Yuma----Nick Markakis hit a pair of homers and was also hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in a six-run seventh, as the Yuma Firebirds backed ace C.C. Sabathia’s route-going performance with 17 hits in Yuma’s 12-3 shellacking of visiting Brooklyn, the sixth-straight triumph for the red-hot Firebirds.
It was a game with huge consequences: not only had the Firebirds finally caught and passed Darwin in the West, but they had dealt a terrible blow to Brooklyn by sweeping the series. After just edging the visiting Moabs by 4-3 scores in each of the first two games, Yuma brought out the whipping stick to drop Eric Caskey’s troops to five back in the East, and four back in the wild card race.
Sabathia (10-6, 4.46) came within two outs of getting his sixth complete game of the year, but needed help in the ninth after pinch-hitter Jacoby Ellsbury drove in a run. Other than that, though, this day belonged to him and Markakis, who had six ribbies on the day with a two-run shot off Roy Oswalt (11-7, 3.87), a bases-loaded plunking from Justin Masterson and a three-run poke courtesy of Micah Owings. Markakis left the game in the eighth still smarting from the drilling he’d received, with veteran Vladimir Guerrero coming off the bench (!) to play a little defense.
If Yuma (67-47, and winner of nine of their last ten) can keep up the pace, the prediction of GM Chris Melkonian of raising another flag will no doubt come true. The Finches, despite a great deal of pitching depth, have had problems scoring runs while the return of Guerrero and rookie sparkplug Denard Span has Yuma’s lineup hitting on all cylinders.
In other BARB action:
POTTSYLVANIA 7, TEXAS 2
WP: Mark Buehrle (11-4, 3.73)
LP: Colin Balester (4-5, 5.83)
Mark Buehrle went all the way for the fifth time this season, and got boundary belts from Garko, Huff and Ramirez to send the visiting Tornadoes to their sixth straight defeat as the audition for next year continues in Texas. The Creepers (67-53), for their part, swept Texas and GM Ronald Melkonian, but were only able to maintain a one-game lead in the Central over hard-charging Casselton.
ST. FRANCIS 4, LOS ANGELES 1
WP: Jamie Moyer (6-11, 4.86)
LP: Joe Blanton (7-12, 4.44)
SV: Sipp (1)
Rookie Tony Sipp notched his first-ever BARB save, Hank Blalock hit his 18th circuit shot of the year and 46-year-old Jamie Moyer went seven strong innings. With the trade deadline approaching, the veteran lefty has drawn no interest despite indications that the Friars would let him go for virtually nothing...so, perhaps, his future is closed.
FROSTBITE FALLS 9, BLACK MESA 2
WP: Tim Lincecum (12-8, 2.78)
LP: Wandy Rodriguez (5-16, 6.65)
Chris Iannetta drove in three runs and threw out two Anomalies baserunners to lead the Squirrels (72-54), who remain just one game back behind BARB-leading Worcester in the East race in total wins, and are effectively tied with Darwin for the wild card slot. Anomalies starter Wandy Rodriguez earned the unenviable distinction of being (by far) the loop's losingest pitcher, for a club that has just days to make a move on the trade market for next year.
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