DEJA VU

Gomez's hot hitting continued with a big two-run blast

October 1: Casselton again got into the Frostbite Falls bullpen early, and again the Squirrels threatened late. Who would pull through this time?

Just two weeks after his first career no-hitter, Jake Arrieta took the mound in Casselton with a chance to even his team’s first-round playoff series at one apiece. Arrieta even had help that Cole Hamels didn’t get in the first game with the offense plating the contest’s first run in the top of the first when Mike Trout singled, stole second and crossed on Victor Martinez’s bloop hit.

By the time Frostbite’s next run scored off Dillon Gee, the Horned Toads had put up six and Arrieta was long gone.

With two out and two on in the bottom of the second, Khris Davis grounded a single through the right side. Adrian Gonzalez rumbled toward the plate after being waived around third. Trout fired home, and it was ON THE MONEY, AND THEN DROPPED! Wilin Rosario, not known for his defensive chops, had the ball fall out of his mitt as he turned to tag Gonzalez. The big guy scored and the game was tied, 1-1.

The next inning would be the last time Casselton scored, but they made it count. Scooter Gennett led off with an infield single before Carlos Gomez took advantage of a first-pitch Arrieta fastball and gave a souvenir to a fan in the left-field bleachers. Adrian Beltre walked on four pitches, and Edwin Encarnacion matched Gomez with a shot to left. Next was Gonzalez. The lefty also worked his count full and deposited one to right-center. Just five batters into the third, Casselton had jumped out to a 6-1 lead.

Gee, normally Casselton’s fifth starter (Horned Toads management chose not to make a single change for the playoffs in hopes their roll would stay on track), didn’t run into trouble until the sixth, when Jason Kipnis took him deep to lead off and Jose Reyes made it to second base before being stranded. The visitors put together another scoring chance in the eighth as Kipnis tripled to the vast expanses of Target Field’s alleys and trotted home on a Craig Gentry sacrifice fly.

Nick Vincent came on for the top of the ninth, Gee having completed a quality start on 109 pitches. The 6-3 lead merited a save situation, and the righty got to quick outs (Trout, Martinez) in the air before running into trouble. Evan Longoria took a full-count walk. Bryce Harper lined a single to right. First and second, the tying run at the plate in the form of Rosario. On the team for his bat, Rosario was liable to homer at any moment. The count quickly evened at 2-2. Vincent threw a sinker on the outside part of the plate. Rosario tried to pull it. He did hit it to the left side, but it was on the ground right at Jean Segura. The shortstop went the short way for the force and the victory.

Casselton had taken a commanding 2-0 lead of the best-of-five series. They only needed one more win to head to their first BARB World Series. And with an offense that put up 10 runs one night and bashed 12 hits the next, who could bet against them?