2056
Boise, Idaho
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by Fish McWilliams
Boise Spuds 70 54 .565 8.5 GB - WGB (wild card games back) - L10: 5-5, Strk: W4
A nice 5-2 Sim #20 for Boise. Although they wasted an opportunity losing a series at home to Phoenix, the Spuds swept Mexico City in a 4-game series that upset the apple cart in the JL wild card. It also allowed the Rocky Mountain Oysters to rise to 1st in a division that is pretty much down to them and the Aztecs. As for the wild card the Spuds just won't go away. As of today they sit square on the last wild card. They trail the Jacksonville Hurricanes by 1.5 games and lead the Montreal Blazers by 2.5 games.
1B Alfonso Rúbio
94 G, 320 AB, 19 2B, 2 3B, 19 HR, 61 RBI, .281/.330/.531, 1 SB, +1.1 WAR
v Phoenix 2-7 L
v Phoenix 11-7 W
v Phoenix 0-3 L
These are the kinds of series Boise needs to win if they want to reach the playoffs. Unfortunately, Boise did drop this one by gathering only 1 win. In the first contest, SP Geoffrey Greening had another excellent outing fanning 7 in 5 innings and allowing only 1 run. But the Talons put the game away with 5 runs over the last 2 innings. CL Harold Nothard had another rough game allowing 3 runs in an inning where he still struck out the side. The next game was a gift to the Boise fans. Phoenix would break out to a 5-0 lead as they jumped all over Boise SP Logan Hill in the 3rd inning - though only 1 of the runs was earned. The Spuds answered with 3 in the bottom of the frame then added 4 in the 5th and another 4 runs in the 7th. In the rubber game, Boise struggled against Talons starter Slobodan Omeragic and their bullpen as they were held scoreless. A 3-run 4th surrendered by Spuds SP Gavrilovich Mastinsky was all Phoenix needed.
@ Mexico City 11-4 W
@ Mexico City 2-1(12) W
@ Mexico City 10-1 W
@ Mexico City 8-7 W
After the Phoenix series, Boise traveled south of the border to face a Mexico City squad that swept the Spuds in a 4-game series in Boise last month. The offense was clearly pissed off after getting shoutout vs Phoenix as they jumped on the Aztecs with 5 runs in the 3rd and added 4 in the 7th in an 11-4 win. 1B Alfonso Rúbio was the heart of the offense homering twice and driving in 5 runs. The 2nd game was a thriller with both defenses putting the damper on the offenses. But Aztec reliever Jack Abrams allowed a game tying run in the 9th and John Avery gave up the winning run in the 12th when he fired a wild pitch with the bases loaded that allowed Boise CF Lou Bayou to race home. The third game was tied 1-1 going into the 6th inning, but Boise posted 3 runs in the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings of a 10-1 victory. 3B Gary Allen was 2-for-5 for Boise with 1 home run and 4 RBI while Rúbio sparked again going 2-for-3 with a HR and 3 RBI. The finale had a close score, but wasn't as close as it looks. Boise led 5-4 when they scored 3 runs in the 6th making for an 8-4 lead. But struggling Spuds reliever Adrián Fox allowed 3 runs in the 8th and did just enough to hold onto a 8-7 lead Boise wouldn't surrender.