Sacramento Prayers - 1988 FLB Season

[liberty-ca]

Prayers and Priests: A Holy War at the Grounds
By Gemmy Nay, Sacramento Sports Chronicle

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — In a clash of the most pious names in professional baseball, the Sacramento Prayers brought their league-leading crusade to Priests Grounds this week. While the borough of Brooklyn is known for its grit and resilience, the Prayers initially treated the trip like a victory lap, showcasing the offensive firepower that has defined their historic 1988 campaign.

By the time the dust settled on Saturday afternoon, Sacramento left New York with two wins in three tries, moving their season record to a staggering 89-40. They now sit 49 games over the .500 mark, holding a commanding 11.5-game lead in the division.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Thursday: The Cardenas Power Display (Sacramento 10, Brooklyn 1)

The series opener was less of a contest and more of a statement. Roberto Cardenas, filling in with a performance that will make it very hard for Manager Jimmy Aces to keep him out of the lineup, turned Priests Grounds into his personal home run derby. Cardenas went 3-for-4, launching two massive home runs and driving in four.

The rout started early when Alex Mendoza greeted Brooklyn’s Keith Yates with a 2-run double in the first. Sacramento never looked back. On the mound, Fernando Salazar was surgical. He surrendered just three hits over eight innings, looking every bit like the ace a championship team requires in the dog days of August.

> "I'm just looking to see the ball, hit the ball," Mendoza said with a shrug after the game. It sounds simple, but when this lineup is "seeing it" the way they did Thursday, they are terrifying.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Friday: Finding a Way (Sacramento 5, Brooklyn 2)

If Thursday was about power, Friday was about execution. Bernardo Andretti (15-8) took the hill and provided the exact kind of "grinder" performance the Prayers needed. He wasn't perfect, but he was effective, navigating through five hits and two runs to secure the win.

The turning point came in the fifth inning. With the game leaning precariously at 3-2, Alex Velasquez stepped up with two outs and a runner on. He stayed back on an off-speed offering and poked a single to center, driving in a crucial insurance run. The Sacramento bullpen, led by Chris Ryan and a locked-in Luis Prieto (Save #31), ensured the lead held firm.

• Stat of the Night: The Prayers' defense turned two critical double plays, including a spectacular Hicks-to-Strauss connection that took the wind out of a Brooklyn rally.
• Standings Update: With the win, the Prayers officially reached the 11.5-game lead threshold over their nearest rivals.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Saturday: The Rare Stumble (Brooklyn 7, Sacramento 4)

Even the greatest teams have afternoons where the gears don't quite mesh, and Saturday was that day for Russ Gray. Usually the most reliable arm in the rotation, Gray was touched up early and often, giving up two home runs and five earned runs in just over four innings of work.

The Prayers showed life in the first, jumping out to a 3-0 lead behind Edwin Musco's two-run double, but Brooklyn's Dave Olivares settled in and dominated the middle innings. The dagger came in the eighth when Brooklyn's Andy Hamilton laced a two-run single off Michael Wright, putting the game out of reach.

> "It's nice to step up when your team needs you," Hamilton noted after the game, acknowledging the uphill battle any team faces against this Sacramento squad.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Series Highlights & Notables

• The Musco Machine: Edwin Musco continues his MVP-caliber season, finishing the series with a combined five hits and three RBIs. His batting average now sits at a crisp .328.
• Bullpen Durability: Luis Prieto appeared in two of the three games, looking as sharp as ever as he nears the 35-save milestone.
• Road Warrior Status: Despite the Saturday loss, Sacramento remains the most feared road team in the American League, a trait that will serve them well as the postseason looms.

[liberty-ca]

BNN SERIES RECAP — AUGUST 21–23, 1988
SAN JOSE AT SACRAMENTO — “SLAYING THE DEMONS”
By Chad G. Petey, Baseball News Network (BNN) and Gemmy Nay, Sacramento Sports Chronicle

SACRAMENTO — There is a different kind of electricity in the air at Sacramento Stadium when the win counter hits a nice, round number. This week, the Sacramento Prayers didn't just reach a milestone; they demolished it. By sweeping the San Jose Demons, the Prayers have officially crossed the 90-win threshold, sitting at a staggering 92-40.

If the previous series against Tucson felt like a stumble, this three-game set was a sprint. The Prayers outscored the Demons 24-15 over the stretch, proving that even when San Jose’s bats woke up late, the Sacramento juggernaut was simply too far ahead to catch.

By Tuesday night, the gap stood at 14 games. By the final out, the Demons looked less like challengers and more like witnesses.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21 — PRAYERS 10, DEMONS 4

Musco Sets the Tone, and the Series Tilts Immediately

It took exactly one inning for Edwin Musco to flip the series on its head.

Trailing 1–0 in the bottom of the first, Musco sat on a Craig Rentas changeup and launched a grand slam into the Sacramento afternoon, a thunderclap that turned a tense matchup into a runway. The blast — his 22nd homer — capped a five-RBI day for the All-Star second baseman and ignited a 16-hit Prayers attack.

Sacramento scored seven runs in the first two innings, chasing Rentas after just 1.2 frames and 56 pitches. From there, the game unfolded on Sacramento’s terms.

Musco finished 2-for-4, 5 RBI, 2 runs, while Eli Murguia went 3-for-3 before exiting with a baserunning injury — a moment that briefly hushed the crowd of 22,443 before the offense roared again.

Aaron Gilbert wasn’t dominant, but he was sturdy:
7 IP, 6 H, 4 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 4 K, improving to 14–6.

“Some days you don’t need perfection,” Gilbert said later. “You just need your lineup to land the first punch. Ours threw an uppercut.”

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

MONDAY, AUGUST 22 — PRAYERS 5, DEMONS 4

Velasquez Powers, Martinez Finishes

Monday provided the kind of drama that makes October feel right around the corner. It was a heavyweight bout between Sacramento’s Jordan Rubalcava and San Jose’s 19-game winner Joe Brierly.

San Jose starter Jim Brierly entered with a 2.83 ERA and left having thrown 130 pitches across eight innings — exhausted, bruised, and holding a no-decision that felt like a loss. Sacramento chipped away patiently: four walks, timely power, and pressure that never eased.

Alex Velasquez provided the muscle, going 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, scoring twice and driving in two. Alex Mendoza added a late solo shot, and Sacramento stayed within striking distance all night.

That set the stage for Luis Martinez.

Bottom of the ninth. Tie game. One out. Martinez lined a clean single to end it, sending the Prayers pouring out of the dugout and Sacramento Stadium into a familiar late-summer release.

“We don’t chase moments,” Martinez said afterward. “We just make sure we’re still standing when they show up.”

Jordan Rubalcava was excellent again:
7 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 5 K, lowering nothing but reinforcing everything — his 2.08 ERA remains the backbone of the league’s best staff.
> "We just keep banging out these wins," said Manager Jimmy Aces. "It doesn't matter if it's a blowout or a walk-off; this team believes they’re going to win every time they step on that dirt."

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

TUESDAY, AUGUST 23 — PRAYERS 9, DEMONS 7

Musco Again, Because Of Course

If there was any lingering doubt about who owned this matchup, Edwin Musco erased it with two swings.

A two-run homer in the first, then a solo shot in the seventh — Musco’s 23rd and 24th of the season — powered Sacramento through a volatile, momentum-shifting finale that featured four late San Jose homers, tense bullpen moments, and a brief reminder that no lead is sacred in August.

Musco went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI, raising his line to .332 / .397 / .635, and pushing his season totals to 24 HR, 61 RBI.

Fernando Salazar battled through traffic to earn his 14th win:
7 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 5 K on 107 pitches. When San Jose surged late, Luis Prieto closed the door — again — collecting save No. 32 in a season that’s quietly rebuilding his late-inning reputation.

“Edwin doesn’t look like he’s swinging hard,” manager Jimmy Aces said. “That’s the scariest part. That’s just leverage and timing. That’s grown-man hitting.”

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

SERIES BY THE NUMBERS

• Sacramento runs: 24
• San Jose runs: 15
• Prayers OPS (series): .902
• Extra-base hits: 13
• Home runs: 7 (Musco: 4)
• Bullpen ERA (series): 2.25
• Division lead exiting series: 14 games

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

💡 Chronicle Notebook: The "Musco" Meter

It is time we start talking about Edwin Musco in the MVP conversation. Over this three-game series, Musco:

* Went 7-for-12 at the plate.
* Launched 3 home runs (including a Grand Slam).
* Accounted for 11 RBIs.
* Raised his season average to a blistering .332.

When Musco is seeing the ball this well, the Sacramento lineup feels less like a batting order and more like an inevitability.

📋 Injury Update

The clubhouse remains cautiously optimistic about Eli Murguia. After his exit on Sunday, the training staff has been working overtime. With Larry Hicks and Roberto Cardenas stepping up — Cardenas notably had a three-run double in the Tuesday finale — the Prayers have the depth to weather the storm, but losing Murguia’s .318 bat for any extended period would be a test.

[liberty-ca]

Sacramento Sports Chronicle
Heaven and Hell: Prayers Split Weekend War with Satans
By Gemmy Nay

SACRAMENTO — It was a series that lived up to the marquee. The Sacramento Prayers welcomed the Baltimore Satans to town for a three-game set that featured a marathon 16-inning heartbreaker, a late-inning comeback, and a high-scoring slugfest.

