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liberty-ca · 01-25-2026, 10:46 AM

BNN WEEK IN RETROSPECT – PRAYERS WEEKLY
Sacramento Prayers: April 22–28, 1990
By Chad G. Petey and C.O. Pilot – Baseball News Network (BNN) and Gemmy Nay, Sacramento Sports Chronicle

The Sacramento Prayers completed one of their most demanding and revealing stretches of the young season, navigating a 7‑game slate that included a 12‑inning walk‑off, a three‑game road sweep in San Antonio, and a tightly contested home series against the San Jose Demons.

What a week to be a baseball fan in Sacramento. Prayers finished the week 6-1, improving to 20–6, maintaining first place in the AL West, and continuing to show the blend of pitching depth, opportunistic offense, and late‑inning steadiness that has defined their April.

This week also marked the emergence of several key storylines:
- Bernardo Andretti and Jordan Rubalcava continued to pitch like co‑aces.
- Alex Velasquez delivered one of the most efficient power performances of the season.
- The bullpen, despite injuries and heavy usage, held together in high‑leverage moments.
- The offense, while inconsistent, produced timely innings that swung multiple games.

Winning formula is simple: historic pitching combined with timely power. While we finally saw the armor chinked in the Saturday finale against San Jose, the Prayers are currently the most feared team in the league. Let's look at how we got here.

★ ★ ★

Sunday, April 22 — Prayers 9, Priests 8 (12 innings) (Sacramento Stadium)

Sacramento opened the week with its longest and most winding contest of the season, a 12‑inning affair that tested both bullpens and required the Prayers to erase a five‑run deficit in the ninth inning.

Brooklyn built an early 5–1 lead behind a barrage of doubles and a bases‑loaded gapper from Luke Reddick, who was the most impactful player on either side. Sacramento’s offense, quiet for most of the afternoon, finally broke through in the ninth when Hector Iniguez launched a three‑run homer to left, trimming the deficit to 8–6. Two batters later, George MacDonald punched a two‑out RBI single, and Edwin Musco followed with a game‑tying knock that sent the stadium into a low‑roar disbelief.

Both teams traded zeroes until the 12th, when Larry Mansfield, inserted as a defensive replacement earlier, lifted a medium‑deep fly ball to center with the bases loaded. It wasn’t flashy, but it was enough — the winning run crossed easily.

Afterward, Mansfield summed it up simply: “We weren’t perfect today, but we stayed in it. That’s what matters.”

Luis Prieto earned the win with three innings of work, despite surrendering a late two‑run homer to Reddick.

“You don’t win those unless everyone stays locked in,” manager Jimmy Aces said afterward. “That’s the encouraging part.”

★ ★ ★

Monday, April 23 — Prayers 3, Hell Fire 1 (Ballpark of San Antonio)

Ricky Gaias moved to 4-0 with a surgical 7.2-inning performance. Gaias delivered another composed, workmanlike outing, navigating San Antonio’s right‑handed lineup with a steady mix of sinkers and late‑breaking sliders. His only blemish came in the fifth, when a leadoff triple eventually scored on a sacrifice fly.

Ricky Gaias, commenting on his workload: “I’m comfortable going deep. That’s part of my job.”

Sacramento’s offense was scattered but productive enough. Eli Murguia opened the scoring with a sharp RBI single in the third, and in the eighth, Jesus Rodriguez punched a clean single through the left side to break a 1–1 tie. Alex Vieyra added an insurance run in the ninth.

Manager Jimmy Aces praised the team’s approach. “We didn’t force anything. We took what the game gave us. We’re throwing strikes and letting the defense work,” Aces said. “That travels.”

★ ★ ★

Tuesday, April 24 — Prayers 2, Hell Fire 0 (Ballpark of San Antonio)

This was the Jordan Rubalcava game — a performance that will likely be referenced for months. The right‑hander was in full command, striking out 10 and allowing only four hits across eight innings. His fastball had late life, and his curveball repeatedly froze hitters on the outer edge.

