Outlaws continue to manhandle Boulevards in series win
While the Kansas City Boulevards held a decent lead in the Ozzie League Wild Card race, they have little success against the Flagstaff Outlaws. As they played host to the Outlaws, the Boulevards were trying to find a way to break through and they decided to try throwing three lefties at Flagstaff to try to do it.
The Outlaws were licking their wounds from a series loss in South Loop and were looking to exact some revenge on their next opponent.
Game 1: Sale v. Corbin – Patrick Corbin fell behind 4-0 in the first inning and by the time his night was through, he was being pummeled 9-0.
On the other end of the spectrum, Chris Sale threw six innings of one hit, one walk ball, striking out 11, and earned his 18th win on the season in the 13-0 shutout of the Boulevards.
The top three hitters in the Outlaw line up went 10-for-15, driving in seven and scoring eight times. Meanwhile, Kansas City finished with just three hits and two walks.
W: Sale (18-3)
L: Corbin (7-8)
Sv: Tuivailala (2)
HRs: FLG – Andrus (14); KCB – none.
Game 2: Greinke v. Happ – Flagstaff gets an RBI single from Enrique Hernandez in the third, but Eric Hosmer cranks a two-run homer in the bottom of the frame to give Kansas City not only their first runs of the series, but also their first lead. That lead lasts exactly a half-inning as Khris Davis hits a solo bomb to tie the game.
Paul Goldschmidt breaks the tie in the sixth with a solo homer and in the seventh, the Outlaws add on behind RBI singles from George Springer and Elvis Andrus.
In the bottom of the seventh, Kansas City tries to mount a rally against three Outlaw relievers, but the manage to score just once on an error by Andrus.
Fast forward to the ninth where Blake Parker takes his second shot at save #40, but Robinson Cano blasts a two-run homer off him to tie the game and ruin Parker’s night.
In the 10th, Goldschmidt hits his second homer of the night and Manny Pina adds a two-out RBI single to give the Outlaws a 2-run lead. Because they played so much matchup ball in the final three innings, Flagstaff had to turn to 5th starter J.C. Ramirez for the save. He is perfect, converting the save and giving Flagstaff the 7-5 win.
W: Parker (3-4)
L: Davis (2-4)
Sv: Ramirez (1)
HRs: FLG – Davis (28), Goldschmidt (18, 19); KCB – Hosmer (22), Cano (21).
Game 3: Wood v. Nola – After scoring 20 times in the first two game, Flagstaff’s bat go cold but they still have a shot at a win.
After Alex Wood and Aaron Nola put up five scoreless innings apiece, Flagstaff tallies a run in the sixth. With runners on first and second, Travis Shaw grounds into a 4-6-3 double play, but Khris Davis moves to third. With Manny Pina due, first base open, and Wood on-deck, Kansas City elects to go after Pina, who singles in Davis to make it 1-0 Outlaws.
As is usual Outlaw fashion in a game with a lead after six innings, Flagstaff turns the game over to their bullpen, but it continues to be shaky. Ryan Buchter serves up a solo bomb to pinch-hitter Aaron Altherr in the seventh. Then Avisail Garcia singles in Justin Turner in the eighth off of Nick Goody to give the Boulevards a lead.
Meanwhile, Flagstaff gets a runner in scoring position in the seventh and fails to convert. In the eight, Joe Kelly walks the bases loaded, the last walk intentional, but pinch hitter Daniel can’t come through.
Felipe Rivero starts the ninth for the Boulevards and a questionable catcher’s interference puts a runner on with one out. But Ryan Madson relieves Rivero and gets Lane Adams to ground into the game-ending double play. Kansas City 2, Flagstaff 1.
W: Kelly (2-4)
L: Goody (7-2)
Sv: Madson (2)
HRs: FLG – none; KCB – Altherr (9).
Game 4: Wacha v. Keuchel – Dallas Keuchel contracts gopherballitis in this one, serving up three solo homers early in the game to put his team in a hole. Aaron Judge hit his team-leading 31st while Caleb Joseph hit a pair that found Flagstaff up 4-0 after four innings.
Michael Wacha was not affected by the long ball. In an effort reminiscent of Sale’s first game effort, Wacha went six scoreless, allowing just two walks and two hits while striking out five.
Flagstaff’s bullpen gives up another run, but Parker finally pitches a clean ninth, striking out the side, to notch his 40th save. Flagstaff wins the series behind the 4-1 decision.
W: Wacha (9-3)
L: Keuchel (10-6)
Sv: Parker (40)
HRs: FLG – Joseph (6, 7), Judge (31); KCB – Ozuna (21).