Gerrit Cole throws 6 Innings of No Hit Baseball
Los Altos' Press Room issued the following report:
Game 1: Chris Sale vs. Gerrit Cole
It was the current Undertaker ace going against the former Undertaker ace to open things up today.
Sale was greeted rudely, a two run shot in the first by Steve Pearce. Sale really settled in after that, going 7 innings, giving up just 3 hits and striking out 10.
Gerrit Cole did him one better - he went 6 innings without giving up a hit, walking two and striking out 10.
Joplin's first hit of the day came in the 8th as Austin Wymns singled off Seranthony Dominguez. Jose Iglesias singled with one out. Adam Engle pitch ran for Wymns and both runners moved into scoring position on a double steal - on a hit and run. However, Jeremy Jeffress saved the day by striking out the next two.
In the 9th with one out, Sean Doolittle got the call against two lefties. He hit Freedie Freeman, then walked David Peralta - and the pitch on ball 4 was so wild, that both runners moved up - 2nd and 3rd with one out. Carlos Santana hit a sac fly, bringing home Freeman, but Doolittle struck out Sean Rodriguez as LAU barely held on...
Joplin 1
Los Altos 2
WP: Gerrit Cole, 13-4
LP: Chris Sale, 10-4
S: Sean Doolittle, 13
HRs: Steve Pearce (5)
Game 2: Hyun-Jin Ryu vs. Rich Hill
Two Dodger pitchers faced off in game 2, and it was a repeat of game 1 with LAU jumping to a 2 run lead in the first - this time on RBI singles by Pearce and Matt Kemp.
Ender Inciarte's RBI triple in the 2nd cut the lead to 2-1. In the 3rd, Mookie Betts tripled and scored on a Freeman sac fly, and we were knotted at 2.
It stayed that way until the 5th. Jesus Aguilar drove a run home with a single and Pearce followed with a sac fly, making it a 4-2 LAU lead after 5.
Joplin got a run back in the 7th. David Peralta singled, stole 2nd, went to 3rd on a wild pitch and scored on a Inciarte single.
Fortunately for LAU, the bullpen didn't dance into trouble like last game. McHugh, Fry, Jeffress and Doolittle got the final 6 outs to close this one up.
Joplin 3
Los Atos 4
WP: Rich Hill, 3-3
LP: Hyun-Jin Ryu, 1-1
S: Sean Doolittle, 14
Game 3: Charlie Morton vs. Aaron Sanchez
With the division title pretty much a forgone conclusion for Los Altos, and given the poor pitching performance of Tanner Roark - who would not make the post season roster, LAU decided to release their 3rd starter. Aaron Sanchez would replace him in the rotation. Would Sanchez do any better than Roark?
After 1 start, the short answer is no, no he would not.
Mookie Betts took Sanchez deep in the first. Chan Pinder tripled home a run in the 2nd. He scored on a Jose Iglesias sac fly, making it 3-0. It had the makings of a long day.
LAU's offense, however, responded. Shin Soo Choo and Matt Carpenter both hit solo homers in the 3rd, to cut the lead to 1.
In the 4th, Los Altos loaded the bases with no outs. Aaron Sanchez brought in the tying run on a ground out. Another RBI groundout by Choo and a RBI single by Nolan Arenado gave Los Altos a 5-3 lead.
In the 5th, Sanchez got himself into trouble, throwing a ball away on a comeback to start the inning. Yan Gomes singled, followed by a RBI force out by Carlos Santana, making it 5-4. LAU. Mookie Betts singled and Los Altos went to the pen. Ryne Stanek came in, and just like game 1 - Joplin pulled off the double steal on a swing and miss hit and run. And just like game 1, the Undertaker pitcher responded by striking out the next two batters.
Jesus Aguilar gave LAU a bit of breathing room in the 5th with a solo shot. Matt Kemp's solo shot made it 7-4 Los Altos. Nic Ahmed's RBI single in the 8th was the final scoring in this game.
Joplin 4
Los Altos 8
WP: Ryne Stanek, 1-0
LP: Charlie Morton 4-4
HRs: Mookie Betts (18 ) , Shin Soo Choo (4), Matt Carpenter (12), Jesus Aguilar (22), Matt Kemp (12)
Game 4: Gio Gonzalez vs. Chris Archer
It was 8-0 Los Altos as Chris Archer took the hill in the bottom of the 6th. The previous 3 games, LAU went to their bullpen 14 times and relievers pitched 10 2/3rds, so the plan was for Archer to go as long as possible.
Unfortunately, Archer decided 5 1/3rd was all he needed to do today. Here is how the top of the 6th unfolded.
Carlos Santana fly out (out #1)
Mookie Betts hit by pitch
Freddie Freeman double
Austin Wymns walk
David Peralta double (8-2 LAU)
Chad Pinder single (8-4 LAU)
Ender Inciarte single
Jose Iglesias single
--LAU finally goes to the pen to being in Ryne Stanek--
Franchy Cordero sac fly (8-5 LAU - out #2)
Santana ground out (out #3)
No day off for the pen today. Betts solo homer in the 7th cut the lead to 8-6. Fortunately, Nic Ahmed tripled home a run in the 7th and scored on a ground out to increase the lead back to 10-6. Jeremy Jeffress pitched the final 2 1/3rd for the save and the series.
Joplin 6
Los Altos 10
WP: Chris Archer, 4-4
LP: Gio Gonzalez, 4-11
S: Jeremy Jeffress, 3
HRs: Mookie Betts (19), Jesus Aguilar (23), Steve Pearce (6), Nic Ahmed (6)
Notes:
Joplin falls to 52-36, 9 games? out of first. You are welcome, Mike! They hit .182/.264/.313 for the series. Mookie Betts led the was with a .333/.412/.953 line. Carlos Santana went 0 for 16.
Los Altos moves to 62-22. We hit .308/.381/.585. Jesus Aguilar went 7 for 16 with 2 homers and 5 RBIs. Shin Soo Choo had a .500/.568/.929 line.
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