The game remained scoreless until the eighth, when Eli Murguia turned on a middle‑in fastball for a two‑run homer. It was one of Sacramento’s few clean swings of the night, but it was all they needed.

Rubalcava, typically understated, offered a short assessment: “I felt in rhythm. That’s really it. I didn’t overthink anything, just executed.”

Prieto closed the ninth for his eighth save.

★ ★ ★

Wednesday, April 25 — Prayers 5, Hell Fire 1 (Ballpark of San Antonio)

Sacramento completed the road sweep behind Robby Larson, who delivered his sharpest outing of the season. Larson coasted behind the five-run cushion, tossing 8 innings of one-run ball and showing improved command of his two‑seamer. The Prayers' rotation is making opposing hitters look like they’re swinging underwater.

The offensive highlight belonged to Alex Velasquez, who launched a grand slam in the third inning — a no‑doubt shot to left that immediately changed the tone of the game. Velasquez reached base four times and drove in all but one of Sacramento’s runs.

After the game was over, Alex Velasquez commented on his grand slam: “He gave me a pitch I could handle. I didn’t miss it.” San Antonio manager Gerardo Pinal acknowledged the challenge: “We didn’t have an answer for Velasquez tonight.”

The road swing moved Sacramento to 18–5 and reinforced its hold on first place in the West.

★ ★ ★

Thursday, April 26 — Prayers 4, Demons 3 (Sacramento Stadium)

Returning home, Sacramento leaned on veteran right‑hander Russ Gray, who delivered a steady seven‑inning performance. Gray allowed three runs, two of them earned, and worked efficiently through San Jose’s left‑heavy lineup.

The decisive swing came early: George MacDonald’s three‑run homer in the first inning, a towering shot to right‑center that gave Sacramento a 4–0 cushion. The Prayers didn’t score again, but the early burst held up thanks to timely defense and a clean ninth from Luis Prieto and in the end the Prayers hung on for the narrow win. Sacramento improved to 19–5, continuing a strong run against divisional opponents.

Gray reflected on the outing: “We weren’t perfect, but we stayed composed. That’s how you win tight ones.”

★ ★ ★

Friday, April 27 — Prayers 3, Demons 2 (Sacramento Stadium)

Bernardo Andretti continued his strong April throwing 90 pitches and rarely letting San Jose square the ball up. He was the star on the mound with eight innings of one‑run baseball, mixing early-count strikes with a willingness to challenge hitters inside. His only run allowed came on a soft single in the third.

Sacramento’s offense was modest but efficient. Bret Perez tripled in the fifth and later scored, while Gus Cruz added a sacrifice fly. Hector Iniguez contributed a key RBI single in the first.

Andretti described his approach: “Just trying to stay consistent. One pitch at a time. It’s a mindset, just trying to do your job, trying to be consistent.”

The win pushed the Prayers to 20–5, keeping San Jose at arm’s length in the division race. Prieto earned his 10th save despite a shaky 9th.

★ ★ ★

Saturday, April 28 — Demons 3, Prayers 2 (Sacramento Stadium)

The streak finally snapped — the Prayers could not complete the sweep, despite another solid outing from the rotation. The week closed with a narrow loss, despite another quality outing from Ricky Gaias, who allowed three runs across 6.1 innings. Sacramento had multiple chances late but stranded runners in the seventh, eighth, and ninth.

The key moment came in the fourth, when San Jose’s Jason Crane delivered a two‑out RBI single to extend the Demons’ lead to 3–1. Sacramento answered with an RBI triple from Eli Murguia, but the offense couldn’t push across the tying run. A late pinch-hitting appearance by Raul Cardenas in the 9th provided hope, but with the last out Sacramento left 11 men on base — a rare moment of inefficiency for this high-octane squad.

“They did what it takes to win,” San Jose manager Mike Phillips said. Manager Jimmy Aces kept his side's perspective: “We had opportunities. Some days they fall, some days they don’t.”

