FINCHES LOSE GAME, ACE

Brooklyn---On the road against some pretty tough customers, Josh Johnson and the Darwin Finches got a lead, then lost pretty much everything in their toughest setback of the season, as Brooklyn rallied to win in their final at-bat against a Darwin staff that had just seen Johnson (arguably their club's top pitcher) go down with what seemed likely to be a season-ending injury.

A playoff team in 2009, the Finches this season have managed to stay close in the West with a 62-53 mark based on the strength of their pitching staff. As the weather has heated up, so have the left-handed bats of David Ortiz and Josh Hamilton. But all of that momentum came to a crushing halt on Game Day 124, as Johnson (10-9, 3.71) grabbed his lower back after fanning B.J. Upton with two down in the fifth and a 4-2 lead. Johnson had to be helped off the mound, and after the game it was confirmed that he had incurred a serious shoulder injury that, barring a miracle, would sideline him for the year.

As the saying goes, 'bummer'. Meanwhile, the trailing Moabs got a run that inning courtesy of a solo HR from 1B Ryan Howard (his club-leading 41st of the year) to make things interesting. In the bottom of the ninth, the Moabs got some unexpected production from the bottom of their lineup: 3B Brandon Inge (a mid-season addition from the minors) singled to lead off the inning against Ryan Franklin (1-5, 4.53). IF Chris Davis (a throw-in from a late summer trade with Arizona) punched the first pitch he saw over the head of Milton Bradley for a ground-rule double to put runners at second and third with no out.

With a vote of 'no confidence', the Finches brain trust lifted (last-name) Franklin the right-hander for (first name) Franklin Morales...the left-hander. Got that? Morales was supposed to fan pinch-hitter B.J. Upton, but Upton got enough of a low slider to loft it out to left for a sac fly, with Inge scoring the tying run. Vernon Wells then weakly rolled a ball to first, but Ortiz muffed the exchange, and Chris Davis scored on the play from third base....GAME OVER!

Ortiz, not a regular 1B by any stretch of the imagination, could only shake his head at this turn of events, which made Brooklyn setup man (and future closer) Neftali Feliz (9-3, 1.86) an unlikely winner in relief. First, to lose Johnson, then the game! At four games out, Darwin still has time to get back in the playoff spot, but it wasn't immediately clear how it might even be possible to replace a rotation stalwart like Josh Johnson. Darwin had clearly suffered its most devastating defeat of the year!

In other BARB action:

BLACK MESA 8, FROSTBITE FALLS 2

WP: Barry Zito (8-11, 4.66)
LP: Felix Hernandez (12-8, 3.32)

Adrian Beltre had four hits, including a pair of RBI singles, and Barry Zito outpitched 'King' Felix on the road, at Frostbite Falls, thus keeping the Squirrels (68-54) a game back in the ultra-competitive East.

MADTOWN 2, OAKLAND 1

WP: Hideki Kuroda (13-6, 3.79)
LP: Derek Lowe (8-11, 5.47)
SV: Wilson (16)

Hunter Pence did it all, smacking his 20th HR of the year for the game's first run, stealing a pair of bases and making a run-saving catch in the fifth to propel the Murlocs (65-54) to their first win in nearly a week, keeping pace with the Firebirds in the West.

ST. FRANCIS 7, POTTSYLVANIA 0

WP: Randy Wells (3-7, 4.37)
LP: Armando Gallaraga (7-11, 6.49)

Starter Randy Wells and reliever Brandon Wells combined on a five-hit shutout to send the host Creepers (62-60) to another tough loss, seven-and-a-half games behind Central-leading Casselton. The Friars got four hits from LF Johnny Damon, who was not traded nor claimed on waivers, but has largely been relegated to the bench as St. Francis auditions new players.

ARIZONA 5, LOS ANGELES 1

WP: James Shields (6-9, 5.01)
LP: Trevor Cahill (3-5, 4.93)

Unsung heroes kept the Thunder (62-57, six games back) afloat for another day in the
competitive Central Division: Ryan Raburn, Martin Prado and Miguel Montero all had two hits, including an RBI single, to back a solid five-plus frames from former Brooklyn starter James Shields. Having played a few games less than other clubs, the Thunder enjoys a two-game lead in the loss column compared to the Creppers.

YUMA 5, WORCESTER 4

WP: Matt Cain (12-9, 3.87)
LP: Anibal Sanchez (9-9, 4.08)
SV: Soriano (4)

Rafael Soriano worked out of a bases-loaded situation in the ninth when pinch-hitter Billy Butlerlined a ball right at Joey Votto for a game-ending double play! Worcester had taken a 3-1 lead on Joe Mauer's 27th HR of the season, but Ryan Braun tied the game at 3-3 with his second HR of the contest, and an inning later reliever Heath Bell gave up a go-ahead single to doom Sanchez. Despite the loss, the Eliminators (70-54) still boast the loop's overall best record.