While the Prayers took two of three from San Jose earlier in the week, they found the Satans a much tougher out, dropping two narrow 9-7 decisions around a Friday night victory. Despite the 1-2 series result, Sacramento remains the class of the league at 93-42, but the weekend came with a heavy price tag in the form of a thinning pitching staff.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Thursday: The Midnight Marathon (Baltimore 9, Sacramento 7 — 16 Innings)

In a game that lasted five hours and twenty-five minutes, the Prayers and Satans exhausted their bullpens and the patience of the Sacramento faithful. Sacramento clawed back twice in extra frames, including a two-run 13th inning, but they finally ran out of miracles in the 16th.

With the bases loaded, Baltimore’s Daniel Hernandez delivered the death blow — a bases-clearing double off Jose Vizcarra that finally put the game out of reach.

• The Bright Side: Edwin Musco was a machine, going 4-for-7 with two doubles.
• The Irony: Baltimore’s Francisco Guzman tied an American League record by striking out five times in an extra-inning game.
• The Cost: Sacramento used six different pitchers, a heavy tax that would be felt the rest of the weekend.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Friday: Musco’s Muscle and a Major Concern (Sacramento 6, Baltimore 3)

Sacramento bounced back on Friday behind the incredible play of Edwin Musco. The second baseman, who is currently putting together one of the greatest August stretches in franchise history, launched his 25th home run of the season and added a crucial RBI double in the 8th to secure the win.

However, the win was dampened by a hush that fell over Sacramento Stadium in the 6th inning. Ace Russ Gray was forced to leave the game with an injury after six strong innings. While the bullpen — led by Jose Vizcarra and Matt Wright (Save #10) — shut the door, the health of Gray’s arm is now the biggest storyline in the capital.

> "We'll kick back tonight, then get set for the next one," Musco said after the game, though his manager's face told a more concerned story regarding the rotation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Saturday: A Heroic Effort in Vain (Baltimore 9, Sacramento 7)

Saturday was a mirror image of the series opener. For the third straight day, the score ended 9-7, but this time it was a rare collapse by Jordan Rubalcava that doomed the Prayers. Rubalcava, usually the most composed man on the mound, surrendered eight earned runs in just over four innings of work.

The offense did everything it could to bail him out. Edwin Musco was otherworldly, hitting two home runs and driving in five. He now has 27 home runs on the season and has raised his average to .341. Alex Valadez also chipped in a three-hit performance, but the mountain was too high to climb. Baltimore's Gus Sanchez provided the go-ahead single in the 5th, and the Satans' bullpen managed to hold off a 9th-inning Sacramento rally.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The "Musco" Report: An MVP Summer

It is getting difficult to find new adjectives for Edwin Musco. In this series alone, he recorded:

• 8 Hits (including 3 doubles and 3 home runs)
• 8 RBIs
• A .338 to .341 jump in Batting Average

If the season ended today, the MVP trophy might already have his name etched on it.

The Training Room is Getting Crowded

The Prayers are officially in "survival mode" with their roster:

1. Russ Gray: Left Friday’s game with an undisclosed injury.
2. Eli Murguia: Still nursing a leg injury from the San Jose series.
3. The Bullpen: After 16 innings on Thursday and early exits from starters on Friday and Saturday, the arms of Luis Prieto and Dino Garza are being asked to do heavy lifting.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

THE VERDICT

The Prayers won the series.
They padded the record.
They showcased their MVP candidate.

But they also:

• Burned 11 pitchers in three days
• Lost two games after the seventh inning
• Watched their bullpen shoulder 17.1 innings

At 93–42, Sacramento remains baseball’s gold standard — yet this series underscored a familiar truth in pennant races: dominance does not insulate you from fatigue, and October punishes anything left unresolved.

As one coach muttered walking out of the clubhouse Saturday night:

“Great teams win series. Champions survive them.”

[liberty-ca]

BNN SERIES RECAP — AUGUST 28–30, 1988
SACRAMENTO AT EL PASO — “BUSINESS TRIP, BOX CHECKED, TICKET PUNCHED!”
By Chad G. Petey, Baseball News Network (BNN) and Gemmy Nay, Sacramento Sports Chronicle

EL PASO — Pack your bags and ready the champagne. The Sacramento Prayers aren't just the best team in the American League West; they are officially postseason bound. El Paso was never supposed to be poetic. It was supposed to be efficient.

And over three workmanlike nights at Abbots Park, the Sacramento Prayers treated the trip exactly that way — a late-August obligation handled with rotation depth, selective thunder, and a bullpen that continues to shorten games into inevitabilities. Three games, three wins, a playoff berth secured, and a quiet but unmistakable tightening of the division race around them. Sacramento arrived at 94–42. They left at 96–42. The math is growing kinder by the day.

"We did exactly what we said we were going to do—playoffs," said a stone-faced Jordan Rubalcava after the clincher. While the team celebrated briefly in the clubhouse, the vibe remains focused. This isn't just about getting to the dance; it’s about the 9th championship in franchise history.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Game 1 — Sunday, August 28

Prayers 4, Abbots 2

Fernando Salazar set the tone for the series by doing what he has done all summer: absorbing pressure, limiting mistakes, and letting the Prayers play from in front.

Salazar went 7.1 innings, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits, striking out 7 while throwing 75 strikes among 116 pitches. His ERA ticked down to 2.93, and his season line now reads 15–9, quietly anchoring a rotation that has been baseball’s best unit by nearly every metric.

Sacramento scored early — two runs in the first, one in the second — and never trailed. Sam Strauss’ sacrifice fly gave the Prayers a 2–0 cushion before El Paso ever settled in, while Edwin Musco chipped in an RBI single to continue a torrid August in which he’s slugging north of .600.

Luis Prieto closed the door in the ninth for his 33rd save, preserving a win that felt less dramatic than disciplined.

“You don’t need fireworks every night,” Salazar said afterward. “You need clean innings and smart outs. We did that.”

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Game 2 — Monday, August 29

Prayers 4, Abbots 0

If Sunday was control, Monday was command.

Aaron Gilbert authored one of the cleanest outings of the Prayers’ season: 8.1 scoreless innings, 3 hits, 0 walks, and 11 ground-ball outs. His performance was the best of any Sacramento starter since June, and it pushed his record to 15–6 with a 3.32 ERA and a league-elite 1.04 WHIP.

The offense didn’t overwhelm — it didn’t need to. Camden Liston homered in the third, Andres Valadez followed with one in the fourth, and a seventh-inning burst of three solo shots (Liston, Mendoza, Valadez) turned a quiet night into a decisive one.

Sacramento left 15 runners on base and still won comfortably. That, more than the scoreline, told the story.

“This was one of those nights where you look up in the seventh and realize the other team’s running out of innings,” Gilbert said. “That’s a good feeling.”

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Game 3 — Tuesday, August 30

Prayers 6, Abbots 3

The clincher — not for the division, but for October — arrived behind Bernardo Andretti’s resilience and Bret Perez’s timing.

Andretti wasn’t dominant, but he was stubborn: 6.2 innings, 3 runs (2 earned), 7 strikeouts, and 66 strikes on 104 pitches. When El Paso briefly grabbed momentum with a two-run homer in the fifth, Sacramento answered the only way this club ever seems to.

With two outs in the seventh and the Prayers trailing 3–2, Perez lined a two-run single that flipped the game and the series. It was his lone hit of the night — and his 66th RBI, tying him for second on the club.

Francisco Hernandez added insurance with a solo homer in the eighth — his 20th — and Gil Caliari closed the final seven outs without allowing a baserunner, notching his 5th save and lowering his ERA to 2.25.

“Everybody waits for the loud moments,” Perez said. “Most of our wins come from the quiet ones.”

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Series Snapshot

• Record: 3–0
• Runs: Sacramento 14, El Paso 5
• Starting Pitchers’ ERA: 2.17
• Bullpen: 5.1 IP, 0 ER
• Playoff Status: Clinched

Sacramento outscored El Paso despite committing three errors, stranding 32 runners, and never scoring more than six runs in a game. It was not flashy baseball. It was first-place baseball.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Stat Watch: The "20-20" Club

With his home run on Tuesday, Felix Hernandez joined the 20-HR club for the season. Between Hernandez (20 HR) and the red-hot Edwin Musco (27 HR), Sacramento possesses a middle-of-the-order punch that few rotations can navigate safely. Musco finished the series with five more hits, keeping his average at a stellar .341.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Injury Report & Roster Moves

While the clincher is cause for celebration, the "Walking Wounded" list remains a concern:

• Russ Gray remains out, but the performance of Gilbert and Andretti this week has lowered the panic level in Sacramento.
• Eli Murguia is still day-to-day, but Chris Liston and Larry Hicks filled the void admirably in El Paso, combining for 7 hits over the series.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Bigger Picture

They haven’t yet won the American League West. That celebration remains on hold. But the destination is no longer in doubt.

At 96–42, with the league’s best run differential and both the AL’s top offense and pitching staff, the Prayers are now officially October-bound — for the 19th time in franchise history — and chasing what would be their 9th Fictional Baseball League championship.