The loss dropped Sacramento to 20–6, still comfortably atop the West.

★ ★ ★

LEAGUE-WIDE NEWS & INFO

The Prayers are officially the gold standard of the American League. They currently lead the AL in Home Runs (36), Slugging (.436), and ERA (2.60). It is incredibly rare to see a team dominate both the power and pitching categories simultaneously. Around the league, scouts are taking notice of Sacramento's strikeout rate — our pitchers lead the league with 187 punchouts, while our hitters are also tied for the most strikeouts. It’s "all or nothing" baseball, and right now, it’s mostly "all."

San Jose remains Sacramento’s closest challenger in the West but struggled to generate consistent offense during the series.
Fort Worth and Tucson continue to hover near .500, while Seattle and El Paso have fallen further back.

★ ★ ★

CONTRACT NEWS

With George MacDonald (.333 AVG, 3 HR) and Jordan Rubalcava (0.98 ERA) performing at MVP and Cy Young levels respectively, the front office is reportedly beginning internal discussions regarding mid-season extensions. Both players are approaching critical arbitration years, and the Prayers would be wise to lock down the core of this 20-6 start before the price tag hits the stratosphere.

According to some insider sources, several minor and major extension talks are being held in the moment, and some of them might come to fruition as early, as next week.

★ ★ ★

FAN SENTIMENT

Sacramento fans remain energized by the team’s 20–6 start. The most common themes this week:

- Confidence in the rotation, especially Rubalcava and Andretti.
- Growing appreciation for Velasquez, who has become a fan favorite for his selective aggression at the plate.
- Mild concern about offensive inconsistency, particularly with runners in scoring position.
- High praise for the bullpen, even with Prieto pitching through minor soreness.

One fan outside Sacramento Stadium summed it up:
“This team feels steady. Even when they’re behind, you don’t feel like they’re out of it.”

★ ★ ★

FAN MAIL

"Dear Gemmy, why is Larry Mansfield only getting pinch-hit appearances? The guy is hitting .667! Play the man!" — Sactown Sam

Gemmy: Sam, I hear you! Mansfield is the ultimate "break glass in case of emergency" player. While the .667 average looks like a typo, Manager Jimmy Aces seems to love him in that high-leverage sub role. If Murguia or Velasquez hit a cold snap, expect Mansfield to see the grass a bit more often.

"Do you think the pitching can actually stay this good? A 2.60 ERA feels like a fantasy." — ERA-Enthusiast

Gemmy: It’s definitely unsustainable over 162 games, but enjoy the ride! When you have a rotation where the "worst" ERA is still better than most teams' aces, you’re in a dream scenario. Regression will come, but this staff is legit.

★ ★ ★

Gemmy’s Take

This was a week about edges — not blowouts, not fireworks, just edges.

Sacramento played five games decided by two runs or fewer and won four of them. That’s not luck, and it’s not noise. It’s pattern. The Prayers are now 9–2 in one-run games, and that number always makes historians nervous in April. But here’s the thing: this doesn’t feel flimsy.

Andretti on Friday was a master class in pitch economy. Ninety pitches. Eight innings. Three hits. That’s not overpowering; that’s grown-up pitching. And the bullpen? Still boring. Still excellent. Still a gift.

Saturday’s loss matters too — maybe more than the wins. The offense had chances and didn’t convert, and that’s going to happen. The key is that it didn’t spiral. No sloppy innings. No emotional hangover.

At 20–6, Sacramento isn’t sprinting. It’s pacing itself. That’s what championship teams do in April — they stack small advantages and let other teams exhaust themselves trying to catch up.

And one more thing: this division race isn’t over, but San Jose just spent three days being reminded how narrow the margins are when you’re chasing the team on top.

★ ★ ★

LOOKING AHEAD

The Prayers close April with a home game against San Jose before hosting the El Paso Abbots for a three‑game set and welcoming the Boston Messiahs to open May. With the rotation aligned and the bullpen stabilizing, Sacramento enters the new week with momentum and a chance to widen its division lead.

