BRASSball Post-Season 2012: Superior at California - Game 6

Game 6: Superior (Javier Vazquez 12-4, 2.43) at California (Dan Haren 17-13, 3.68)

The series returned to California after the Roadrunners took two-out-of-three games from the Blues at Superior. Javier Vazquez got the call after he lost game two, while Dan Haren started his second game of the series as well. Haren was knocked around in game three, but was pulled after three innings and took a no-decision in the team victory.

Haren appeared as if he couldn't handle the short rest from the very first pitch. After a lead-off walk to Jose Tabata, Adam Jones blasted a two-run home run that just cleared the wall in left-center. Superior was out in front, 2-0. Then, with two outs, Evan Longoria hit a long ball to almost the exact same spot that Jones did and the Blues added to their lead, 3-0. Mark Trumbo struck out to end the inning, but the damage was done, and the Roadrunners were now in catch-up mode.

In the bottom of the first, the top half of the California lineup was called on to pick Haren up. Torii Hunter was given the start over the struggling Bobby Abreu and responded with a one-out single to center. Ryan Braun then singled, and both runners advanced a base when Josh Hamilton grounded out to the pitcher. With two outs and first base open, Vazquez fired a 2-2 fastball and Aramis Ramirez smacked it into the rocks to tie the game at three apiece. Mitch Moreland struck out, but not before the home team reset the game at 3-3.

In the bottom of the second, the Roadrunners got power from an unlikely source in Mark Ellis. With two outs and the bases empty, Ellis took some high cheese and sliced it over the center field wall, giving California a 4-3 lead.

Everything was quiet until the top of the sixth. Adam Jones singled off Haren and stole second. Justin Upton was then hit by a pitch, and it appeared as if Haren had run out of gas. With the right-handed Longoria due up next, California called on Jason Motte to clean up Haren's mess. Longoria wasted no time and hit a double off the wall in left-center. Jones scored to tie the game, but Upton was held at third. The game was now tied 4-4 with no outs.

Mark Trumbo stepped in with first base open, and the Roadrunners had their biggest decision of the game: issue the free pass to Trumbo, or try and strike him out. The intentional walk was chosen, and Ryan Roberts was given a chance to make the Roadrunners pay. And pay they did as Roberts hit a hard ground ball between Ellis and Moreland to score both Upton and Longoria. The Blues had a 6-4 lead with runners on first and third and nobody out. Chad Pennington grounded out to Ellis for the first out, but Roberts advanced to second. Kurt Suzuki was up next and tried to get under one, hoping for a sacrifice fly. He hit a lazy fly ball into right that Fukudome was able to charge. Superior picked the wrong time to get aggressive on the base paths and decided to send Trumbo. Fukudome's throw was right on the money and Trumbo was out at home. The damage was done, though, as the Blues led by two heading into the bottom of the sixth.

California could not do anything against the Blues' bullpen, and the game ended 6-4 in favor of Superior. The AL Wild Card series now moves on to a game seven with the winner advancing, and the season ending for the loser.