Outlaws stay hot, nearly sweep Buffaloes
The Outlaws returned to action against an under-manned but very game Western Kansas squad and came two outs from sweeping them and winning the Griffin Division outright.
But scoreboard watching sees the Boulevards drop their opener against Granite State, sending the Outlaws into celebrations of their second Griffin Division title.
Game 1: Blackburn v. Sale – The Buffaloes ambush Chris Sale from the outset, getting an RBI double from Adam Duvall and then a two-run double from Matt Davidson to take a 3-0 lead before Outlaws fans can even find their seats.
However, the Outlaws strike right back with a RBI triple from Paul Goldschmidt and a RBI groundout by Aaron Judge.
Edwin Encarnacion hits a solo homer in the fifth to extend their lead, but Travis Shaw knocks his own solo shot and then George Springer adds an RBI double and it’s a 4-4 game after regulation.
In the bottom of the 10th, Justin Wilson steps in to try keep things even, but he has to face the meat of the Outlaw lineup. Goldschmidt and Judge each draw walks and Enrique Hernandez comes off the bench to double in Goldy and walk off the Outlaws, 5-4.
W: Goody (8-2)
L: Wilson (2-7)
Sv: None
HRs: WKB – Encarnacion (31); FLG – Shaw (17).
Game 2: Gonzalez v. Greinke – Flagstaff takes an early 2-0 lead on a run-scoring double play from Goldy in the first followed by a Khris Davis solo homer in the second.
Zach Greinke cruises through four innings, allowing a lone single on his ledger. But in the fifth, all hell breaks loose. The bottom part of the Buffalo lineup loads the bases on a pair of singles and a walk. Miguel Gonzalez can’t help himself, striking out, but Michael Conforto picks up Gonzalez with a grand slam.
However, in the bottom of the fifth, Flagstaff counters with three straight doubles from the Goldy-Judge-Shaw part of the lineup, pushed three runs across to put the Outlaws back on top, 5-4. However, Matt Davidson ties the game up in the sixth with a solo shot.
The game stays tied in the bottom of the eighth when Flagstaff gets to Jarlin Garcia to load the bases with one out. Joe Panik hits a clutch single to score the go-ahead run.
From there, it time for the Flagstaff closer, Blake Parker, to do his duty and he works around a two-out single to lock down the 6-5 Outlaws victory.
W:Goody (9-2)
L: Garcia (1-3)
Sv: Parker (51)
HRs: WKB – Conforto (16), Davidson (19); FLG – Davis (37).
Game 3: Wood v. Anderson – The series shifts to Western Kansas, but for the second straight night, Flagstaff takes a 2-0 lead, this time behind solo homers from Springer and Davis. And for the second straight night, the Buffaloes counter back with a two-run homer from Encarnacion.
In the top of the sixth, Aaron Judge cranks a homer to put the Outlaws back on top. It stays 3-2 into the ninth when Judge his second homer of the game, a two-run shot, to give the Outlaws insurance.
But Parker doesn’t need it and he pitches a perfect ninth to lock down a 5-2 decision for Flagstaff.
W: Wood (14-4)
L: Anderson (1-5)
Sv: Parker (52)
HRs: WKB – Encarnacion (32); FLG – Springer (36), Davis (38), Judge 2 (42, 43).
Game 4: Ramirez v. Miranda – Western Kansas turns the tables and jumps out their own 2-0 lead on a Conforto lead-off homer and a Scott Schebler sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first. The top of third see Paul Goldschmidt connect on a long ball to drive in Springer and tie the score.
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Western Kansas ties together three singles as Encarnacion drives Conforto to give the Buffaloes the lead back.
In the top of the seventh, Daniel Hudson gets into immediate trouble, loading the bases on the three batters we faced. Tyler Clippard relieved and immediately walked Judge to force a run in. Jeremy Hellickson delivers a tailor-made 1-2-3 double play followed but a pop out and Western Kansas gets out the jam without giving up the lead.
In the ninth, Flagstaff once again strings together three singles to take the lead. Davis sac flies another run in, giving Flagstaff a 5-3 lead.
Blake Parker comes on for his third straight save, and while he walks Matt Chapman to start the effort, his gets the next two batters. But the third out doesn’t come before Conforto cranks a two-run tying home run.
Fast forward to the 11th with the score still tied at 5-5. Matt Albers starts his second inning of work, but he issues a walk to Brian McCann to start. Jason Castro comes off the bench and singles McCann to third. Jordy Mercer hits a deep enough ball to center field and Springer’s throw is futile as Western Kansas walks off, 6-5, in extras.
W: Triggs (4-6)
L: Albers (5-4)
Sv: None
HRs: WKB -Conforto 2 (17, 18); FLG – Goldschmidt (27).