01-25-2026, 10:46 AM	#181
liberty-ca Major Leagues Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: New Westminster, BC Posts: 331	BNN WEEK IN RETROSPECT – PRAYERS WEEKLY Sacramento Prayers: April 22–28, 1990 By Chad G. Petey and C.O. Pilot – Baseball News Network (BNN) and Gemmy Nay, Sacramento Sports Chronicle The Sacramento Prayers completed one of their most demanding and revealing stretches of the young season, navigating a 7‑game slate that included a 12‑inning walk‑off, a three‑game road sweep in San Antonio, and a tightly contested home series against the San Jose Demons. What a week to be a baseball fan in Sacramento. Prayers finished the week 6-1, improving to 20–6, maintaining first place in the AL West, and continuing to show the blend of pitching depth, opportunistic offense, and late‑inning steadiness that has defined their April. This week also marked the emergence of several key storylines: - Bernardo Andretti and Jordan Rubalcava continued to pitch like co‑aces. - Alex Velasquez delivered one of the most efficient power performances of the season. - The bullpen, despite injuries and heavy usage, held together in high‑leverage moments. - The offense, while inconsistent, produced timely innings that swung multiple games. Winning formula is simple: historic pitching combined with timely power. While we finally saw the armor chinked in the Saturday finale against San Jose, the Prayers are currently the most feared team in the league. Let's look at how we got here. ★ ★ ★ Sunday, April 22 — Prayers 9, Priests 8 (12 innings) (Sacramento Stadium) Sacramento opened the week with its longest and most winding contest of the season, a 12‑inning affair that tested both bullpens and required the Prayers to erase a five‑run deficit in the ninth inning. Brooklyn built an early 5–1 lead behind a barrage of doubles and a bases‑loaded gapper from Luke Reddick, who was the most impactful player on either side. Sacramento’s offense, quiet for most of the afternoon, finally broke through in the ninth when Hector Iniguez launched a three‑run homer to left, trimming the deficit to 8–6. Two batters later, George MacDonald punched a two‑out RBI single, and Edwin Musco followed with a game‑tying knock that sent the stadium into a low‑roar disbelief. Both teams traded zeroes until the 12th, when Larry Mansfield, inserted as a defensive replacement earlier, lifted a medium‑deep fly ball to center with the bases loaded. It wasn’t flashy, but it was enough — the winning run crossed easily. Afterward, Mansfield summed it up simply: “We weren’t perfect today, but we stayed in it. That’s what matters.” Luis Prieto earned the win with three innings of work, despite surrendering a late two‑run homer to Reddick. “You don’t win those unless everyone stays locked in,” manager Jimmy Aces said afterward. “That’s the encouraging part.” ★ ★ ★ Monday, April 23 — Prayers 3, Hell Fire 1 (Ballpark of San Antonio) Ricky Gaias moved to 4-0 with a surgical 7.2-inning performance. Gaias delivered another composed, workmanlike outing, navigating San Antonio’s right‑handed lineup with a steady mix of sinkers and late‑breaking sliders. His only blemish came in the fifth, when a leadoff triple eventually scored on a sacrifice fly. Ricky Gaias, commenting on his workload: “I’m comfortable going deep. That’s part of my job.” Sacramento’s offense was scattered but productive enough. Eli Murguia opened the scoring with a sharp RBI single in the third, and in the eighth, Jesus Rodriguez punched a clean single through the left side to break a 1–1 tie. Alex Vieyra added an insurance run in the ninth. Manager Jimmy Aces praised the team’s approach. “We didn’t force anything. We took what the game gave us. We’re throwing strikes and letting the defense work,” Aces said. “That travels.” ★ ★ ★ Tuesday, April 24 — Prayers 2, Hell Fire 0 (Ballpark of San Antonio) This was the Jordan Rubalcava game — a performance that will likely be referenced for months. The right‑hander was in full command, striking out 10 and allowing only four hits across eight innings. His fastball had late life, and his curveball repeatedly froze hitters on the outer edge. The