Huntsville Headlines 38.019: Louisville Series Recap

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United Press International

Louisville Sluggers at Huntsville Phantoms
Sept. 9, 2038

The Huntsville Phantoms used a strong effort from starter Vito Reyes and timely hitting from backup catcher Sergio Hernández to nip the visiting Louisville Sluggers 3-2 Thursday evening.

Reyes pitched 7.1 innings, allowing 2 runs on 7 hits and 1 walk while striking out 7 batters. Although he did not pick up the win, he kept Huntsville in position to win in the late innings.

The game was tied at 2 apiece going into the bottom of the 8th when Hernández came to bat against stopper Carlos Rosa with two outs. Hernández worked the count full, then walloped an ill-advised Rosa changeup 397 feet into the right center stands for what would prove to be the winning run.

Score: Huntsville 3, Louisville 2
WP: Juan Alfonzo PQR: 5
LP: Carlos Rosa PQR: 0
SV: Esteban Velásquez PQR: 5
Player of the Game: Vito Reyes
Cliché of the Game: “You can’t get too high when things go well, or too low when things go bad,” said Huntsville shortstop Santiago Morales. “Right now, I’m just happy we got the win.”

Louisville Sluggers at Huntsville Phantoms
Sept. 10, 2038

Huntsville extended the Louisville losing streak to four games in walk-off fashion Friday evening, as a late rally carried the Phantoms past the Sluggers 4-3.

The Phantoms scored all 4 of their runs in the final two innings, putting up 3 in the 8th on a two-run homer by center fielder Tim Torres and a solo blast by right fielder Adrian Young.

That set the stage for some 9th inning heroics by pinch hitter Luis Barrera, who came to bat with the bases loaded and two outs against Louisville reliever Lando Klomp. Barrera took three straight balls, then a called strike and then fouled off a wicked knee-high slider. Klomp came back with another slider, but this one hung tantalizingly in the strike zone and Barrera lashed it into right for a walk-off RBI single.

Score: Huntsville 4, Louisville 3
WP: Esteban Velásquez PQR: 4
LP: Lando Klomp PQR: 0
Player of the Game: Pepe Jaramillo, Louisville starter who pitched 7 scoreless innings and scattered 5 hits, but got no decision.
Cliché of the Game: “I like the grit of this ballclub,” said Luis Barrera.

Louisville Sluggers at Huntsville Phantoms
Sept. 11, 2038

The Louisville Sluggers broke a 4-game losing streak by rallying in the 9th inning to break a tie ballgame and edge the Phantoms 7-6 at the Opera House in Huntsville Saturday night.

Louisville went into the 9th inning tied 6-6 with Huntsville after yielding 2 runs in the 7th inning and another 2 in the 8th.

Although momentum seemed to be going against them, the Sluggers came out swinging as shortstop Joey O’Brien led off with a single then took second on a ground out. Third baseman Jaime Ramírez drove him home with a single to right-center off Huntsville reliever Justin Archer, giving Louisville a lead they would not relinquish.

Score: Louisville 7, Huntsville 6
WP: Lando Klomp PQR: 3
LP: Justin Archer PQR: 2
Player of the Game: Jaime Ramírez
Cliché of the Game: “We’ll pop the top on a cold one and get back to work tomorrow,” Ramírez said.