WHIV 2060.21- Czar Dominant, Hustlers Move On (But With A Cost)
Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2024 2:11 pm
The Las Vegas Hustlers, on paper, should not be in the playoffs. They certainly should not have beaten Boise in the Geoghegan Round. But here they are, going on to the Doubleday Series to face the mighty Charm City Jimmies.
How'd they get past Boise?
Samuel Nebraska had an uneven Game 1 start and the Hustlers lost to Boise 5-3, they worked their way back with good pitching and great hitting.
Reese Newsome had a quality start (6 IP, 3 ER, 0 BB, 8 K) and Todd Stone closed this close affair with a scoreless ninth inning. Besides Faktorovich (who has been absolutely amazing since coming over to Las Vegas at the Trade Deadline), Czar Mamatulin has two hits and an RBI, and Tankut Saltik chipped in with two hits, two runs batted in (including a double in the ninth to give LV an important insurance run) and a runner thrown out at home.
Mamatulin has been hitting out of his mind since the last week of the regular season, almost single handedly willing the Hustlers' season to continue. The unsung hero here was the Hustlers bullpen. Starting pitcher Bret Harrell left after 2 2/3 innings with back stiffness having allowed two runs. Ramon Gonzalez (3 IP, 1 H, 4 K), Mauro Rojas (2 1/3 IP, 1 H, 3 K) and Stone (1 IP, 1 K) didn't allow any more runs the whole way.
The cost came when starting pitcher Carlos Barrera complained of forearm soreness and left the game after just one inning. Rookie Carlos Rodriguez came in to relieve Barrera, and after 1 1/3 scoreless he left with his own injury, determined later to be just mild abdominal soreness (he'll be fine moving forward). Then the 32-year old rookie, Chong-xian Shen saved the day. He pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings and earned the win. Perry Wallace followed with 1 1/3 perfect innings. After that, it got interesting. With a 5-0 lead, everything looked good for Las Vegas. With one out in the top of the seventh inning, Mike Emrick came on in relief of Wallace, and this happened:
Pitching: LHP Mike Emrick
Batting: RHB Lou Tinter 0-0: Ball
1-0: SOLO HOME RUN (Flyball, 7LD, EV 96.3 MPH), Distance : 376 ft
Batting: RHB Per-Johan Mikkelsson 0-0: Ball
1-0: Ground out 4-3 (Groundball, 34, EV 84.4 MPH)
Batting: RHB Sergei Bobrovsky 0-0: Ball
1-0: Ball
2-0: Called Strike
2-1: SINGLE (Line Drive, 89S, EV 92.5 MPH)
Pinch Hitting: RHB Cosmo Pan 0-0: Ball
1-0: Ball
2-0: Ball
3-0: Called Strike
3-1: DOUBLE (Line Drive, 9LM, EV 109.4 MPH)
Sergei Bobrovsky to third
Runner from 3rd tries for Home, SAFE, throw by RF to trailing runner, SAFE at third!
Batting: RHB Abu Wamukota 0-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F
0-1: Ball
1-1: Foul Ball, location: 7LMF
1-2: Ball
2-2: Ball
3-2: SINGLE (Groundball, 4D, EV 93.8 MPH)
Cosmo Pan scores
Batting: LHB Lou Bayou 0-0: Ball
1-0: Ball
2-0: Ball
3-0: Called Strike
3-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F
3-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F
3-2: SINGLE (Popup, 4D, EV 45.0 MPH)
Abu Wamukota to second
Abu Wamukota to third
Needless to say, it was time to get Emrick out of there. On came Jose Castro, who quickly extinguished the Boise threat in the seventh and shut the Spuds down in the eighth. The ninth was again Todd Stone time. The veteran worked around a two out double to retire former Hustler Abu Wamakota for the final out. The Hustlers were moving on.
But what now? Without Barrera, what do the Hustlers do? The Hustlers have been known to do wild things with their pitching in the past, and there has reportedly been strong consideration towards being "creative" with their assigned starters. Far more likely, however, is that the Hustlers trust their main starters (Nebraska, Harrell and Newsome) and use someone like Rojas in Game 3. Stay tuned.
