Game 2
The righty Brandon Morrow (1-0, 4.50) faces Holland's right-handed started Lucas Harrell (0-1, 6.00).
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| Belt was in the middle of all the action. |
Top of the 1st
Alcides Escobar reaches first on a questionable charged error to Chris Johnson on a tough play, the ball deflected off his glove -- but that was no give-me, guarantee either (E-5). Martin Prado hits it to the shortstop Brian Dozier, Dozier is only able to get the force at second. Bryce Harper hits a ball right passed Dozier, this one had eyes, Prado reaches second & stays. 1st & 2nd, one out for Ryan Ludwick -- Morrow comes home with it, and this one is low, free ticket to Ludwick as Morrow is not happy with himself. Bases loaded, Chipper hits a fairly deep fly to center, Austin Jackson catches it, Prado tags up, the throw to the plate, it's going to be close -- SAFE! On a close play, slid under the tag. The pitch to Wilin Rosario, and it's off his mitt, passed ball on the catcher, as the runners move up. Rosario lines out to Descalso for the final out. Holland 1, Traverse City 0
Bottom of the 1st
One-out single for Austin Jackson. Two batters later, Brandon Belt hits a two-out RBI double to score in Jackson. Chris Johnson comes up & hits one into the gap, Ludwick cuts it off on the bounce, Belt is well around third, and Belt keeps strolling for home, scores. John Mayberry, Jr. starting his first game of the season (giving Stanton the day off) pops up to finish the inning. Traverse City takes the lead, 2-1.
Bottom of the 2nd
Geovanny Soto reaches first safely on the fielding miscue by Alcides Escobar at short, started to try to throw the ball to first, before having a real grasp on it. Harrell strikes out Danny Descalso. Next batter is Brian Dozier, this one is off the mitt, doesn't go far, and Soto makes it to second, score this a passed ball on Rosario (his 2nd of the game). Dozier hits a deep fly, Riddick got a late reaction to it, but readjusts and chases it down for the catch, Soto will not challenge that cannon of a arm of Riddick's. Berry flies to left, for the final out, so nothing but a few fielding miscues by the Hitchhikers, that did not end up haunting them.
Top of the 3rd
Brandon Morrow issues a free pass to Bryce Harper, leading it off, that's already the 3rd walk allowed by Morrow. Harper moves to second on Ludwick's ground-out to 3rd base. Descalso runs a long ways to catch Chipper Jone's pop fly in foul territory. Rosario pops out for third out. Score remains: Traverse City 2, Holland 1
Bottom of the 3rd
One-out walk to Matt Carpenter. Brandon Belt hits one to center, Harper sees it now, comes in on it, and it pops out of his glove! Carpenter reaches third, Belt is on first, second error for Holland (E-8), one out. Chris Johnson sends this one over Harper's head in center, off the wall, Carpenter scores, Belt is around third, they are sending him & he's in standing; Harper had a ways to go to get that one, a two-run double for Johnson. Mayberry pops up for out number two to the second baseman Prado. Soto hits a lazy fly that suddenly has Escobar going back, and Harper running in, as Harper makes the challenging, running catch -- Harper gets his exercise as the Panthers take a 4-1 lead.
Top of the 5th
Martin Prado hits one past the diving shortstop Dozier for a lead-off single. Bryce Harper hits one to short, Dozier takes it on the hop & tosses to second for the force as Prado does his job by preventing a throw to first. Morrow looks over at Harper, comes to the plate, there's no doubt about this one, Ludwick laid into this one, it's over the right field wall -- Two-Run blast! Morrow walks Chipper Jones. Wilin Rosario hits a fly to Austin Jackson in center, notch two. The lefty Reddick grounds it to Dozier at short, as Dozier throws to second for the force to finish the inning. Traverse City 4, Holland 3
Top of the 6th
Jonny Venters is in to pitch against the lefties Hosmer & Moustakas; That will be the night for Morrow, as he pitched five innings, yielding 3 runs on 5 hits & 4 walks -- certainly not the most beautiful work ever. Venters strikes out both Hosmer & Moustakas, the last one had Moustakas fired up on a questionable call by the ump. Escobar smacks this one to Brandon Belt at deep first, Venters is running over, the throw & Venters bobbles it, Escobar is safe, Venters took his eyes off the ball at the last second. Venters refocuses & strikes out Prado for the third out.
