TOADS RUN LOSING STREAK TO FIVE AS FLYERS STAVE OFF NEXT YEAR

TOADS RUN LOSING STREAK TO FIVE AS FLYERS STAVE OFF NEXT YEAR

Los Angeles—Facing elimination at the hands of the Central-leading Casselton, the PF Flyers (48-82) put up a solid homestand, sweeping a three-game set with their division rivals to postpone an end to their pennant chase for yet a few more games.

Flyers ace Tim Hudson (10-9, 3.65) won the opener of the series by outdueling Joe Saunders (5-13, 5.47) with help from bullpen mates Scott Shields and Brad Lidge, winning 5-2 on rookie Logan Morrison's third boundary belt of the campaign.

In the second game, backup catcher Mike Redmond drove in two runs to help his batterymate Trevor Cahill (4-5, 4.90) edge A.J. Happ (4-3, 3.95) in a tight 4-3 ballgame, with Lidge again earning a save, his 11th.

In the finale, it was again Morrison who went yard, this time a solo shot with two out in the bottom of the 10th, a walkoff job to beat Claudio Vargas (2-2, 3.68) and give situational lefty Rafael Perez (1-2, 3.89) his first ‘W' of the year.

All in all, Los Angeles only scored 14 runs in 28 innings, but it was enough to send the visiting Horned Toads (70-59) to their fifth straight loss. Despite the setback, Landon Bolt's club still boasts a four-game lead in the Central over defending titlist Pottsylvania and upstart Arizona.

In other BARB action:

DARWIN 8, WORCESTER 2

WP: Jonathan Sanchez (6-10, 4.79)
LP: Ryan Dempster (13-9, 4.19)

Yadier Molina hit a pair of home runs, threw out Hanley Ramirez twice, and the Finches sealed the win with a late rally after a two-hour rain delay to improve to 66-53, their third straight win and (for now) keeping them in contention against West-leading Yuma.

OAKLAND 3, YUMA 0

WP: Edison Volquez (5-2, 2.81)
LP: Matt Cain (12-11, 4.02)
SV: Penny (2)

Unlikely hero Brad Penny came on with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh and bailed out an exhausted United pen, and in the process saved a victory for an erratic Edison Volquez, who only gave up one hit but walked an incredible NINE Yuma hitters in six-plus innings...yet somehow combined with Penny and two other relievers on a two-hit shutout. Emerging star Colby Rasmus hit an RBI triple off Matt Cain and later scored to lead the United attack.

BLACK MESA 8, BROOKLYN 3

WP: Ted Lilly (5-8, 4.17)
LP: Jon Lester (11-6, 3.66)

Ian Kinsler hit two of his club's four round-trippers in his first two at-bats against Jon Lester, and other than a three-run mistake pitch to Brandon Inge, veteran Ted Lilly pitched well enough to hang around and eventually collect the win. The loss to the already-eliminated (and cellar-dwelling) Anomalies was a tough pill for the Moabs (71-61), who continue to lose ground to a hot Frostbite Falls club, with less than a month to play.

MADTOWN 9, FROSTBITE FALLS 7

WP: Brian Wilson (5-0, 2.42)
LP: Chris Perez (0-5, 5.56)

Brian Wilson's remarkable unbeaten streak remained unsullied, as the Murlocs reliever won his fifth without a loss, despite another mediocre start from Jason Vargas (3 HR alowed) Wilson also has 18 saves, as he has played a star role in 23 of his club's 69 wins, while losing none. Hunter Pence was the hitting hero of the game, driving in five runs, including the gamer with two down in the bottom of the eighth on a double-play ball that scored what turned out to be the winning run.