SILVER CITY OUTLAWS 8, KNOXVILLE SMOKIES 4
After suffering a 10-0 shellacking in Game 1 of this Patriot Series, Silver City Outlaws manager John Jarha brought his team together for a brief, blunt pep talk. “You’ve had a hell of a ride this season,” Jarha told his men. “You’ve showed heart, hustle, and guts. But you’ve gotta ask yourself: How do you want to be remembered?
“If we keep playing like we did today for the rest of this series, we’re gonna die fast and quiet. Is that how you want to be remembered? I sure as hell don’t. So let’s go out there tomorrow and play a game we can be proud of.”
The Outlaws listened to their manager’s words, then came out today and blitzed 20-game winner Elicio Santana on the way to an 8-4 win that evened the series at a game apiece.
“I’m not the type who gives big speeches,” said Jarha. “But after we looked so flat in that first one, we needed a spark. And if I could bring them that, great.”
The Outlaws didn’t let themselves get rattled by the outcome of Game 1, or having to face off against a dangerous pitcher like Santana. Nor did they get rattled when Smokies RF Jackson Campo belted a two-run homer in the 1st to give the home team an early lead.
The first hero of the day for Silver City was CF Javier Cardona, who has a reputation for being powerful but streaky. Today, Cardona was “hotter than a two-dollar pistol,” in the words of his manager. The center fielder led off the 2nd inning by homering to left, cutting Knoxville’s lead in half. Then in the 3rd, Cardona came up with the bases loaded and two outs, and drilled a hanging 2-1 slider to the gap in left center. Two runs scored, giving the Outlaws their first lead of the game. The Outlaws dugout hooted and hollered as Cardona lifted his hands in a “raise the roof” gesture.
“Javy really got us going today,” said Outlaws RF Nathaniel Wason. “He was huge for us, no question about it.”
Silver City got a momentary scare when Cardona exited the game in the 7th inning, apparently favoring his right leg. Jarha, though, said that it was “nothing serious” and that his center fielder should be ready for Game 3.
Then came the 4th. After getting two quick outs, Santana faltered, allowed back-to-back walks to 2B Dominique Barkan and 3B Rusty Brewmaker. That brought SS Danny Taylor to the plate. The rookie has had a tremendous season, and he’s shown a knack for coming through in big situations. He battled Santana to a full count, then timed a fastball and planted it fifteen rows deep in left center. Suddenly, Silver City led 6-2 and Santana was headed for the showers.
“With one swing of the bat, it was a totally different game,” said Wason.
That early onslaught gave Silver City southpaw Rob Tildon all the support he needed. Tildon worked 8 strong innings, striking out 12 Smokies. The only hitters who gave him real trouble were the Campo twins; Jackson went deep twice, while brother Jeremiah homered once.
“That’s why we lost this one,” quipped Smokies manager Snuff Wallace. “Not enough Campos.”
The series now shifts to the famously hostile environment of The Corral. During the Western Division Series, the Outlaws won all three games played there, shifting the momentum of a series that seemed to be going against them.
Wallace, though, says his team won’t be intimidated. “Everybody knows those Hollywood boys are a little light in the loafers,” said the Knoxville skippers. “They get scared easy. But my boys don’t get scared. We just need to go over there and take care of business, then I can get my trophy.”
10/2/2017, SCO16-KNX16, Rocky Top Park
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2016 Outlaws 0 1 2 3 0 1 0 1 0 8 11 0 11 1
2016 Smokies 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 4 6 1 5 0
Outlaws AB R H BI AVG Smokies AB R H BI AVG
Barkan 2b 4 1 0 0 .000 Johnson lf 3 1 2 0 .429
Brewmaker 3b 3 2 1 0 .143 Campo 2b 4 1 1 1 .375
Taylor ss 5 2 2 3 .222 Battin 1b 4 0 1 0 .333
Wason rf 4 2 2 2 .429 Campo rf 4 2 2 3 .375
Watson c 4 0 1 0 .125 Moriarty ss 3 0 0 0 .333
Cardona cf 4 1 3 3 .500 Credle c 3 0 0 0 .200
Baynes pr 1 0 0 0 .000 Blair cf 4 0 0 0 .125
Elliott 1b 5 0 0 0 .000 Valentim dh 2 0 0 0 .000
Barraza dh 4 0 0 0 .200 Gaytan ph 1 0 0 0 .000
Ivey lf 4 0 2 0 .375 Figeroa 3b 4 0 0 0 .167
38 8 11 8 32 4 6 4
Outlaws INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Tildon W 1-0 8.0 6 4 4 3 12 142 83 4.50
Menard 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 10 7 0.00
9.0 6 4 4 3 12 152 90
Smokies INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA
Santana L 0-1 3.2 5 6 6 5 4 92 46 14.73
Tile 4.0 5 2 2 2 4 73 49 4.50
Provenza 1.1 1 0 0 1 0 19 12 0.00
9.0 11 8 8 8 8 184 107
SCO: Baynes ran for Cardona in the 7th
Baynes moved to cf in the 7th
KNX: Gaytan batted for Valentim in the 9th
E-Tile. 2B-Taylor(1), Cardona(1), Ivey(1). HR-Taylor(1), Wason 2(2),
Cardona(1), Campo(1), Campo 2(3). RBI-Taylor 3(3), Wason 2(2), Cardona 3(3),
Campo(1), Campo 3(4). K-Barkan, Brewmaker 2, Taylor, Wason 2, Elliott,
Barraza, Johnson, Campo, Battin 2, Campo, Moriarty 2, Credle, Blair,
Valentim, Figeroa 2. BB-Barkan 2, Brewmaker 2, Wason, Watson, Barraza, Ivey,
Moriarty, Credle, Valentim. HBP-Johnson. HB-Tildon.
GWRBI: Cardona
Javier Cardona was injured for this game only
Temperature: 79, Sky: clear, Wind: left to right at 1 MPH.
Patriot League 