Tweet
PORTLAND, ME — Two of the Domestic League's premier strikeout pitchers faced off at Old Port Park tonight in a battle of aces that lived up to the hype.
<img src="http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/news/html/images/person_pictures/player_5838.png" height="203" width="135" style="float:right;border:2px solid black;margin-right:33px;margin-left:11px;margin-bottom:11px;">The Maine Guides claimed the game's lone run in the seventh inning on route to defeating the Pawtucket Patriots 1-0 to advance to the Domestic League Division Series.
Adan Neubauer took the mound for the home team, with his league-leading 274 strikeouts casting an ominous shadow upon the Pawtucket hitters.
Though Neubauer lasted a mere 6 2/3 innings, he fully displayed his best stuff.
His fastball buzzed into Voodoo Davila's mitt.
His sliders dived and danced for strikeout after strikeout.
No Patriot recorded a hit before Sonny Mason managed an opposite field bloop single in the fifth, though Maine left fielder Marco Volquez averted disaster later in the inning by diving to snatch a two-out fly ball before it could land on the warning track. Volquez's play left the bases loaded.
<img src="http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/news/html/images/person_pictures/player_6254.png" height="203" width="135" style="float:right;border:2px solid black;margin-right:33px;margin-left:11px;margin-bottom:11px;">Johnny McDade didn't match Neubauer's ten strikeouts, but he came close in his own brilliant performance.
The 25-year-old right-hander showcased a preposterously good changeup, using the pitch to set down several of the Guides' left-handed hitters. McDade pitched into the eighth inning, finishing with seven strikeouts and allowing only one run.
Oh, yes, amid the sea of strikeouts and weakly hit balls, one lone island of a run showed itself.
Following the seventh inning stretch, Guides' first baseman Shane Solum smacked a ball to the right-center field wall and found himself standing on second base.
Four batters later, shortstop William Kroll smacked a two-out line drive past his counterpart, plating Solum.
The Guides opted for their usual strategy, affectionately called "One Out For You, One Out For Me" by the carousel of relief pitchers.
Rookie Dave Toste relieved Neubauer to record the final out in the top of the seventh, leaving a Patriot runner on base.
In the eighth inning, southpaw Geoff Ohlinger induced left-handed Israel Morales to tap a grounder back to the mound. Angelo Gonzales entered to strike out Johnny Patterson. The bullpen's other lefty, Zack Wallace, then struck out left-handed slugger Hidetoshi Haraguchi on an outside corner changeup.
Pawtucket's left-handed flamethrower Edgar Fajardo dominated the Guides in the bottom of the eighth, striking out two batters, to keep the score at 1-0 entering the ninth, with imposing catcher Dave Piekarski prepared to lead off.
Closer Maxence Claveau trotted in from the bullpen for Maine. The 34-year-old Canadian seized the closer's role in early June and never lost it on his way to 25 regular season saves.
The sinkerballer had no trouble shutting the door, striking out Piekarski and Mason before pressing Tom Smith to ground out to third baseman Enrique Zurita to end the game.
In the end, the game featured 23 strikeouts and a mere 11 hits between the two teams on this chilly New England evening.
Another Ale battle awaits the Guides in the form of the Pittsburgh Millers, who retain home-field advantage in the series by virtue of the Ale division title.
The two clubs have yet to announced their starting pitchers for the series.
<img src="http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/news/html/images/person_pictures/player_5838.png" height="203" width="135" style="float:right;border:2px solid black;margin-right:33px;margin-left:11px;margin-bottom:11px;">The Maine Guides claimed the game's lone run in the seventh inning on route to defeating the Pawtucket Patriots 1-0 to advance to the Domestic League Division Series.
Adan Neubauer took the mound for the home team, with his league-leading 274 strikeouts casting an ominous shadow upon the Pawtucket hitters.
Though Neubauer lasted a mere 6 2/3 innings, he fully displayed his best stuff.
His fastball buzzed into Voodoo Davila's mitt.
His sliders dived and danced for strikeout after strikeout.
No Patriot recorded a hit before Sonny Mason managed an opposite field bloop single in the fifth, though Maine left fielder Marco Volquez averted disaster later in the inning by diving to snatch a two-out fly ball before it could land on the warning track. Volquez's play left the bases loaded.
<img src="http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/news/html/images/person_pictures/player_6254.png" height="203" width="135" style="float:right;border:2px solid black;margin-right:33px;margin-left:11px;margin-bottom:11px;">Johnny McDade didn't match Neubauer's ten strikeouts, but he came close in his own brilliant performance.
The 25-year-old right-hander showcased a preposterously good changeup, using the pitch to set down several of the Guides' left-handed hitters. McDade pitched into the eighth inning, finishing with seven strikeouts and allowing only one run.
Oh, yes, amid the sea of strikeouts and weakly hit balls, one lone island of a run showed itself.
Following the seventh inning stretch, Guides' first baseman Shane Solum smacked a ball to the right-center field wall and found himself standing on second base.
Four batters later, shortstop William Kroll smacked a two-out line drive past his counterpart, plating Solum.
The Guides opted for their usual strategy, affectionately called "One Out For You, One Out For Me" by the carousel of relief pitchers.
Rookie Dave Toste relieved Neubauer to record the final out in the top of the seventh, leaving a Patriot runner on base.
In the eighth inning, southpaw Geoff Ohlinger induced left-handed Israel Morales to tap a grounder back to the mound. Angelo Gonzales entered to strike out Johnny Patterson. The bullpen's other lefty, Zack Wallace, then struck out left-handed slugger Hidetoshi Haraguchi on an outside corner changeup.
Pawtucket's left-handed flamethrower Edgar Fajardo dominated the Guides in the bottom of the eighth, striking out two batters, to keep the score at 1-0 entering the ninth, with imposing catcher Dave Piekarski prepared to lead off.
Closer Maxence Claveau trotted in from the bullpen for Maine. The 34-year-old Canadian seized the closer's role in early June and never lost it on his way to 25 regular season saves.
The sinkerballer had no trouble shutting the door, striking out Piekarski and Mason before pressing Tom Smith to ground out to third baseman Enrique Zurita to end the game.
In the end, the game featured 23 strikeouts and a mere 11 hits between the two teams on this chilly New England evening.
Another Ale battle awaits the Guides in the form of the Pittsburgh Millers, who retain home-field advantage in the series by virtue of the Ale division title.
The two clubs have yet to announced their starting pitchers for the series.