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liberty-ca · 12-14-2025, 11:02 AM

Prieto Returns: Prayers Win Series Amidst ChaosPRAYERS
By Chad G. Petey, Baseball News Network (BNN) and Gemmie Nye,Sacramento Sports Chronicle

The Sacramento Prayers (60-21) finished a chaotic three-game home stand against the Milwaukee Bishops (35-45) by taking two out of three games.

For three nights at Sacramento Stadium, the Bishops refused to play the role of passive visitor. They scratched, pressured, and in one jarring opener, exposed a rare crack in the Prayers’ armor. And yet, by Wednesday night, the familiar outcome reasserted itself.

Two wins out of three. Another series in the ledger. Another reminder that even when Sacramento bends, it rarely breaks. Manager Jimmy Aces summarized the gritty series win: "I like what I saw today, and I can't wait to get back out there and do it again."

Monday's Disaster: Defense Collapses

Game 1 — Monday, June 27
Bishops 7, Prayers 1

This was the outlier — and it felt strange from the first inning. The blame for a devastating 7-1 loss squarely rests on the defense, which committed five errors — three by shortstop Bret Perez (playing out of position) and two by third baseman Hector Iniguez — leading to two unearned runs against starter Fernando Salazar (7-5).

Milwaukee's Bob Alana was the Player of the Game, he turned the Prayers’ lineup quiet with a complete-game gem, allowing just two hits and never letting Sacramento settle into an at-bat. The Prayers' offense was completely stifled, managing only two hits, one of which was an RBI double by Felipe Hernandez (.260 AVG) in the 3rd inning, accounting for Sacramento's only run.

Fernando Salazar battled, but traffic never stopped coming. By the middle innings, Sacramento was chasing a game that refused to slow down. It was a reminder, uncomfortable but useful: dominance does not grant immunity.

Tuesday's Bounce Back: Martinez and Andretti Secure the Win

Game 2 — Tuesday, June 28
Prayers 2, Bishops 1

The Prayers immediately rebounded on Tuesday, securing a tight 2-1 victory thanks to excellent pitching and clutch hitting.

Bernardo Andretti (9-5): Andretti was the Player of the Game, working efficiently into the eighth and conceding just one run while keeping Milwaukee from stacking rallies.
Luis Martinez (.253 AVG) provided all the offense the Prayers would need, driving a 2-run double in the 2nd inning to put Sacramento ahead 2-0. Martinez called the win "a team effort."
Matt Wright (1.55 ERA) closed game without drama and earned another save, his 8th, by getting the final four outs to hold the slim lead. Sacramento reclaimed control not by overwhelming Milwaukee, but by refusing to give them anything extra.

Wednesday's Triumph: Russ Gray and the Return of the Closer

Game 3 — Wednesday, June 29
Prayers 3, Bishops 2

In a low-scoring affair, the Prayers clinched the series with a 3-2 victory, highlighted by the early return of their injured star.

Russ Gray (13-2, 1.76 ERA): didn’t dominate, but he never wavered. Gray secured his 13th win, battling through 6.2 innings and keeping the team in the game.
Felipe Hernandez (.266 AVG) was the offensive catalyst, hitting a run-scoring single in the 5th inning that provided the winning 3-2 margin. Hernandez also swiped two stolen bases (now 21).
The Return of Luis Prieto: In a shock to many, closer Luis Prieto (3.60 ERA) returned ahead of his 2-3 week timetable, pitching a perfect 9th inning to earn his 20th save of the season. His early return provides an enormous boost to the bullpen's morale and depth, especially with the team relying on him heavily before his injury.

Series Takeaway

This wasn’t a clean sweep. It wasn’t pristine. It was something more telling. The Prayers committed errors, lost focus for stretches, and still took the series. Even in their sloppiest game, the floor never collapsed. The Sacramento Prayers now stand at 60-21, a monumental record approaching the halfway point of the season. With Prieto back and the starters dealing, they look ready to resume a new winning streak.

