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liberty-ca · 02-07-2026, 04:08 PM

1990 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

THE RESURRECTION IN ANAHEIM
Chad G. Petey and C.O. Pilot – Baseball News Network (BNN) and Gemmy Nay, (Sacramento Sports Chronicle)

If you heard a collective roar echoing from the Central Valley all the way down to Southern California this week, it wasn't an earthquake — it was the Sacramento Prayers finding their soul. After a disastrous start at home, our boys traveled to Nashville’s backyard and turned Angel Stadium into a house of worship.

We went into the lion's den down 0-2 and came out with the series knotted at two games apiece. The bats have woken up, the pitching has stabilized, and the momentum has shifted so violently you’d think the Sacramento River started flowing backward.

★ ★ ★

Game 3: Sacramento Prayers 3, Nashville Angels 1
The Rubalcava Revelation

Desperation has a funny way of focusing the mind. Facing a nearly insurmountable 0-3 hole, the Prayers handed the ball to Jordan Rubalcava, and he delivered a sermon for the ages. Rubalcava was a surgeon on the mound, carving through the Angels' lineup for 8.1 innings of four-hit ball. He didn't just pitch; he dictated terms.

The scoring started in the sixth when Alejandro Lopez — who is quietly becoming the hero of this postseason — blasted a 410-foot solo shot that silenced the Nashville crowd. Sacramento added insurance in the eighth and ninth thanks to clutch two-out RBI singles from Andy Hamilton and Rafael Alonzo. While Carlos Vargas touched Rubalcava for a solo homer in the ninth, Luis Prieto stepped in to shut the door and secure the first win of the series. It was a clinical, professional victory that proved the Prayers belong on this stage.

“Postseason wins taste oh so sweet,” Rubalcava said. The victory cut Nashville’s Series lead to 2–1 and steadied a club that had spent the first two games chasing.

Game 4: Sacramento Prayers 13, Nashville Angels 4
The Midnight Explosion

If Game 3 was a delicate surgery, Game 4 was a demolition derby. The Prayers didn't just win; they left a "Property of Sacramento" sign in the middle of the Nashville diamond. Andy Hamilton and Alejandro Lopez combined for five hits and six RBIs, but the real story was the sheer power on display.

Sacramento turned a tight 8-4 contest into a laugher with a five-run ninth inning that saw Edwin Musco and Gil Cruz go back-to-back, followed later by another Lopez moonshot. Musco, who had been struggling, finished the day with two home runs and three RBIs, finally looking like the superstar we know him to be. Bernardo Andretti earned the win with a gritty 6.2 innings, but the headline was the offense. 13 runs on 15 hits is the kind of statement that keeps opposing managers awake at night.

“The boys were really swinging the bats today,” manager Jimmy Aces said.

★ ★ ★

Game 5: Sacramento Prayers 5, Nashville Angels 2 (11 Innings)
Alonzo’s Midnight Sermon

They say "Age is just a number," and Fernando Salazar spent 6.1 innings proving it. At 40 years old, when most players are contemplating a career in color commentary, Salazar was busy making Nashville’s hitters look like Little Leaguers. He allowed just two hits, leaving the mound with a 2-1 lead and the heart of a lion.

However, the path to glory is rarely a straight line. Steve Dodge stumbled in the eighth, surrendering a solo shot to David Serrano that knotted the game at 2-2 and sent a chill down the spine of every fan in Sacramento. The tension in Angel Stadium was so thick you could cut it with a pine-tarred bat.

Enter Rafael Alonzo. In the top of the 11th, with two runners on and the weight of the city on his shoulders, Alonzo connected with an Adam Karos offering that didn't just clear the wall — it cleared the stadium's consciousness. The three-run blast was a majestic 415-foot shot that effectively ended Nashville’s hopes. Luis Prieto was a titan in relief, striking out five in two innings to earn the win, while Gil Caliari slammed the door in the bottom of the 11th to seal the 5-2 victory.

“No shortage of effort,” Jimmy Aces said afterward.

★ ★ ★

AROUND THE HORN: LEAGUE NOTES

* The "Alonzo Premium": If Rafael Alonzo’s agent wasn't smiling before Game 5, he’s grinning ear-to-ear now. With three home runs and 18 RBIs this postseason, Alonzo has transformed from a reliable backstop into a "blank check" superstar. Rumors are circulating that several big-market teams are clearing cap space for a run at him, but Sacramento fans are already demanding the front office "pay the man" before he even takes off his catcher's gear.
* Salazar’s Swan Song? Fernando Salazar’s vintage performance has sparked a league-wide debate: Is he the greatest "old man" pitcher in history? Sources close to the veteran say he’s considering one more year if the Prayers win the title, but his value for a one-year "mercenary" contract just doubled for any contender looking for postseason poise.
* Nashville's Depth Chart Disaster: With Edwin Frescas already hobbled, the Angels' bullpen looked exhausted in the extra innings. League insiders are noting that Nashville's reliance on a four-man rotation and a thin relief corps is finally catching up to them at the worst possible moment.

