2090 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game One
Friday, November 4, 2090
STRONG PITCHING BY BARTELS GIVES LA CLAIRE PRO CUP LEAD IN OPENING GAME
La Claire, playing at home at Capitol Park Stadium, behind the rock-solid outing of petite right-hander Don Bartels, staked themselves to a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven IPA Pro Cup Series. With the help of closer Jerry Miller, Bartels throttled the defending Pro Cup crownholder Valmara 4-2. The 21-year-old Bartels (2-1/3.68 ERA) limited the Vipers to 5 hits, fanned 9 and allowed 3 walks in his 8 innings. It was Miller's (2-0/0.71 ERA/1 save/7 games) first save in the playoffs this season. He fired a scoreless 9th. Miller gave up 2 walks, but whiffed 2 batters to seal the verdict for La Claire.
Bartels excelled in the regular season with a 19-7 record and standout 2.70 ERA. He outpitched Arjan Huntsman, who posted a fine 17-4 mark with a 3.07 ERA. Huntsman, a tall and lanky 6-6 southpaw, was tapped for 4 runs and 7 hits in his 7 and two-thirds innings.
Valmara scored first in the initial frame on Howie Dassner's (.298 BA/1 HR/2 RBI) single and a two-run swat by Keith Tobin (.357 BA/5 HR/11 RBI), his 5th playoff clout, but that was it offensively for the Vipers for the day. La Claire put a run on the scoreboard in the 3rd on a base hit by Rick Wall (.318 BA/2 HR/10 RBI), a balk and a sacrifice fly by Bill Gallagher (.340 BA/2 HR/10 RBI). The Lynx tied it up in the 4th on a walk to David Glascock (.186 BA/3 HR/11 RBI), a stolen base, ground out and another sac fly by Howie Ellenberger (.122 BA/2 HR/7 RBI). La Claire took the lead in the 5th on Bill Gallagher's double and Dennis Culpepper's (.315 BA/6 RBI) RBI base hit. Glascock tacked on an insurance run in the 8th with a solo home run.
La Claire backed up its strong pitching with 2 double plays. The Lynx collected 7 hits, while the Vipers were held to just 5.
Valmara manager Primo Sirak will send southpaw Shura Azurin (15-10/3.71 ERA) to the hill in game two. La Claire skipper Jonny Bacon will give the assignment to right-hander Shuggie Garsett (16-8/3.35 ERA). Garsett has struggled in the playoff this year with a 1-1 mark in 3 starts, while Azurin has done well, but he is 0-1 in his 3 starts, yet he has a stellar 2.08 ERA.
