So, the rest of the crucial series between the Denver Brewers and Portland Wild Things did not go so well for the hometown team.
The Wild Things are starting to take on the look of a team of destiny.
In the second game of the 3-game series, after having won game 1, the Brewers were tied with Portland going into the 8th inning, 1-1, thanks to a strong start by veteran right-hander
Sadahige Kawasaki. But Portland managed to scratch out a run in the top of the 8th when pinch-hitter, and former Brewer great, Ryan Rodgers worked a walk to lead off the inning (that is, after all, what Ryan does best), then avoided getting tagged in a run down between second and third when Justin Ficklin followed with a single, and scored when 29-year old outfielder Steve Shumway, who has spent most of his professional career in the minor leagues (but oddly has hit .355/.382/.495 over 103 plate appearances in parts of three seasons in the WPK), hit a sacrifice fly to drive him home with what proved to be the winning run. The Portland bullpen was fantastic after young starting pitcher Matt Jenkins had to leave the game after recording just a single out (Jenkins is now out for 7 months with a fractured elbow, which is a huge blow to the Wild Things should they make the post-season). Portland closer Joey Johnson finished things off for his 42nd save of the season.
The following day, the Brewers were holding a narrow 4-3 lead heading into the 8th inning (again) after seeing starting pitcher
Bryant Cox give up 3 first inning runs when Willie Romero, the leading candidate for the MGL MVP award this season, hit a 3-run homer, his 19th bomb of the season. But in the end the Portland bullpen proved superior to Denver's, with closer Joey Johnson pitching the final two innings for the victory.
The Brewers now trail Portland by 1/2 a game. Denver plays their last 6 games on the road, first in Los Angeles and then wrapping up the regular season in Phoenix. Portland still has 7 games on the schedule and is in the driver's seat. They play 3 games on the road in Phoenix and then come home for a 4-game series against the St. Louis Redbirds.
Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Aces have clinched the MGL East and the Pittsburgh Roadrunners the same in the SJL East.
Over in the SJL West, the El Paso Dawgs and San Antonio Keys have identical records (81-75) with 6 games apiece remaining, including the final series head-to-head. It should be an exciting finish to this race!