OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Sacramento Prayers

liberty-ca · Yesterday, 03:56 PM

September 25, 1988 | Sacramento Stadium

The Holy War Goes Extra: Prayers Gritty Series Win Over Priests
By Gemmie Nay, Sacramento Sports Chronicle and Chad G. Petey, Baseball News Network (BNN)

The regular season is winding down, but the intensity at Sacramento Stadium this weekend felt like October. In a heavyweight clash between two of the league’s most storied franchises, Sacramento dropped the series opener in extra innings Friday night, then answered with two grinding, nerve-fraying wins. In the last series of the regular season the Sacramento Prayers (115-47) took two out of three from the 91-win Brooklyn Priests. It required 31 innings of baseball to settle the score, including two extra-inning marathons and a walk-off blast for the ages. This was not a sweep. It was better than that. It was resistance.

★ ★ ★

Game 1: Musco Hits the 30-Club (Priests 6, Prayers 5)

The opener was one of those games that slips through even a great team’s fingers.

Fernando Salazar was brilliant for 6⅓ scoreless innings, allowing just 4 hits and 0 earned runs while navigating traffic (three walks, 107 pitches). Bret Perez did everything possible to tilt the game back — 3-for-4, three runs scored, two stolen bases, relentless pressure at the top of the order. Friday night saw Edwin Musco etch his name into the franchise record books, blasting his 30th home run of the season in the 8th inning to tie the game. However, the celebration was short-lived because baseball punishes hesitation.

Luis Prieto, used heavily all month, was asked for length in the 10th and didn’t quite escape it. Steve Dedeaux’s pinch-hit triple — one swing, one breath — flipped a 3–3 game into a deficit Sacramento couldn’t fully erase. Even Edwin Musco’s 30th home run, a two-run blast in the 8th, only delayed the outcome. Sacramento out-hit Brooklyn 13–10. Sacramento lost 6–5.

"Baseball is such a beautiful game," said Dedeaux. "Anything can happen on any night, and that's why you don't dwell on what happened yesterday. Just look forward and trust you're going to have positive results."

★ ★ ★

Game 2: Bench Power (Prayers 4, Priests 3)

The Prayers proved once again that their bench is a weapon. Aaron Gilbert allowed 3 runs on 5 hits across six workmanlike innings, while Brooklyn starter Alex Mendoza matched him pitch for pitch. Through six, Sacramento had nothing but scattered singles and patience. Then the seventh inning arrived — and with it, the sound Sacramento Stadium knows by heart.

Roberto Cardenas, pressed into a pinch-hit role, turned on a fastball and sent it screaming into the seats. Two runs. One swing. A lead that never left again. Moments later, Hector Iniguez followed with his own two-run shot, and suddenly a quiet afternoon became a 4–3 Sacramento win.

Chris Ryan retired all six batters he faced.
Matt Wright closed it without drama.

Jimmy Aces called it “earned,” but his eyes said “expected.”

★ ★ ★

Game 3: Velasquez Ends the Marathon (Prayers 3, Priests 2)

Sunday was a pitcher's duel that turned into an endurance test. Brooklyn scored twice early. Sacramento answered in pieces. Bret Perez reached base four times. Sam Strauss doubled, tripled, and lifted a sacrifice fly. The game drifted into extras tied 2–2, tension stacking inning by inning.Bret Perez continued his torrid pace with four hits, but it was Alex Velasquez who sent the fans home happy. With two outs in the bottom of the 12th, Velasquez connected on a Tom Brinker fastball for a walk-off solo home run, that detonated the ballpark and sealed a 3–2 victory — Sacramento’s 115th win, achieved the hard way.

“This place knows when something’s about to happen,” Velasquez said later. “You just try not to get in the way of it.”

★ ★ ★

Rotation Report: Navigating Without Rubalcava

With ace Jordan Rubalcava sidelined due to his elbow sprain, the Prayers' rotation showed its depth. Fernando Salazar was efficient in Game 1 (though the bullpen faltered), and Bobby Andretti turned in a gem in the Sunday finale (7.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 K). While the Prayers missed Rubalcava's dominance, the "next man up" mentality remains the hallmark of this 115-win squad.

Eli Murguia, playing through a strained rib cage, showed flashes of his usual self but clearly felt the effects of the marathon Sunday, going 0-for-6 in the 12-inning finale.

★ ★ ★

Series Stars & Stats

Runs: Sacramento 12, Brooklyn 11
Bullpen innings: 11⅔, 1 earned run
Bret Perez (3B): The catalyst. Perez went 9-for-14 in the series, raising his average to .293 and swiping his 40th bag of the year on Sunday.
Alex Velasquez (RF): Recorded 4 hits in the Sunday finale, including the series-winning home run.
Edwin Musco (2B): Officially joined the 30-home run club, making him and Velasquez (21) and Strauss (21) a terrifying trio for opposing pitchers.

★ ★ ★

The Prayers won this series without excess offense, without their ace, and while managing real October wear. They did it by absorbing a punch, then throwing smarter ones back. At 115–47, Sacramento doesn’t chase statements anymore. They survive tests. They store information. They win when the game asks uncomfortable questions.

