WORLD SERIES GAME ONE: YUMA TAKES NAILBITER

October 8: The 2014 BARB World Series got off to a start expected with a matchup of the top two seeds as David Price outdueled Tim Hudson.

The two veterans faced off in Casselton, as the Horned Toads earned home field advantage at Target Field by sporting the best record in the league. Price was making his first World Series start since a forgettable four runs allowed in five innings in 2011 (though he had made starts in the playoffs every year since 2009). Hudson, despite his status as wily veteran, was making his first playoff appearance since getting shelled by Yuma in the 2004 Division Series.

The visiting Firebirds nearly struck at the start in this edition. In the top of the first, Ben Zobrist walked and Andrew McCutchen doubled to put two in scoring position. Casey McGehee and Ryan Zimmerman were retired by Hudson to end the threat.

Casselton’s best early chance came in the third, when Carlos Gomez and Adrian Beltre singled with one away. Justin Upton flailed at a two-strike pitch, however, and Adrian Gonzalez bounced harmlessly to first as Price put up another goose egg.

Yuma finally did open the scoring in the fourth. With two out and the bases empty, Ryan Braun and Mookie Betts strung together back-to-back singles before Buster Posey pulled a ball into the left field corner for a two-RBI double.

Hudson and Price settled in for another few innings after that. The home crowd got a chance to roar in the bottom of the sixth when Edwin Encarnacion sent a two-out, full-count pitch over the left field fence for a solo shot.

Yuma came right back in the top of the seventh with another two-out, bases-empty rally. Andrelton Simmons lined a base hit to right and scampered to second on a wild pitch to set up a Zobrist RBI single.

By the eighth both starters had left for the showers. Yuma set-up man Mark Melancon gave up a leadoff double to Gomez in the bottom half, and three batters later Gomez tagged and scored on a Gonzalez sacrifice fly. With runners on first and second and two away, Sean Doolittle preserved the Firebird lead by striking out Khris Davis.

The game was still 3-2 into the bottom of the ninth. Doolittle hung an 0-1 slider to Wellington Castillo, and though the catcher didn’t get all of it, he got enough to reach first base in front of the top of the lineup. The next three hitters went quietly, however, and Yuma had taken the first game of the best-of-seven.

FINAL: YUMA 3, CASSELTON 2

Price (6 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 9 K) had pitched well enough to give his team an advantage in their quest for their first title since 2009. Hudson, meanwhile, gave up three runs over 6 2/3 innings and could only hope for another opportunity later in the series to give the Casselton fans a parade.