Series Re-cap:

Game 1 – Suns 5 – Lookouts 3
Game 2 – Suns 12 – Lookouts 3

Yesterday the Lookouts had one of those games that can either make or break a team. On the one hand the pitchers went 3-2 on countless Suns hitters and wound up walking 10 with four of those walks coming around to score. Almost every inning was a struggle for the Lookouts pitchers with the exception of a couple by Onelki Garcia and Ralston Cash.

On the other hand, the positive side, the Suns did not score again after the second inning even when the Lookouts relievers provided some opportunities to do so. The Lookouts no doubt can take some comfort in that and also with the understanding that as bad as it seemed they were basically a hit away from tying the game on more than one occasion. In a game where they could have been blown away, they weren’t. They could have lost by more than a few runs but lost 5-3.

Today’s game was definitely even more of a make or break situation for the Lookouts. Jon Link started for the Suns. Dodger fans might recall that Link and John Ely were acquired from the Chicago White Sox in 2009 in the deal that sent outfielder Juan Pierre to Chicago. He actually pitched 8.2 innings with the Dodgers in 2010 and had 11 saves with the Albuquerque Isotopes in 2011. Link posted a 1-0 mark alongside his 2.25 ERA in 12 innings in two late season starts for the Suns.

Steve Smith got his second playoff start and was hoping to rebound from his first start against the Huntsville Stars that did not go according to plan as the base on balls also haunted him. On the season with the Lookouts Smith posted a 2.76 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP.

The game began in a very similar fashion to yesterday’s game as Steve Smith walked two of the first three Jacksonville hitters. As Yogi Berra would say it seemed it might be, “like deja vu, all over again”. However, he escaped the inning without giving up a run. In the bottom of the first inning Scott Schebler tripled to right field but remained there as Daniel Mayora struck out to end the inning.

Dodgers 2014 Minor League Player of the Year Scott Schebler hit a triple in Thursday’s Southern League Championship Series game but was left stranded on third base. (Photo credit – Tim Evearitt)

The Lookouts scored first in the game as Corey Seager walked and Noel Cuevas doubled to put runners on second and third with two out in the bottom of the second inning. Pitcher Steve Smith sliced a single to right field scoring both Seager and Cuevas.

The Suns scored in the fourth inning on a single by Terrance Dayleg, a double by Isaac Galloway and an infield out by pitcher Jon Link. Austin Nola then tied up the game at 2-2 driving home Galloway on a single lined to center field. Chris O’Brien and O’Koyea Dickson both singled in the bottom of the inning but were stranded as Steve Smith flied out to right field to end the threat.

Jacksonville scored again in the top of the fifth inning. After an error by third baseman Daniel Mayora , Brady Shoemaker doubled down the left field line to send the Suns into a 3-2 lead. The Lookouts went quietly in the bottom of the inning with only a single by Scott Schebler.

With two out Austin Nola was hit by a pitch in the top of the sixth. Austin Barnes on a 1-1 pitch followed with a long home run to left field increasing the Suns lead to 5-2. After issuing his fourth walk, three of them to JT Realmuto, starter Steve Smith was relieved by left hander Jarret Martin. Martin’s first pitch was crushed over the right field fence by Viosergy Rosa to give the Suns a five run lead. The Suns batted around in the inning as Martin issued a walk, and two more hits resulting in the Suns fifth run in the inning.

Jose Dominguez relieved Jarret Martin in the seventh but did not make it out of the inning. Dominguez left with the bases loaded after two walks and a single. Blake Smith got the last out in the inning.

Jhan Marinez came on to pitch the ninth inning and the Jacksonville hit parade continued. Four runs scored on three doubles and a home run by Brady Shoemaker giving the Suns a 10 run lead. The Suns batted around for the second time in an inning during the game. After Marinez walked two more hitters and left with the bases loaded infielder Alex Liddi came on the get the final out of the inning.

Chris O’Brien hit his third post season home run in the ninth to give the fans something to cheer about.

The series switches to Jacksonville on Friday for game three.