Flagstaff sweeps Joplin, climbs to second in Griffin
After ending July’s schedule by dropping three of four in Joplin, the Miners and Outlaws climb on their respective charter planes and end up back in Flagstaff to finish their season series.
Game 1: Gonzalez v. Wood – The Miners were obviously jetlagged as they show up in Purina Park and can only manage four hits against the Outlaws pitchers as Flagstaff shuts out Joplin, 4-0.
Alex Wood can only manage to get through 5 1/3 as his pitching eclipsed 100 pitches in the sixth, but he did manage to scatter four hits and three walks while striking out eight over that period.
Wood’s offense gave him more than enough run support and Andrew Knapp clubbed a solo homer in the second which ended up being all Flagstaff would need. However, Denard Span, Jonathan Villar and Paul Goldschmidt all added RBIs across the middle innings to give Wood breathing room.
Luis Cessa relieved Wood and got seven outs while scatter three walks across his 2 1/3 innings of work. With two out in the eighth, Ryan Pressly relieved Cessa after a two-out walk to Ender Inciarte. Pressly managed to get Logan Forsythe to ground out to end any threat and then Pressly threw a clean ninth to cement the win.
W: Wood (5-4)
L: Gonzalez (6-14)
Sv: None
HRs: JPM – none; FLG – Knapp (1).
Game 2: Estrada v. Musgrove – Seeking to capitalize on their momentum, Flagstaff puts up a four-run first inning off of Joplin pitcher Marco Estrada. A leadoff homer from Andrelton Simmons started it off while Aaron Judge and Villar each smack RBI doubles and Joe Panik singled in Villar.
An insurance run in the form of a Goldschmidt sac fly put the Outlaws up 5-0 after two innings of work.
Joe Musgrove worked into the seventh inning and he pitched well except for a shaky third inning when a Sandy Leon three-run homer was the only blemish on his record.
Up two, Victor Arano and Ryan Pressly teamed up put this one to bed as Pressly ends up getting a five-out save in this one, allowing just one hit in the six batters he’d face. Flagstaff holds on, 5-3.
W: Musgrove (2-2)
L: Estrada (2-6)
Sv: Pressly (24)
HRs: JPM – Leon (2); FLG – Simmons (13).
Game 3: Garcia v. Roark – New addition Tanner Roark was slotted into the #3 spot of the Flagstaff rotation and immediately paid dividends, pitching into the ninth inning allowing just six hits while striking out seven.
Jaime Garcia pitched well outside of a horrendous fourth innings which saw Flagstaff put up a five-spot, which Joplin could never recover from as they fall, 6-2.
The damage was highlighted by the bottom of the order as Garcia uncorks a wild pitch to Knapp on ball four with the bases loaded which allowed a second to score. Roark then stepped up to help himself with a two-run double.
W: Roark (1-0)
L: Garcia (2-3)
Sv: None
HRs: JPM – Peralta (22), Freeman (16); FLG – none.
Game 4: Duffy v. Richards – For the three straight game, Joplin can’t prevent a big inning that ends up dooming them. This time, it’s a four-run first highlighted by a Goldschmidt three-run bomb that is followed by Aaron Judge going yard.
Trevor Richards was pitching well until he leaves the mound favoring his right leg after getting Carlos Santana to fly out for the first out of the sixth inning.
With a 5-1 lead, Flagstaff is forced to go to the bullpen and Cessa comes on to finish the sixth. Victor Arano steps in and gets a three-inning save, allowing just one hits over the final third of the game.
Flagstaff completes the sweep with a 9-1 effort and the wins put the Outlaws into second place in the Griffin, despite a 51-57 record.
W: Richards (5-5)
L: Duffy (4-6)
Sv: Arano (1)
HRs: JPM – none; FLG – Goldschmidt (20), Judge (24).