Outlaw slump continues, L streak at 9
The Flagstaff Outlaws have not lost a season series to the Bear Country Jamboree since the completion of the 2008 season. After splitting in April, the Jamboree took a big step to breaking that streak by hosting the Outlaws and proceeding to sweep them.
Game 1: Wacha v. Rodriguez – Flagstaff got out to an early 3-0 lead in the second inning behind a home run from George Springer, a bases-loaded walk by Andrelton Simmons, and a sac fly by Denard Span.
In the sixth inning, Flagstaff added on to the lead with three straight two-out singles off of Ryan Yarbrough to make the score 4-0.
But in the bottom of the sixth, a tiring Michael Wacha served up a three-run homer to Daniel Palka to get Bear Country on the board. In the next frame, Austin Slater tied the game with a clutch two-out single to tie the game.
From there, both teams put up a lot of zeroes, putting this game well into extra innings. In the bottom of the 13th, Flagstaff has to hand the ball to mop-up reliever Shane Greene. Reliever Andrew Miller hit for himself to start the inning and managed a single. Kurt Suzuki followed with a walk-off homer, giving the Jamboree the 6-4 win.
W: Miller (2-0)
L: Greene (0-1)
Sv: None
HRs: FLG – Springer (9); BCJ – Palka (10), Suzuki (1).
Game 2: Chirinos v. Rodon – Bear Country gets to Yonny Chirinos early and often, scoring five times over the first three innings. Up 6-2 in the bottom of the sixth, the Jamboree explode for a four-spot to put the game away, cruising to a 12-3 victory.
Every starter outside of Slater garners a hit in a balanced attack that saw four Bear Country hitters drive in a pair of runs.
Carlos Rodon was good for the Jamboree, throwing six innings of three-hit work, giving up just two runs.
W: Rodon (2-2)
L: Chirinos (3-4)
Sv: Yarbrough (1)
HRs: FLG – Fisher (1), Springer (10); BCJ – Smoak (4), Kiner-Falefa (2).
Game 3: Johnson v. Urena – In what has been a common theme during the Outlaws losing streak, its a big inning early in the ballgame that set the tone in this one.
Kurt Suzuki doubles in one run and trots home on Mark Trumbo’s homer to give the Jamboree a 3-0 lead after three innings.
From that point, the two team trade single runs here and there, but it’s that three-run lead that is eventually the margin of victory as Bear Country wins, 6-3.
The only excitement for the Outlaws was piecing a 9th inning rally together off of Kenley Jansen that fell shot when Jordan Luplow grounded out representing the tying run.
W: Urena (3-4)
L: Johnson (2-6)
Sv: Jansen (1)
HRs: FLG – Fisher (2); BCJ – Trumbo (3), Andrus (1).
Game 4: Tropeano v. Borucki – Once again, Bear Country strikes first, scoring twice on a Murphy RBI single and bases-loaded walk to Elvis Andrus. Those would be the only runs attributed to the starters.
In the seventh, Jonathan Villar sacrificed Springer in as the Outlaw close within a run. But in the bottom of the eighth, the Jamboree get back-to-back bombs from Billy McKinney and Justin Smoak.
Jansen is a bit shaky in the ninth again, giving up a run, but is able to close out the sweep. Bear Country 4, Flagstaff 2.
W: Borukci (3-2)
L: Tropeano (0-3)
Sv: Jansen (2)
HRs: FLG – none; BCJ – McKinney (2), Smoak (5).