[StLee]

Goodsprings Blows Ninth-Inning Lead, Loses in 14

Goodsprings closer Bobby Lorn led the Mojave Baseball League in saves with 29, but he also had seven blown saves during the season and a rather high 4.48 ERA. However, none of his in-season struggles compared to his ninth inning in Game One of the 2287 MBL playoffs.

Leading 6-3 going into the ninth, Lorn only needed three outs to send the Lucky 38s to an early advantage over Westside. Instead, the Sarsaparillas scored three to tie the game and went on to win 8-7 in 14 innings.

The loss could prove to be the defining point of the series.

“Nobody is more disappointed in me than me,” Lorn said. “I just ain’t got it today and we lost. I’ll have to do better next time if coach gives me another chance.”

Westside won the game in the bottom of the 14th after falling behind by one in the top of the inning. With one out, Augusto Rivera hit his third double of the game off reliever Dave Witcher. Edward Simpson and Robert Glass then drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Dave Griffin then hit into a 3-2 fielder’s choice to leave the bases loaded with two outs. That’s when one of the two Goodsprings killers, Bob Franklin, stepped up to the plate and delivered a two-RBI, walkoff single to win it 8-7 for the Sarsaparillas.

Goodsprings thus had two chances to win the game, making the loss even more devastating. In the ninth inning, Westside made its first move. Lorn walked Mike Plasmagun to lead off the inning. With one out, Mike White singled to send Plasmagun to third. Hector Ruiz then off loaded a three-run jack to tie the game at six apiece, chasing Lorn and bringing in starter Earl Robinson in relief. Ruiz’s clutch home run was enough to earn him Game MVP honors despite only getting one at bat in the game.

In the top of the 14th, the Lucky 38s retook the lead. Dennis Shaft led off with a single, followed by three straight walks to score Shaft. Goodsprings could have blown it open, but Witcher hit into a 3-2 fielder’s choice, followed by a strike out and ground out by Mike Duncan and Stu Vanstone.

Goodsprings jumped out to an early lead in the game that it held onto until the ninth inning meltdown. In the top of the first, the Lucky 38s got one. Duncan got on base to start the game after being hit by an Angel Polanco pitch. Vanstone and Jimmy LaRue then drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Rookie Jesus Martinez followed by hitting into a double play that allowed Duncan to score.

In the top of the second, the Lucky 38s extended their lead. Perry Ferguson led off with a walk, followed by a Java Stirfry single. With one out, Willie Miller tripled in Ferguson and Stirfry for a 3-0 lead.

Westside got its first run in the bottom of the second. Plasmagun drew a one-out walk on Goodsprings starter Miller. Stan Clark then doubled to send Plasmagun to third. Mike White then hit a sacrifice fly to score Plasmagun.

The Sarsaparillas pulled closer in the fifth. With two outs, Rivera doubled. Simpson followed with a two-out single to cut the Goodsprings lead to 3-2.

However, the Lucky 38s had an answer to the Westside score, scoring three in the sixth for a 6-2 lead. Martinez singled to lead off the inning, chasing Polanco from the game. With one out, Ferguson doubled in Martinez. With two outs, and after Jorge Garcia was intentionally walked, pinch hitter Tony Smith hit an RBI single to make the score 5-2. Duncan then hit an RBI single for the final run of the inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, Griffin hit a solo home run to cut the Goodsprings lead to 6-3 before the ninth-inning rally.

LaRue and Garcia led the Lucky 38s with three hits apiece. Rivera’s three doubles led the Sarsaparillas in hits and set an MBL record for doubles in an extra-inning postseason game.

Polanco finished the game with a no decision in the start. He pitched five innings, giving up four earned runs on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Matt Jeffries was the winning pitcher, giving up an earned run on one hit in 1.1 innings with three walks and a strikeout.

Goodsprings’ Miller also had a no decision. He gave up two earned runs on six hits in five innings with a walk and five strikeouts. Witcher was the losing pitchers, allowing two earned runs on three hits with two walks and a strikeout in three innings.