History is calling. The Prayers are heading back to October. The next goal is louder. And much closer now.

[liberty-ca]

BNN RETROSPECT — AUGUST 1988
The August Surge: A Month of Miracles and Milestones or Measured Power: How the Prayers Learned to Win Without Dominance
By Chad G. Petey, Baseball News Network (BNN) and By Gemmy Nay, Sacramento Sports Chronicle

If you spent any time at Sacramento Stadium this August, you likely left with two things: a slight sunburn and the distinct feeling that you were watching history in the making. As the calendar flips toward September, the Sacramento Prayers have done more than just survive the "dog days" of summer; they have conquered them. Ending the month with a staggering 96-42 record and an officially clinched postseason berth, this squad has transitioned from being a divisional front-runner to an absolute juggernaut.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

A MONTH THAT TESTED THE MARGINS

At a glance, August looked ordinary by Sacramento standards. The offense scored roughly 4.6 runs per game, down from June’s explosive pace, and the rotation showed visible wear. Yet the standings barely budged. Sacramento entered September at 96–42, with a 14-game division lead, because even at reduced efficiency, their baseline remained elite.

They closed August:

• 1st in AL in runs scored (692)
• 1st in AL in OBP (.335), SLG (.433), and OPS (.768)
• 1st in AL in ERA (3.04) and runs allowed (457)

That is the quiet truth of August: Sacramento played “below peak” baseball and still outperformed everyone else.

“We didn’t play our prettiest month,” manager Jimmy Aces said late in the homestand against Baltimore. “But we played grown-up baseball. That’s different.”

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

EDWIN MUSCO AND THE CENTER OF GRAVITY

Any analysis of the Prayers' performance this month begins and ends with Edwin Musco. We are witnessing a singular talent operating at the peak of his powers. Musco didn’t just hit the ball in August; he punished it. Across the series against San Jose, Baltimore, and El Paso, Musco hammered six home runs, including a season-defining grand slam against the Demons.

By the time the team left El Paso, Musco had raised his season average to .341 and his home run tally to 27. His ability to produce in high-leverage situations — driving in 11 runs in a single three-game stretch — has transformed the lineup. When Musco is in the box, the air in the stadium changes. He has become the gravity around which the rest of the offense orbits. When pitchers worked around him, it opened space for Alex Mendoza (.285, 14 HR, 57 RBI) and Francisco Hernandez (20 HR, 66 RBI, 36 SB) to keep pressure constant.

“You feel Musco even when he doesn’t hit,” one opposing scout said. “Every mistake changes the game.”

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

DEPTH OVER DAZZLE IN THE LINEUP

August tested the Prayers’ depth in ways that would have fractured a lesser team and highlighted Sacramento’s defining advantage: lineup redundancy. We saw the highs of a three-game sweep of San Jose and the grueling lows of a 16-inning marathon loss to the Baltimore Satans. That 9-7 heartbreaker against Baltimore was perhaps the most informative game of the month. Despite exhausting the bullpen and losing a late lead, the team didn't spiral. Instead, they returned the next night and grinded out a win, proving that their mental fortuity is as sharp as their physical talent.

The emergence of Felix Hernandez as a 20-home-run threat and the steadying presence of Bret Perez at third base provided the necessary insurance during a week where Eli Murguia was sidelined with a leg injury. The "next man up" philosophy isn't just a cliché in Jimmy Aces' clubhouse; it’s a lived reality.


No hitter besides Musco posted a historic month, but nearly everyone contributed:

• Bret Perez: .286 AVG, 15 HR, 66 RBI, 34 SB
• Alex Velasquez: .267 AVG, 16 HR, 65 RBI
• Sam Strauss: .265 AVG, 11 HR, 55 RBI, .357 OBP
• Team total: 171 HR (1st in AL) and 475 BB (1st in AL)

Sacramento did not chase. They wore pitchers down. Even in losses, opposing starters routinely exited early, a subtle advantage that paid dividends in rubber games.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

ROTATION FATIGUE — AND SURVIVAL

If August raised concerns anywhere, it was the rotation’s workload. The starting rotation has been the bedrock of this 96-win campaign, though the cracks are starting to show under the strain of the season. Aaron Gilbert and Fernando Salazar have been nothing short of spectacular, both reaching the 15-win mark this month. Gilbert’s masterpiece in El Paso—8.1 innings of three-hit, shutout ball—showcased a pitcher who is peaking at exactly the right time for a deep October run.

By month’s end:

• Jordan Rubalcava: 18–4, 2.42 ERA, 146 K (clearly fatigued)
• Fernando Salazar: 15–9, 2.93 ERA
• Bernardo Andretti & Aaron Gilbert: both flagged as exhausted

The stuff was still there. The margins were thinner. However, the "informative" part of this retrospect must acknowledge the growing concern over the training room. The injury to Russ Gray during the Baltimore series has cast a shadow over the rotation. While Bernardo Andretti and Jordan Rubalcava have filled the gaps admirably, the health of the staff remains the only real hurdle between this team and a championship. The bullpen, specifically Luis Prieto and Matt Wright, has been taxed heavily, and the focus for September must shift from "winning at all costs" to "preserving the arms."

Rubalcava remained the league’s most reliable stopper, but his dominance softened into efficiency. Fewer strikeouts. More early contact. Less margin for error.

“You’re not trying to win August,” pitching coach Jordan Gonzalez said. “You’re trying to still have bullets in October.”

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

THE BULLPEN HELD THE LINE

If the starters bent, the bullpen absorbed. Sacramento’s relief corps finished August with:

• Bullpen ERA: 2.80 (1st in AL)
• Opponents AVG: .228
• WHIP leaders across multiple roles

Luis Prieto was untouchable late, converting save after save and posting a 0.60 ERA over his last 12 appearances entering September. Matt Wright (1.94 ERA) and Gil Caliari (2.25 ERA) quietly bridged the middle innings, preserving narrow leads that earlier versions of the Prayers might have extended — but did not need to.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

AUGUST IN CONTEXT

Monthly records tell the story clearly:

• April: 22–3 (.880) — shock and awe
• June: 23–5 (.821) — peak dominance
• July: 18–10 (.643) — correction
• August: 17–11 (.607) — control

August was not about momentum. It was about sustainability.

Sacramento proved they could win without perfect health, without peak velocity, and without historic run totals — and that may be the most dangerous version of this team.

“If this is our floor,” Musco said quietly after the final August series, “I like where we’re standing.”

Clinched. It’s a beautiful word for a fan base that has watched this team dominate since April. By sweeping the Abbots to close out the month, Sacramento has assured itself a seat at the table. They are 13 games up in the American League West, and the "Magic Number" to clinch the division title is now a mere formality.

The Prayers are playing for more than a division banner, though. They are playing for the 9th Fictional Baseball League championship in franchise history. If August was any indication, this team has the power, the pitching depth, and the sheer willpower to get it done. The heat of August is fading, but the Sacramento Prayers are just starting to boil.

[liberty-ca]

FBL Standings - September 3, 1988

[liberty-ca]

Prayers One Step from Heaven: Sacramento Hits 99 Wins After Columbus Sweep
By Gemmy Nay, Sacramento Sports Chronicle

SACRAMENTO — There is a special kind of magic in the air at Sacramento Stadium this week. The Sacramento Prayers didn't just welcome the Columbus Heaven to town; they systematically dismantled them. With a three-game sweep that concluded Friday night, the Prayers have extended their winning streak to six games and reached a staggering 99-42 record.

One more win. Just one more, and this team hits the century mark. But beyond the milestones, the real story of this series was the return of a hero and the emergence of a "Slammin' Sam."

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Wednesday: The Return of the Ace (Sacramento 4, Columbus 1)

The biggest collective sigh of relief in Sacramento history occurred in the first inning on Wednesday night. Russ Gray, who gave everyone a scare after leaving his last start with an injury, looked like he hadn't missed a beat. Gray carved through the Columbus lineup, tossing 6.2 innings of one-run ball.

• The Turning Point: In the 6th, Columbus threatened with two on and one out, but Gray induced a massive double play from Jared Roark to kill the rally.
• The Closer: Luis Prieto locked down his 34th save.
• Note: Columbus lost shortstop Jonathan Lara early to an ejection, which certainly didn't help their cause.

Thursday: Rubalcava Eyes Twenty (Sacramento 4, Columbus 2)

Jordan Rubalcava continued his march toward a historic 20-win season on Thursday. He wasn't perfect, scattering eight hits over eight innings, but he was incredibly resilient. Rubalcava moved to 19-4 on the year, proving why he’s a Cy Young frontrunner.

• The Power: Sam Strauss launched his 12th home run of the year, signaling that his bat was starting to wake up.
• The Speed: The Prayers were aggressive on the basepaths, swiping four bags, including Felix Hernandez’s 38th of the season.

Friday: The Sam Strauss Show (Sacramento 7, Columbus 1)

If Thursday was a wake-up call for Sam Strauss, Friday was a full-blown alarm. Strauss dismantled Columbus pitching, launching two home runs and driving in three. When Strauss is hitting like this, this lineup becomes essentially unpitchable.