★ ★ ★
1988 SEASON FINAL STANDINGS

Yesterday, 03:56 PM	#95
liberty-ca Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: New Westminster, BC Posts: 219	September 25, 1988 \| Sacramento Stadium The Holy War Goes Extra: Prayers Gritty Series Win Over Priests By Gemmie Nay, Sacramento Sports Chronicle and Chad G. Petey, Baseball News Network (BNN) The regular season is winding down, but the intensity at Sacramento Stadium this weekend felt like October. In a heavyweight clash between two of the league’s most storied franchises, Sacramento dropped the series opener in extra innings Friday night, then answered with two grinding, nerve-fraying wins. In the last series of the regular season the Sacramento Prayers (115-47) took two out of three from the 91-win Brooklyn Priests. It required 31 innings of baseball to settle the score, including two extra-inning marathons and a walk-off blast for the ages. This was not a sweep. It was better than that. It was resistance. ★ ★ ★ Game 1: Musco Hits the 30-Club (Priests 6, Prayers 5) The opener was one of those games that slips through even a great team’s fingers. Fernando Salazar was brilliant for 6⅓ scoreless innings, allowing just 4 hits and 0 earned runs while navigating traffic (three walks, 107 pitches). Bret Perez did everything possible to tilt the game back — 3-for-4, three runs scored, two stolen bases, relentless pressure at the top of the order. Friday night saw Edwin Musco etch his name into the franchise record books, blasting his 30th home run of the season in the 8th inning to tie the game. However, the celebration was short-lived because baseball punishes hesitation. Luis Prieto, used heavily all month, was asked for length in the 10th and didn’t quite escape it. Steve Dedeaux’s pinch-hit triple — one swing, one breath — flipped a 3–3 game into a deficit Sacramento couldn’t fully erase. Even Edwin Musco’s 30th home run, a two-run blast in the 8th, only delayed the outcome. Sacramento out-hit Brooklyn 13–10. Sacramento lost 6–5. "Baseball is such a beautiful game," said Dedeaux. "Anything can happen on any night, and that's why you don't dwell on what happened yesterday. Just look forward and trust you're going to have positive results." ★ ★ ★ Game 2: Bench Power (Prayers 4, Priests 3) The Prayers proved once again that their bench is a weapon. Aaron Gilbert allowed 3 runs on 5 hits across six workmanlike innings, while Brooklyn starter Alex Mendoza matched him pitch for pitch. Through six, Sacramento had nothing but scattered singles and patience. Then the seventh inning arrived — and with it, the sound Sacramento Stadium knows by heart. Roberto Cardenas, pressed into a pinch-hit role, turned on a fastball and sent it screaming into the seats. Two runs. One swing. A lead that never left again. Moments later, Hector Iniguez followed with his own two-run shot, and suddenly a quiet afternoon became a 4–3 Sacramento win. Chris Ryan retired all six batters he faced. Matt Wright closed it without drama. Jimmy Aces called it “earned,” but his eyes said “expected.” ★ ★ ★ Game 3: Velasquez Ends the Marathon (Prayers 3, Priests 2) Sunday was a pitcher's duel that turned into an endurance test. Brooklyn scored twice early. Sacramento answered in pieces. Bret Perez reached base four times. Sam Strauss doubled, tripled, and lifted a sacrifice fly. The game drifted into extras tied 2–2, tension stacking inning by inning.Bret Perez continued his torrid pace with four hits, but it was Alex Velasquez who sent the fans home happy. With two outs in the bottom of the 12th, Velasquez connected on a Tom Brinker fastball for a walk-off solo home run, that detonated the ballpark and sealed a 3–2 victory — Sacramento’s 115th win, achieved the hard way. “This place knows when something’s about to happen,” Velasquez said later. “You just try not to get in the way of it.” ★ ★ ★ Rotation Report: Navigating Without Rubalcava With ace Jordan Rubalcava sidelined due to his elbow sprain, the Prayers' rotation showed its depth. Fernando Salazar was efficient in Game 1 (though the bullpen faltered), and Bobby Andretti turned in a gem in the Sunday finale (7.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 K). While the Prayers missed Rubalcava's dominance, the "next man up" mentality remains the hallmark of this 115-win squad. Eli Murguia, playing through a strained rib cage, showed flashes of his usual self but clearly felt the effects of the marathon Sunday, going 0-for-6 in the 12-inning finale. ★ ★ ★ Series Stars & Stats Runs: Sacramento 12, Brooklyn 11 Bullpen innings: 11⅔, 1 earned run Bret Perez (3B): The catalyst. Perez went 9-for-14 in the series, raising his average to .293 and swiping his 40th bag of the year on Sunday. Alex Velasquez (RF): Recorded 4 hits in the Sunday finale, including the series-winning home run. Edwin Musco (2B): Officially joined the 30-home run club, making him and Velasquez (21) and Strauss (21) a terrifying trio for opposing pitchers. ★ ★ ★ The Prayers won this series without excess offense, without their ace, and while managing real October wear. They did it by absorbing a punch, then throwing smarter ones back. At 115–47, Sacramento doesn’t chase statements anymore. They survive tests. They store information. They win when the game asks uncomfortable questions. ★ ★ ★ 1988 SEASON FINAL STANDINGS Attached Images Last edited by liberty-ca; Yesterday at 03:59 PM.