PreStros Playoff Recap: September 6

Corpus Christi

You gotta be kidding me. As if it's not bad enough to lose to a team with a condom for its mascot, the Hooks (and maybe manager Keith Bodie) blew it (the game, not a condom) for Frisco's second-straight walkoff, taking a 2-0 series lead with a 3-2 win over Corpus.

The thing that gets me is that Rob Rasmussen was straight dealing. 7IP, 5H/0ER, 2K:3BB, 93 pitches (54 for strikes). But Keith Bodie pulled him to start the 8th with a 2-0 lead, and things started to unravel almost immediately. With Kevin Chapman on the mound, Leury Garcia reached on Ben Orloff's fielding error, Chris McGuinness then doubled to score Leury Garcia, bringing the game to 2-1 Corpus. Chapman got a strikeout, then allowed the tying run on base with a walk. Jason Stoffel was then brought in, who gave up the game-tying run with a single to the first batter he faced. Stoffel got the last two outs of the inning with swinging strikeouts.

Stoffel remained on the mound for the 9th, where he walked leadoff batter Guilder Rodriguez. Engel Beltre sac bunted him over to second, after which Rodriguez inexplicably tried - and failed - to steal third base. Problem over, right? No. Dadgum Leury Garcia (I swear that guy is up to bat every other time) blasted a walk-off homer over the right field wall.

Andy Simunic was 2x4 with a triple and an RBI, while Chris "Big Poppa" Wallace was 2x4 with a double. Austin Wates had the other RBI. Jon Singleton was 0x4 with 3Ks.

Man of the Match: Rob Rasmussen

Lancaster

The Best-of-Three is going to a third game as the JetHawks took Game 2 from Lake Elsinore with a huge four-run 8th inning for a 5-1 win. We have picked up the option on our Man-Crush on Nick Tropeano for 2013 after he threw 6IP, 3H/1ER, 6K:2BB. The bullpen of Pat Urckfitz (1H), Chia-Jen Lo (2BB) and Kenny Long allowed 1H/0ER, 4K:2BB in the final 3IP.

Jio Mier (2B), Erik Castro (2 doubles - including a clutch two-run double that broke open the 8th), Chris Epps (2B), and Roberto Pena (RBI) each had two hits. Domingo Santana was 0x1, but drew three walks - the only three walks Lake Elsinore pitching allowed.

Men of the Match: Nick Tropeano and Erik Castro