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liberty-ca · 12-11-2025, 09:32 PM

Sacramento takes two of three in Baltimore, rotation shines, Hernandez stays scorching
By Chad G. Petey, Baseball News Network (BNN)

Sinners Grounds offered cold wind, small crowds, and a last-place opponent — but Sacramento treated Baltimore with the same seriousness they bring to division races and October nights. The Prayers took two out of three, improving to 27–9, thanks to dominant starting pitching and Francisco Hernandez continuing one of the best two-week stretches of his career.

The lone blemish: a comeback that never came in Wednesday’s finale, spoiled by one crooked inning the Prayers couldn’t overcome.

Still, Sacramento leaves Maryland with the kind of road momentum good teams bank and bad teams envy.

MONDAY — SACRAMENTO 5, BALTIMORE 3

Gray cruises, Hernandez breaks it open

Russ Gray has quietly become the Prayers’ most reliable starter in the early going — and Monday night, he pitched like an ace fronting a contender.
Gray gave Sacramento 8 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, working quickly, mixing velocities, and forcing Baltimore’s inexperienced lineup into hesitant swings.

The offense supported him methodically:

A. Mendoza opened scoring with a no-doubt solo homer to left in the 4th.
Velasquez added a sac fly.
And then, as he keeps doing, Francisco Hernandez blew the game open, lining a two-run single in the 7th to stretch the lead to 5–1.

Prieto had a shaky 9th, charged with two runs, but closed the door for save No. 12.

“We take it day by day,” Gray said afterward. “Today was ours.”

Sacramento improved to 26–8.

TUESDAY — SACRAMENTO 3, BALTIMORE 0

Rubalcava throws a masterpiece

There are shutouts, and then there are statements.
Jordan Rubalcava authored the latter.

Rubalcava carved through Baltimore with a surgeon’s calm, firing a 3-hit, 0-walk shutout with 7 strikeouts — his best performance of the season and one of the most efficient starts of the Prayers’ young year.

He never blinked:

Only 31 batters faced

[*]111 pitches, 67 strikes
No free passes
Soft contact all night

At the plate, Sacramento’s offense did just enough:

E. Musco led off the 7th with a solo shot — his 7th.
Hernandez followed two batters later with his 3rd homer of the year.
Mendoza added an RBI sac fly.

Baltimore never mounted a threat.

Rubalcava is now 6–1, 1.51 ERA, one of the best marks in baseball.
Sacramento rolled to 27–8.

WEDNESDAY — BALTIMORE 4, SACRAMENTO 3

Early punch, sudden collapse, quiet finish

The Prayers came out swinging in the getaway matinee:

Perez single

Murguia walk

Hernandez three-run homer into the bullpen
A 3–0 lead eight batters in
Salazar looking sharp through two innings

And then the bottom of the third flipped everything.

Baltimore strung together four runs — all with two outs — capped by Francisco Guzman’s two-run double to left-center. Salazar settled after that, throwing five scoreless to finish his day, but the Prayers’ offense never recovered.

Sacramento had two late chances:

7th inning — two on, no outs
9th inning — tying run on, two outs

Both times, Baltimore’s bullpen executed.

The 4–3 loss dropped Sacramento to 27–9.

SERIES NOTES

HERNANDEZ REMAINS UNSTOPPABLE

Across the series, Francisco Hernandez went:

5-for-13

2 HR, 7 RBI

4 runs
One game-deciding hit (May 9)
One game-opening blast (May 11)

His timing, barrel control, and opposite-field authority have been elite for two straight weeks.

STARTING ROTATION ON FIRE

Gray: 8 IP, 1 ER
Rubalcava: 9 IP, 0 ER
Salazar: 8 IP, 4 ER (one rough inning)

Combined: 25 IP, 5 ER (1.80 ERA)

PEREZ QUIETLY STEADY AGAIN

Benny Perez continues to be the Prayers’ unflashy but essential table-setter:

4-for-13

3 runs
Stolen base No. 14
Plus dependable, clean fielding (minus one error Tuesday)

PRIETO A WORK-IN-PROGRESS

Another shaky outing Monday and an uneven stretch overall — but he recorded save No. 12 and remains the club’s trusted closer. His fastball command is the issue.

Onward to El Paso: The Road Trip Tightens

With the Baltimore set wrapped and the Prayers sitting at 27–9, the clubhouse turned the page quickly — because the road doesn’t get any easier from here. Sacramento now heads southwest to El Paso, where the Abbots have a well-earned reputation for making visiting teams uncomfortable, both with their altitude-aided offense and their rowdy home crowd at Sun County Park. After a mixed series in Baltimore — two crisp wins followed by a frustrating one-run loss — Sacramento enters El Paso looking to regain its offensive sharpness, settle the back end of the rotation, and keep the league’s best record intact as the road trip continues.

