5) in Stanton for a commanding 4-0 lead.
The Speakers have chances against Santana, but can only manage back-to-back doubles (Rizzo and Machado) to start the bottom of the 6th. They would leave 6 RISP and go 2-13 in those situations.
ABs take the finale to salvage a split, 4-1.
W – Santana; L – Ross (0-1); S – Kenley Jansen