JACKSON'S SLAM HOLDS UP

Austin Jackson’s early grand slam proves just enough as Frostbite Falls’ piecemeal bullpen holds off the Friars.

Derek Holland lost it, and quickly. In just the second inning of his start in Game Three of the 2013 BARB World Series, the erratic lefty missed location after location and put his team in a hole they couldn’t climb out of.

Frostbite Falls nearly put up a crooked number in the first. Mike Trout walked to lead off and Jackson doubled him to third. Without an out on the scoreboard, Holland pulled the string on Wilin Rosario. Evan Longoria picked up his catcher, though, with a sacrifice fly to score Trout. The Flying Squirrels’ rally ended with another can of corn, and Holland exhaled as he walked off the hill.

The aforementioned second frame was a different story. Dayan Viciedo lined a one-out single in front of a Mark Ellis free pass. Kendrys Morales also singled to load the bases for the top of the order, and Trout, whose bat was silent in the first round series against Yuma, dumped an RBI single to left.

Enter, again, Jackson. After nearly driving in a run in the first, he wasn’t about to miss his second opportunity. The Frostbite center fielder worked the count in his favor before UNLOADING on a get-it-in fastball! Holland got whiplash from watching the ball soar deep into the Rocky Top left field seats.

With the early 6-0 lead, Felix Hernandez seemed to put things on cruise control. It was quickly apparent that he wasn’t going to be “King”-ly on this night. In the third, Ryan Sweeney walked and Grant Green worked a 12-pitch at-bat before striking out. Shin-Soo Choo doubled in Sweeney and was himself driven in by Aaron Hill.

Two batters later, Frostbite’s defense bailed their star pitcher out. Carlos Beltran grounded a single through the left side. Drew Stubbs rushed on, crow-hopped and fired toward the plate, where Hill was headed. Rosario was waiting, and the ball joined him before Hill arrived for the out.

The Friars were right back at it against Hernandez in the fourth. Two singles and a walk loaded the bags for Choo, who singled to the gap for two runs. Just four innings into the game, there had been 10 runs scored, with the home squad holding just a two-run advantage.

Holland was pulled one batter into the fourth for right-hander Shelby Miller. The youngster shut the door that inning but was roughed up a bit in the fifth—Jose Reyes beat out a 20-footer in front of the plate to bring up Bryce Harper, the platoon partner for Drew Stubbs. Brash young Harper wasn’t impressed with Miller’s fastball, but a fan in Row E in straightaway center WAS impressed with his new souvenir. The home squad had a little breathing room into the late innings.

FROSTBITE FALLS 8, ST. FRANCIS 4

Hernandez made it into the seventh before Antonio Bastardo came in. Steve Delabar replaced the lefty in the eighth but allowed a run in the ninth, so Frostbite Falls manager Mike Noakes called on Mike Gonzalez. The veteran balked on his first movement of the World Series before striking out Chris Davis to end it.

FINAL: FROSTBITE FALLS 8, ST. FRANCIS 5

Game Three was in the books with a home squad victory. If not for a Cole Hamels ninth-inning mistake in Game One, the series would be 3-0 in favor of Frostbite Falls. As it was, the wild card had a game up and home field for the next two in hopes of bringing home another BARB world title.