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liberty-ca · 01-07-2026, 11:38 PM

BNN SERIES RECAP — JUNE 27–29, 1989
TEXAS SWEEP: PRAYERS EXTEND STREAK TO EIGHT IN EL PASO
By Chad G. Petey & C.O. Pilot — Baseball News Network (BNN) and Gemmy Nay, Sacramento Sports Chronicle

EL PASO, TX — The Sacramento Prayers went into El Paso already rolling. They left having tightened their grip on the AL West and extended their dominance over the rest of the league.

Behind three more standout starts from Robby Larson, Russ Gray, and Fernando Salazar, Sacramento swept the Abbots, allowing just 2 runs in three games and improving to 58–23. The rotation continues to throw like it’s October, the catchers are suddenly raking, and the lineup is getting just enough thunder from its usual suspects.

The Prayers are currently the only team in the American League with a winning percentage over .700, and they show no signs of slowing down.

★ ★ ★

TUESDAY, JUNE 27 — PRAYERS 4, ABBOTS 0
Larson Sets the Tone

The series opened quietly — and decisively.

Robby Larson wasted no time asserting command, carving through the Abbots lineup with a fastball that lived on the corners and a breaking ball that never quite arrived where El Paso expected it. Over 7⅓ scoreless innings, Larson scattered three hits, walked two, struck out eight, and never allowed the game to feel reachable.

“A good, solid win,” manager Jimmy Aces said afterward — the kind of phrase that perfectly matched the night.

Sacramento struck early.
In the first inning, Edwin Musco punished a mistake from left-hander Luis Agosti, lifting a two-run homer into the El Paso night. It was quick, clean, and all the offense Larson would need.

The Prayers added insurance late. In the eighth, Francisco Hernandez turned on a pitch from Jeff Woliver, launching a two-run homer — his seventh — after already scoring twice earlier in the night. Hernandez finished 2-for-4, drove in two, and stole a base for good measure.

Larson handed the ball to Ricky Gaias, who finished the job without drama. Sacramento never let El Paso breathe. The Abbots had only four hits and never pushed a runner across.

Key Sacramento lines:

- Hernandez: 2-for-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB (26)
- Musco: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
- Rubbi: 2-for-2, 2 doubles

Record: 56–23.

★ ★ ★

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28 — PRAYERS 9, ABBOTS 1
Gray and the Avalanche

This was as close to a stress‑free night as a manager gets in June.

The Prayers ambushed El Paso early and never eased up, tagging starter Eduardo Rodriguez for seven runs in 4⅔ innings. Francisco Hernandez set the tone immediately with a two-run homer in the first, his eighth of the season, and Sacramento turned the game into a steady march from there.

Edwin Musco continued his middle-of-the-order authority with two hits and two RBIs. Sam Strauss delivered a bases-clearing double. Alex Vieyra homered and added another RBI. Sacramento piled up 13 hits, scored in five different innings, and turned Abbots Park into a quiet place by the middle frames.

On the mound, Russ Gray was clinical. Gray allowed just one run over 7⅔ innings, striking out five without issuing a walk. The lone blemish — a solo homer by Victor Ruiz — barely registered. Gray moved quickly, trusted his defense, and never let El Paso string together momentum.

“Win or lose, we always try to grind it out and stay even-keeled,” Hernandez said — a quote that fit the night perfectly. Gil Caliari finished it off with 1.1 scoreless innings.

Key Sacramento lines:

- Hernandez: 1-for-5, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
- Musco: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
- Vieyra: 2-for-4, HR, 2 R, RBI
- Perez: 2 R, double

Win streak: 7 straight. Record: 57–23.

★ ★ ★

THURSDAY, JUNE 29 — PRAYERS 6, ABBOTS 1
Rubbi’s Pinch-Hit Heroics

Thursday demanded patience.

For seven innings, the game refused to move. Fernando Salazar and Jim Bradford traded zeros, and Abbots Park leaned into every pitch as if the night might finally break El Paso’s way. El Paso finally landed a punch, pushing across a run in the 7th to take a 1–0 lead. In the eighth inning, with the game tied 1–1, Jose Rubbi stepped off the bench and delivered the swing that ended the suspense — a two-run pinch-hit home run that stunned the crowd and cracked the game wide open.

Moments later, Sam Strauss followed with his own two-run homer, and the floodgates finally opened. Sacramento sent nine men to the plate, scored five times, and erased any remaining doubt.

Fernando Salazar was, once again, exactly what they needed:

- 7.1 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
- ERA now 3.00, record 10–3

Gaias finished cleanly, and El Paso absorbed its eighth straight loss. “I thought we were prepared,” Abbots manager Alberto Rivas said afterward. “I thought we’d be more competitive out there.”

Key Sacramento lines:

- Rubbi: pinch‑hit HR, 2 RBI
- Strauss: 2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI
- Velasquez: 2-for-5, RBI
- Hernandez: SB #27 before exiting for the pinch‑hit sequence
- Hicks: SB #18

Win streak: 8 straight. Record: 58–23. El Paso’s losing streak hits 8.