★ ★ ★

FAN MAIL: QUESTIONS FROM THE FRONT PEW

Gemmy, Alejandro Lopez is hitting like a man possessed! Why was he buried at the bottom of the lineup for so long? He’s clearly the MVP of this series so far. — Alex in Arden

Gemmy: Alex, sometimes the best treasures are hidden in plain sight. Lopez has always had the power, but his plate discipline was a concern earlier this season. Whatever he ate on the flight to Nashville, I want a double helping of it. Moving him up might be tempting, but there's something to be said for having a "second leadoff hitter" at the bottom of the order to flip the lineup. If it ain't broke, don't fix the Prayer!

Gemmy, I was one of the fans booing after Game 2. I’m man enough to admit I was wrong. But tell me the truth: Can we actually close this out at home, or are we better off as road warriors? — Remorseful in Roseville

Gemmy: Roseville, apology accepted! The "Home Field Curse" was real for those first two games, but this is a different team than the one that left Sacramento. They have the "Big Mo" (Momentum) now. Closing it out at home is the dream, but don't expect Nashville to just hand over the trophy. They’re a wounded animal now, and those are the most dangerous. But with the crowd at Sacramento Stadium behind us? I like our odds.

Why did Jimmy Aces stick with Dodge in the 8th when he clearly didn't have his best stuff? We almost threw away Salazar’s masterpiece! — Nervous in Natomas

Gemmy: It’s easy to play "Monday Morning Manager," Natomas! Aces trusts his veterans, and Dodge has been a rock for us all season. That Serrano homer was a great piece of hitting, not necessarily a bad pitch. The sign of a championship team is being able to survive those mistakes, and thanks to Alonzo, Dodge’s blown save is just a footnote instead of a tragedy.

★ ★ ★

THE NEXT STEP

The Prayers return home holding a 3–2 World Series lead, having won three straight after falling behind. Sacramento has outscored Nashville 21–7 over the last two games and has received dominant starting pitching in two of the three wins.

The stage is set for a Friday night for the ages in the City of Trees. The momentum is firmly in our corner, but the job isn't finished. Game 6 is scheduled for Friday night at Sacramento Stadium.

