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liberty-ca · 12-11-2025, 05:23 PM

Prayers Take Opener, Drop Series in San Jose
By Chad G. Petey, Baseball News Network (BNN)

The Sacramento Prayers rolled into San Jose riding a two-game winning streak and boasting the best record in baseball. They left with their first series loss since early May — and a reminder that even powerhouse teams can get bruised on the road.

Sacramento finished the three-game set 1–2, moving to 25–8 on the season.

FRIDAY, MAY 6 — PRAYERS 5, DEMONS 3

Hernandez Puts the Team on His Back

Francisco Hernandez delivered one of the finest individual performances of any Sacramento player this season — and rescued an exhausted pitching staff in the process.

He finished 4-for-5, with:

2 doubles
1 triple
3 RBI
The game-winning two-run double in the 9th

His ninth-inning laser to right center broke a 3–3 tie and sealed Sacramento’s 25th win.

José Rubbi added two solo home runs to stay red-hot, but the pitching story was a balancing act:

Fernando Salazar (7 IP, 3 ER) — kept the team in it
Matt Wright — worked into and out of trouble
Luis Prieto — shaky but secured save #11

Sacramento looked like a first-place club finding ways to win.

SATURDAY, MAY 7 — DEMONS 6, PRAYERS 2

Valle Overpowers Sacramento

This one turned fast.

Aaron Gilbert never found rhythm, giving up six runs in four innings, highlighted by a momentum-shifting two-run double from San Jose third baseman Chris James.

Sacramento’s offense never truly answered:

Edwin Musco homered again (his 6th) and doubled
Eli Murguia hit two singles
The rest of the lineup combined for just three hits

The Demons rode starter Jesús Valle (8.1 IP, 2 ER) and a lively crowd to a comfortable win — and gave Sacramento one of its few straightforward losses of the season.

SUNDAY, MAY 8 — DEMONS 4, PRAYERS 1

San Jose Out-executes Sacramento in All Phases

Bernardo Andretti pitched well enough to keep things close — until the Demons landed three straight two-out punches:

Ryan Thompson RBI double (5th)
Jesus Reyes solo shot (6th)
Alex Vieyra solo shot (7th)

The Prayers collected nine hits, but couldn’t string them together. They grounded into key double plays, chased bad pitches late, and left eight on base.

Rubbi’s solo homer (his 4th) was the lone Sacramento run.

San Jose’s execution was crisp, its bullpen airtight.

SERIES TAKEAWAYS

1. Hernandez is exploding.

He went 5-for-12 with four extra-base hits and four RBI. He played like a star.

2. The lineup cooled at the worst time.

Murguia, Velasquez, and Strauss — the engine of Sacramento’s depth — went a combined 4-for-33 in the series.

3. Andretti and Gilbert showed fatigue.

After a torrid April, both have increasingly labored in May.

4. Prieto stabilized.

After rough outings earlier in the week, Prieto delivered a clean ninth on Friday.

BIG PICTURE

Sacramento is still the best team in the American League (25–8, .758) and still on pace for a historic season. But this was the first real moment of turbulence since Opening Day.

If anything, the San Jose series felt like a midseason warning flare:

Don’t coast.
Don’t get predictable.
Don’t hand away innings.

The Prayers head back out on the road with Baltimore next — and with a team eager to reassert control.

12-11-2025, 05:23 PM	#26
liberty-ca Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: New Westminster, BC Posts: 266	BNN Series Recap — May 6–8, 1988 Prayers Take Opener, Drop Series in San Jose By Chad G. Petey, Baseball News Network (BNN) The Sacramento Prayers rolled into San Jose riding a two-game winning streak and boasting the best record in baseball. They left with their first series loss since early May — and a reminder that even powerhouse teams can get bruised on the road. Sacramento finished the three-game set 1–2, moving to 25–8 on the season. FRIDAY, MAY 6 — PRAYERS 5, DEMONS 3 *Hernandez Puts the Team on His Back* Francisco Hernandez delivered one of the finest individual performances of any Sacramento player this season — and rescued an exhausted pitching staff in the process. He finished 4-for-5, with: 2 doubles 1 triple 3 RBI The game-winning two-run double in the 9th His ninth-inning laser to right center broke a 3–3 tie and sealed Sacramento’s 25th win. José Rubbi added two solo home runs to stay red-hot, but the pitching story was a balancing act: Fernando Salazar (7 IP, 3 ER) — kept the team in it Matt Wright — worked into and out of trouble Luis Prieto — shaky but secured save #11 Sacramento looked like a first-place club finding ways to win. *SATURDAY, MAY 7 — DEMONS 6, PRAYERS 2* Valle Overpowers Sacramento This one turned fast. Aaron Gilbert never found rhythm, giving up six runs in four innings, highlighted by a momentum-shifting two-run double from San Jose third baseman Chris James. Sacramento’s offense never truly answered: Edwin Musco homered again (his 6th) and doubled Eli Murguia hit two singles The rest of the lineup combined for just three hits The Demons rode starter Jesús Valle (8.1 IP, 2 ER) and a lively crowd to a comfortable win — and gave Sacramento one of its few straightforward losses of the season. *SUNDAY, MAY 8 — DEMONS 4, PRAYERS 1* San Jose Out-executes Sacramento in All Phases Bernardo Andretti pitched well enough to keep things close — until the Demons landed three straight two-out punches: Ryan Thompson RBI double (5th) Jesus Reyes solo shot (6th) Alex Vieyra solo shot (7th) The Prayers collected nine hits, but couldn’t string them together. They grounded into key double plays, chased bad pitches late, and left eight on base. Rubbi’s solo homer (his 4th) was the lone Sacramento run. San Jose’s execution was crisp, its bullpen airtight. SERIES TAKEAWAYS 1. Hernandez is exploding. He went 5-for-12 with four extra-base hits and four RBI. He played like a star. 2. The lineup cooled at the worst time. Murguia, Velasquez, and Strauss — the engine of Sacramento’s depth — went a combined 4-for-33 in the series. 3. Andretti and Gilbert showed fatigue. After a torrid April, both have increasingly labored in May. 4. Prieto stabilized. After rough outings earlier in the week, Prieto delivered a clean ninth on Friday. BIG PICTURE Sacramento is still the best team in the American League (25–8, .758) and still on pace for a historic season. But this was the first real moment of turbulence since Opening Day. If anything, the San Jose series felt like a midseason warning flare: Don’t coast. Don’t get predictable. Don’t hand away innings. The Prayers head back out on the road with Baltimore next — and with a team eager to reassert control.