• Salazar’s Stability: Fernando Salazar earned his 16th win with a gritty 7.2-inning performance.
• The Avalanche: A five-run 3rd inning, highlighted by a two-run single from Alex Velasquez, effectively ended the contest early.
• Injury Note: The injury bug that hit Sacramento last week seems to have migrated to the visitors; Columbus saw star Josh Eichelman leave the game after an injury on the bases.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The "Road to 100" Tracker

The Prayers are now sitting at 99 wins. To put that in perspective, they are playing .702 baseball.

Key Performers this Series:

• Sam Strauss: 3 HR, 4 RBI in two days.
• Russ Gray: Proved the rotation is healthy heading into the stretch.
• Luis Prieto: 2-for-2 in save opportunities (now 35 for 39).

"Our guys are never satisfied," manager Jimmy Aces told us after Friday's win. That hunger is palpable. The division title is all but a formality now — the real question is how high this win total can go before the playoffs begin.

[liberty-ca]

BNN SERIES RECAP — SEPTEMBER 3–5, 1988
SACRAMENTO AT BOSTON — THE CENTURY MARK AND THE COST UF GLORY
By Gemmy Nay, Sacramento Sports Chronicle and Chad G. Petey, Baseball News Network (BNN)

BOSTON — History was made this weekend at Messiahs Stadium, but it arrived with a bittersweet sting. The Sacramento Prayers officially became the first team in the league to reach the 100-win milestone on Saturday, cementing their status as a legendary regular-season squad. They left Boston having taken two of three, pushing their record to 102–43, reaffirming the formula that’s carried them all year: strike early, absorb pressure, and trust that the late innings will bend their way more often than not.

However, the road to 100 — and now 101 — has left the Prayers looking more like a M.A.S.H. unit than a baseball team. While the champagne should be flowing for the century mark, the trainers' room is currently the most crowded place in the organization.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

GAME 1 — SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

Prayers 12, Messiahs 2

The Prayers reached triple digits in win totals with a thunderous statement. This one unfolded like a batting-practice reel that suddenly found stakes, and it wasn't just a win; it was a demolition.

• The Hero: Jose Rubbi had the game of his life, blasting two home runs and driving in five.
• The Power Display: Sacramento launched six home runs in total, with Iniguez, Velasquez, Strauss, and Hernandez all joining the hit parade.
• The Bitter Pill: Aaron Gilbert earned his 16th win, but at a massive cost. The right-hander was forced to leave the game with an injury in the 7th inning. With the playoffs looming, the health of the rotation is now under a microscope.

Rubbi’s three-run shot in the seventh off David Bearse was the hinge moment. The Prayers entered the inning up just two; they exited having broken Boston’s will.

“Sometimes you don’t feel the game tilt,” Rubbi said afterward. “Then one swing reminds everyone which direction it’s going.”

GAME 2 — SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

Prayers 6, Messiahs 5 (11 innings)

Sunday’s contest was a grueling, four-hour marathon that tested the Prayers' depth and resolve.

• Mendoza’s Moment: After a back-and-forth battle, Alex Mendoza crushed a solo shot in the top of the 11th to provide the winning margin.
• Valadez in the Clutch: Alex Valadez nearly ended it early with a massive 3-run homer in the 5th.
• More Injury Woes: The injury curse struck again, this time claiming superstar second baseman Edwin Musco. Musco left the game in the 4th inning after an injury sustained while throwing, leaving a massive hole in the middle of the infield and the lineup.

“That’s September baseball,” Mendoza said. “You can be quiet for ten innings and still decide the game.”

Statistically, this was the kind of game Sacramento usually wins:

• Only three runners left on base
• Two double plays turned
• Zero extra-base hits allowed after the eighth

The Messiahs had chances. The Prayers had answers.


GAME 3 — MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

Messiahs 3, Prayers 2

This was a game decided not by mistakes, but by thin margins and sequencing. The seven-game winning streak finally came to an end on Monday night. A fatigued Sacramento squad struggled to solve Boston’s Kevin Baily, who held them to just three hits over six innings.

• Gray’s Struggles: Russ Gray was sharp if unspectacular: he took the loss, laboring through five innings and allowing two runs.
• Silver Lining: Jose Rodriguez continues to be a bright spot as a sub, driving in both Sacramento runs with a double and a sacrifice fly.

“They didn’t give us much,” Gray admitted. “That’s what happens when you face a club that lives on one or two moments.”

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

SERIES SNAPSHOT — WHAT IT MEANT

Run Differential: +10
Home Runs: 11
Bullpen ERA (series): 2.84
LOB Differential: Sacramento +2

More telling than any single stat was this: Sacramento scored first in all three games. Even in the loss, the Prayers dictated early tempo — a hallmark of teams that know exactly who they are.

The Prayers currently sit at 101-43. While that record is historic, the roster is currently held together by athletic tape and grit.

"If the effort is there, the wins will come," Jose Rubbi told the Chronicle. The effort is certainly there, but manager Jimmy Aces is now facing a puzzle: how do you balance the hunt for the all-time wins record with the desperate need to get his stars healthy for October?

With 101 wins in the books and the rotation looking thin, the focus shifts to the bench.

[liberty-ca]

BNN SERIES RECAP — SEPTEMBER 7–9, 1988
MILWAUKEE AT SACRAMENTO — “PLAYOFF MODE ENGAGED”
By Gemmy Nay, Sacramento Sports Chronicle and Chad G. Petey, Baseball News Network (BNN)

SACRAMENTO — If the Sacramento Prayers are feeling the pressure of their historic 104-win pace or the weight of their growing injury list, they certainly aren't showing it. By the time the Milwaukee Bishops arrived at Sacramento Stadium, the standings had already begun to feel ceremonial. The Prayers were standing on the edge of inevitability — the American League West all but wrapped, the postseason ticket already punched. What followed over three nights wasn’t a victory lap so much as a declaration: Sacramento had shifted gears, and the league could feel it.

Returning home to the friendly confines of Sacramento Stadium this week, the Prayers systematically dismantled the Milwaukee Bishops in a three-game sweep. The headline story, however, isn't just the wins — it’s the coronation of an ace. On Wednesday night, Jordan Rubalcava became the first pitcher in the league to reach the elusive 20-win plateau, cementing his case for the Cy Young Award.Across 27 innings, the Prayers outscored Milwaukee 20–4, out-hit them 33–16, and allowed exactly one inning where the outcome felt even remotely unsettled. This was a contender tightening bolts, not loosening ties.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

September 7 — Rubalcava Sets the Tone (Prayers 8, Bishops 1)

The atmosphere was electric as Rubalcava took the mound seeking history, and he did not disappoint. Over eight dominant innings, the right-hander surrendered just three hits and a lone solo home run, while racking up 10 strikeouts. If there was any doubt about how seriously Sacramento intended to treat September, Jordan Rubalcava erased it by the second inning.

Milwaukee scratched first on a two-out solo homer by Jim Cooper, but that swing would stand as the Bishops’ final moment of relevance. From there, Rubalcava authored eight innings of pitching authority:
8.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 10 K

Rubalcava generated 17 swings and misses, lived at the knees with his fastball, and forced 14 outs on balls not squared beyond the infield grass. His 20th win moved him into rarefied league company and reinforced his place among the AL’s elite.

“Once Jordan finds that downhill plane, you’re not really hitting — you’re surviving,” manager Jimmy Aces said. “Tonight, they were surviving until they weren’t.”

With stars like Edwin Musco sidelined, the bench continues to provide lightning. Offensively, Sacramento waited patiently before detonating:

• Jesus Rodriguez delivered the blow of the night — a three-run homer in the 4th, his first of the season, flipping a 1–0 deficit into a 3–1 advantage.
• Sam Strauss continued his late-summer surge with 3 hits and 6 total bases, raising his slugging percentage to a division-leading clip.
• The eighth inning turned theatrical: four runs, three homers, and the kind of crowd roar reserved for October previews.

Sacramento’s pitchers faced 31 Milwaukee batters and struck out 11, while the defense converted every meaningful chance. It felt, unmistakably, like a switch had been flipped.

"Jordan was dictating to their hitters," manager Jimmy Aces said. "He knew he wanted that 20th win, and he went out and took it."

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

September 8 — Salazar Grinds, Defense Closes (Prayers 3, Bishops 1)

In a stark contrast to Wednesday’s blowout, Thursday was a testament to Sacramento’s defensive prowess and Fernando Salazar’s efficiency.

Fernando Salazar didn’t overpower Milwaukee — he out-thought them. Mixing tempo and eye level, Salazar scattered 8 hits across 8 innings, allowing just one run while inducing 10 ground-ball outs. He worked out of four separate traffic situations without surrendering an extra-base hit after the second inning.

The offense scratched early and stayed surgical:

• Bret Perez’s RBI double in the first (his 32nd two-bagger) opened the scoring.
• Sam Strauss added another RBI knock, pushing his seven-game line to an absurd .560 average with six homers.
• Sacramento went 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position, modest on paper, but timely in effect.

Luis Prieto closed the ninth with calm efficiency — save No. 36 — punctuating a game that felt more playoff rehearsal than midweek divisional matchup.

“We’re not chasing style points anymore,” Perez said. “We’re chasing habits.”

