Dallas Chaparrals (6-3, .667, 1st AL West) @ Portland Pioneers (4-5, .444, 3rd AL West)
These Chaparrals, led by
C Dom Cooke (76/76),
1B KJ Marcus (64/64), and
SP Kito Western (50/50) are looking to improve on last years finish where they completed the 2084 campaign at the top of the pops in the AL West before losing 3 games to 2 in the Second Series against the Vancouver Mounties. And, so far, in the very early goings of this 2085 season, they look like a club that has what it takes to complete that mission and make some real noise in this years playoffs… of course, that’s a long way from where we are now, a mere 9-games into this campaign, where things can, and often do, change at the drop of a hat. On paper,
these guys a pretty good, but Vancouver is still better, and, if Dallas doesn’t shore up their rotation somehow, it doesn’t look like it’s built for the long haul.
Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP B. Sánchez (0-1, 7.11 ERA) vs LHP C. Tucker (0-0, 3.86 ERA)
RHP W. Macomber (1-1, 1.69 ERA) vs RHP K. Western (0-0, 2.63 ERA)
RHP D. Hornbrook (1-1, 0.93 ERA) vs RHP J. Arai (0-2, 9.31 ERA)
#10: Win, 3-0… Our first two batsmen in the 7th,
Rowan Calvin &
Chaz Gildea, got on with singles,
Angel Marino would draw a walk a batter later to load them up, and
Leo Bullock would clear the bases on a double, his 2nd of the season (and of the game), to put us up by an insurmountable 3-runs.
SP Bernal Sanchez was fierce – 8.1 innings, 7 hits, and nothing earned with 5 punchouts – and
CL Payton Inzen, though he labored a bit allowing a hit and doling out a free pass, secured his 2nd save of the 2085 campaign.
Back to .500, baby!
Elsewhere: Tom Franzone, 34yo and still going strong, finished 2-for-4 with 2 TANKS, 5 RBI, and 2 runs to lead his recently renamed Boston Patriots to a resounding, 9-3 win over the Buffalo Nickels. With the win, Boston improved to 5-5 on the season while Buffalo drops to a still awesome 7-3. Also, I should note that
Franzone already has 7 HRs and is now trending to hit a
measly 113 of them in 2085.
#11: Win, 4-2… CL Payton Inzen labored through another save for us here – striking out the first batter before giving up two straight singles and finally inducing a DP ball from the next batsmen – and the offense, led by
2B Wyatt Raphael’s 2-run homer, did just enough to get the job done.
SP William Macomber picks up his 2nd win after a 6-inning, 4-hit, 2 earned outing that included 10 K’s,
2B Mike Duncan, who has literally no power, hit his first dinger of the year, and relievers
Morris Jones,
Robinson Bridges, and
Gray Switzer each walked away with a hold.
#12: Loss, 2-3… Dallas wouldn’t go away empty handed, winning the 3rd of three on a run-scoring single during the top of the 5th, courtesy of
RF Simon Harris, to saddle
SP Dominic Hornbrook with his 2nd loss of the year despite his 7.1-innings of better-than-serviceable work. Two more two-baggers for
Leo, both with no one on, 3 swiped bags for the club, and two expertly crafted double plays would not be enough to earn the sweep as we settle for a series win, our 3rd of those this season, and 2nd at home.
Record: 6-6, .500, 3rd AL West
Up Next: We’ll enjoy a day off, at home, before welcoming the Colorado Kings to town for a 3-game set.