We Got Wood - 43.37 - Venalde Hands Omaha Wins

[7teen]

How does one go from being an all-star, to losing his closer's role, to handing a team it's first win, make that TWO WINS, of the season? Well, if you need to know the answer, just ask Portland's Vincente Venalde.

Ever since appearing in the All-Star game in 2042 as Portland's lone all-star selection, it has been down hill ever since for Venalde. His dreadful second half of last season saw him post a negative WAR for the season and his struggles apparently have carried over to the 2043 season. He wasn't named the team's closer, rather manager Pedro Medina is using an all hands on deck approach. If Venalde thought he could earn his spot back or be called on more often to get saves, that may have all went out the window this past week.

Portland welcomed the 0-13 Omaha Hawks Barnstormers Cyclones to the Trail in Multnomah this past week. Yes, you read that correctly. Omaha hadn't won a game all season. Clearly, all they needed was Portland on the schedule. Or perhaps just Venalde on the bump. In the series opener, Omaha appeared well on its way to winning with our without Venalde's help. They jumped out to a 4-1 lead after 3 innings, but Portland got back into it. Portland got 2 in the 4th and then a Paco Diaz RBI double in the 8th tied it back up. It appeared the Cyclones were going to blow it. But enter Venalde. Well, techinically Venalde had already been on the mound. He came in back in the 7th inning and had tossed 2 scoreless innings. In fact, he had walked 1 batter and hadn't given up a hit. But he walked the lead-off man in the 9th. Damage done.

Medina went back to the pen and called on Flynn Bernard. Flynn had been solid all season. He got an out on a sac bunt but then a single followed that plated the go-ahead run. That was it. Game over. Yes, Portland got it's own leadoff man on the 9th, bunted him to 2nd as well, but they failed to get the run in and lost the game 5-4. Venalde got the loss. But it didn't stop there.

The following night, Portland clung to a 1-0 lead going to the 8th before Pedro Rocha allowed his first and only run of the game. Andino Bianchi did his job and kept the game tied into the 9th. With one out, and Bianchi already throwing more than he had all season, Medina went back to the pen and back to Venalde. Game over.

Venalde got the first guy out. So with 2 outs things looked secure tied going to the bottom of the 9th. At least before James Monger took a 3-2 pitch out to deep right field to give the Cyclones the lead. They'd win it later. Fans rained boos down on Venalde who had no where to hide on the mound. When he walked the next guy and gave up another single, fans vehemently boo'd in Venalde's direction. He would get out of his own jam but the damage was done.

Portland did get a hit in the 9th but it never amounted to anything again.

Portland did salvage the series finale the following night. Venalde didn't pitch. But Omaha did leave the Pacific Northwest with their first two wins of the season. Thanks in large part to Vincente Venalde!