Sale ties franchise wins record, Outlaws score 34 times against Lightning
The Flagstaff Outlaws traveled to Granite State to find an opponent whose roster was going through changes as only 23 players suited up. With a short bench and short bullpen, the Outlaws took advantage, scoring 34 runs in the series, but only managed a 3-1 series victory thanks to a rally from the Lightning in Game 3.
Game 1: Sale v. Miley – Flagstaff put the pressure on the Lightning immediately, scoring eight runs in the top of the first inning. Paul Goldschmidt cranked a three-run homer to start things off against a shaky Wade Miley. After giving up a single to Aaron Judge, Miley gets the next two batters to strike out, but a single from Elvis Andrus prolongs the rally. Chris Sale steps in and helps himself, pulling a double down the left-field line. A Joe Panik single would end Miley’s night after just retiring those two batters. Tony Cingrani relieved Miley and immediately served up a three-run homer to George Springer to make it 8-0.
While handling things with the bat, Sale was even more masterful on the mound. 80 pitches over six innings saw Sale give up two hits while striking out six. The victory would be Sale’s 21st, tying Tommy Milone for the franchise lead for wins in a season.
Granite State ended up using five pitchers with every reliever throwing over 35 pitches, seriously taxing their ability to pitch in future games.
Flagstaff wins in a laugher, 13-2.
W: Sale (21-3)
L: Miley (1-3)
Sv: None
HRs: FLG – Goldschmidt (22, 23), Springer (31), Shaw (15); GSL – Pujols (15), Rosario (20).
Game 2: Greinke v. Nolasco – After the drubbing the night before, Granite State drew first blood, getting a Christian Arroyo homer to start the bottom of the first. Over the rest of the next four innings, the Lightning would get traffic on the basepaths, but Zack Greinke was able to induce them into three different double plays to keep any further damage.
Meanwhile Ricky Nolasco was better, giving up just a lone hot and walk over the first five innings. But it was the sixth where the wheels would come careening off. After a Panik line drive out, Springer steps in a ties the game with a solo shot. Andrus singled, but Goldy struck out for the second out. Judge adds a single and Khris Davis blasts a three-run homer to give the Outlaws the lead.
With the lead, Greinke breezes through the sixth, getting another twin-killing to erase a single. Then the Outlaw bullpen takes over and four relievers play matchup and limit the Lightning to a lone single as Flagstaff pulls away, 6-1.
W: Greinke (18-5)
L: Nolasco (4-10)
Sv: None
HRs: FLG – Springer (32), Davis (31); GSL – Arroyo (1).
Game 3: Wood v. Volquez – Granite State takes another 1-0 lead thanks to a first inning homer from Austin Romine. Flagstaff would erase that lead in the second when Davis blasts his second homer in as many games. Later, Goldschmidt and Judge would add two-run hits to push Alex Wood to a 5-1 lead when he leaves the game after just five innings.
Bryan Shaw gets the sixth and works out of a small jam, stranding two. Nick Goody starts the seventh, but a walk and an error by catcher Caleb Joseph puts runners on first and second. With Albert Pujols up, Flagstaff turns to Ryan Buchter, but the lefty wasn’t up to the task, giving up an RBI single to Pujols followed by a two-run double to Eddie Rosario, getting Granite State within a run.
Matt Albers had gotten the final out of the seventh and was rewarded with the eighth. After a leadoff double to Cameron Maybin, he struck out the next two batters. Pinch hitter Adrian Gonzalez doubled in Maybin, who was then doubled in by Alen Hanson and just like that, the Lightning had a 6-5 lead.
In the top of the ninth, Marc Rzepczynski started the inning, but gave up a a walk and single and gets pulled immediately. Scott Alexander steps in and gets Shaw and Joseph to whiff, but Manny Pina singled, but the third base coach does not wave Judge around for a shot at tying the game. Erik Goeddel would relieve Alexander to face Andrus who flew out to medium left field, giving the Lightning a come-back victory, 6-5.
W: Workman (3-0)
L: Albers (5-3)
Sv: Goeddel (1)
HRs: FLG – Davis (32); GSL – Romine (2).
Game 4: Ramirez v. Zimmerman – For the third straight game, the Lightning would take a 1-0 lead on a solo home run, this time a second inning effort by Alen Hanson. After that homer, Ramirez left the mound holding his side. Consider that Ramirez is normally the long reliever, but was making a spot start, the Outlaws were forced to turn to Michael Wacha for long relief.
Homers from Springer and Judge in the third put Flagstaff on top, 3-1. Romine doubles in a run in the bottom of the frame to cut the deficit in half. But that is when things get out of control again.
Manny Pina homered in the fourth, followed by the Outlaws loading the bases before Jordan Zimmerman can wiggle off the hook. In the fifth, the Outlaws get runners to second and third with two outs and Joe Panik grounds it hard to first, but Pujols kicks it and everyone is safe and a run scores on the error. Zimmerman is lifted and Judge hits his second homer of the game, off Goeddel in the sixth to stretch the game to 6-2.
Hanson would homer in the bottom of the sixth, his second of the game, but that’s all the Lightning could muster. Later in the game, Springer would pop a homer for his second of the game and Flagstaff wins the series with a 10-3 victory.
W: Wacha (10-3)
L: Zimmerman (0-3)
Sv: None
HRs: FLG – Springer (33, 34), Judge (36, 37), Pina (11); GSL – Hanson (1, 2).