Spring Training is now done. The games matter for real now. And your Montreal Blazers started the season with a quick 2 game home stand against Mexico City before heading to the southern US and facing the Jacksonville Hurricanes.
April 1st 2041 - Blazers Win 7-6 Walk-Off
The Montreal Blazers got their 2041 Brewster Baseball Association season off to a good start, defeating the Mexico City Aztecs, 7-6. Rafael Solís was 3 for 5 with a home run and 2 singles. He scored 2 times and drove in 2. For his pace-setting performance, he was named player of the game. Montreal reliever Jorge Hernández was the winner. His record is now 1-0. The losing pitcher was Abdi Murunga.
Solís had a game-changing home run in the bottom of the tenth. On a 2-2 fastball from Abdi Murunga, he banged a 2-run home run to left, giving the Blazers a 7-6 lead. It was the 1st home run of the year for Solís.
Solís said afterward that he was "glad the fans were treated to a good ballgame."
April 2nd 2041 - Aztecs Lose to Blazers, 6-3
Montreal Blazers starter Jorge Moreno was in a groove as he led his team to a win over the Mexico City Aztecs, 6-3. Montreal reliever Alberto Deleón picked up the win, bumping his record to 1-0. Scotty Pendleton was collared with the loss. Earning his 1st save for Montreal was Joe Whitaker.
Had Eduardo González not delivered a key base hit in the bottom of the seventh, the outcome might have been different. Instead, with two down and the bases loaded, González hit a 2-run double. That made the score 5-3, in favor of the Blazers.
"I'm just happy to help the team win," González told the Montreal News.
Montreal, now 2-0, is setting the league on fire so far.
April 4th 2041 - Hurricanes Win, Hope to Turn Around Slow Start
It was a fun time at Fidelity Financial Park, where the Montreal Blazers and Jacksonville Hurricanes tangled.
Jacksonville Hurricanes starter Donald Harris was definitely locked-in. He led his team to a win over the Montreal Blazers, 7-3. Gonzalo Mercado finished the game for Jacksonville and earned his 1st save.
Jacksonville took a 7-3 lead on José Zúñiga's 1st home run of the season. The 3-run home run came off Montreal pitcher Arturo Trinidad in the bottom of the eighth.
"We'll pop the top on a cold one and get back to work tomorrow," Harris said.
April 5th 2041 - Blazers Turn Back Jacksonville, 4-2
The Montreal Blazers got a stellar performance from pitcher Jesús López, who handcuffed the Jacksonville offense en route to a 4-2 win at Fidelity Financial Park. In 7 innings, López surrendered 5 hits, while striking out 6 and walking 2. He allowed 1 run. The Blazers, now 3-1, have been on a roll in the early going.
Jim Antolin put Montreal in front, 3-1, when he hit a solo home run off Kelile Chimanga in the top of the third. It was his 1st home run of the season.
Antolin called the win the result of "everyone being in sync."
The Hurricanes have stumbled out of the gate, getting only their 1st win in 3 games.
April 6th 2041 - Blazers Win at Jacksonville, 3-1
The Montreal Blazers racked up a win at Fidelity Financial Park, bumping off the Jacksonville Hurricanes, 3-1. José Trujillo, who started for Montreal, pitched effectively for his team. In 8 innings, Trujillo surrendered 7 hits, while striking out 3 and walking 2. He allowed 1 run. Montreal, at 4-1, has sizzled in the early going.
In the top of the third, Lineu Aldo hit a solo home run for Montreal. The 2nd home run of the season for the Montreal second baseman put the Blazers on top, 2-1.
"Enjoyed this one," Aldo told the Montreal News. "But it's back to work tomorrow."
The team was led this sim by:
Lineu Aldo: 19 AB, 9 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, .474 AVG, 1.576 OPS
Eduardo González : 20 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .400 AVG, 1.129 OPS
Rafael Solís: 15 AB, 4 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI, .267 AVG, 1.035 OPS
The Blazers come back home for a 3 game series vs the Brooklyn Robins (2-3). Also joining the Blazers starting on Sunday will be 25-year-old first baseman Carlos Muñóz who was recently acquired in a trade with the Boise Spuds in exchange for 20-year-old minor league starting pitcher Kent Montoya.