02-07-2026, 04:08 PM	#209
liberty-ca Major Leagues Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: New Westminster, BC Posts: 453	1990 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES THE RESURRECTION IN ANAHEIM Chad G. Petey and C.O. Pilot – Baseball News Network (BNN) and Gemmy Nay, (Sacramento Sports Chronicle) If you heard a collective roar echoing from the Central Valley all the way down to Southern California this week, it wasn't an earthquake — it was the Sacramento Prayers finding their soul. After a disastrous start at home, our boys traveled to Nashville’s backyard and turned Angel Stadium into a house of worship. We went into the lion's den down 0-2 and came out with the series knotted at two games apiece. The bats have woken up, the pitching has stabilized, and the momentum has shifted so violently you’d think the Sacramento River started flowing backward. ★ ★ ★ Game 3: Sacramento Prayers 3, Nashville Angels 1 The Rubalcava Revelation Desperation has a funny way of focusing the mind. Facing a nearly insurmountable 0-3 hole, the Prayers handed the ball to Jordan Rubalcava, and he delivered a sermon for the ages. Rubalcava was a surgeon on the mound, carving through the Angels' lineup for 8.1 innings of four-hit ball. He didn't just pitch; he dictated terms. The scoring started in the sixth when Alejandro Lopez — who is quietly becoming the hero of this postseason — blasted a 410-foot solo shot that silenced the Nashville crowd. Sacramento added insurance in the eighth and ninth thanks to clutch two-out RBI singles from Andy Hamilton and Rafael Alonzo. While Carlos Vargas touched Rubalcava for a solo homer in the ninth, Luis Prieto stepped in to shut the door and secure the first win of the series. It was a clinical, professional victory that proved the Prayers belong on this stage. “Postseason wins taste oh so sweet,” Rubalcava said. The victory cut Nashville’s Series lead to 2–1 and steadied a club that had spent the first two games chasing. Game 4: Sacramento Prayers 13, Nashville Angels 4 The Midnight Explosion If Game 3 was a delicate surgery, Game 4 was a demolition derby. The Prayers didn't just win; they left a "Property of Sacramento" sign in the middle of the Nashville diamond. Andy Hamilton and Alejandro Lopez combined for five hits and six RBIs, but the real story was the sheer power on display. Sacramento turned a tight 8-4 contest into a laugher with a five-run ninth inning that saw Edwin Musco and Gil Cruz go back-to-back, followed later by another Lopez moonshot. Musco, who had been struggling, finished the day with two home runs and three RBIs, finally looking like the superstar we know him to be. Bernardo Andretti earned the win with a gritty 6.2 innings, but the headline was the offense. 13 runs on 15 hits is the kind of statement that keeps opposing managers awake at night. “The boys were really swinging the bats today,” manager Jimmy Aces said. ★ ★ ★ Game 5: Sacramento Prayers 5, Nashville Angels 2 (11 Innings) Alonzo’s Midnight Sermon They say "Age is just a number," and Fernando Salazar spent 6.1 innings proving it. At 40 years old, when most players are contemplating a career in color commentary, Salazar was busy making Nashville’s hitters look like Little Leaguers. He allowed just two hits, leaving the mound with a 2-1 lead and the heart of a lion. However, the path to glory is rarely a straight line. Steve Dodge stumbled in the eighth, surrendering a solo shot to David Serrano that knotted the game at 2-2 and sent a chill down the spine of every fan in Sacramento. The tension in Angel Stadium was so thick you could cut it with a pine-tarred bat. Enter Rafael Alonzo. In the top of the 11th, with two runners on and the weight of the city on his shoulders, Alonzo connected with an Adam Karos offering that didn't just clear the wall — it cleared the stadium's consciousness. The three-run blast was a majestic 415-foot shot that effectively ended Nashville’s hopes. Luis Prieto was a titan in relief, striking out five in two innings to earn the win, while Gil Caliari slammed the door in the bottom of the 11th to seal the 5-2 victory. “No shortage of effort,” Jimmy Aces said afterward. ★ ★ ★ AROUND THE HORN: LEAGUE NOTES * The "Alonzo Premium": If Rafael Alonzo’s agent wasn't smiling before Game 5, he’s grinning ear-to-ear now. With three home runs and 18 RBIs this postseason, Alonzo has transformed from a reliable backstop into a "blank check" superstar. Rumors are circulating that several big-market teams are clearing cap space for a run at him, but Sacramento fans are already demanding the front office "pay the man" before he even takes off his catcher's gear. * Salazar’s Swan Song? Fernando Salazar’s vintage performance has sparked a league-wide debate: Is he the greatest "old man" pitcher in history? Sources close to the veteran say he’s considering one more year if the Prayers win the title, but his value for a one-year "mercenary" contract just doubled for any contender looking for postseason poise. * Nashville's Depth Chart Disaster: With Edwin Frescas already hobbled, the Angels' bullpen looked exhausted in the extra innings. League insiders are noting that Nashville's reliance on a four-man rotation and a thin relief corps is finally catching up to them at the worst possible moment. ★ ★ ★ FAN MAIL: QUESTIONS FROM THE FRONT PEW Gemmy, Alejandro Lopez is hitting like a man possessed! Why was he buried at the bottom of the lineup for so long? He’s clearly the MVP of this series so far. — Alex in Arden Gemmy: Alex, sometimes the best treasures are hidden in plain sight. Lopez has always had the power, but his plate discipline was a concern earlier this season. Whatever he ate on the flight to Nashville, I want a double helping of it. Moving him up might be tempting, but there's something to be said for having a "second leadoff hitter" at the bottom of the order to flip the lineup. If it ain't broke, don't fix the Prayer! Gemmy, I was one of the fans booing after Game 2. I’m man enough to admit I was wrong. But tell me the truth: Can we actually close this out at home, or are we better off as road warriors? — Remorseful in Roseville Gemmy: Roseville, apology accepted! The "Home Field Curse" was real for those first two games, but this is a different team than the one that left Sacramento. They have the "Big Mo" (Momentum) now. Closing it out at home is the dream, but don't expect Nashville to just hand over the trophy. They’re a wounded animal now, and those are the most dangerous. But with the crowd at Sacramento Stadium behind us? I like our odds. Why did Jimmy Aces stick with Dodge in the 8th when he clearly didn't have his best stuff? We almost threw away Salazar’s masterpiece! — Nervous in Natomas Gemmy: It’s easy to play "Monday Morning Manager," Natomas! Aces trusts his veterans, and Dodge has been a rock for us all season. That Serrano homer was a great piece of hitting, not necessarily a bad pitch. The sign of a championship team is being able to survive those mistakes, and thanks to Alonzo, Dodge’s blown save is just a footnote instead of a tragedy. ★ ★ ★ THE NEXT STEP The Prayers return home holding a 3–2 World Series lead, having won three straight after falling behind. Sacramento has outscored Nashville 21–7 over the last two games and has received dominant starting pitching in two of the three wins. The stage is set for a Friday night for the ages in the City of Trees. The momentum is firmly in our corner, but the job isn't finished. Game 6 is scheduled for Friday night at Sacramento Stadium.