Bottom of the 6th
John Mayberry leads off with his first hit of the season, a double to left-center. Panthers pinch-hit for Soto with the left-handed Alejandro De Aza. De Aza grounds out hard to short, with no advancement by Mayberry. Descalso comes up with one out, the pitch from Harrell, and Descalso goes down swinging -- two away. The Panthers once again will counter a lefty against the righty Harrell, this time it will be Alexi Amarista, who will also likely take over the shortstop duties for Brian Dozier as well; Harrell sets & delivers, it's hit up the middle, Escobar can't reach it, Mayberry is well around third & is going home, as Harper comes up on it, Mayberry scores, Amarista is on first -- the strategy pays off! Holland's manager has seen enough, and will go with southpaw Jake McGee to pitch to the lefty Quintin Berry. Traverse City will counter with Pedro Ciriaco to try and keep this inning going. The runner is off & going, it's hit hard to Escobar, the long throw.. and in time! Panthers pad the lead 5-3.
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| Gregerson in for the save in Game 2. |
Top of the 7th
Pedro Ciriaco who came in for RF-Berry moves over to SS. Mayberry moves over right, Giancarlo Stanton who was getting a break will come in at left, as Hector Sanchez will take over at catcher. Kelvin Herrera will be the 7th Inning guy tonight -- as the Panthers' bullpen will try & close this one out, what is turning out to be another close game. The pitch to Harper, he draws a walk.. OH! no, a late strike called by the ump, as he thumbs him out, Harper was on his way to first, and shakes his head -- he can't believe it! One away. Ludwick takes one to the track in left, as Stanton nearly ran out of room, for the second out. Chipper hits one up the middle & it's through, a two-out single. Rosario grounds out for the final out.
Top of the 8th
Herrera stays in & pitches a 1-2-3 inning, for two innings of work for the night, as he faced all lefties.
Bottom of the 8th
Looking like a 1-2-3 inning in the works, Prado commits the Hitchhikers' third error of the game, as Giancarlo Stanton reaches first safely! Stanton steals second, in which appeared to be a hit-and-run in the works, without Descalso connecting. Holland decides to call time & change pitchers, the Hitchhikers call on the southpaw Sean Doolittle. The Panthers decide to counter with righty Ryan Theriot (only batting .167 in 12 at-bats, this season). Doolittle sets & delivers, Theriot smacks this one down the left field line, Moustakas dives, it's through, Stanton will round third & he'll score! Theriot will make second on a clutch double for some extra insurance. Doolittle finishes the inning by striking out Hector Sanchez. Traverse City now leads 6-3, as they will call on their closer.
Top of the 9th
Tyler Clippard will come in for the save in this one, Theriot who replaced Descalso, will stay in to play second. Alcides Escobar gives this one a ride to deep right, as Mayberry snags it at the wall, one down. Prado hits a line drive at Belt, what a catch, that was a rocket right at Belt, as Prado just stares down Belt while going back to the dugout. Clippard to face Harper, the pitch, and this one is hit -- a no-doubter, as this one flies over the right field wall. Ryan Ludwick hits one into the gap to right, for a two-out double, tying run is now coming up to the plate in Chipper Jones. The Panthers saw enough out of Clippard, and will go to Luke Gregerson, who has a stingy 1.69 ERA, this will be his 5th appearance. Chipper hits this one to the right of Theriot, but Theriot is there to snatch the liner for the final out.
The Panthers hold onto this one, as Holland's fielding mistakes may have cost them a shot at a victory here.
FINAL SCORE: Traverse City 6, Holland 4
Game 3
It will be the 1-0, Alex Cobb who sports a 0.00 ERA with 6 innings of work (6 K's & 2 BB's) against Holland's lefty Mike Minor, who will get his first start of the season.
Bottom of the 1st
Lead-off single for Alejandro De Aza. Minor delivers a strike to Austin Jackson & De Aza is off & running, and he's got second stolen, as Brayan Pena couldn't get him with his throw -- De Aza's 4th steal of the season. Minor paints the corner, got him, Jackson strikes out for the first out. Minor then gets Chris Johnson to pop out to third, and notched his 2nd K of the night on Giancarlo Stanton.
Top of the 2nd
One-out double for Josh Reddick over Austin Jackson's head in center. Eric Hosmer lays into this one to left center, Jackson is back, running, he leaps it's off the wall, Stanton is up with it, tosses it to the infield, as Reddick scores easily -- Holland strikes first, with back-to-back doubles! Cobb kicks & delivers, the fastball is back to the screen, as Hosmer is down to second, score this a PB on Hector Sanchez, still only one out. Moustakas steps back into the box, the pitch, big strikeout to Moose! Two down, as Hosmer still waits on third. Brayan Pena hits this one into the gap at right, De Aza won't get it, Hosmer scores, and Pena makes it to second, a double & RBI. Cobb settles back down & strikes out Alcides Escobar, side retired.