How'd they get past Boise?
Off Topic
Geoghegan Round Game 1 Victory for Hanson and Boise
Leave it to the veteran.
The Boise Spuds got a great start from 35-year-old left-hander Robert Hanson, as Boise won the contest, 5-3, at F. Nephi Grigg Memorial Stadium. Hanson threw 6.1 innings of 5-hit ball in the win, which allowed the Boise to grab a 1-0 lead in the best-of-5 series.
Making an impact for Boise was designated hitter Sebastian Fradesso. Nino drilled a 2-run home run off Samuel Nebraska in the bottom of the first. For the game, Fradesso was 1 for 4 with a home run. He drove in 2 runs and scored once.
"There's a lot of passion in our clubhouse," said Fradesso. "When we put it together we're a great ball club."
Leave it to the veteran.
The Boise Spuds got a great start from 35-year-old left-hander Robert Hanson, as Boise won the contest, 5-3, at F. Nephi Grigg Memorial Stadium. Hanson threw 6.1 innings of 5-hit ball in the win, which allowed the Boise to grab a 1-0 lead in the best-of-5 series.
Making an impact for Boise was designated hitter Sebastian Fradesso. Nino drilled a 2-run home run off Samuel Nebraska in the bottom of the first. For the game, Fradesso was 1 for 4 with a home run. He drove in 2 runs and scored once.
"There's a lot of passion in our clubhouse," said Fradesso. "When we put it together we're a great ball club."
Off Topic
Faktorovich Blasts Spuds, Hustlers Take Game 2, 7-5
With third baseman Eduard Faktorovich leading the charge, the Las Vegas Hustlers got a road win over the Boise Spuds, 7-5, in Game 2 of the Geoghegan Round. Faktorovich went 2 for 3 with a home run and a double, while scoring 2 times and driving in 3 at F. Nephi Grigg Memorial Stadium to help Las Vegas force a 1-1 tie in the best-of-5 series.
Faktorovich had an important at-bat with a runner on 2nd in the top of the sixth, when he hit a 2-run home run. The Hustlers went on to win.
"Things broke our way today and that's great," Hustlers manager Henry Rectenberg said. "It's important, though, to stay focused and not pat yourself on the back too much. We aren't done yet."
With third baseman Eduard Faktorovich leading the charge, the Las Vegas Hustlers got a road win over the Boise Spuds, 7-5, in Game 2 of the Geoghegan Round. Faktorovich went 2 for 3 with a home run and a double, while scoring 2 times and driving in 3 at F. Nephi Grigg Memorial Stadium to help Las Vegas force a 1-1 tie in the best-of-5 series.
Faktorovich had an important at-bat with a runner on 2nd in the top of the sixth, when he hit a 2-run home run. The Hustlers went on to win.
"Things broke our way today and that's great," Hustlers manager Henry Rectenberg said. "It's important, though, to stay focused and not pat yourself on the back too much. We aren't done yet."
Off Topic
Spuds Hammered by Mamatulin, Drop Game 3 to Hustlers
The Las Vegas Hustlers moved to within one game of the Doubleday Series, downing the visiting Boise Spuds at Palace Station Ballpark & Casino by a score of 5-2. Hustlers designated hitter Czar Mamatulin did some major damage. He went 3-4 with 2 home runs, while scoring 3 and driving in 2. The win gives the Hustlers a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-5 Geoghegan Round.
Roberto Hampton, the Las Vegas center fielder, contributed a run-scoring single in the bottom of the fourth inning to make the score 3-2, Hustlers. For the game, Hampton was 2 for 3 with 2 singles and a walk.
Hampton attributed the win to "everyone pulling their weight."
The Las Vegas Hustlers moved to within one game of the Doubleday Series, downing the visiting Boise Spuds at Palace Station Ballpark & Casino by a score of 5-2. Hustlers designated hitter Czar Mamatulin did some major damage. He went 3-4 with 2 home runs, while scoring 3 and driving in 2. The win gives the Hustlers a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-5 Geoghegan Round.