12-14-2025, 11:02 AM	#55
liberty-ca Major Leagues Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: New Westminster, BC Posts: 458	Bnn series recap — june 27–29, 1988 Prieto Returns: Prayers Win Series Amidst ChaosPRAYERS By Chad G. Petey, Baseball News Network (BNN) and Gemmie Nye,Sacramento Sports Chronicle The Sacramento Prayers (60-21) finished a chaotic three-game home stand against the Milwaukee Bishops (35-45) by taking two out of three games. For three nights at Sacramento Stadium, the Bishops refused to play the role of passive visitor. They scratched, pressured, and in one jarring opener, exposed a rare crack in the Prayers’ armor. And yet, by Wednesday night, the familiar outcome reasserted itself. Two wins out of three. Another series in the ledger. Another reminder that even when Sacramento bends, it rarely breaks. Manager Jimmy Aces summarized the gritty series win: "I like what I saw today, and I can't wait to get back out there and do it again." Monday's Disaster: Defense Collapses Game 1 — Monday, June 27 Bishops 7, Prayers 1 This was the outlier — and it felt strange from the first inning. The blame for a devastating 7-1 loss squarely rests on the defense, which committed five errors — three by shortstop Bret Perez (playing out of position) and two by third baseman Hector Iniguez — leading to two unearned runs against starter Fernando Salazar (7-5). Milwaukee's Bob Alana was the Player of the Game, he turned the Prayers’ lineup quiet with a complete-game gem, allowing just two hits and never letting Sacramento settle into an at-bat. The Prayers' offense was completely stifled, managing only two hits, one of which was an RBI double by Felipe Hernandez (.260 AVG) in the 3rd inning, accounting for Sacramento's only run. Fernando Salazar battled, but traffic never stopped coming. By the middle innings, Sacramento was chasing a game that refused to slow down. It was a reminder, uncomfortable but useful: dominance does not grant immunity. Tuesday's Bounce Back: Martinez and Andretti Secure the Win Game 2 — Tuesday, June 28 Prayers 2, Bishops 1 The Prayers immediately rebounded on Tuesday, securing a tight 2-1 victory thanks to excellent pitching and clutch hitting. Bernardo Andretti (9-5): Andretti was the Player of the Game, working efficiently into the eighth and conceding just one run while keeping Milwaukee from stacking rallies. Luis Martinez (.253 AVG) provided all the offense the Prayers would need, driving a 2-run double in the 2nd inning to put Sacramento ahead 2-0. Martinez called the win "a team effort." Matt Wright (1.55 ERA) closed game without drama and earned another save, his 8th, by getting the final four outs to hold the slim lead. Sacramento reclaimed control not by overwhelming Milwaukee, but by refusing to give them anything extra. Wednesday's Triumph: Russ Gray and the Return of the Closer Game 3 — Wednesday, June 29 Prayers 3, Bishops 2 In a low-scoring affair, the Prayers clinched the series with a 3-2 victory, highlighted by the early return of their injured star. Russ Gray (13-2, 1.76 ERA): didn’t dominate, but he never wavered. Gray secured his 13th win, battling through 6.2 innings and keeping the team in the game. Felipe Hernandez (.266 AVG) was the offensive catalyst, hitting a run-scoring single in the 5th inning that provided the winning 3-2 margin. Hernandez also swiped two stolen bases (now 21). The Return of Luis Prieto: In a shock to many, closer Luis Prieto (3.60 ERA) returned ahead of his 2-3 week timetable, pitching a perfect 9th inning to earn his 20th save of the season. His early return provides an enormous boost to the bullpen's morale and depth, especially with the team relying on him heavily before his injury. Series Takeaway This wasn’t a clean sweep. It wasn’t pristine. It was something more telling. The Prayers committed errors, lost focus for stretches, and still took the series. Even in their sloppiest game, the floor never collapsed. The Sacramento Prayers now stand at 60-21, a monumental record approaching the halfway point of the season. With Prieto back and the starters dealing, they look ready to resume a new winning streak. Last edited by liberty-ca; 12-14-2025 at 11:08 AM.