Seacats take down Outlaws
The South Carolina Sea Cats ambushed the Flagstaff Outlaws, taking the first three games of the series before Flagstaff managed to stave off the sweep.
Game 1: Wood v. Senzatela – The Sea Cats score first on a Jorge Bonafacio home run.
Flagstaff gets the run back in the eight when Carter Kieboom doubles with one out and scores on a booted ground ball by Andrelton Simmons that should have been the last out of the inning.
But Maikel Franco comes off the bench to hit a pinch-hit homer that ends up being the game winner. South Carolina 2, Flagstaff 1.
W: Avilan (2-2)
L: Smith (1-4)
Sv: Castillo (9)
HRs: FLG – none; SCS – Bonafacio (1), Franco (12).
Game 2: Johnson v. Vargas – Flagstaff jumps out with a four-spot in the top of the first when Simmons, Paul Goldschmidt and Aaron Judge go back-to-back-to-back. Goldy adds a three-run shot in the top of the fourth to make it 7-0 Outlaws.
But somewhere along the way, the wheels fall off for the Outlaws. South Carolina rallies to make it 7-4 going into the bottom of the seventh. Ryan Buchter give up four hits to the first five batters he faces, including the go-ahead Brandon Lowe two-run homer.
From there the Sea Cats bullpen is shaky, but the Cats throw out the tying runner in the eighth. South Carolina competes the comeback, 8-7.
W: Bashlor (1-1)
L: Buchter (0-2)
Sv: Castillo (10)
HRs: FLG – Simmons (8), Goldschmidt (14, 15), Judge (15); SCS – Lowe (4).
Game 3: Snell v. Richards – The series moves to Flagstaff but the momentum stays with South Carolina. C. J. Cron blasts a two-run shot in the fourth to open the scoring.
In the sixth, Flagstaff gets runners to second and third with one out but can only managed a Jonathan Villar sac fly.
Nimmo singles in a run in the seventh while Paul DeJong adds a solo HR late to pull the Sea Cats to a 4-1 victory.
W: Snell (6-4)
L: Richards (2-2)
Sv: Castillo (11)
HRs: SCS – Cron (11), DeJong (5); FLG – none.
Game 4: Scherzer v. Tropeano – Aaron Judge’s two-run blast gets Flagstaff going. Andrelton Simmons adds a pair of solo homers to extend to 4-0.
Nick Tropeano goes seven scoreless, scattering four hits and two walks and Flagstaff gets a shutout, 4-0.
W: Tropeano (3-3)
L: Scherzer (6-4)
Sv: None
HRs: Judge (16), Simmons (9, 10); SCS – none.