Outlaws fall flat with Salem

After getting off to a strong start against Ravenswood, the Flagstaff Outlaws played host to another playoff team in the Salem Cowtippers. However, the momentum never found the Outlaws as Salem dominated the home team.

Game 1: Pena v. Wood – The ‘Tippers broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning on a sac fly and a two-run blast by Danny Valencia. Enrique Hernandez and Hunter Renfroe then hit back-to-back doubles in the sixth inning to make it a 4-0 game.

Flagstaff finally got on the board in the seventh inning thanks to an RBI single by Andrelton Simmons. Aaron Judge added another in the eighth with a leadoff homer off of Ryan Brasier (the first run allowed by Brasier this year.)

But that was it for Flagstaff. Brazier and Pedro Strop nailed it down the rest of the way and Salem wins, 4-2.

W: Pena (3-3)
L: Wood (2-3)
Sv: Strop (4)
HRs: SAL – Valencia (8); FLG – Judge (20).

Game 2: S. Gray v. Musgrove – The Salem clown car unloaded for four runs in the third inning — three of them with a home run by Jose Ramirez. After three scoreless innings, the ‘Tippers tacked on three more on an RBI single, a bases-loaded walk, and a bases-loaded hit batter. Travis Shaw then added two more Salem runs in the eighth inning with a two-run blast.

Meanwhile, Sonny Gray carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning. George Springer then greeted him with a wimply bloop single. That pathetic blooper was the only hit of the game for the Outlaws. Thus, Salem’s streak of never having pitched a no-hitter extends well into our 21st season.

W: S. Gray (5-2)
L: Musgrove (0-1)
Sv: None
HRs: SAL – Ramirez (23), Shaw (19); FLG – none.

Game 3: J. Gray v. Erlin – Christian Villanueva’s 17th home run of the season gave Salem a 2-0 lead in the first. The score remained 2-0 for the next five innings, as neither team was able to get anything done offensively.

Salem tacked on two more runs in the seventh inning, but it turns out they wouldn’t need them. For the second game in a row, someone named Gray shut down the Flagstaff offense. This Gray, Jon, tossed eight shutout innings, allowing just five hits and one walk. Salem 4, Flagstaff 0.

W: J. Gray (4-0)
L: Erlin (1-1)
Sv: None
HRs: SAL – Villanueva (17); FLG – none.

Game 4: Sanchez v. Richards – Once again, Salem jumped onto the scoreboard early, thanks to a three-run blast by Enrique Hernandez. Flagstaff didn’t let up, however, and began building a picket fences of 1’s on the scoreboard until the score was tied at 3-3 after three.

The score remained tied until Evan Gattis unleashed the Krakken in the seventh inning. His solo shot put Salem ahead 4-3. Taylor Rogers then entered the game in the bottom of the ninth to protect that lead and earn the save. But after two quick outs, Flagstaff began to mount a two-out rally.

Spencer Kieboom doubled off of Rogers. When pinch hitter Derek Fisher lined into center, the Pr-footed Kieboom was wisely held at third. With the dangerous Andrelton Simmons stepping to the plate, I decided to hand the ball to Pedro Strop to get the final out. Greg countered with lefty J.P. Crawford who mashed a single that scored the game’s tying run.

On to extras we went. Victor Arano and Pedro Strop each retired the side in the tenth inning. In the eleventh, Flagstaff turned to Ryan Buchter, who was greeted with a two-run blast by Ramirez, giving Salem the lead. Jonathan Holder then closed it out in the bottom of the inning to give Salem the sweep.

W: Strop (3-0)
L: Arano (4-2)
Sv: Holder (5)
HRs: SAL – Hernandez (13), Gattis (7), Ramirez (24); FLG – Goldschmidt (18).