★ ★ ★

SERIES TAKEAWAYS

1. The big three (plus one) are ridiculous.
In El Paso:

- Larson: 7.1 IP, 0 R
- Gray: 7.2 IP, 1 R
- Salazar: 7.1 IP, 1 R

Combined: 22 IP, 2 ER, 0.82 ERA.

And Jordan Rubalcava didn’t even pitch in this series — he’s sitting on a 1.81 ERA and 101 K.

2. The catching tandem is suddenly a strength.
- Rubbi: .330/.416/.557, 5 HR, 17 RBI in 97 AB.
- Vieyra: up to .222 with some big extra‑base hits recently and much better work the last 8 games (.467, 2 HR in that stretch).

What started the year as a black hole is now an asset.

3. Francisco Hernandez is finally punching back.
Three homers on the trip (Tucson + El Paso), plus his usual chaos on the bases (27 SB). The average is still low (.206), but the impact is finally matching the tools again.

4. Musco is the quiet engine.
After this series:

- .248/.344/.482, 15 HR, 47 RBI, 40 R, 39 BB.
He does everything: walks, power, defense, steals.

5. The standings are a blowout.
After June 29:

- Sacramento: 58–23 (.716)
- Next closest in the West: Tucson at 40–40, 17.5 back.

This isn’t a race. It’s a wire‑to‑wire campaign in the making.

★ ★ ★

Gemmy’s Take: The "Exhaustion" Excellence

I’m looking at the "Status" column for our pitchers and I see words like "Exhausted" for Salazar and Gray. But looking at the box scores? They look like they’re just getting started. This rotation is a machine. Salazar just hit 10 wins, Gray is at 9 with a sub-2.00 ERA, and Larson is 3-0 in his last four starts.

The most "Prayers" thing about this series? The 8th inning on Thursday. We’re tied, the Abbots think they might actually snap their losing streak, and Jimmy Aces pulls Jose Rubbi off the bench. Boom. Two-run homer. Then Sam Strauss follows it up later with another homer. It’s almost unfair.

Watch Out: Bernardo Andretti is eligible to return in four days. With the way the current five are pitching, who do you even move? Gilbert has a 1.69 ERA in spot duty. It’s a "problem" 23 other GMs would kill for.

The Prayers now head back home to Sacramento for a high-stakes weekend series against the Milwaukee Bishops. They are riding rhythm, rotation depth, and quiet authority — the kind that doesn’t ask for attention, because it already has it.