Sacramento improved to 103–43, tightening the division vise to the point of mathematical suffocation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

September 9 — Champagne Numbers, October Swings (Prayers 9, Bishops 2)

By Friday night, the math caught up with the mood.

The Prayers officially clinched the American League West, and then played like a club that had no intention of slowing down to celebrate.

Sam Strauss was everywhere:

• 3-for-5
• 2 doubles
• 17th homer
• 3 runs scored
• 8 total bases

His two-run blast in the third inning broke the game open, but the avalanche followed from all corners:

• Bret Perez added a two-run homer of his own, pushing his RBI total to 71.
• Francisco Hernandez launched his 22nd homer, continuing a quietly elite power-speed campaign (22 HR, 40 SB).
• Sacramento piled up 16 hits, including 7 for extra bases, and never let Milwaukee mount momentum.

On the mound, Bernardo Andretti delivered exactly what clinch nights demand:
7.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 8 K, commanding counts and inducing weak contact when Milwaukee tried to extend at-bats.

"You start putting runs on the board and winning, everyone's going to get excited," Strauss noted post-game. “You don’t clinch anything by relaxing,” Strauss added smiling. “You clinch it by playing the same way you got here.”

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Series Takeaways: What the Numbers Say Now

• Rotation Statement: Rubalcava, Salazar, and Andretti combined for 23.1 IP, 4 ER, 21 K, holding Milwaukee to a .167 batting average.
• Late-Season Surge: Over the last 10 games, Sacramento stands 9–1, outscoring opponents 56–21.
• League Context: The Prayers now lead the AL in runs scored (747), OPS (.771), and ERA (2.96) — a rare three-phase dominance entering postseason play.
• Depth Matters: Seven different players recorded multi-hit games in the series; eight drove in runs.

Despite missing Edwin Musco and Aaron Gilbert, the Prayers are playing some of their most balanced baseball of the season.

• The Replacement Factor: Larry Martinez and Jose Rodriguez have combined to fill the offensive void left by Musco, with Rodriguez specifically proving to be a clutch power source.
• Sam Strauss Watch: Strauss is now hitting .280 with 17 HRs, providing the veteran leadership this clubhouse needs as they eye the championship.

Sacramento didn’t just clinch a division this week. They reasserted control over the league’s narrative. The standings may now be settled, but the message from Sacramento Stadium was unmistakable: the Prayers aren’t easing into October — they’re sharpening for it.

[liberty-ca]

BNN SERIES RECAP — SEPTEMBER 10–12, 1988
SEATTLE AT SACRAMENTO — “CONTROL, RESPONSE, AND THE FINAL WORD”
By Chad G. Petey, Baseball News Network (BNN)

The Sacramento Prayers didn’t just finish off another homestand — they reinforced why September is shaping itself around them.

Over three games against the Seattle Lucifers, Sacramento took two of three, moving to 106–44 (.707), tightening their grip on the league’s best overall record, and continuing a familiar pattern: absorb a punch, recalibrate, and respond with authority.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 — PRAYERS 6, LUCIFERS 2

Iniguez ignites, Gray stabilizes

Sacramento opened the series by quietly suffocating Seattle with balance. Hector Iniguez delivered one of his most complete games of the season — 2-for-3, HR, BB, 3 runs scored — while Russ Gray once again demonstrated why he remains one of the league’s steadiest arms.

Gray worked 7 innings, allowing 2 runs on 9 hits, no walks, and 5 strikeouts, improving to 16–8 with a 2.99 ERA. He faced traffic but never panic, retiring 11 of the final 14 hitters he saw.

The Prayers scratched early and often:

• Iniguez’s solo homer in the 2nd
• *A two-run 3rd built on contact and pressure
• Productive outs — two sacrifice flies, three hit-by-pitches drawn*

Seattle managed just one meaningful surge — a seventh-inning solo homer and RBI triple — but Matt Wright erased the rest with two perfect innings, lowering his ERA to 1.84.

“Good baseball players make you a smarter manager,” Jimmy Aces said afterward. “They solve problems before you have to.”

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 — LUCIFERS 7, PRAYERS 5

Early damage proves costly

Seattle’s lone win came the hard way: early offense and just enough bullpen survival. The Lucifers scored six runs in the first three innings, capitalizing on command issues from David Garza, who was tagged for 6 runs in 2.2 innings.

Josh Hill was the engine — 3-for-4, double, 3 runs, RBI, consistently setting the table. A three-run homer from Alex Miller turned a manageable deficit into a climb.

To Sacramento’s credit, the response was immediate:

• Alex Velasquez launched his 19th homer
• Sam Strauss crushed his 18th, pushing his slugging to .453
• The Prayers drew six walks and left 10 on base, repeatedly threatening late

But Seattle’s bullpen bent without breaking. Tom Pallo closed the door for his 29th save, stranding the tying run at the plate.

More concerning than the loss itself: CF Francisco Hernandez exited injured, a reminder that September carries risks even for teams already thinking October.

“We made them work,” Strauss said. “But you can’t spot good teams six runs and expect the math to forgive you.”

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 — PRAYERS 4, LUCIFERS 1

Rubalcava delivers the final word

If Sunday introduced doubt, Monday erased it.

Jordan Rubalcava authored another defining chapter in his Cy Young–caliber season:
8.1 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 6 strikeouts, improving to 21–4 with a 2.31 ERA. He scattered three walks but allowed just one Seattle runner to reach third base after the third inning.

Sacramento did its damage early. Andres Valadez homered in the second, and Iniguez struck again in the third, lining a two-out, two-run single — his 115th hit — to put the game firmly in hand.

Luis Prieto handled the final two outs for save No. 37, extending a stretch in which he’s allowed zero runs over his last 16 appearances.

“If you pitch well, you give yourself some opportunities,” Aces said. “Jordan didn’t give them air.”

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

SERIES SNAPSHOT

* Record: 2–1
* Runs: Sacramento 15, Seattle 10
* Starting Pitching ERA: 2.47
* Bullpen ERA: 0.00 (6.1 IP, 0 ER)
* Key Performers:

* Hector Iniguez: 5-for-10, 2 RBI, HR, 4 runs
* Jordan Rubalcava: 8.1 IP, 1 ER, W
* Sam Strauss: HR, 4 RBI across series

Sacramento didn’t dominate every inning. They didn’t need to. They managed leverage, trusted depth, and closed strong — hallmarks of a club that understands exactly where it is on the calendar.

The Prayers leave the series not just atop the standings, but firmly in control of tempo — and in September, that may matter more than anything else.

[liberty-ca]

The High Price of History: Prayers Hit 106 Wins Amidst Growing Pains
By Gemmy Nay, Sacramento Sports Chronicle

SACRAMENTO — There is a paradoxical feeling surrounding Sacramento Stadium these days. On one hand, the Sacramento Prayers are authoring the greatest regular season in the history of the game, sitting at a staggering 106-44 after taking two of three from the Seattle Lucifers. On the other hand, the victory marches are beginning to feel like a war of attrition.

The Prayers are winning, but the roster is being stretched to its absolute limit. As we analyze this latest series against Seattle, the brilliance on the diamond is being shadowed by the recurring sight of stars heading toward the trainer’s room.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The Hernandez Blow: A Dark Sunday Afternoon

The most critical moment of the weekend didn't come from a home run or a strikeout, but from a routine throw in the second inning on Sunday. Francisco Hernandez, the engine of the Prayers' outfield and a spark plug on the basepaths, was forced out of the game with an injury.

Losing Hernandez on top of Edwin Musco and Aaron Gilbert feels like a cruel joke from the baseball gods. While Larry Hicks stepped in admirably — including a triple and two stolen bases in Sunday’s loss — there is no denying that the Prayers’ "A-list" lineup is starting to look like a preseason roster.

The Return of Hector "The Hammer" Iniguez

If there is a silver lining to the injury crisis, it is the resurgence of Hector Iniguez. With the spotlight shifting away from the sidelined stars, Iniguez has reclaimed center stage.

• Saturday's Spark: In the series opener, Iniguez was the catalyst, going 2-for-3 with a home run and scoring three times to power a 6-2 victory.
• Monday’s Clutch Single: In the rubber match, he delivered a two-out, two-run single that effectively buried Seattle.

Iniguez is now batting .247 with 13 home runs, but his value as a stabilizing force in a shifting infield cannot be overstated. Alongside Alex Valadez, who notched his 16th home run on Monday, the middle of the Prayers' defense is holding firm under immense pressure.

The Two Faces of the Rotation

The Seattle series provided a fascinating look at the current state of the Sacramento pitching staff.

Russ Gray looked like his old self on Saturday, navigating seven innings with zero walks and five strikeouts. It was a "pro’s pro" performance — economical, efficient, and exactly what a taxed bullpen needed.

However, Sunday exposed the vulnerability of the depth. D. Garza struggled mightily, tagged for six runs in just 2.2 innings. While the offense tried to claw back behind home runs from Sam Strauss (his 18th) and Alex Velasquez (his 19th), the early deficit was a mountain too high to climb, resulting in a rare 7-5 loss.

Rubalcava: The 21-Win Wonder

Then, there is Jordan Rubalcava. At this point, we are running out of superlatives. Rubalcava took the mound on Monday and put on a clinic, going 8.1 innings and allowing only a single run.

