Huntsville Headlines 38.008: Brooklyn series recap

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United Press International

Brooklyn Robins at Huntsville Phantoms
August 19, 2038

The Brooklyn Robins came back to nip Huntsville 6-5 on the strength of an 8th inning pinch-hit homer off the bat of José Gallegos.

Huntsville entered the 8th leading 5-4, but reliever Mutsihito Imai issued a leadoff walk, prompting manager Bret Richards to bring in left hander Frits Brinson to face lefty second baseman José Campos. Brooklyn lifted Campos for a pinch hitter, who lifted a high pop foul that third baseman Víctor Bedolla caught in spectacular fashion, tumbling over the railing and into the stands.

That play went for naught, though, when Brooklyn manager Tomás Valdéz brought in Gallegos as his second pinch hitter of the inning. This time it paid off: Gallegos lined Brinson’s 1-0 pitch 347 feet into the left field stands for a two-run homer and what would ultimately prove to be the winning run.

Score: Brooklyn 6, Huntsville 5
WP: Steven Bobovnik PQR: 5*
LP: Frits Brinson PQR: 0
Player of the Game: Clarence Kirkpatrick, Brooklyn third baseman who went 2-3 with a three-run homer in the 3rd inning.
Cliché of the Game: Kirkpatrick told a Brooklyn Observer reporter that he was “satisfied” with the win.

Brooklyn Robins at Huntsville Phantoms
August 20, 2038

Huntsville crushed the visiting Robins 11-4 in a game that made a bit of history as DH Norris Rutledge hit his 400th career home run and then celebrated with a fist-pumping jaunt around the bases.

The display by Rutledge rankled Brooklyn, who made their displeasure known after the game. Huntsville players and coaches responded in kind, setting up an interesting rematch for the clubs the next time they meet in September.

Rutledge’s dinger was a solo shot in the 3rd inning off starter Luke LaSalle. It was one of five homers on the day for Huntsville. Also going deep were 3B Víctor Bedolla; 2B Leyli Yelanian; RF Adrian Young; and 1B Emílio Lugo.

Score: Huntsville 11, Brooklyn 4
WP: Alejandro Soto PQS: 0
LP: Luke LaSalle PQS: 0
Player of the Game: Víctor Bedolla
Cliché of the Game: “It was great," Manager Bret Richards said of Rutledge’s history-making homer. "He stood there and watched it...we all did. You just felt it was coming...you just had a sense he would hit it soon. He has been having a lot of good at-bats. It was great to get it out of the way.”

Brooklyn Robins at Huntsville Phantoms
August 22, 2038, Game 1

The visiting Brooklyn Robins took revenge for the home run celebration of the Aug. 20 game, riding a quality outing from starter Manuel Solíz to a 7-3 win Sunday afternoon.

Solíz went 7 innings and allowed 3 runs on 4 hits in notching his 4th win against 8 losses on the season.

The game was actually tied 3-3 going into the 8th inning, but right fielder Leonardo Rincón rapped a single with the bases loaded to give Brooklyn a 4-3 lead. The Robins scored another 3 in the top of the 9th to put things out of reach.

Score: Brooklyn 7, Huntsville 3
WP: Manuel Solíz PQS: 2
LP: Mutsushito Imai PQR: 2
Player of the Game: Manuel Solíz
Cliché of the Game: “If I go out there and help the team win, that’s all you can do,” Solíz said.


Brooklyn Robins at Huntsville Phantoms
August 22, 2038, Game 2

Brooklyn unleashed a 6-run offensive barrage in the top of the 12th inning to blow open what had been a tense double-header nightcap and win going away Sunday evening.

The teams entered the 12th knotted at 3, but Phantoms reliever Justin Archer walked two batters, prompting manager Bret Richards to call left-hander Juan Alfonso from the bullpen. Alfonso grooved a split-fingered fastball to second baseman Alberto Benítez who promptly lined it 356 feet into the left field stands for a 3-run homer. A single and a double later, third baseman Nico Eijpe came to the plate and hit the second 3-run homer of the inning to right field, giving the Robins an insurmountable 6-run lead.

Score: Brooklyn 9, Huntsville 3
WP: Luis Ayala PQR: 5*
LP: Justin Archer PQR: 1
Player of the Game: José Carlos Gallegos, Brooklyn first baseman, who went 3-6 with a home run and two doubles.
Cliché of the Game: “I was able to barrel up some pitches,” Gallegos said.