It's time to break out a newly sim feature. Gone are the boring old sim recaps where we break down the wins, the losses, and all of that other jazz. Instead, we'll find that one moment in the sim that was pivotal. Critical. The moment that perhaps got the fans on their feet. Whatever that may be.
A 5-game losing streak greeted the Lumberjacks as they kicked off the series and sim finale Sunday afternoon in Portland. Not only was it the first Sunday game of the season, but it was also the franchise's first ever 1:10 home game thanks to the league's new schedule design. Unfortunately for the home faithful that day, the sun was hidden from view as the roof at "The Trail" was closed due to the chilly 54 degree temperatures.
The natives were a little restless having witnessed 5 straight home losses but the good guys got on the board first with a run scoring double by Pedro Rosales. Cernunnos Haberknuckle led the 3rd inning off with a triple and later scored on an Ohayashi sac fly to left. When Daniel Frampton touched home in the 6th inning, Portland was staked to a 3-0 lead. A lead that held until the 9th inning which leads us to our Kate's Kookies Moment of the Sim......
Byron Ratcliffe was working on his 3rd inning of work and manager Mons Raider had already made up his mind to ride the veteran reliever. He had retired the final out of the 7th and then had sat the following 5 down in order. Ahead 0-2, he peered in and got the sign from Allan Uecker. Rtacliffe had gotten ahead after alternating his fastball and changeup. Mark Kimball had fouled off the previous pitch, a fastball, so Ratcliffe knew Kimball was looking for the changeup. He surprised him. Locked him up even. He blew a triple digit fastball from his arm on the inside part of the plate. Kimball, looking away from the changeup, had no shot. The ump yelped "HIH 3" and pumped his right fist in the air. Portland had won it's first game of the 2058 season, and that is our Kate's Kookies Moment of the Sim for sim 1.
