The "jack of all trades" celebrates after his second jack.
October 5: The Yuma Firebirds, after falling behind, 2-0, at home in
the first round, put together two dominating performances to regain home field
advantage for the rubber match. Game 4 saw Ben Zobrist and Kris Medlen star for
the visitors.
Medlen, after a stellar 22-5, 2.64
regular season, was matched up against reeling Tim Lincecum (0-3, 4.40 in his
final six regular season starts).
Early in the season, Medlen, on the same
field, hurled one of the greatest games in BARB history—a no-hitter with only
one runner reaching base safely (on an error). The right-hander’s chance for
another gem vanished within three pitches in the bottom of the first, but
before that he was staked to a two-run lead.
Lincecum recorded the first two outs in
the top half of the first, but Andrew McCutchen kept the inning alive with a
single the opposite way. Ben Zobrist worked the count to 2-2 and sat on a
poorly-thrown Linceum change-up. The ball soared down the left field line and
passed the foul pole with a few feet to spare, a two-run homer!
YUMA
2, FROSTBITE FALLS COMING UP
As was mentioned, Medlen saw the repeat
no-no flash before his eyes and disappear on his third pitch. Frostbite second
baseman Jason Kipnis just got a piece
of a 1-1 slider and pushed it past the mound to his counterpart, Zobrist. It was
hit too slowly for the “Zorilla”, though, and Kipnis was safe aboard first base
with an infield single. After a strikeout, young Bryce Harper roped the first
offering for a double to left center. This time, Kipnis had to hold up to make
sure the ball wasn’t caught and he was held at third base. Medlen settled down,
however, striking out Kendrys Morales and inducing a harmless grounder from Wilson
Ramos to end the threat.
Energized by their pitcher’s mettle, the
Firebirds manufactured a run in the top of the second. Denard Span and Ryan
Zimmerman singled to lead off, and a force play put runners at first and third
for Andrelton Simmons. The shortstop shortened up and dumped Lincecum’s first
pitch into center for an RBI.
YUMA
3, FROSTBITE FALLS 0
Frostbite got on the board in the bottom
of the third, with left-handed Kipnis getting just enough to put the ball over
the left field wall for a solo shot.
YUMA 3, FROSTBITE FALLS 1
The Flying Squirrels gained momentum in
the fifth. In the top half of the frame, reliever Alex Cobb induced a Zimmerman
double play ball with bases loaded and one out. Mike Trout stepped up to lead
off the bottom half. Trout, oh-for-11 in the leadoff spot the first three games
of the series, hit a single in the second inning of Game Four in the seven
hole. His second appearance of the day showed that he was ready to break out of
his slump in a big way. Trout gained a 2-1 advantage and waited on his pitch
from Medlen, which he CRUSHED to DEEP left-center, a long home run to bring the
home squad within one!
YUMA 3, FROSTBITE FALLS 2
Unfortunately for the locals, that was
as close as Frostbite got. Zobrist hit his second homer of the game, this a
solo shot, with one away in the seventh. Later that inning, Anthony Rendon
singled in Buster Posey.
Medlen finished seven strong, allowing
just the two runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and no walks (93 pitches).
Sean Doolittle and Drew Storen threw a perfect eighth and ninth, respectively,
to tie the series and send it back to Yuma for the rubber match.
FINAL: YUMA 5, FROSTBITE FALLS 2
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