With a 21-4 record and a 2.31 ERA, Rubalcava isn't just the ace of the staff; he is the insurance policy for the entire city of Sacramento. Whenever the team feels like it’s sliding, he stops the bleed. Luis Prieto stepped in to record the final two outs for his 37th save, but the night belonged to the man they call "Ruby."

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Retrospect Analysis: The "Jimmy Aces" Philosophy

Manager Jimmy Aces told us after Saturday’s win, "Good baseball players make you a smarter manager." Right now, Aces is being forced to be the smartest man in the league. He is juggling a bench that is seeing more playing time than ever before, yet the team continues to play .707 baseball.

The Prayers have reached 106 wins. The division is won. The record is historic. But as we look toward October, the focus in Sacramento isn't on the win column —i t’s on the health reports.

[liberty-ca]

BNN SERIES RECAP — SEPTEMBER 13–15, 1988
SACRAMENTO AT FORT WORTH — “CONTROLLED VIOLENCE”
By Chad G. Petey, Baseball News Network (BNN) and Gemmy Nay, Sacramento Sports Chronicle

FORT WORTH — Everything is Bigger in Texas — Including the Win Column. Sacramento arrived at Spirits Grounds with the division already in hand and left having delivered a quiet reminder of why September is no longer a race for them — it’s a rehearsal.

The Sacramento Prayers (109-44) didn't just visit the Lone Star State this week; they occupied it. In a three-game dismantling of the Fort Worth Spirits, Sacramento pushed their season win total to a staggering 109 games.

While the headline is the sweep, the subtext is the resilience of a roster that refuses to slow down, regardless of who is in the trainer’s room. From blowout power displays to surgical shutouts, the Prayers are proving they have multiple ways to beat you. Three games, three wins. Different shapes, same ending.

★ ★ ★

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 — PRAYERS 11, SPIRITS 2

Valadez ignites, Salazar steadies

Tuesday night was a clinic in "aggressive" baseball, as manager Jimmy Aces put it. The opener didn’t tilt until it snapped. Through three innings Sacramento probed, and in the fourth they broke Fort Worth. After a quiet start, the Prayers' bats exploded for six runs in the 5th inning. In a rare display of back-to-back-to-back dominance, Alex Mendoza, Andres Valadez, and Sam Strauss all cleared the fences in the same frame.

A two-out, run-scoring single by Héctor Iniguez flipped a 2–1 deficit into momentum, and by the time the fifth inning ended, the Prayers had effectively ended the contest with a six-run eruption featuring three home runs in a four-batter span.

Andres Valadez was everywhere:

* 2-for-4, HR, double, walk
* 3 RBI, 6 total bases
* Player of the Game

Behind him, Sam Strauss went deep, Alberto Mendoza drove in three, and Sacramento piled up 12 hits and 6 walks, chasing Fort Worth pitching into mismatch territory.

On the mound, Fernando Salazar wasn’t overpowering — 4 strikeouts, 109 pitches, Game Score 59 — but he was economical when it mattered. After allowing a second-inning homer, he stranded seven runners over the next five frames and handed the bullpen an easy bridge.

“We didn’t wait for the game to come to us,” Salazar said. “Once the door cracked, we kicked it.”

Sacramento scored 10 runs between the 4th and 7th innings. Fort Worth never scored again.

★ ★ ★

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 — PRAYERS 4, SPIRITS 0

Andretti reduces the game

If Tuesday was blunt force, Wednesday was subtraction — if Tuesday was about the hammer, Wednesday was about the scalpel.
With several regular starters resting or recovering, Ricardo Aguirre seized his opportunity in the leadoff spot, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs. It was a "pro’s game" — efficient, quiet, and utterly dominant.

Bernardo Andretti turned in perhaps his finest performance of the season, scattering three lonely hits over eight scoreless innings and carving Fort Worth down to its essentials:

* 8 shutout innings
* 3 hits, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts
* 101 pitches,
* Record: 18–8, ERA trimmed to 3.42

The Spirits never advanced a runner past second.
Offensively, Sacramento did just enough — and that was more than enough.

* Ramon Aguirre: 3-for-4, double, 2 RBI
* Ben Perez: RBI single
* Sam Strauss: RBI single, SB

Sacramento stole four bases, forced Fort Worth into defensive compression, and turned a one-run game into a controlled glide path.

“We didn’t try to light the place up,” Andretti said. “I wanted them to feel every out.”

★ ★ ★

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 — PRAYERS 4, SPIRITS 3

Strauss, Rubbi, and the mess that still wins

The series finale was a "grit" game in every sense of the word. The big news broke before the first pitch: Edwin Musco is back. The star second baseman returned to the lineup, collecting a hit and a walk, a sight that surely breathed life back into the Sacramento dugout. Sacramento made five errors. Fort Worth took an early punch with a two-run homer. The game twisted instead of flowed. And Sacramento still won.

Sam Strauss authored the spine of it:

* 3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 runs
* His 20th home run of the season
* Player of the Game

After Fort Worth tied it in the seventh, Jose Rubbi — hitless to that point — delivered the defining swing: a run-scoring single that put Sacramento ahead for good.

“It wasn’t pretty,” Strauss admitted. “But pretty doesn’t travel. Grit does.”

On the mound, Russ Gray absorbed the mess — 6 innings, 0 walks, 87 pitches — and the bullpen closed ranks behind him. Luis Prieto locked down save No. 38, needing just 16 pitches to end it.

Sacramento left 11 runners on base, committed errors at three positions, and still dictated the final inning without drama.

That’s what control looks like when it’s internal.

★ ★ ★

SERIES SNAPSHOT

• Record: 3–0
• Runs: 19 scored, 5 allowed
• Starters’ ERA: 2.31
• Home Runs: 6
• Stolen Bases: 7
• Save Opportunities: 1 (converted)

★ ★ ★

Gemmy’s Take: The Cost of the Grind

The 109-44 record is the envy of the baseball world, but the five errors on Thursday suggest that the mental fatigue of this historic chase might be creeping in. However, seeing Musco back on the field changes the entire complexion of the upcoming postseason.

The Prayers are now 18.5 games up in the AL West. At this point, they aren't playing against the Spirits or the Lucifers; they are playing against the record books.

[liberty-ca]

BNN SERIES RECAP — SEPTEMBER 16–18, 1988
WASHINGTON AT SACRAMENTO — “THREE DAYS, THREE MOODS”
By Chad G. Petey, Baseball News Network (BNN) and Gemmie Nay, Sacramento Sports Chronicle

The Sacramento Prayers officially crossed the historic 110-win threshold this weekend, but the champagne remains on ice. Sacramento Stadium spent the weekend cycling through disbelief, frustration, and finally quiet appreciation. The Washington Devils — buried in the standings, playing out the string — arrived with nothing to lose. What should have been a celebratory series against the bottom-dwelling Washington Devils (60-96) turned into a grinding, three-day struggle that saw the Prayers drop two of three and, more importantly, lose a key piece of their rotation to the training room.

★ ★ ★

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 — Devils Steal One in the 11th (Washington 6, Sacramento 5)

This one felt harmless until it wasn’t.

Sacramento landed early punches — two Alex Mendoza home runs, a steady middle innings grind — and still found itself scrambling as Washington refused to go away. Tyler Stevenson authored the first warning shot, a three-run homer in the fifth that flipped a 3–2 deficit into a Devils lead and drew an uneasy murmur from the crowd of 22,510.

The Prayers clawed back late. Edwin Musco and Alex Velasquez went back-to-back in the eighth, briefly restoring order and sending Sacramento Stadium into its familiar late-inning roar. But extra innings have been Sacramento’s quiet vulnerability all season, and Friday confirmed it again.

Matt Cooper silenced everything with one swing — a clean, no-doubt homer off Luis Prieto in the 11th. It was only Cooper’s hit of the night, but it landed with surgical precision.

“Those games hurt because you feel like you’ve already won them,” Musco said afterward, towel draped over his shoulders. “But that’s baseball. You leave the door open, somebody walks through.”

David Garza’s uneven start forced early bullpen traffic, and while Ed Kukuk and Gil Caliari steadied the middle innings admirably, the margin never felt safe. Sacramento fell to 109–45, and the loss lingered longer than it should have.

★ ★ ★

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 — A Rare Double Gut Punch (Washington 4, Sacramento 3)

If Friday felt like a fluke, Saturday felt uncomfortable.

Jordan Rubalcava was sharp early, carving through Washington’s order with his usual economy, but everything unraveled in the sixth when Chris Ryan couldn’t put out a growing fire. Two triples. Three runs. A sudden 3–3 game that never felt level again.

Edwin Musco briefly lifted the stadium with a three-run homer in the third — his 29th of the year — a reminder of the offense’s latent violence. But Jon Cuen, pitching like a man auditioning for relevance, smothered Sacramento the rest of the way. Eight innings. Three runs. Zero earned.

The decisive moment came quietly in the ninth. Scott Fragala’s sacrifice fly — not a hit, not a blast — nudged Washington ahead for good. Matt Wright absorbed the loss, his first stumble in weeks.

More concerning than the score was the news that followed: Jordan Rubalcava exited with an injury, a moment that sucked the air out of the afternoon.

