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liberty-ca · 12-19-2025, 12:48 AM

Priests Play Spoiler: Sacramento Drops Rare Series at Home
By Gemmie Nye, Sacramento Sports Chronicle and Chad G. Petey, Baseball News Network (BNN)

The Brooklyn Priests (51-45) did what few teams have managed this year: they walked into Sacramento Stadium and took two out of three from the league-leading Prayers (71-25). While Sacramento remains the class of the AL West, this series proved that even the "Mad Hare" and his crew can be neutralized by elite pitching and timely power.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

⚾ Series Breakdown

July 13 L 4-6 Felix Medina's 5.2 IP hitless relief.
July 14 W 6-3 Alex Velasquez ties team record (2 triples).
July 15 L 1-3 Dave Olivares outduels R. Gray.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

🌟 The Silver Lining: Felix Medina’s Masterpiece

The most impressive pitching performance of the series actually came in a loss. In Game 1, starter D. Garza was chased early after giving up 6 runs in just 3.1 innings. Felix Medina entered the game and was absolutely untouchable:

Stat Line: 5.2 Innings, 0 Hits, 0 Runs, 5 Strikeouts.
Medina retired 17 of the 18 batters he faced, providing the offense plenty of time to claw back, though the comeback fell just short.

🏃*♂️ Speed & Power: Velasquez and Musco

Despite the series loss, the Sacramento bats provided a few historic moments:

Record-Tying Speed: In Game 2, Alex Velasquez etched his name into the Sacramento record books, tying the regular-season game record with 2 triples. His speed on the basepaths was the catalyst for the Prayers' four-run 6th inning.
The Musco Machine: Edwin Musco continues his MVP-caliber campaign. He went 5-for-12 across the three games, including his 15th home run of the season. He currently sits at a blistering .358 average.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

🏥 The Training Room: Mid-Series Scares

The Prayers’ depth was tested early in the series due to a pair of scares on the basepaths:

1. Logan Hicks (CF): Left Game 1 with an injury while running the bases. However, he showed his toughness by returning to start Game 2, where he went 1-for-2 with an RBI.
2. Chris Watts (Brooklyn): The Priests’ first baseman was also injured in Game 1, though he returned later in the series to help Brooklyn clinch the finale.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

📉 A Rare Loss for Gray

Game 3 saw a rare stumble for R. Gray (13-3). While he pitched well (7.1 IP, 3 ER), he was outshined by Brooklyn’s Dave Olivares, who looked like the Cy Young winner of old, racking up 8 strikeouts and surrendering only a single run. The Prayers' offense, which usually thrives on high-leverage situations, went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

SERIES BY THE NUMBERS

Runs: Brooklyn 12, Sacramento 11
Hits: Sacramento 28, Brooklyn 26
HR: Brooklyn 4, Sacramento 2
RISP:

Brooklyn: 6-for-14 (.429)

Sacramento: 4-for-17 (.235)

That margin — small, situational, ruthless — defined the series.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

THE TAKEAWAY

Sacramento didn’t look vulnerable. They looked **challenged**.

They’re still 71–25, still first place, still carrying a +178 run differential, and still leading the league in ERA (2.65) and home runs (112). But Brooklyn showed that precision can interrupt power — and that even a juggernaut has to earn every inch.

12-19-2025, 12:48 AM	#65
liberty-ca Major Leagues Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: New Westminster, BC Posts: 376	Priests Play Spoiler: Sacramento Drops Rare Series at Home By Gemmie Nye, Sacramento Sports Chronicle and Chad G. Petey, Baseball News Network (BNN) The Brooklyn Priests (51-45) did what few teams have managed this year: they walked into Sacramento Stadium and took two out of three from the league-leading Prayers (71-25). While Sacramento remains the class of the AL West, this series proved that even the "Mad Hare" and his crew can be neutralized by elite pitching and timely power. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ⚾ Series Breakdown July 13 L 4-6 Felix Medina's 5.2 IP hitless relief. July 14 W 6-3 Alex Velasquez ties team record (2 triples). July 15 L 1-3 Dave Olivares outduels R. Gray. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 🌟 The Silver Lining: Felix Medina’s Masterpiece The most impressive pitching performance of the series actually came in a loss. In Game 1, starter D. Garza was chased early after giving up 6 runs in just 3.1 innings. Felix Medina entered the game and was absolutely untouchable: Stat Line: 5.2 Innings, 0 Hits, 0 Runs, 5 Strikeouts. Medina retired 17 of the 18 batters he faced, providing the offense plenty of time to claw back, though the comeback fell just short. 🏃♂️ Speed & Power: Velasquez and Musco* Despite the series loss, the Sacramento bats provided a few historic moments: Record-Tying Speed: In Game 2, Alex Velasquez etched his name into the Sacramento record books, tying the regular-season game record with 2 triples. His speed on the basepaths was the catalyst for the Prayers' four-run 6th inning. The Musco Machine: Edwin Musco continues his MVP-caliber campaign. He went 5-for-12 across the three games, including his 15th home run of the season. He currently sits at a blistering .358 average. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 🏥 The Training Room: Mid-Series Scares The Prayers’ depth was tested early in the series due to a pair of scares on the basepaths: 1. Logan Hicks (CF): Left Game 1 with an injury while running the bases. However, he showed his toughness by returning to start Game 2, where he went 1-for-2 with an RBI. 2. Chris Watts (Brooklyn): The Priests’ first baseman was also injured in Game 1, though he returned later in the series to help Brooklyn clinch the finale. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 📉 A Rare Loss for Gray Game 3 saw a rare stumble for R. Gray (13-3). While he pitched well (7.1 IP, 3 ER), he was outshined by Brooklyn’s Dave Olivares, who looked like the Cy Young winner of old, racking up 8 strikeouts and surrendering only a single run. The Prayers' offense, which usually thrives on high-leverage situations, went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ SERIES BY THE NUMBERS Runs: Brooklyn 12, Sacramento 11 Hits: Sacramento 28, Brooklyn 26 HR: Brooklyn 4, Sacramento 2 RISP: Brooklyn: 6-for-14 (.429) Sacramento: 4-for-17 (.235) That margin — small, situational, ruthless — defined the series. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ THE TAKEAWAY Sacramento didn’t look vulnerable. They looked challenged. They’re still 71–25, still first place, still carrying a +178 run differential, and still leading the league in ERA (2.65) and home runs (112). But Brooklyn showed that precision can interrupt power — and that even a juggernaut has to earn every inch.