[Westheim]

I went with Vazquez to start the series. With Saito set for game 3, starting with Vazquez would alternate left- and right-handers for the CLCS. Turner was slated for game 2, Wade for game 4. Did we need to plan beyond that?

The Bayhawks will only offer right-handed starters for this series. We may see Daniel Hall or Bobby Quinn sitting a game for Glenn Johnston, who otherwise won’t have a place in the lineup. It all depends on performance of course.

1991 CONTINENTAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Portland Raccoons (96-66) @ San Francisco Bayhawks (97-66)

Game 1 – Robert Vazquez (17-7, 3.58 ERA) vs. Chris O’Keefe (19-9, 2.72 ERA)

Vazquez plunked C Jose Ortiz in the first inning, but nothing came of it. The Coons got their first chance in the top 2nd, as Higgins got Quinn forced out with a grounder, but then stole second base with only one out on the board. O-Mo struck out, but Vinson pressed a flyer through RF Steve Cobb for an RBI double and the Coons took a 1-0 lead.

Too bad that a walk to Pedro Villa, a wild pitch, and a bloop single by Cobb tied up the game without Vazquez registering an out in the bottom 2nd. It was only the beginning. LF Brandon Bailey doubled, and the Bayhawks scored two with sac flies. If it just had ended there. Vazquez was whacked around and finally knocked out when Roberto Rodriguez drove in the fifth run of the inning.

Roberto Carrillo was brought in to go as far as humanly possible. The game was long lost of course, as the Coons trailed 5-1 after two. Carrillo was no help in the suicide mission, as he was torched for four more runs while only getting the team through the fifth.

An errant pickoff throw by Ortiz to first helped the Coons’ Reece to score a run in the third, but they were flailing at most things O’Keefe hurled at them. That was about the offense they could muster, and after five, they trailed 9-2.

The Bayhawks felt no need to stop. All their liners fell in, all their grounders got through. It was 10-2 off Matthews after six, and O’Keefe left after seven dominant innings, having done his job very well. The Bayhawks sent in Alex Byrd to pitch the final two frames, and the Raccoons looked even worse against him.

10-2 Bayhawks. Reece 2-5; Johnston (PH) 1-1; Vinson 2-4, 2 2B, RBI; Reyes 1-2, 2B;

Well, that had gone exceptionally……… fudge. The Bayhawks got every break they needed, while the Raccoons got an errant throw in their favor, and that was it. Everybody can make plans for Monday. There won’t be no game 5.

The Capitals needed 13 innings to beat the Pacifics in the FLCS opener, 5-4.

Game 2 – Jason Turner (16-9, 2.55 ERA) vs. Wilson Moreno (17-12, 3.31 ERA)

Moreno started the game with a walk to Reece, a wild pitch, a single to Salazar, and then walked Hall. Bases loaded, nobody out. Osanai hit a sac fly, 1-0, and then Quinn forced Hall at second, Salazar had to hold, and Higgins grounded out. Things were going as usual. Vinson threw out Roberto Rodriguez in the bottom 1st to help end that inning. It has to be mentioned, since CS’s didn’t come regularly for Vinson this year. When Turner punched out Powys for the would-be final out in the bottom 2nd, the ball eluded Vinson, but took a favorable bounce off the backstop, which was playing into Vinson’s hands and he still got Powys dashing for first base.

Bobby Quinn found Hall and Osanai on base with two out in the top 3rd. He could still be described as reasonably hot and came up clutch here, singling up the middle and Hall scored from second. Turner was now up 2-0, and punched out the side in the bottom 3rd, giving him five consecutive K’s. While that string ended right there, he continued to dominate the Bayhawks, not allowing a runner since Diego Rodriguez’ leadoff single.

The top 6th saw Osanai reach base with a leadoff single, but he remained there while Quinn and Higgins made outs. O’Morrissey then drilled a shot through 3B Tim Benson that went into the corner for a 2-out RBI triple and made it 3-0.

Moreno went into the seventh, but again put the three leadoff men on: Reece walked, Salazar doubled, and Hall walked. Tetsu Osanai had a chance to put the game to bed, but again only managed a sac fly. Quinn hit into a double play.

However, it was 4-0 now, and Turner was still dealing strong, allowing only his second base runner of the day in the bottom 7th, again Diego Rodriguez. Things got tighter in the bottom 8th with runners on the corners, but Turner remained in control, punching out two to get out of there.

The top 9th saw the upper third of our lineup collectively reach base to start an inning for the third time in the game. Johnston had a pinch-hit single in place of Reece, and Salazar and Hall walked. Osanai the third. And this time he got it through Cobb in right! Two runs scored, and Higgins added a sac fly to make it 7-0.

Turner went out for the bottom 9th with a 3-hit shutout intact. Zahid Mashwanis pinch-hit for Diego Rodriguez and singled his way on. Roberto Rodriguez grounded out, and Pedro Perez looped out to Johnston in center. Cobb for the shutout. Cobb tried to keep the game alive, but Turner punched him out eventually. Win!

7-0 Raccoons! Reece 1-2, 2 BB; Johnston (PH) 1-1; Salazar 2-4, BB, 2B; Osanai 2-2, BB, 2B, 4 RBI; O’Morrissey 2-5, RBI; Turner 9.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K, W (1-0);

This is Jason Turner's seventh major league shutout, and the first in the postseason. In five postseason starts, he's 3-0 with a 1.53 ERA and a 0.85 WHIP.

The Capitals walked off against the Pacifics for the second time in their series, 3-2 in the 12th, taking a 2-0 lead.

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Cancel your diner reservations, there will be a game 5.

Anyway, since it’s late already and I have already overslept once this week, that will be it for today. Saito and Wade will start the next games. Do I want Vazquez in the final game in Portland? He was abysmal in his start. Lopez has not been used so far.