“We’re hopeful,” manager Jimmy Aces said carefully. “But we won’t gamble with him. Not now.”

For a team built on rotation dominance, even a short-term Rubalcava question mark registered loudly.

★ ★ ★

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 — Salazar Restores the Order (Sacramento 1, Washington 0)

No drama. No margin for error. Just pitching.

With a potential sweep looming, Fernando Salazar reminded everyone why he is a Cy Young candidate. Salazar delivered one of those performances that doesn’t beg for attention — it demands respect. Eight scoreless innings. Three hits. No wasted pitches. The Devils never advanced beyond second base against him, and even that felt accidental.

“Fernando didn’t pitch angry,” Jimmy Aces said. “He pitched serious. That’s different.”

The lone run came in the sixth, scratched together without spectacle. Hector Iniguez lined a two-out RBI single — fitting, understated — and that was enough. Luis Prieto closed the door cleanly in the ninth for his 39th save, restoring a sense of inevitability that had gone missing.

The crowd rose, not explosively, but appreciatively. They knew what they’d seen.

“It’s the kind of game you remember in October,” Salazar said. “Because everything matters. One pitch, one swing, one mistake.”

Sacramento finished the series 1–2, moving to 110–46 — still firmly atop the AL West, still statistically dominant, but reminded that sharpness isn’t automatic.

★ ★ ★

Series Observations

• The Rotation Health: All eyes are on the trainer’s room. With the postseason approaching, any extended absence for Rubalcava could shift the Prayers' October strategy.
• Musco’s Milestone Watch: Edwin Musco sits at 29 home runs. One more will make him the second Prayers player to hit the 30-HR mark this season.
• The "Devils" in the Details: Washington might be 36 games under .500, but they outplayed Sacramento for 20 of the 29 innings played this weekend.

[liberty-ca]

BNN SERIES RECAP — SEPTEMBER 20–22, 1988
SACRAMENTO AT TUCSON — “THREE NIGHTS, NO ESCAPE”
By Chad G. Petey, Baseball News Network (BNN) and By Gemmy Nay, Sacramento Sports Chronicle

TUCSON, AZ — The Sacramento Prayers (113-46) are returning home with three more wins and a staggering 20-game lead in the AL West, but the mood in the clubhouse is far from celebratory. While the Prayers dismantled the Tucson Cherubs this week, they did so at a cost that has the entire city of Sacramento holding its breath: the health of their starting rotation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 — PRAYERS 5, CHERUBS 4 (10 INNINGS)

Iniguez delivers late as Sacramento survives the margins

Sacramento leaned on Bernardo Andretti and bullpen sequencing to open the series. Andretti wasn’t overpowering, but he was competitive — 7.1 innings, four runs allowed, and enough strike-throwing to keep Tucson from breaking the game open.

The Cherubs forced extra innings, capitalizing on midgame traffic and a rare wobble from the bullpen. But in the tenth, Sacramento reminded Tucson how thin the margins really were.

Hector Iniguez, batting eighth, turned on a 1–1 fastball and sent it screaming into left-center for his 14th home run, snapping a 4–4 tie.

“Extra innings isn’t about being perfect,” Iniguez said. “It’s about being ready for one pitch.”

Matt Wright bridged the chaos, and Luis Prieto closed it out, even after being extended beyond his usual save script — his composure matching his season line: 40 saves, 2.75 ERA.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 — PRAYERS 1, CHERUBS 0

Gray dominates time, tempo, and tension

If Tuesday was survival, Wednesday was command. Night at the ball park belonged to Russ Gray. The Maine native was surgical as he delivered one of the quietest gems of Sacramento’s season: 8 shutout innings, six hits, no walks, and relentless efficiency. He needed just 93 pitches, letting the defense work and never letting Tucson settle into an at-bat rhythm.

The offense supplied exactly one run — a solo homer by Iniguez in the sixth — and Gray made it feel like five.

“That’s the blueprint,” said manager Jimmy Aces. “Control the pace, trust the gloves, and don’t chase innings.”

Prieto handled the ninth with ease, sealing Sacramento’s sixth September shutout and underscoring why the Prayers still ranked first in the AL in ERA (2.93) and runs allowed (506).

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 — PRAYERS 6, CHERUBS 2

Rubalcava exits, Mendoza shines, caution remains

Thursday’s 6-2 win should have been the highlight of the week, but the "Special Notes" section of the scorecard told a different story:

Eli Murguia, who has been a spark plug at the top of the order with a .317 average, went down while running the bases in the 3rd inning and exited after straining rib cage muscle.

Jordan Rubalcava, under a watchful eye from the dugout, improved to 22–4, maintaining a league-best 2.27 ERA and allowing two runs while never exceeding his comfort zone. Unfortunately, Players’ ace and AL wins leader had to leave the game after seven strong innings with what was described as a "tender elbow". Post-game diagnosis was more specific: an elbow sprain sustained while throwing a pitch, though the club insisted that there is nothing alarming. Rubalcava was seen flexing his elbow between innings.

Alex Mendoza was the engine that drove team to victory: 3-for-4, a home run, two RBIs, and steady command behind the plate. Sam Strauss, Bret Perez, and Edwin Musco added early pressure, pushing Sacramento out in front and allowing Rubalcava to pitch without urgency.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Sacramento didn’t need to prove anything in Tucson. They needed to leave healthy, aligned, and intact — and they largely did with the exception of "leave healthy" part. It’s easy to panic when your 21-win ace goes down, but look at the standings. Sacramento has the luxury of time. This week-long "rest" for Rubalcava and Murguia might actually be a blessing in disguise, ensuring they have fresh legs for the postseason.

September, for the Prayers, is no longer about separation.
It’s about precision.

And over three quiet nights in Arizona, they were flawless.

[liberty-ca]

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

[liberty-ca]

Destiny Beckons: The 1988 Postseason Begins
By Gemmie Nay, Sacramento Sports Chronicle

For twenty clubs, the long summer has finally faded into the "Hot Stove" league — a season of "what-ifs," rehashing box scores, and revamping rosters for next spring. But for the elite eight survivors of the Fictional Baseball League, the equipment bags aren't being packed; they’re being loaded for a march toward destiny.

The regular season was a marathon of historic proportions, especially here in Sacramento, where our Prayers redefined dominance with 115 wins. However, those wins are now just ink in a record book. Today, the slate is wiped clean. The Division Series begins this afternoon, and by the time the dust settles in the World Series, only one club will be left standing to hoist the banner and parade through their city streets as the "best of the best."

The road to the 1988 championship starts now. Here are the heavyweight matchups across the league as Game 1 kicks off today:


Seattle Lucifers vs. Sacramento Prayers | The 115-win titans of Sacramento host a dangerous Seattle squad in a classic "Good vs. Evil" showdown at Sacramento Stadium.

San Jose Demons vs. Brooklyn Priests | A battle of coastal powers as the battle-tested Priests look to exorcise the high-octane Demons.

Detroit Preachers vs. Charlotte Monks | Two disciplined, fundamental-heavy clubs meet in what scouts expect to be a defensive masterclass.

Salt Lake City Prophets vs. Long Beach Diablos | The Prophets look to continue their divine run against a gritty Diablos team that specialized in late-inning heroics all season.


For the Sacramento Prayers, the mission is simple: prove that the regular season was no fluke. With Jordan Rubalcava and Eli Murguia battling back from late-season injuries, the depth of this roster will be tested immediately by a Seattle team that has nothing to lose.

The bunting is up, the grass is cut, and the tension is palpable. Destiny is just eleven wins away.

[liberty-ca]

The Prayers Pulpit: A Postseason Fan Mailbag
By Gemmie Nay, Sacramento Sports Chronicle and Chad G. Petey, Baseball News Network (BNN)

The bunting is draped over the railings at Sacramento Stadium, the smell of roasted peanuts is heavier in the air, and the city is buzzing like a downed power line. 115 wins. It’s a number that feels like a myth, but as we head into Game 1 against the Seattle Lucifers, the fans are feeling a mix of divine inspiration and playoff nerves.

We opened up the mailbag this week to see what’s on your minds as we embark on the most important October in Sacramento history. Let’s dive in. As always, letters have been edited for clarity, length, and emotional temperature.

★ ★ ★

Q: Gemmie, be honest. How worried should we be about Jordan Rubalcava’s elbow? If our 22-win ace isn't at 100%, is this 115-win season destined for a first-round exit?

— Nervous in Natomas

Gemmie: It’s the $64,000 question, isn't it? Losing a guy who went 22-4 with a 2.27 ERA right before the dance is enough to make any manager lose sleep. The official word is "day-to-day," and seeing him pitch seven innings in the Tucson finale was encouraging, even if he left with discomfort. Losing him for even a week matters. But Sacramento has done two crucial things correctly:

1. They didn’t rush him.
2. They didn’t lie about the severity.

The organization listing him as day-to-day while planning October contingencies is exactly what you want to see.

But here’s the silver lining: Fernando Salazar (19-9) and Russ Gray (18-8) would be #1 aces on almost any other team in the league. We aren't a one-man show. If Rubalcava needs to be pushed back to Game 3 or 4 to ensure that elbow is stable, Jimmy Aces has the luxury of two workhorses to lead the charge. We aren't "destined" for an exit — we’re built to survive a hit like this.

