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liberty-ca · 12-13-2025, 01:52 PM

Prayers Power Through Priests, But Injuries Mount in Brooklyn
By Gemmie Nye,Sacramento Sports Chronicle

The Sacramento Prayers (44-19) wrapped up a tough road trip by taking two of three games from the Brooklyn Priests (29-34). While they secured the series win and improved to a season-best 25 games over .500, the team faced a demoralizing shutout loss and disturbing injury news that threatens their dominance.

Wednesday's Shutout: Tipping the Cap to Mendoza

The series started with a cold thud on Wednesday as the Prayers were blanked 8-0 by Brooklyn starter Alex Mendoza. Sacramento manager Jimmy Aces was blunt about the performance: "We didn't have good at-bats. I don't make excuses, but when we were playing the game, our energy didn't show. That comes from either extremely good pitching or extremely lousy hitting and seeing as our team has a bunch of good hitters, I have to tip my cap to [Alex] Mendoza." Starting pitcher Bernardo Andretti (5-5) struggled with control and errors, leading to the bullpen collapsing later in the game.

Thursday's Marathon: Hicks Delivers in the 14th

The team showed incredible resilience on Thursday, battling for 14 innings to scratch out a gritty 3-2 victory. Starting pitcher Russ Gray (2.08 ERA) was solid through 5.2 innings, but the game turned into a war of attrition for the bullpens.

The biggest moment belonged to Logan Hicks (.233 AVG), who came in as a pinch-runner replacement and delivered the game-winning hit—a run-scoring single in the top of the 14th inning. Hicks, who finished with the game-winning RBI, told the Sacramento Sports Chronicle: "Being able to play a game for a living is one thing. Being able to play it well and contribute to a win is even better." Camden Liston (.198 AVG) provided an earlier spark with a crucial solo home run.

Crucially, the win was credited to reliever Gil Caliari (1-0), but the victory was overshadowed by the injury to closer Luis Prieto, who was forced to leave the game while pitching, raising immediate alarm bells for the bullpen.

Friday's Gem: Rubalcava and Strauss Dominate

The Prayers bounced back from the marathon with a confident 5-0 shutout win on Friday, thanks to a masterful performance on the mound and key hits in the heart of the order.

Jordan Rubalcava (10-2) was the Player of the Game, earning his **10th win** with a superb 7.1 scoreless innings. His league-leading ERA dropped to an incredible 1.64.
Sam Strauss (.282 AVG) was the offensive MVP, racking up three hits, including two doubles, and driving in a run with a sacrifice fly. Strauss said his team "played with determination."
Bret Perez (.307 AVG) continued to thrive, reaching base multiple times and swiping his 13th stolen base.

The Looming Crisis: Prieto and Musco Out

The loss of two of their best offensive players and their premier closer simultaneously means the 50-win Prayers must enter survival mode. The starting rotation must continue to pitch deep into games, and the struggling offense must find consistent production from role players like Hector Iniguez and Camden Liston.

12-13-2025, 01:52 PM	#48
liberty-ca Major Leagues Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: New Westminster, BC Posts: 455	Prayers Power Through Priests, But Injuries Mount in Brooklyn By Gemmie Nye,Sacramento Sports Chronicle The Sacramento Prayers (44-19) wrapped up a tough road trip by taking two of three games from the Brooklyn Priests (29-34). While they secured the series win and improved to a season-best 25 games over .500, the team faced a demoralizing shutout loss and disturbing injury news that threatens their dominance. *Wednesday's Shutout: Tipping the Cap to Mendoza* The series started with a cold thud on Wednesday as the Prayers were blanked 8-0 by Brooklyn starter Alex Mendoza. Sacramento manager Jimmy Aces was blunt about the performance: "We didn't have good at-bats. I don't make excuses, but when we were playing the game, our energy didn't show. That comes from either extremely good pitching or extremely lousy hitting and seeing as our team has a bunch of good hitters, I have to tip my cap to [Alex] Mendoza." Starting pitcher Bernardo Andretti (5-5) struggled with control and errors, leading to the bullpen collapsing later in the game. *Thursday's Marathon: Hicks Delivers in the 14th* The team showed incredible resilience on Thursday, battling for 14 innings to scratch out a gritty 3-2 victory. Starting pitcher Russ Gray (2.08 ERA) was solid through 5.2 innings, but the game turned into a war of attrition for the bullpens. The biggest moment belonged to Logan Hicks (.233 AVG), who came in as a pinch-runner replacement and delivered the game-winning hit—a run-scoring single in the top of the 14th inning. Hicks, who finished with the game-winning RBI, told the Sacramento Sports Chronicle: "Being able to play a game for a living is one thing. Being able to play it well and contribute to a win is even better." Camden Liston (.198 AVG) provided an earlier spark with a crucial solo home run. Crucially, the win was credited to reliever Gil Caliari (1-0), but the victory was overshadowed by the injury to closer Luis Prieto, who was forced to leave the game while pitching, raising immediate alarm bells for the bullpen. *Friday's Gem: Rubalcava and Strauss Dominate* The Prayers bounced back from the marathon with a confident 5-0 shutout win on Friday, thanks to a masterful performance on the mound and key hits in the heart of the order. Jordan Rubalcava (10-2) was the Player of the Game, earning his 10th win with a superb 7.1 scoreless innings. His league-leading ERA dropped to an incredible 1.64. Sam Strauss (.282 AVG) was the offensive MVP, racking up three hits, including two doubles, and driving in a run with a sacrifice fly. Strauss said his team "played with determination." Bret Perez (.307 AVG) continued to thrive, reaching base multiple times and swiping his 13th stolen base. *The Looming Crisis: Prieto and Musco Out* The loss of two of their best offensive players and their premier closer simultaneously means the 50-win Prayers must enter survival mode. The starting rotation must continue to pitch deep into games, and the struggling offense must find consistent production from role players like Hector Iniguez and Camden Liston. Last edited by liberty-ca; 12-13-2025 at 01:54 PM.