Tuber Times 2058.18: Sim #8 Recap - ATC,BRK,CLT

[cheekimonk]

Tuber Times
26 May 2058
Boise, Idaho
**********************************
by Tony Toney

Boise Spuds 24 20 .545 DIV - WC - L10: 4-6 Strk: W1

Spuds fans should be really happy after Sim #8 as the squad went 5-2 finishing up a series win over Atlantic City, taking a 4-game set vs Brooklyn, and dropping the first of another in Charlotte. Pitching was off the charts good outside of one game. Even the setup/closer situation was nearly perfect. That gave the offense plenty of space to take advantage of and put up some insurance.

v Atlantic City 4-2 W
v Atlantic City 3-1 W
v Atlantic City 4-1
This series began with a Boise victory at the end of Sim #6, so this was a sweep. They were tight affairs but starting pitching for Boise is just humming right now. The third game of the series began with a good performance from Mario Reyes then the bookend duo of setup man Knox Sked and closer Samir Qasim slammed the door shut. Atlantic City held on to a 1-0 behind Gamblers starter Bruno Bigbie in the finale, but Boise dominated reliever Robin 'Coop' Cooper in the 7th scoring 3 runs without surrendering an out. 1B Tracy 'Jigga' Allison led that charge driving in 2 with a triple. Rookie Qasim collected his 3rd save conserving a stellar, shutout job by starter Marvin 'Groucho' Winston.

v Brooklyn 4-1 W
v Brooklyn 5-7 L
v Brooklyn 4-2 W
v Brooklyn 10-3 W
The series opener was all bullpen as Boise starter Jeremy Nickerson exited before the 5th inning with soreness in his thumb. Five relievers followed allowing only 2 hits with Qasim getting the hold this time and former closer Anthony Annear logging his 9th save of 2058. The second game saw the MLB debut of SP Tomás Viera who got shaky in the beginning allowing 3 runs in the 1st, but recovering to complete 6 innings in the 5-7 defeat. The Spuds put up 4 runs in the 3rd game led by SS Dan Raymond driving in 2 runs, but the pitching was yet again the big story. Boise SP Doug Eckhoff allowed just 1 run on 3 hits in 7 innings, then the 1-2 punch of Sked & Qasim booked the W. The Robins kicked off the finale by scoring 2 runs on Boise starter Reyes who was making his 2nd appearance of the Sim. He gave up 9 hits in 5.2 innings but just 3 runs. Reliever Michael Craig ushered the Spuds through the middle innings tossing 2.1 innings of shutout ball. The offense let loose scoring 6 runs in the first 3 innings of the game. RF Héctor Holloway went 2-for-2 scoring twice and driving in 2 runs and LF Sebastian 'Nino' Fradesso added a 3-run HR.

@ Charlotte 4-5 L
The opening game of the 4-game set was a joy to watch as Spuds SP 'Groucho' Winston went 8 innings allowing just 2 runs and Charlotte SP Andrés Gonzáles gave up just 1 in his 6.1 innings. But the backend faltered just a bit as CL Qasim allowed the tying run in the 9th to send the game to extras. Boise DH Alfonso Rúbio could have delivered a Spuds victory in the top of the 12th with a solo shot, but Sked walked 2 and hit one batter before giving up the walkoff RBI single to Charlotte's 2B Andy 'The Pope' Bishop in the bottom of the frame.