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liberty-ca · 12-19-2025, 04:00 PM

SACRAMENTO AT BALTIMORE — “POWER, POISE, AND A RESET”
By Chad G. Petey, Baseball News Network (BNN)

If Sacramento arrived in Baltimore carrying the residue of a difficult San Jose trip, they left Sinners Grounds looking much more like themselves — authoritative on the mound, opportunistic at the plate, and quietly reasserting the balance that has defined their first-place run.

The Prayers dropped the opener, then answered emphatically, taking two of three and closing the series with a statement win that steadied a club wobbling through a rare mid-July dip.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

GAME 1 — JULY 20
Baltimore 5, Sacramento 3

The opener was a grind — and one of those nights where small cracks added up.

Russ Gray, who entered with a 2.39 ERA and a 13–3 record, was tagged for three solo home runs and labored through 5.2 innings, throwing 94 pitches while issuing three walks, committing two balks, and allowing four earned runs. It was just his fourth loss of the season.

Offensively, Sacramento did little to help. They managed five hits, went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, and struck out nine times. Sam Strauss supplied the highlight with his 7th homer, and Camden Liston tripled home a run, but the Prayers never sustained pressure.

Baltimore, meanwhile, leaned on discipline. Davin Seeland reached base four times (1-for-1, HR, three walks), driving in two and scoring twice. The Satans left 11 men on base, but their patience was enough.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

GAME 2 — JULY 21
Sacramento 7, Baltimore 3

The response was immediate — and loud.

Edwin Musco turned the series on its head, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI, three runs scored, and a walk. His eighth- and ninth-inning homers pushed his season total to 17, reinforcing his status as one of the league’s most dangerous bats (.339 AVG / .407 OBP / .685 SLG).

Alex Velasquez cracked the game open earlier with a two-run homer in the fourth, and Francisco Hernandez added a two-run shot in the sixth. Sacramento scored seven runs on seven hits, drawing six walks and striking out just five times.

Aaron Gilbert gave them exactly what they needed: 8 innings, 6 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, and 108 pitches worth of stability. Luis Prieto handled the ninth, and the Prayers evened the series with authority.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

GAME 3 — JULY 22
Sacramento 7, Baltimore 1

Friday night looked like a contender putting its foot down.

Jordan Rubalcava, pitching with a visibly taxed arm but trademark efficiency, delivered 6 innings of one-run ball, allowing 6 hits, striking out 5, and lowering his ERA to 1.67 while improving to 15–3. David Garza finished it off with a dominant 3-inning save, striking out five on 44 pitches.

The offense spread the damage. Bret Perez went 3-for-5 with two RBI, Roberto Cardenas homered and doubled (6 total bases), and Sacramento piled up 11 hits, including five extra-base hits, while stealing two bases.

Baltimore managed just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position, and Sacramento never let the game drift.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

SERIES SNAPSHOT

* Series result: Sacramento wins 2 of 3
* Runs: Sacramento 17, Baltimore 9
* Home runs: Sacramento 6 (Musco 2, Velasquez, Hernandez, Strauss, Cardenas)
* Starting pitching: 20 IP, 8 ER (3.60 ERA)
* Bullpen: 7.2 IP, 1 ER, 11 K
* Record after series: 73–29 (.716)

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

THE TAKEAWAY

This wasn’t dominance wire-to-wire — but it was control when it mattered. After dropping six of nine entering Baltimore, Sacramento stabilized by leaning on power, pitching depth, and timely execution. Musco’s surge, Rubalcava’s composure, and Garza’s length out of the bullpen all pointed toward a team recalibrating rather than unraveling.

July hasn’t been kind. But Baltimore reminded everyone — including the Prayers themselves — why they’re still sitting alone atop the West.

12-19-2025, 04:00 PM	#67
liberty-ca Major Leagues Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: New Westminster, BC Posts: 438	BNN Series Recap — July 20–22, 1988 SACRAMENTO AT BALTIMORE — “POWER, POISE, AND A RESET” By Chad G. Petey, Baseball News Network (BNN) If Sacramento arrived in Baltimore carrying the residue of a difficult San Jose trip, they left Sinners Grounds looking much more like themselves — authoritative on the mound, opportunistic at the plate, and quietly reasserting the balance that has defined their first-place run. The Prayers dropped the opener, then answered emphatically, taking two of three and closing the series with a statement win that steadied a club wobbling through a rare mid-July dip. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ GAME 1 — JULY 20 Baltimore 5, Sacramento 3 The opener was a grind — and one of those nights where small cracks added up. Russ Gray, who entered with a 2.39 ERA and a 13–3 record, was tagged for three solo home runs and labored through 5.2 innings, throwing 94 pitches while issuing three walks, committing two balks, and allowing four earned runs. It was just his fourth loss of the season. Offensively, Sacramento did little to help. They managed five hits, went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, and struck out nine times. Sam Strauss supplied the highlight with his 7th homer, and Camden Liston tripled home a run, but the Prayers never sustained pressure. Baltimore, meanwhile, leaned on discipline. Davin Seeland reached base four times (1-for-1, HR, three walks), driving in two and scoring twice. The Satans left 11 men on base, but their patience was enough. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ GAME 2 — JULY 21 Sacramento 7, Baltimore 3 The response was immediate — and loud. Edwin Musco turned the series on its head, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI, three runs scored, and a walk. His eighth- and ninth-inning homers pushed his season total to 17, reinforcing his status as one of the league’s most dangerous bats (.339 AVG / .407 OBP / .685 SLG). Alex Velasquez cracked the game open earlier with a two-run homer in the fourth, and Francisco Hernandez added a two-run shot in the sixth. Sacramento scored seven runs on seven hits, drawing six walks and striking out just five times. Aaron Gilbert gave them exactly what they needed: 8 innings, 6 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, and 108 pitches worth of stability. Luis Prieto handled the ninth, and the Prayers evened the series with authority. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ GAME 3 — JULY 22 Sacramento 7, Baltimore 1 Friday night looked like a contender putting its foot down. Jordan Rubalcava, pitching with a visibly taxed arm but trademark efficiency, delivered 6 innings of one-run ball, allowing 6 hits, striking out 5, and lowering his ERA to 1.67 while improving to 15–3. David Garza finished it off with a dominant 3-inning save, striking out five on 44 pitches. The offense spread the damage. Bret Perez went 3-for-5 with two RBI, Roberto Cardenas homered and doubled (6 total bases), and Sacramento piled up 11 hits, including five extra-base hits, while stealing two bases. Baltimore managed just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position, and Sacramento never let the game drift. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ SERIES SNAPSHOT * Series result: Sacramento wins 2 of 3 * Runs: Sacramento 17, Baltimore 9 * Home runs: Sacramento 6 (Musco 2, Velasquez, Hernandez, Strauss, Cardenas) * Starting pitching: 20 IP, 8 ER (3.60 ERA) * Bullpen: 7.2 IP, 1 ER, 11 K * Record after series: 73–29 (.716) ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ THE TAKEAWAY This wasn’t dominance wire-to-wire — but it was control when it mattered. After dropping six of nine entering Baltimore, Sacramento stabilized by leaning on power, pitching depth, and timely execution. Musco’s surge, Rubalcava’s composure, and Garza’s length out of the bullpen all pointed toward a team recalibrating rather than unraveling. July hasn’t been kind. But Baltimore reminded everyone — including the Prayers themselves — why they’re still sitting alone atop the West.