★ ★ ★

Q: Everyone is talking about Edwin Musco’s 30 homers, but I’m looking at Bret Perez. He looked like a man possessed against the Priests. Is he our X-factor?

— Base-Path Benny

Gemmie: You hit the nail on the head, Benny. While Musco provides the thunder, Bret Perez is the lightning. Going 9-for-14 against Brooklyn was a statement. When Perez is on base — and he’s been there a lot lately — it changes how pitchers have to approach the entire heart of our order. With 40 stolen bases, he creates chaos. If he keeps hitting near .300 and terrorizing catchers, the Lucifers’ pitchers are going to be too distracted to worry about Musco and Velasquez. He is absolutely the engine of this offense right now.

★ ★ ★

Q: Seattle’s bats are no joke. Do the Lucifers actually have a tactical advantage because they’ve been playing "must-win" games for a month while we’ve been coasting with a 20-game lead?

— Worried about the "Coasting" Curse

Gemmie: This is a classic baseball debate. "Rest vs. Rust." It’s true, Sacramento hasn't played a game that mattered for the standings since August. However, did you see that 12-inning walk-off against the Priests? That didn't look like a team that was "coasting." Jimmy Aces has kept the intensity high, and the late-season injuries to Murguia and Rubalcava actually forced the team to stay sharp and play focused baseball. Seattle is scrappy, but 115 wins doesn't happen by accident. I’ll take the rested, superior roster over the "hot" team every time.

★ ★ ★

Q: “What actually scares you about this team?”

— Anonymous (handwritten, no return address)

Chad:Two things:

1. Extra-inning volatility — Sacramento is just 7–8 in extra-inning games. That doesn’t matter much now, but October turns coin flips into verdicts.
2. Defensive fatigue — errors are creeping in (three in Sunday’s 12-inning win vs Brooklyn), especially from players logging 140+ games.

Neither is fatal. Both are reminders that dominance still requires precision. The good news? The Prayers are already playing playoff baseball — close games, short leashes, situational thinking. They’re not perfect. They’re prepared.

★ ★ ★

Q: Who is the one "unsung hero" we should watch in the Division Series?

— Old School Fan

Gemmie: Keep your eyes on Roberto Cardenas. He’s the ultimate professional. Whether he’s pinch-hitting for Hicks or filling in for an ailing Murguia in left field, the man just produces. He hit that massive 2-run shot against Brooklyn to spark a comeback, and he’s hitting over .230 with pop. In a short series, you always need that one guy off the bench to provide a "Kirk Gibson" moment. Cardenas is my pick to be that guy.

★ ★ ★

Q: Gemmie, give us a prediction. Prayers in how many?

— “Seat 23, Row L”

Gemmie: The Lucifers will steal one in Seattle because that crowd is hostile, but the Prayers are too deep, too disciplined, and frankly, too historic to falter now.

The Verdict: Prayers in 4. We’ll celebrate the ALDS clinch on the road and bring the party back home for the League Championship.

★ ★ ★

FINAL THOUGHT

Chad: This season has stopped being about validation. At 115–47, with the division clinched and the roster managing itself like a veteran group, the question isn’t whether Sacramento belongs. It’s whether anyone can force them out of their rhythm.

Judging by the mail, the city already knows the answer — it’s just waiting to see it written in October ink.

Keep the letters coming.

[liberty-ca]

BNN DIVISION SERIES RECAP — PRAYERS vs. LUCIFERS
September 27 – October 1, 1988

Lucifers Slain: Prayers Advance to LCS on Musco’s Shoulders
By Chad G. Petey, Baseball News Network (BNN) and By Gemmie Nay, Sacramento Sports Chronicle

SEATTLE, WA — The regular season win record was a nice trophy for the mantle, but the Sacramento Prayers just proved they have the postseason steel to match. Over five taut autumn nights — two in Sacramento, two in Seattle, and one that felt like a coronation — the Sacramento Prayers dispatched the Seattle Lucifers, clinching the Division Series with three games to one affair and punching their ticket to the League Championship Series.

It was not a sweep. It was not effortless. But it was unmistakably Sacramento.

★ ★ ★

GAME 1 — A Silence Only Aces Can Create

Prayers 3, Lucifers 0
September 27, Sacramento Stadium

Fernando Salazar didn’t overpower Seattle so much as he erased them. Nine innings. Four hits. No walks. Ninety-five pitches. The Lucifers never reached third base, never mounted a threat, never forced urgency. From the first pitch to the last, the ballpark felt wrapped in deliberate quiet.

Sacramento scratched across just enough offense — Edwin Musco’s second-inning solo shot and Scott Strauss’ seventh-inning homer — but none of it felt decisive because Salazar made decisiveness unnecessary.

"He was pure nasty out there today," said Seattle skipper Tony Sotelo. "I don't think any team in the league would've had a chance against what he was bringing."

“This is what October pitching looks like,” Jimmy Aces said afterward. “No panic. No noise. Just outs.”

It was the cleanest possible start to the postseason: calm, controlled, and completely on script.

★ ★ ★

GAME 2 — Chaos, Cracks, and a Necessary Reminder

Lucifers 8, Prayers 6
September 28, Sacramento Stadium

If Game 1 was silence, Game 2 was clatter. Seattle ambushed Russ Gray early, tagging him for five runs in just two innings, and then piled on again against the middle relief. Home runs flew. Defensive miscues crept in. Sacramento chased from behind all night.

Edwin Musco tried to drag the Prayers back into it — two hits, another homer, two runs scored — and Sacramento clawed to within two by the sixth. But the bullpen door kept opening, and Seattle kept answering.

“Say what you want about this team,” Seattle manager Tony Sotelo said, “they play nine innings hard.”

That was true — and necessary. The Prayers had not been tested like this in weeks. Now they were even at 1–1, reminded that October does not reward reputation.

★ ★ ★

GAME 3 — The Moment That Turned the Series

Prayers 7, Lucifers 3
September 30, Lucifers Park

For five innings, Game 3 hung in balance. Seattle struck first. Sacramento responded. By the sixth, the Lucifers held a fragile 3–2 lead, and Lucifers Park felt restless, ready to tilt the series.

Then Andres Valadez stepped in. With the bases loaded in the seventh, Valadez ripped a double into the gap, clearing the bases and instantly flipping the series’ emotional gravity. What had been tension became momentum. What had been doubt became direction.

Bernardo Andretti, steady and unflinching, carried the Prayers through 7⅔ innings, and Luis Prieto slammed the door without ceremony.

“Focus and intensity,” Valadez said. “That’s all it was.”

It was more than that. It was Sacramento reminding everyone how quickly they can turn a game — and a series — with one swing.

★ ★ ★

GAME 4 — A Statement, Not a Celebration

Prayers 10, Lucifers 1
October 1, Lucifers Park

By Saturday night, the Lucifers looked like a team that knew.

Sacramento scored early. Then again. And again. Bret Perez homered. Hector Iniguez launched one into the cold Seattle air. If there were any doubts about who the heart of this lineup is, Edwin Musco silenced them. Finishing the series with a staggering .538 average, 3 home runs, and 7 RBIs, Musco was the inevitable force Seattle couldn't contain. He was a triple shy of the cycle, going 4-for-5 and essentially putting the game out of reach by the third inning.

Aaron Gilbert made it academic, throwing a complete game and allowing just one run. The Lucifers never threatened. They simply endured.

Musco, named Series MVP, shrugged afterward.

“The only thing that matters is that we’re moving on to the next round and one step closer to a World Series,” he said. “Nothing else.”

That, too, felt like Sacramento.

★ ★ ★

SERIES THEMES

• Edwin Musco’s October Arrival
.538 average. Three home runs. Seven RBIs. Musco didn’t just lead the Prayers — he defined the series’ rhythm.

• Pitching Depth, Not Heroics
While the hitters grabbed the headlines, this series was won on the mound. Salazar’s masterpiece. Andretti’s road poise. Gilbert’s clincher. No bullpen panic, no overreach.

• The Valadez Swing
Every series has one moment that snaps it into focus. This was it.

• Seattle’s Early Punch, Sacramento’s Answer
The Lucifers showed they belonged. The Prayers showed they were better.

★ ★ ★

The "Murguia Watch" Continues

There was a collective gasp from Sacramento in Game 3 when star outfielder Eli Murguia went down again while running the bases. Given his recent rib cage issues, many feared his postseason was over.

However, Murguia proved why he’s the soul of this team. He shook off the trainer in Game 4, stayed in the lineup, and turned in a 3-for-5 performance. He isn't 100%, but a 75% Eli Murguia is still one of the most dangerous hitters in the Fictional Baseball League.

★ ★ ★

WHAT COMES NEXT

Keys to the LCS: Prayers vs. Priests
The LCS is a rematch of the "Holy War" we saw just a week ago. Brooklyn comes in hot after sweeping San Jose 3-0, but they haven't faced Salazar or Gilbert at the top of their game yet.

The Big Question: Can Jordan Rubalcava return? He was eligible for Game 4 but the team held him back. If the ace is ready for Game 1 of the LCS, Sacramento might be unbeatable. If not, the pressure stays on Salazar to repeat his Game 1 heroics.