Plenty of souvenirs this game, but who came out on top?
Apologies for the hiatus as we approach the end of the tournament; my computer had to go in for repairs for two weeks.
Two undeniable truths sprung forth from Game 4 of the Top Pick Series:
- Homers rule the day.
- An early lead, as yet, is insurmountable.
For the second straight game, the Winners rode a four-run first to victory, this time tallying six of their seven runs through four-baggers. Joe Mauer’s RBI single, bringing in the first run of the game, was the one exception and was immediately followed by Michael Cuddyer’s three-run blast. Ben Revere (in the fourth) and Jeff Reed (in the fifth) hit longballs of their own to extend the lead.
But despite surrendering key dingers, the Berries were not resigned to succumbing meekly, scoring in the first on a bases-loaded walk then adding a homer of their own with Brian Dozier’s third-inning solo shot.
And in the seventh inning, once Minneapolis’ Todd Ritchie (6 IP, 6 H, 2 R) left the mound, Bloomington hammered the Winners’ first bullpen representative. It seemed Matt Fox would have an easy inning after two quick outs, but Steve Braun launched a solo shot, Dozier doubled, and Mitch Garver clouted a two-run blast — his third of the series — to cut the deficit to two.
But neither team would threaten until the bottom of the ninth, when the Berries nearly broke the game open against Winners closer Travis Miller. With a man on first and two outs, Garver walked and LaMonte Wade Jr. singled to fill the bags, but Dave Edwards grounded out to conclude the contest.
Minneapolis is now one game from winning it all.
(A note about this game that didn’t fit into the narrative of the recap: there were only five strikeouts.)
