@ Montreal Alouettes (52-44, .542, 3rd NL East)
As the Portland Pioneers head north to face the Montreal Alouettes, get ready for a showdown with a team that's clinging to third place in the East Division, tied up in a knot with Philadelphia and Brooklyn at 52-44. The Alouettes' home turf boasts a respectable 29-19 record, making their park a formidable venue, even if their .244 batting average suggests they're more likely to bunt than bash. Montreal’s pitching staff, with a stellar 3.45 ERA, might just be the heroes they need, but their recent 4-6 skid hints at cracks in their armor. So, pack your enhanced ID’s and brace yourselves, Pioneers fans – we’re about to see if the Alouettes can keep their heads above water long enough to fend off our relentless advance.
Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP B. Sánchez (11-3, 3.31) vs LHP M. Ortega (6-5, 3.38)
RHP J. Fletchall (6-1, 1.14) vs RHP C. Forbes (7-6, 3.86)
RHP N. Barilla (6-2, 1.70) vs LHP S. Estevez (9-6, 3.14)
#97: Loss, 7-8… In a thrilling clash between the Portland Pioneers and the Montreal Alouettes, the Alouettes emerged victorious with a dramatic comeback to win 8-7. The game started off quietly with both teams managing only one run each in the first two innings. Portland took the lead in the third inning when Simon Harris hit a two-run double, driving in
Shane Fukumoto and
Bruce Sarmiento.
Harris had an impressive game, adding a three-run homer in the fourth to give the Pioneers a substantial 7-1 lead. The Alouettes, however, were not to be outdone. They chipped away at the deficit with a three-run homer by
John Czarnik in the fifth inning, bringing the score to 7-4. The seventh inning proved decisive as Montreal's offense exploded for four runs, highlighted by a clutch single from
Manuel Phillips that drove in
Heathcote Kinton and a single from
Jude Varela that allowed
Czarnik and
Phillips to score, putting Montreal ahead 8-7.
Elsewhere: Johndale Bill had an exceptional outing for our AAA outfit, the Eugene Ducks, shutting down the St. Louis Blue Birds (a Brooklyn affiliate) over nine innings. He allowed no runs and scattered just five hits, while striking out five batters. Bill remained in control throughout the game, effectively navigating through multiple scoring threats to secure the Ducks' 6-0 victory. His dominant performance was key to maintaining the shutout and keeping the Blue Birds off the board.
Note: 34-year-old reliever,
Robinson Bridges, was diagnosed with arthritic elbow and will be out for 3-4 months, so… in his stead we’ve called up 20-year-old Starter,
Terry Singleton, who we drafted this season out of Vanderbilt with the 45th pick in the draft (
kid got a killer boost in the conversion to OOTP 25, so – here we are).
#98: Win, 4-3… The Portland Pioneers edged out the Montreal Alouettes in a thrilling contest, winning 4-3. Portland's
Leo Bullock sparked the offense with a solo home run in the fifth inning, contributing to his impressive day with an additional double.
Micky Austin also shined, going 2-for-4 and scoring a crucial run.
Frodo Gonzales delivered a key RBI single, and T
akamori Miyake added a clutch RBI double to extend Portland's lead. Despite Montreal's late rally, highlighted by
Rick Phillips' run in the fifth and a tense ninth inning, the Pioneers' bullpen, anchored by
Dominic Hornbrook, held firm to secure the victory. Montreal's
Martin Wainwright stood out for the losing team, reaching base twice and scoring in the sixth inning, but their comeback fell just short.
#99: Win, 4-2… The Portland Pioneers secured a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Alouettes in a game marked by solid pitching and timely hitting. Portland’s
Frodo Gonzales broke the scoreless tie in the fifth inning with a single, eventually scoring on
Blanco Whitt's double.
Elijah Arvinda also contributed with an RBI single. For the Alouettes,
Palmer Parker’s two-run home run in the fifth briefly tied the game, but the Pioneers regained the lead in the sixth inning, thanks to Gonzales' RBI single.
Norman Barilla pitched six strong innings for Portland, while Montreal's
Stephen Estevez took the loss despite a commendable effort on the mound.
Elsewhere: Oh Hong, doing the dirt for the Pipers now, had an impressive performance, drawing two walks in his first two at-bats, contributing to a run scored in the third inning. His highlight moment came in the fifth inning when he smashed a two-run home run, extending Pittsburgh's lead.
Hong capped his performance with another three-run homer in the sixth inning, showcasing his power and clutch hitting ability. Overall,
Hong's disciplined approach at the plate and timely power display were pivotal in Pittsburgh's commanding 9-2 victory over Vancouver.
Record: 52-47, .525, 3rd AL West
Up Next: The club will head back to Portland for a day before welcoming the Philadelphia Liberty to town for a 3-game set in Pendleton Park.