Outlaws rebound with Buffalo sweep
After dropping their second series of the year to Bear Country after scoring just six runs, the Flagstaff Outlaws turned the tables on their next opponent, holding the Western Kansas Buffaloes to the same six runs en route to a four-game sweep.
Game 1: Hellickson v. Sale – The Outlaws get a pair of runs in the second inning when Aaron Judge and Travis Shaw hit back-to-back doubles with no outs followed by a couple of groundouts that allow Shaw to score.
After allowing a leading double to Joey Rickard, Chris Sale retired fourteen straight, but with two outs in the fifth, Sale gets a bit loose. A walk to Brian McCann followed by singles from Yolmer Sanchez and Jeremy Hellickson gets Western Kansas on the board.
In the seventh, Judge tacks on insurance with a solo bomb. Sale’s pitch count was low enough to allow him to finish eight innings with nine strikeouts and just three hits on 87 pitches. Jake McGee and Blake Parker play matchup in the ninth to secure the 3-1 victory for Flagstaff.
W: Sale (6-1)
L: Hellickson (4-4)
Sv: Parker (13)
HRs: WKB – none; FLG – Judge (12).
Game 2: Kennedy v. Greinke –Zack Greinke continues to good pitching from Outlaw starters, going six scoreless allowing a lone hit and walk and retiring 16 straight at one point. After just 62 pitches, Flagstaff decides to rest Greinke and go to the bullpen.
The plan works well until the ninth. Holding a 4-0 lead, the Outlaws resist going to key arms and rely on a struggling Sam Tuivailala with one out. But Tuivailala immediately spits the bit, giving up a single and walk before Blake Parker can get warm. Scott Schebler makes them pay, hitting a three-run shot and getting the Outlaw fans nervous.
Tui gets Michael Conforto to ground out, but them gives way to Parker who immediately gives up a single to Jason Castro. But McCann grounds out to second and Flagstaff escapes with a 4-3 victory.
W: Greinke (6-1)
L: Kennedy (0-4)
Sv: Parker (14)
HRs: WKB – Schebler (5); FLG – Andrus (5).
Game 3: Miranda v. Wood – Flagstaff welcomed former Outlaw pitcher Ariel Miranda back to Flagstaff with a six-run outburst that chases Miranda before he can get through four innings.
Flagstaff extends the lead with a four-run sixth inning off of Chris Hatcher that turns this into such a laugher that OF Ben Revere pitches the final two frames to save the Buffalo bullpen.
Flagstaff shuts out Western Kansas, 14-0. Catcher Manny Pina paces the Outlaws with a 3-for-5 night, driving in five runs.
W: Wood (6-0)
L: Miranda (2-3)
Sv: None
HRs: WKB – none; FLG – Andrus (6), Springer (11).
Game 4: Adleman v. Wacha – Paul Goldschmidt gets Flagstaff on the board with a solo homer in the first inning, but it is Rougned Odor who homers in the fourth to give the Buffaloes their first lead of the series, 2-1.
Tim Adelman gives keeps Flagstaff in check through six, turning the game over his bullpen to try and stave off a sweep.
In the bottom of the seventh, the pitcher’s spot is due to lead off, so the Outlaws turn to Lane Adams to face Liam Hendricks. To this point, Adams has disappointed as a pinch-hitter, but he finally pays dividends, crushing a game-tying homer.
The score is still knotted at two in the bottom of the ninth when Justin Wilson is called on by Western Kansas to push the game into bonus time, but he gives up a lead off double to Khris Davis, who came off the bench in this one. Joe Panik is intentionally walk to set up decent defensive changes to get out of the rally. Andrew Triggs is asked to relieve and he gets George Springer to whiff and gets Elvis Andrus to fly out to third, but Davis is able to get to third.
With Goldy coming to the place and Judge looming in the on-deck circle, Triggs intentional walks Goldy and Derek Holland is asked to get Judge. But Judge is able to line one though the right side of the Buffalo infield, walking the Outlaws off, 3-2, and allowing the Flagstaff fans to swing their brooms around.
W: Goody (3-1)
L: Wilson (1-2)
Sv: None
HRs: WKB – Odor (7); FLG – Goldschmidt (6), Adams (1).