Roberto Hampton, the Las Vegas center fielder, contributed a run-scoring single in the bottom of the fourth inning to make the score 3-2, Hustlers. For the game, Hampton was 2 for 3 with 2 singles and a walk.
Hampton attributed the win to "everyone pulling their weight."
Off Topic
Hustlers Advance to Doubleday Series
The championship aspirations of the Las Vegas Hustlers are still alive and well, while the Boise Spuds are left to wait until next year.
Las Vegas won the clinching game of the Geoghegan Round 5-3 over Boise at Palace Station Ballpark & Casino, to win the series 3-1.
"You feel like a little kid again, celebrating something like this," said first baseman Czar Mamatulin, who paced the Las Vegas offense and was named series MVP. "We take everything real seriously when we're on the field, but after a series is over you can finally relax a little bit."
Mamatulin claimed the MVP by racking up 10 hits for a .714 average, with a .750 on-base percentage. He had 2 home runs, 6 RBI and scored 4 runs.
The Las Vegas Hustlers will play against the Charm City Jimmies in the next round. Charm City had a bye in the Geoghegan Round. The Doubleday Series is scheduled to begin on October 7th , 2060.
The championship aspirations of the Las Vegas Hustlers are still alive and well, while the Boise Spuds are left to wait until next year.
Las Vegas won the clinching game of the Geoghegan Round 5-3 over Boise at Palace Station Ballpark & Casino, to win the series 3-1.
"You feel like a little kid again, celebrating something like this," said first baseman Czar Mamatulin, who paced the Las Vegas offense and was named series MVP. "We take everything real seriously when we're on the field, but after a series is over you can finally relax a little bit."
Mamatulin claimed the MVP by racking up 10 hits for a .714 average, with a .750 on-base percentage. He had 2 home runs, 6 RBI and scored 4 runs.
The Las Vegas Hustlers will play against the Charm City Jimmies in the next round. Charm City had a bye in the Geoghegan Round. The Doubleday Series is scheduled to begin on October 7th , 2060.
Pitching: LHP Mike Emrick
Batting: RHB Lou Tinter 0-0: Ball
1-0: SOLO HOME RUN (Flyball, 7LD, EV 96.3 MPH), Distance : 376 ft
Batting: RHB Per-Johan Mikkelsson 0-0: Ball
1-0: Ground out 4-3 (Groundball, 34, EV 84.4 MPH)
Batting: RHB Sergei Bobrovsky 0-0: Ball
1-0: Ball
2-0: Called Strike
2-1: SINGLE (Line Drive, 89S, EV 92.5 MPH)
Pinch Hitting: RHB Cosmo Pan 0-0: Ball
1-0: Ball
2-0: Ball
3-0: Called Strike
3-1: DOUBLE (Line Drive, 9LM, EV 109.4 MPH)
Sergei Bobrovsky to third
Runner from 3rd tries for Home, SAFE, throw by RF to trailing runner, SAFE at third!
Batting: RHB Abu Wamukota 0-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F
0-1: Ball
1-1: Foul Ball, location: 7LMF
1-2: Ball
2-2: Ball
3-2: SINGLE (Groundball, 4D, EV 93.8 MPH)
Cosmo Pan scores
Batting: LHB Lou Bayou 0-0: Ball
1-0: Ball
2-0: Ball
3-0: Called Strike
3-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F
3-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F
3-2: SINGLE (Popup, 4D, EV 45.0 MPH)
Abu Wamukota to second
Abu Wamukota to third
Needless to say, it was time to get Emrick out of there. On came Jose Castro, who quickly extinguished the Boise threat in the seventh and shut the Spuds down in the eighth. The ninth was again Todd Stone time. The veteran worked around a two out double to retire former Hustler Abu Wamakota for the final out. The Hustlers were moving on.
But what now? Without Barrera, what do the Hustlers do? The Hustlers have been known to do wild things with their pitching in the past, and there has reportedly been strong consideration towards being "creative" with their assigned starters. Far more likely, however, is that the Hustlers trust their main starters (Nebraska, Harrell and Newsome) and use someone like Rojas in Game 3. Stay tuned.