20 May 2057
Boise, Idaho
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by Tony Toney
Coming off their first winning Sim a 3-3 week isn't all that bad. Sim #7 began with the Spuds splitting a 2-game home set vs Phoenix, then they split a 4-game series in San Antonio. We said the offense "exploded" in Sim #6 but it really cooked this week scoring 6 runs/game. That and some superb outings from starting pitchers made for some sunshine over Idaho.
Pitcher
P Héctor Fuentes
10 G, 2 GS, 3-0, 1 SV, 27.0 IP, 2.33 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, +0.3 WAR
This SotS was the hardest to sort that we can remember. We could go with P Bill Keefe's 6 inning start vs Phoenix where he allowed 0 runs on 1 hit, or ace Logan Hill fanning 7 Outlaws in 7.2 innings while allowing just 2 runs. Well, we'll go with the start Fuentes had tossing 7 innings allowing 0 runs on 5 hits while striking out 4 and walking none.
Batter
DH Alfonso Rúbio
44 G, 163 AB, 9 2B, 1 3B, 10 HR, 28 RBI, .258/.315/.509, +0.4 WAR
We had a few options here as well with 2B Marcello Custello or SS Qutuz Mahdi and their 4 RBI apiece. But Rúbio was so impressive this Sim that he really made the choice for us. The DH slashed .435/.500/1.043, had 0 strikeouts, and delivered 2 doubles and 4 HR on his way to serving 7 RBI to the cause. I don't think it's likely we'll see a performance like that in one Sim the remainder of the season.
Sim #7: P Héctor Fuentes, DH Alfonso Rúbio
Sim #6: P Bill Keefe, 1B Bastião Fardos
Sim #5: P Geoffrey Greening, C Juan Gonzalez
Sim #4: P David Molina, 3B Gary Allen
Sim #3: P Logan Hill, CF Lou Bayou
Sim #2: P David Molina, CF Lou Bayou
Sim #1: P Harold Nothard, SS Qutuz Mahdi