game remained scoreless until the eighth, when Eli Murguia turned on a middle‑in fastball for a two‑run homer. It was one of Sacramento’s few clean swings of the night, but it was all they needed. Rubalcava, typically understated, offered a short assessment: “I felt in rhythm. That’s really it. I didn’t overthink anything, just executed.” Prieto closed the ninth for his eighth save. ★ ★ ★ Wednesday, April 25 — Prayers 5, Hell Fire 1 (Ballpark of San Antonio) Sacramento completed the road sweep behind Robby Larson, who delivered his sharpest outing of the season. Larson coasted behind the five-run cushion, tossing 8 innings of one-run ball and showing improved command of his two‑seamer. The Prayers' rotation is making opposing hitters look like they’re swinging underwater. The offensive highlight belonged to Alex Velasquez, who launched a grand slam in the third inning — a no‑doubt shot to left that immediately changed the tone of the game. Velasquez reached base four times and drove in all but one of Sacramento’s runs. After the game was over, Alex Velasquez commented on his grand slam: “He gave me a pitch I could handle. I didn’t miss it.” San Antonio manager Gerardo Pinal acknowledged the challenge: “We didn’t have an answer for Velasquez tonight.” The road swing moved Sacramento to 18–5 and reinforced its hold on first place in the West. ★ ★ ★ Thursday, April 26 — Prayers 4, Demons 3 (Sacramento Stadium) Returning home, Sacramento leaned on veteran right‑hander Russ Gray, who delivered a steady seven‑inning performance. Gray allowed three runs, two of them earned, and worked efficiently through San Jose’s left‑heavy lineup. The decisive swing came early: George MacDonald’s three‑run homer in the first inning, a towering shot to right‑center that gave Sacramento a 4–0 cushion. The Prayers didn’t score again, but the early burst held up thanks to timely defense and a clean ninth from Luis Prieto and in the end the Prayers hung on for the narrow win. Sacramento improved to 19–5, continuing a strong run against divisional opponents. Gray reflected on the outing: “We weren’t perfect, but we stayed composed. That’s how you win tight ones.” ★ ★ ★ Friday, April 27 — Prayers 3, Demons 2 (Sacramento Stadium) Bernardo Andretti continued his strong April throwing 90 pitches and rarely letting San Jose square the ball up. He was the star on the mound with eight innings of one‑run baseball, mixing early-count strikes with a willingness to challenge hitters inside. His only run allowed came on a soft single in the third. Sacramento’s offense was modest but efficient. Bret Perez tripled in the fifth and later scored, while Gus Cruz added a sacrifice fly. Hector Iniguez contributed a key RBI single in the first. Andretti described his approach: “Just trying to stay consistent. One pitch at a time. It’s a mindset, just trying to do your job, trying to be consistent.” The win pushed the Prayers to 20–5, keeping San Jose at arm’s length in the division race. Prieto earned his 10th save despite a shaky 9th. ★ ★ ★ Saturday, April 28 — Demons 3, Prayers 2 (Sacramento Stadium) The streak finally snapped — the Prayers could not complete the sweep, despite another solid outing from the rotation. The week closed with a narrow loss, despite another quality outing from Ricky Gaias, who allowed three runs across 6.1 innings. Sacramento had multiple chances late but stranded runners in the seventh, eighth, and ninth. The key moment came in the fourth, when San Jose’s Jason Crane delivered a two‑out RBI single to extend the Demons’ lead to 3–1. Sacramento answered with an RBI triple from Eli Murguia, but the offense couldn’t push across the tying run. A late pinch-hitting appearance by Raul Cardenas in the 9th provided hope, but with the last out Sacramento left 11 men on base — a rare moment of inefficiency for this high-octane squad. “They did what it takes to win,” San Jose manager Mike Phillips said. Manager Jimmy Aces kept his side's perspective: “We had opportunities. Some days they fall, some days they don’t.” The loss dropped Sacramento to 20–6, still comfortably atop the West. ★ ★ ★ LEAGUE-WIDE NEWS & INFO The Prayers are