Holland 2, Traverse City 0
Bottom of the 2nd
Back-to-back two-out single by the Panthers (Hector Sanchez for his first hit of season & Ryan Theriot), as the righty Brian Dozier steps up to the plate against the southpaw Mike Minor. Dozier flies out to Reddick in right to end the inning.
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| Minor started itchy & ended strong. |
Top of the 3rd
Prado collects his 2nd hit of the game, with a lead off single. Bryce Harper hits a laser of a leaping Dozier at short, it's into left, as the 3rd Base coach puts up his arms for Prado to stay at second. Ludwick pops up for the first out. Cobb just catches the plate on Chipper Jones, see ya later, a strike out victim. Cobb will now have to face the lefty Reddick, and Reddick goes down swinging & leaves two men on. Holland still leads Traverse, 2-0.
Bottom of the 4th
Josh Donaldson hits one on the sweet spot, as it cruises into the left field stands, a two-out solo homer. The Panthers cut the lead in half, 2-1.
Top of the 5th
Martin Prado collects his 3rd hit of the game, a double that drops in between Jackson & De Aza in the gap. Cobb issues his first walk of the game to Bryce Harper, runners now on 1st & 2nd with one out, positioned for the double play. Ludwick is badly fooled for Cobb's 7th K of the game, two outs. Chipper pops out to second for the final out of the inning.
Bottom of the 5th
Brian Dozier hits a one-out liner to left. De Aza takes a strike, as Dozier is off & running for second, the throw from Pena, the slide, the tag, and he's safe on a close play! 2nd steal of the season for Dozier, as the tying run is now on second for Alejandro De Aza. Minor rocks & fires, this one is wide, and it's the first walk issued by Minor, runners on 1st & 2nd. Austin Jackson steps into the box, Minor comes home with it, easy bouncer to Prado, this could be two, over to Escobar for one, over to first -- Oh, double play!
Bottom of the 6th
With two outs & Stanton on first (from a single) -- Josh Donaldson strikes again, a two-run blast once again to left, as Panthers take the lead, 3-2!
Top of the 7th
Alex Cobb goes 6 innings, strikes out 8 (it's his game to win), as the Panthers go to Cody Allen here in the 7th, this season has yet to be good to Allen -- who sports a horrible 13.50 ERA & one loss. A lead off double for Brayan Pena, his 2nd double of the game, as the Panthers have the bullpen up & going just in case Allen can't hold down this inning at least. The Hitchhikers call a time out as they get Eduardo Nunez to run for the slow Pena at second. Alcides Escobar hits one down the line to deep first, but Donaldson won't be able to do anything on a throw, as Allen failed to make it down to first in time, runners on the corners -- no outs! Prado draws a walk, no wait! It's a strike, big K for Allen, he'll be hoping for a double play here to get him out of this jam. Bryce Harper the lefty comes to the plate, and the Panthers manager comes out to the mound, they are calling on the southpaw Jonny Venters (6.23 ERA). Venters comes to the plate, Escobar is off for second, strike, the throw to second, as Nunez starts for home, the throw is cut off by the shortstop Dozier, the throw to the plate, and he's... OUT! Nunez is not happy with ump, and has to be held back by the ump, as Escobar steals second. Two outs, one strike to Harper, as Venters gets ready & sets, the pitch, Harper hits a frozen rope to center for the final out. Lots of action for no runs.
Top of the 8th
Tyler Clippard will start the 8th on the mound to face the righty Ryan Ludwick. Clippard delivers & Ludwick is caught looking, one down. Chipper ropes this one right, down the line, De Aza on the run, he dives, this one likes like a trap, NO! The ump signals out, it was caught! Nice play be Alejandro De Aza. Reddick swings hard & goes down swinging -- side retired.
Bottom of the 8th
Mike Minor still in there, picks up a 1-2-3 inning, with two more K's, collecting 8 for the night. He has had Giancarlo Stanton's number for the night, as Stanton draws the infamous hat trick (striking out three times).
Top of the 9th
The Panthers go to Kelvin Herrera for the save opportunity in this one. He ends up closing out 1-2-3, as the Panthers win another close one, as Holland loses their 6th straight game of the season!
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