12-11-2025, 09:32 PM	#28
liberty-ca All Star Reserve Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: New Westminster, BC Posts: 503	BNN Series Recap — May 9–11, 1988 Sacramento takes two of three in Baltimore, rotation shines, Hernandez stays scorching By Chad G. Petey, Baseball News Network (BNN) Sinners Grounds offered cold wind, small crowds, and a last-place opponent — but Sacramento treated Baltimore with the same seriousness they bring to division races and October nights. The Prayers took two out of three, improving to 27–9, thanks to dominant starting pitching and Francisco Hernandez continuing one of the best two-week stretches of his career. The lone blemish: a comeback that never came in Wednesday’s finale, spoiled by one crooked inning the Prayers couldn’t overcome. Still, Sacramento leaves Maryland with the kind of road momentum good teams bank and bad teams envy. MONDAY — SACRAMENTO 5, BALTIMORE 3 *Gray cruises, Hernandez breaks it open* Russ Gray has quietly become the Prayers’ most reliable starter in the early going — and Monday night, he pitched like an ace fronting a contender. Gray gave Sacramento 8 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, working quickly, mixing velocities, and forcing Baltimore’s inexperienced lineup into hesitant swings. The offense supported him methodically: A. Mendoza opened scoring with a no-doubt solo homer to left in the 4th. Velasquez added a sac fly. And then, as he keeps doing, Francisco Hernandez blew the game open, lining a two-run single in the 7th to stretch the lead to 5–1. Prieto had a shaky 9th, charged with two runs, but closed the door for save No. 12. “We take it day by day,” Gray said afterward. “Today was ours.” Sacramento improved to 26–8. TUESDAY — SACRAMENTO 3, BALTIMORE 0 Rubalcava throws a masterpiece There are shutouts, and then there are statements. Jordan Rubalcava authored the latter. Rubalcava carved through Baltimore with a surgeon’s calm, firing a 3-hit, 0-walk shutout with 7 strikeouts — his best performance of the season and one of the most efficient starts of the Prayers’ young year. He never blinked: Only 31 batters faced [*]111 pitches, 67 strikes No free passes Soft contact all night At the plate, Sacramento’s offense did just enough: E. Musco led off the 7th with a solo shot — his 7th. Hernandez followed two batters later with his 3rd homer of the year. Mendoza added an RBI sac fly. Baltimore never mounted a threat. Rubalcava is now 6–1, 1.51 ERA, one of the best marks in baseball. Sacramento rolled to 27–8. WEDNESDAY — BALTIMORE 4, SACRAMENTO 3 *Early punch, sudden collapse, quiet finish* The Prayers came out swinging in the getaway matinee: Perez single Murguia walk Hernandez three-run homer into the bullpen A 3–0 lead eight batters in Salazar looking sharp through two innings And then the bottom of the third flipped everything. Baltimore strung together four runs — all with two outs — capped by Francisco Guzman’s two-run double to left-center. Salazar settled after that, throwing five scoreless to finish his day, but the Prayers’ offense never recovered. Sacramento had two late chances: 7th inning — two on, no outs 9th inning — tying run on, two outs Both times, Baltimore’s bullpen executed. The 4–3 loss dropped Sacramento to 27–9. SERIES NOTES *HERNANDEZ REMAINS UNSTOPPABLE* Across the series, Francisco Hernandez went: 5-for-13 2 HR, 7 RBI 4 runs One game-deciding hit (May 9) One game-opening blast (May 11) His timing, barrel control, and opposite-field authority have been elite for two straight weeks. *STARTING ROTATION ON FIRE* Gray: 8 IP, 1 ER Rubalcava: 9 IP, 0 ER Salazar: 8 IP, 4 ER (one rough inning) Combined: 25 IP, 5 ER (1.80 ERA) *PEREZ QUIETLY STEADY AGAIN* Benny Perez continues to be the Prayers’ unflashy but essential table-setter: 4-for-13 3 runs Stolen base No. 14 Plus dependable, clean fielding (minus one error Tuesday) *PRIETO A WORK-IN-PROGRESS* Another shaky outing Monday and an uneven stretch overall — but he recorded save No. 12 and remains the club’s trusted closer. His fastball command is the issue. Onward to El Paso: The Road Trip Tightens With the Baltimore set wrapped and the Prayers sitting at 27–9, the clubhouse turned the page quickly — because the road doesn’t get any easier from here. Sacramento now heads southwest to El Paso, where the Abbots have a well-earned reputation for making visiting teams uncomfortable, both with their altitude-aided offense and their rowdy home crowd at Sun County Park. After a mixed series in Baltimore — two crisp wins followed by a frustrating one-run loss — Sacramento enters El Paso looking to regain its offensive sharpness, settle the back end of the rotation, and keep the league’s best record intact as the road trip continues. Last edited by liberty-ca; 12-11-2025 at 09:33 PM.