01-07-2026, 11:38 PM	#138
liberty-ca Major Leagues Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: New Westminster, BC Posts: 300	BNN SERIES RECAP — JUNE 27–29, 1989 TEXAS SWEEP: PRAYERS EXTEND STREAK TO EIGHT IN EL PASO By Chad G. Petey & C.O. Pilot — Baseball News Network (BNN) and Gemmy Nay, Sacramento Sports Chronicle EL PASO, TX — The Sacramento Prayers went into El Paso already rolling. They left having tightened their grip on the AL West and extended their dominance over the rest of the league. Behind three more standout starts from Robby Larson, Russ Gray, and Fernando Salazar, Sacramento swept the Abbots, allowing just 2 runs in three games and improving to 58–23. The rotation continues to throw like it’s October, the catchers are suddenly raking, and the lineup is getting just enough thunder from its usual suspects. The Prayers are currently the only team in the American League with a winning percentage over .700, and they show no signs of slowing down. ★ ★ ★ TUESDAY, JUNE 27 — PRAYERS 4, ABBOTS 0 Larson Sets the Tone The series opened quietly — and decisively. Robby Larson wasted no time asserting command, carving through the Abbots lineup with a fastball that lived on the corners and a breaking ball that never quite arrived where El Paso expected it. Over 7⅓ scoreless innings, Larson scattered three hits, walked two, struck out eight, and never allowed the game to feel reachable. “A good, solid win,” manager Jimmy Aces said afterward — the kind of phrase that perfectly matched the night. Sacramento struck early. In the first inning, Edwin Musco punished a mistake from left-hander Luis Agosti, lifting a two-run homer into the El Paso night. It was quick, clean, and all the offense Larson would need. The Prayers added insurance late. In the eighth, Francisco Hernandez turned on a pitch from Jeff Woliver, launching a two-run homer — his seventh — after already scoring twice earlier in the night. Hernandez finished 2-for-4, drove in two, and stole a base for good measure. Larson handed the ball to Ricky Gaias, who finished the job without drama. Sacramento never let El Paso breathe. The Abbots had only four hits and never pushed a runner across. Key Sacramento lines: - Hernandez: 2-for-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB (26) - Musco: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI - Rubbi: 2-for-2, 2 doubles Record: 56–23. ★ ★ ★ WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28 — PRAYERS 9, ABBOTS 1 Gray and the Avalanche This was as close to a stress‑free night as a manager gets in June. The Prayers ambushed El Paso early and never eased up, tagging starter Eduardo Rodriguez for seven runs in 4⅔ innings. Francisco Hernandez set the tone immediately with a two-run homer in the first, his eighth of the season, and Sacramento turned the game into a steady march from there. Edwin Musco continued his middle-of-the-order authority with two hits and two RBIs. Sam Strauss delivered a bases-clearing double. Alex Vieyra homered and added another RBI. Sacramento piled up 13 hits, scored in five different innings, and turned Abbots Park into a quiet place by the middle frames. On the mound, Russ Gray was clinical. Gray allowed just one run over 7⅔ innings, striking out five without issuing a walk. The lone blemish — a solo homer by Victor Ruiz — barely registered. Gray moved quickly, trusted his defense, and never let El Paso string together momentum. “Win or lose, we always try to grind it out and stay even-keeled,” Hernandez said — a quote that fit the night perfectly. Gil Caliari finished it off with 1.1 scoreless innings. Key Sacramento lines: - Hernandez: 1-for-5, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI - Musco: 2-for-4, 2 RBI - Vieyra: 2-for-4, HR, 2 R, RBI - Perez: 2 R, double Win streak: 7 straight. Record: 57–23. ★ ★ ★ THURSDAY, JUNE 29 — PRAYERS 6, ABBOTS 1 Rubbi’s Pinch-Hit Heroics Thursday demanded patience. For seven innings, the game refused to move. Fernando Salazar and Jim Bradford traded zeros, and Abbots Park leaned into every pitch as if the night might finally break El Paso’s way. El Paso finally landed a punch, pushing across a run in the 7th to take a 1–0 lead. In the eighth inning, with the game tied 1–1, Jose Rubbi stepped off the bench and delivered the swing that ended the suspense — a two-run pinch-hit home run that stunned the crowd and cracked the game wide open. Moments later, Sam Strauss followed with his own two-run homer, and the floodgates finally opened. Sacramento sent nine men to the plate, scored five times, and erased any remaining doubt. Fernando Salazar was, once again, exactly what they needed: - 7.1 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K - ERA now 3.00, record 10–3 Gaias finished cleanly, and El Paso absorbed its eighth straight loss. “I thought we were prepared,” Abbots manager Alberto Rivas said afterward. “I thought we’d be more competitive out there.” Key Sacramento lines: - Rubbi: pinch‑hit HR, 2 RBI - Strauss: 2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI - Velasquez: 2-for-5, RBI - Hernandez: SB #27 before exiting for the pinch‑hit sequence - Hicks: SB #18 Win streak: 8 straight. Record: 58–23. El Paso’s losing streak hits 8. ★ ★ ★ SERIES TAKEAWAYS 1. The big three (plus one) are ridiculous. In El Paso: - Larson: 7.1 IP, 0 R - Gray: 7.2 IP, 1 R - Salazar: 7.1 IP, 1 R Combined: 22 IP, 2 ER, 0.82 ERA. And Jordan Rubalcava didn’t even pitch in this series — he’s sitting on a 1.81 ERA and 101 K. 2. The catching tandem is suddenly a strength. - Rubbi: .330/.416/.557, 5 HR, 17 RBI in 97 AB. - Vieyra: up to .222 with some big extra‑base hits recently and much better work the last 8 games (.467, 2 HR in that stretch). What started the year as a black hole is now an asset. 3. Francisco Hernandez is finally punching back. Three homers on the trip (Tucson + El Paso), plus his usual chaos on the bases (27 SB). The average is still low (.206), but the impact is finally matching the tools again. 4. Musco is the quiet engine. After this series: - .248/.344/.482, 15 HR, 47 RBI, 40 R, 39 BB. He does everything: walks, power, defense, steals. 5. The standings are a blowout. After June 29: - Sacramento: 58–23 (.716) - Next closest in the West: Tucson at 40–40, 17.5 back. This isn’t a race. It’s a wire‑to‑wire campaign in the making. ★ ★ ★ Gemmy’s Take: The "Exhaustion" Excellence I’m looking at the "Status" column for our pitchers and I see words like "Exhausted" for Salazar and Gray. But looking at the box scores? They look like they’re just getting started. This rotation is a machine. Salazar just hit 10 wins, Gray is at 9 with a sub-2.00 ERA, and Larson is 3-0 in his last four starts. The most "Prayers" thing about this series? The 8th inning on Thursday. We’re tied, the Abbots think they might actually snap their losing streak, and Jimmy Aces pulls Jose Rubbi off the bench. Boom. Two-run homer. Then Sam Strauss follows it up later with another homer. It’s almost unfair. Watch Out: Bernardo Andretti is eligible to return in four days. With the way the current five are pitching, who do you even move? Gilbert has a 1.69 ERA in spot duty. It’s a "problem" 23 other GMs would kill for. The Prayers now head back home to Sacramento for a high-stakes weekend series against the Milwaukee Bishops. They are riding rhythm, rotation depth, and quiet authority — the kind that doesn’t ask for attention, because it already has it. Last edited by liberty-ca; 01-07-2026 at 11:39 PM.