BRASSball Post-Season 2012: Superior at California - Game 2

Game 2: Superior (Javier Vazquez 12-4, 2.43) at California (Ian Kennedy 16-10, 3.72)

The second game of the series featured Javier Vazquez of Superior against Ian Kennedy of California. Kennedy quickly made it through the first to give the anxious Roadrunner offense a chance to hit.

Vazquez ended up walking the first two batters he faced, but was able to strike out Ryan Braun. Clearly upset with the calls behind the plate, a frustrated Vazquez then walked Josh Hamilton to load the bases. After words were exchanged between the home umpire and pitcher, Aramis Ramirez took the first pitch he saw and planted it into the rocks in left center for a first-inning grand slam. California was in business with a 4-0 lead to start the game.

Kennedy was able to enter the second inning calmly, but lost command of the game and allowed a second and third situation to almost get away from him. Brian Roberts doubled, but Superior played conservative Baseball once again and held Justin Upton at third with two outs. Cliff Pennington then struck out to end the inning, but not before Kennedy had thrown a significant number of pitches.

In the bottom of the 4th, the Roadrunners were hungry to add to their 4-0 lead. Mitch Moreland led off the inning with a walk. J.J. Hardy followed with a single that moved Moreland over to third with no outs. Miguel Olivo hit a deep fly to center that plated Moreland, putting California up by five.

The Roadrunners weren't finished though, as another run crossed the plate in the bottom of the 8th. Josh Hamilton scored the sixth run for California after Olivo drove him home with a two-out single. Would that be enough to hold off Superior in the 9th?

Down to their final three outs, the Blues' Evan Longoria led off the inning with a double off Kennedy. Immediately, the California bullpen got busy, with both Sean Marshall and Mariano Rivera getting loose. Mark Trumbo followed with a walk, and it was clear that Kennedy was in trouble. After a quick visit to the mound, the home team decided to leave the starting pitcher in to face one more batter. Ryan Roberts hit a ground ball right at second baseman Mark Ellis, who started the 4-6-3 tailor-made double play. The Superior bench watched on as their last batter, Cliff Pennington, grounded out to end the game.

California took the second game 6-0 behind a complete game shut out by Ian Kennedy. The series now moves on to Superior for three games.