Flagstaff rebounds to sweep Blue Wave

The up-and-down start by the Flagstaff Outlaws keeps going as Flagstaff responds to being swept by turning around and sweeping their next opponent, the Darien Blue Wave.

Game 1: Hernandez v. Wood – King Felix continues to no longer be a quality option as he gets touched up for six runs in the third that blows the game open and allows Flagstaff to win in a laugher, 9-1.

Already down 2-0 after two innings, Hernandez give up six straight hits in the third, capped by a Jonathan Villar 3-run homer to make the score 8-0.

Meanwhile, Alex Wood throws five innings of one-run ball, striking out five over 70 pitches. He’s pulled after that to save bullets and mopup relievers Shane Greene and Luis Cessa each throw two scoreless.

W: Wood (3-3)
L: Hernandez (3-10)
Sv: None
HRs: DBW – none; FLG – Judge (21), Villar (8).

Game 2: Pomeranz v. Musgrove – Each team trades a run early to leave the score at 1-1 after two innings. In the fifth, Darien takes their first lead of the season after Joe Musgrove walks to start the frame. One of those walks scores as Matt Olsen hits a sac fly to push the Blue Wave out to a 2-1 lead.

In the eighth, Darien adds on, once again thanks to two walks to start the inning. This time it’s Starlin Castro that drives the first walk in with a single and Darien is now up 3-1.

But once again, Flagstaff puts up a big inning to control the game. Hector Rondon is called on to start the bottom of the eighth for Darien and he starts with a strikeout. However, the next four batters get hits with Aaron Judge’s double tying the game. Cody Allen relieves and uncorks a wild pitch to George Springer and Paul Goldschmidt scores to give Flagstaff the lead. Springer then rocks a fly ball deep enough to let Judge trot home from the third and a two-run deficit turns into a two-run lead for the Outlaws.

Ryan Pressly works around a one-out single to lock down the save as Flagstaff wins, 5-3.

W: Arano (4-2)
L: Rondon (3-3)
Sv: Pressly (21)
HRs: DBW – none; FLG – none.

Game 3: Erlin v. Romano – The series shifts to Splash Park in Darien. Goldschmidt gives the Outlaws a lead with an RBI single in the top of the first. Darien evens things when Ian Desmond grounds into a run-scoring double play in the bottom of the fourth.

In the sixth, Robbie Erlin helps with self with a lead off double. Andrelton Simmons is able to move Erlin to third with a grounder to the right side. Denard Span hits a slow roller to second base and Erlin is able to scamper home against a defense that was not drawn in. Span is able to score a few batters later when Villar singles him in from second.

In the seventh, J.P. Crawford comes off the bench to knock a two-run homer while Springer later adds another RBI single and Flagstaff stretches their lead to 6-1.

The Flagstaff bullpen is more than able to limit the traffic over the final four innings, scattering three hits and the Outlaws take the 6-1 decision.

W: Erlin (2-1)
L: Romano (1-8)
Sv: None
HRs: FLG – Crawford (1); DBW – none.

Game 4: Richards v. Gomber – The first innings see each team score as Judge and Austin Romine each tally RBIs. Judge adds a homer in the fourth and Goldy caps a string of three-straight singles to earn his own RBI to give Flagstaff a 3-1 lead.

That would more that enough for Trevor Richards who throw six innings of two-hit ball. Ryan Pressly comes on and earns a five-out save and secures the Flagstaff sweep with the 3-1 victory.

W: Richards (3-3)
L: Gomber (3-3)
Sv: Pressly (22)
HRs: FLG – Judge (22); DBW – none.