Playoff Recaps & Pitching Matchup Previews

Thursday's Games

Frisco over Corpus Christi 3-2 (Game 2, Frisco leads best of five series 2-0)
You can't blame Keith Bodie for going with what has worked for him all season. The 1-2 punch of Kevin Chapman and Jason Stoffel in the eighth and ninth innings has worked well for Bodie all year. It just didn't work last night. Rob Rasmussen got the start and pitched seven innings allowing seven hits and three walks with two strikeouts. He made quick work of Frisco in the seventh leading some to speculate that he should have been left in as his pitch count was still below the century mark, but Rasmussen had pitched out of trouble several times already last night so Bodie's move to his best closing team from the bullpen is not something I would question. Unfortunately, it just didn't work this time. Chapman and Stoffel combined to allow three runs (two earned) on three hits and two walks. A two-out home run off Stoffel in the ninth sealed the Hooks fate. The Hooks put up their two runs in the third inning by way of an Austin Wates RBI single and an Andy Simunic RBI triple. The only men reaching scoring position from that point forward were Chris Wallace and Jake Goebbert who both reached on two-out doubles and were stranded.

Lancaster over Lake Elsinore 2-1 (Game 2, Best of three series tied 1-1)
Nick Tropeano flat dealt as he allowed one run on three hits with six strikeouts over six innings with the first hit not coming until the fourth inning. He was followed by excellent bullpen relief in the form of Pat Urckfitz, Chia-Jen Lo and Kenny Long. Scoreless through four, Lake Elsinore put up a run in the top of the fifth which was answered by Lancaster in the bottom of the frame as Robert Pena drove in Jonathan Meyer. The game stayed tied at 1-1 until the JetHawks broke it wide open in the bottom of the eighth as a 10-pitch at-bat from Erik Castro resulted in a two-run double (one of two doubles from Castro) before Jonathan Meyer put an exclamation point on the inning with a two-run home run. Jio Mier and Chris Epps also had good nights, each going two-for-four with a double.

Friday's Pitching Matchups
(Note: I'm pretty sure that I found all of the relevant starts for pitchers versus tonight's opponents, but going through individual boxscores is quite tedious so I might have missed something.)

6:05 CST - Game 1: Tri-City at Auburn
Auburn and Tri-City have only faced off three times this season with Tri-City leading the season series 2-1 so there's not much history from which to draw. RHP Aaron West will start for Tri-City and has not faced Auburn this season. He is 6-2 for the season in 12 starts with a 2.04 ERA and a 0.957 WHIP. LHP Brett Mooneyham has faced Tri-City once and that one game was Tri-City's one loss to Auburn. He is 2-2 in ten games (nine starts) for the season with a 2.55 ERA and a 1.228 WHIP.

7:05 CST - Game 3: Frisco at Corpus Christi
This is a must-win game for Corpus tonight. RHP Ross Seaton takes the mound for Corpus Christi. He has faced Frisco several times this season and is 1-2 with two no-decisions against them. For the season he is 8-9 with a 3.93 ERA and a 1.281 WHIP. RHP Nicholas Tepesch is scheduled to start for Frisco. He is 0-1 with two no-decisions in three starts against Corpus Christi this season. For the season he is 6-3 in 16 appearances (14 starts) with a 4.28 ERA and a 1.361 WHIP.

9:00 CST - Game 3: Lake Elsinore at Lancaster
This is the rubber game in a best of three series. RHP David Martinez takes to the bump for Lancaster. In two starts against Lake Elsinore this season, he has one loss and one no-decision. He is 9-5 with a 4.38 ERA and a 1.335 WHIP, but finished the season very strongly going 2-1 with a 1.35 ERA and a 1.050 WHIP in his final three starts. RHP Burch Smith, scheduled pitcher for Lake Elsinore, has two no-decisions against Lancaster this season. In 26 starts this year, he is 9-6 with a 3.85 ERA and a 1.197 WHIP.