FINCHES: TAKE SERIES LEAD WITH EIGHT-RUN SIXTH

FINCHES: TAKE SERIES LEAD WITH EIGHT-RUN SIXTH
Las Vegas----In a series long delayed by weather and visa problems, the visiting Darwin Finches set a BARB playoff record by scoring eight times in the sixth inning, erasing a 2-0 deficit en route to an exhausting 11-8 win greatly aided by four miscues by their hosts, two on sophomore flychaser Hunter Pence. With the win, Darwin took a 2-1 lead in the series and guaranteed themselves a fifth game back at home should their hosts tie the thing tomorrow!

The game itself matched up the 44-year-old Randy Johnson against A.J. Burnett (0-1, 3.60), who definitely deserved better than what happened. Left-handed hitting 3B Alex Gordon doubled off the ‘Big Unit’ leading off the second and came around to score on another Johnson’s (2B Kelly) sac fly. In the third, the Luchadores scratched out another run when LF Matt Holliday singled, advanced to second on a walk to the dangerous Manny Ramirez, and eventually came in on a fielder’s choice: VEGAS 2, DARWIN 0!

But...in the sixth, calamity overtook the Lounge Lizards. Darwin SS Cristian Guzman reached when Gordon’s throw pulled 1B Prince Fielder off the bag to lead off the inning and then stole second on the very next pitch. Burnett’s curveball grazed Yadier Molina harmlessly to put two runners on, no out. Chone Figgins then beat out an infield single to load the bases! Placido Polanco’s hot-shot comebacker stung Burnett in his pitching hand, dropping the ball twice, all hands safe, Guzman scoring Darwin’s first run of the game on the play. The official scorer, adding insult to injury, gave Burnett an error on the play and with his hand beginning to swell, the Luchadores brought in Aaron Heilman, whose first fateful pitch was to.....

Milton Bradley, who promptly doubled to clear the bases!

David Ortiz’s fly ball to Pence in center was dropped, the third error of the inning. A few batters later, Chipper Jones (pinch-hiting for Molina) also doubled with the bases juiced! When the smoke cleared, the Finches had scored eight times: DARWIN 8, VEGAS 2!

The Luchadores would go on to make things interesting, with Manny Ramirez launching a three-run bomb off reliever Zack Greinke in the bottom of the frame, and C Ramon Hernandez tagging Hideki Okajima with a two-run blast in the seventh. But, in the meantime, the Finches scored more runs against Heilman and Chad Qualls, with another miscue by Hunter Pence thrown in for good measure.


Order was eventually restored after these two wild frames, and Hernandez’s bomb would be the only hit given up by Okajima, and the Finches would go on to win 11-8, with the venerable Johnson (1-0, 4.76) getting the decision. This sets up a potential clinching game on the road in Las Vegas for the Unnatural Selections, who indicated that they would use Chad Billingsley (who relieved in Game 2) to start instead of either Kazmir or Meche on short rest.
FINCHES: TAKE SERIES LEAD WITH EIGHT-RUN SIXTH