Phoenix Suns (6-4, .600, 2nd NL West) @ Los Angeles Lakers (7-2, .778, 1st NL West)
Through the first 10 games of the 2077 season, the Phoenix Suns have been something of an offensive juggernaut, where they rank 1st in every category save SBs and Base Running. They’ll arrive in Los Angeles with ill-intent, looking for a small measure of payback for the 2076 playoffs, and will bring all their weapons to bear in an effort to knock our train off the tracks. We’ll get their Ace in game one and while he has not gotten off to a good start – he has an ERA of 11.57 and has a record of 0-1 (in his last appearance he only lasted 2.1 innings against Montreal) – we expect him to have it dialed in for their visit to Los Angeles. Their new-look offense, led by key offseason acquisition LF Jerry Landowski, has the ability to give our #1 ranked pitching staff fits – to put it lightly, if we navigate these three games and maintain or improve upon our 2.8 R/G allowed then the commissioners office may as well just call this whole thing off and declare us the 2077 Champion.
10 of 162: Patrick Keith (0-1, 11.57) @ Paul Yeager (1-0, 2.51)
Win, 6-2. A 5-run 3rd chases the struggling Patrick Keith out of this one early and Yeager, looking mighty fine out there as our Ace, went 8.2 with 4 Ks and 2 ER. Our hot start continues here – and we managed to only allow 2 runs in the effort – Otto goes 2 for 3 with an RBI & 2 runs, PEPPER hit a double and scored, Dontrell drove in two runs, and we got a clutch double-play late when the Phoenix offense was trying to put a little something together in the 7th. Of note: SS Ray Gerhold was held to 0 for 3 and LF Jerry Landowski went 1 for 4. When your pitcher manages to keep those two quiet, a W is most assuredly in the cards.
Elsewhere: Minnesota’s C Jarel Paige hit a GRAND SLAM against the San Diego Chargers to help his North Stars earn their 3rd straight victory today – Paige hit the HR off of SP Burt McElheny in the top of a brutal 5th inning where he helped contribute to the 6-runs scored during the frame. Minnesota took the game by a score of 7-2. This was the first GRAND SLAM for Jarel, at any level. Also, RF Jonah Dove, who recently hit his 300th HR out of the park, has reached another career milestone – his 2000th hit came in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
11 of 162: Jack Sanchez-Flores (2-0, 0.00) @ Aiden Jensen (1-0, 5.14)
Loss, 7-3. And just like that our winning streak is snapped – in semi-spectacular fashion, no less. Aiden gets shelled – 5 earned were charged to his account… there will be a bounced check fee, and we get runs from Voorhis, Otto, and Rajkumar, but not much else. Otto registered his 3rd double, Dom got charged with a passed ball, and we lose this one, handily, despite the three errors that the Phoenix infield committed during the game. Ferdinand Loving, in his 3rd relief appearance, gave up his first run as a Laker – 2 innings, 2 hits, 2 earned, 2 walks, and 2 K’s for Mr. Consistency today.
Elsewhere: MIT RF Boogie Barnett went 3 for 5 with his 6th double and 2 RBIs in the Equations 4-3 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks. MIT is now 14-7 on the season and look like they have a good chance to earn a postseason bid out of the Independent Division in the NCAA League.
12 of 162: Julen Morales (1-1, 3.55) @ Michael Brisk (2-0, 1.23)
Loss, 2-1. Our first series loss of the season – and of course it comes against Phoenix. When Julen was a member of our club, he and Brisky were fast friend… both like a good clubhouse prank, both like to carouse with the local talent, and both are often looked at as the life of the party. So, today was a hug before the game, fierce competition during it, and a handshake afterward. Morales outdueled Brisky by a run and the Suns’ C Norton Manning went 2 for 4 with the go-ahead RBI. Not much of note for us in this one – Ethan drove in our lone run on a SAC FLY, and the two-headed monster of Rudolf Caldwell and Steven Barbaccia pitched a combined 2.1 scoreless innings with 2 K’s.
Elsewhere: SP
Rad Taylor made his
CITY OF COMPTON debut today – he went 6 IP, with 5 hits, 1 earned and 2 Ks. Nice effort for the recently acquired prospect who at 24 is running out of time to deliver on his early potential – I’m hoping that a stint in Compton will position him for a Big League call up in September. And, file under craziness… SP Landon Sampson signed a 3-year, $111M contract with the San Francisco 49ers and is now the 2nd highest-paid player in the MLB behind SP Bradley Hughes of Seattle. 1B Austin Rollins is 11th with a $28.4M salary per year – now you can see why I had to trade him despite the fact that he led the league in RBIs last season. Also, PEPPER GRANT ranks 24th. That one is on me.