Friday’s News & Notes — Playoff Edition
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Matchup |
| Harrisburg | Won, 5-4 (12 inn.) | vs. Bowie, 7:05 p.m. | M. Sanchez (10-5, 2.83) vs. Lowther (13-7, 2.55) |
Harrisburg 5 Bowie 4 (12 inn.)
• A. Lee 5IP, 0H, 0R, 3BB, 6K
• Holland (BS, 1) 1IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 1K, 1HR
• Condra-Bogan (W, 1-0) 2IP, 1H, 0R, 2BB, 3K
• Bichette 3-6, R, 2B, 2RBI
• Freeman 2-5, 2R, BB, SB
• Banks 2-5, RBI, SB
What should have been a cakewalk instead turned out to be 5-4, who-blinks-first win in 12 innings for Harrisburg to send the WDCS back to City Island over the weekend.
Like a head shop in Colorado, the Sens dug some (Tyler) Herb as they got to the 27-y.o. journeyman for four runs in the first two innings. Meanwhile, Andrew Lee still struggled with the walks (three), but that was the only way the BaySox were getting on base against him as he no-hit Bowie for five innings and struck out six.
Herb settled down to trade zeroes with Lee for three innings before both teams went to the ‘pen in the 6th. Brian Gonzalez kept the goose eggs coming for Bowie. Sterling Sharp, making his first appearance for Harrisburg since May 24, did not. After two quick outs, Bowie went double-single-homer against Sharp to cut the Harrisburg lead to 4-3.
Sharp rebounded to keep the score a 4-3 in the 7th with all three outs on the ground and gave way to Greg Holland in the 8th. Ryan Ripken (if you have to ask, yes, he’s Billy’s nephew) took him deep to tie it at 4-4.
Neither team scored in the 9th to send it into extras, where it became a battle of nerves and the bullpens. Both teams got the leadoff batter then put a man on in the 10th, neither could push him across for a run. In the 11th, the Sens nearly lost it as an infield single and a sacrifice put the winning run into scoring position with one down before Jacob Condra-Bogan rolled the double play to get out of it.
Harrisburg finally broke the stalemate with Cole Freeman leading off the 12th with a single (his second hit of the night), making it to third on a steal and an error (Bowie’s fourth), then scoring on Dante Bichette’s second single (third hit overall). Condra-Bogan worked the bottom of the 12th and around a one-out walk to seal the deal.
It will be playoff baseball for the first time since 2013 in Harrisburg tonight. Both teams will be calling upon their ace for Game Three, with Mario Sanchez (10-5, 2.83) taking the hill for the Sens, and Zac Lowther (13-7, 2.55) doing likewise for the BaySox.
I didn’t realize that the free runner in extra innings was only for the regular season and not the playoffs.
Yes, it will be nice to finally see some playoff baseball on the island.
With Elias injured again, Nats have a need for a lefty to help match up over the last 23 games. While it would require a 40 man roster move, would think that they may add Sam Freeman for the roster as he pitched well in limited time with Fresno.
I would rather see Freeman get a shot with the Nats than bring back Matt Grace, who has been absolutely awful this year.
Little doubt now that the Nats would have been better off calling up Guilbeau than trading for Elias. And thus does Rizzo’s “GM malpractice” of giving away promising young arms for crappy, declining veterans continue.
Bravo to Andrew Lee for such an outstanding outing in a playoff game. He’s had a long road back from his second TJ, but if he can get a handle on the walks, he would still seem to have a legit shot at making the majors at some point.
Two hits apiece for call-ups Freeman and Banks.
Hey gang. Hand the division to the Braves a really good club .
Why Voth not Fedde Saturday or will we see both consecutively ??