The words of assistant General Manager Sandy "Paige" Mounds may become the motto of the 2059 version of the Portland Lumberjacks: "Let's Enjoy the Ride". The words ring even truer this week after the Portland Lumberjacks passed the first litmus test of the season by going on the road and taking 2 of 3 vs the Sacramento MadPopes in Sacramento.
"Sure, this early series was an early test for us" added Mounds. "But it wasn't a make or break series by any means. It's still April. Had we lost the series I think the team's mindset would have been the same. It's a long season. Don't get overly high on the good times, or too low on the losing streaks. Considering where this team has come from the last few seasons, fans need to just enjoy the ride."
Game 1 of the series vs the MadPopes saw Portland belt 7 doubles and add 3 insurance runs in the 9th inning to cruise to a 7-4 victory. Gimsing allowed just 2 runs over 5.1 while Allan Uecker found a hot bat and pounded out 3 hits. Game 2 of the series was tighter and lower scoring and saw Sacramento jump out to a 1-0 lead that held through 6 complete innings. In the top of the 7th, Portland manufactured runs in small ball fashion. A 1 out walk to Roundfield was followed by a double by Uecker that scored Roundfield from first. Uecker advanced on the throw and scored 5 pitches later on a Korbel sac fly to left. Three doubles in the top of the 9th plated 2 insurance runs while the Lumberjacks bullpen bent, but didn't break as they allowed one hit in each of the final innings but did not allow a run. Putachli got the win to improve to 2-0 on the season and turned in another solid outing, going 6.1 innings of 1 run, 4 hit, 2 walk baseball.
"This was a good win for us" commented closer Frank Wilson who notched his 5th save of the season with a scoreless 9th. "Showing that we can go on the road, take 2 against the defending division champs may show people we have the ability to do things this year. Let's enjoy the ride!"
We'll ignore the finale. No reason to report anything about that fiasco.
Portland has shown early on in the season this team could be a post-season contender. They followed up the series win over Sacramento by claiming the first two over Valencia in front of the home crowd in Portland. Over 97,000 fans showed up for the first two of that series that has already seen Portland win 5 of its first 6 series of the season against Pacific Division foes.
"Enjoy the ride" as Mounds would say with a wink!