officially the gold standard of the American League. They currently lead the AL in Home Runs (36), Slugging (.436), and ERA (2.60). It is incredibly rare to see a team dominate both the power and pitching categories simultaneously. Around the league, scouts are taking notice of Sacramento's strikeout rate — our pitchers lead the league with 187 punchouts, while our hitters are also tied for the most strikeouts. It’s "all or nothing" baseball, and right now, it’s mostly "all." San Jose remains Sacramento’s closest challenger in the West but struggled to generate consistent offense during the series. Fort Worth and Tucson continue to hover near .500, while Seattle and El Paso have fallen further back. ★ ★ ★ CONTRACT NEWS With George MacDonald (.333 AVG, 3 HR) and Jordan Rubalcava (0.98 ERA) performing at MVP and Cy Young levels respectively, the front office is reportedly beginning internal discussions regarding mid-season extensions. Both players are approaching critical arbitration years, and the Prayers would be wise to lock down the core of this 20-6 start before the price tag hits the stratosphere. According to some insider sources, several minor and major extension talks are being held in the moment, and some of them might come to fruition as early, as next week. ★ ★ ★ FAN SENTIMENT Sacramento fans remain energized by the team’s 20–6 start. The most common themes this week: - Confidence in the rotation, especially Rubalcava and Andretti. - Growing appreciation for Velasquez, who has become a fan favorite for his selective aggression at the plate. - Mild concern about offensive inconsistency, particularly with runners in scoring position. - High praise for the bullpen, even with Prieto pitching through minor soreness. One fan outside Sacramento Stadium summed it up: “This team feels steady. Even when they’re behind, you don’t feel like they’re out of it.” ★ ★ ★ FAN MAIL "Dear Gemmy, why is Larry Mansfield only getting pinch-hit appearances? The guy is hitting .667! Play the man!" — Sactown Sam Gemmy: Sam, I hear you! Mansfield is the ultimate "break glass in case of emergency" player. While the .667 average looks like a typo, Manager Jimmy Aces seems to love him in that high-leverage sub role. If Murguia or Velasquez hit a cold snap, expect Mansfield to see the grass a bit more often. "Do you think the pitching can actually stay this good? A 2.60 ERA feels like a fantasy." — ERA-Enthusiast Gemmy: It’s definitely unsustainable over 162 games, but enjoy the ride! When you have a rotation where the "worst" ERA is still better than most teams' aces, you’re in a dream scenario. Regression will come, but this staff is legit. ★ ★ ★ Gemmy’s Take This was a week about edges — not blowouts, not fireworks, just edges. Sacramento played five games decided by two runs or fewer and won four of them. That’s not luck, and it’s not noise. It’s pattern. The Prayers are now 9–2 in one-run games, and that number always makes historians nervous in April. But here’s the thing: this doesn’t feel flimsy. Andretti on Friday was a master class in pitch economy. Ninety pitches. Eight innings. Three hits. That’s not overpowering; that’s grown-up pitching. And the bullpen? Still boring. Still excellent. Still a gift. Saturday’s loss matters too — maybe more than the wins. The offense had chances and didn’t convert, and that’s going to happen. The key is that it didn’t spiral. No sloppy innings. No emotional hangover. At 20–6, Sacramento isn’t sprinting. It’s pacing itself. That’s what championship teams do in April — they stack small advantages and let other teams exhaust themselves trying to catch up. And one more thing: this division race isn’t over, but San Jose just spent three days being reminded how narrow the margins are when you’re chasing the team on top. ★ ★ ★ LOOKING AHEAD The Prayers close April with a home game against San Jose before hosting the El Paso Abbots for a three‑game set and welcoming the Boston Messiahs to open May. With the rotation aligned and the bullpen stabilizing, Sacramento enters the new week with momentum and a chance to widen its division lead. Last edited by liberty-ca; 01-25-2026 at 10:48 AM.