[IBL] SFP beats CAN 6-4 for division title

[Santa Fe Prairie Dogs]

It was the first game of the final home series of the season.

Santa Fe picked up their first division title since 2011 (as the Warpath) as
they snuffed a late rally to win 6-4 against Canberra.

Canberra drew first blood on an RBI single by David Peralta in the third. In the
home half of the inning, Santa Fe responded with a 2-run triple by Jose Ramirez
for a 2-1 lead.

It stayed that way until the bottom of the 8th. Brad Miller led off with a
single and stole second off lefty Felipe Rivero. Kris Bryant then drew a walk.
Wade Davis came into the game after Franklin Gutierrez was announced as a
pinch-hitter for Cody Asche. Davis's first pitch caught Gutierrez on the elbow
for a hit batter, loading the bases. After Adrian Gonzalez whiffed, the Prairie
Dog manager went against convention and brought in Phil Gosselin to hit for Joc
Pederson. Gosselin delivered a 2-run double to pad the lead. Brock Holt followed
with a single, scoring Gutierrez. Gosselin missed the stop sign from the third
base coach, but managed to easily beat the throw to home for a 6-1 margin.

The home crowd was positive the rout was on, but Santa Fe couldn't do any more
damage off new pitcher Fernando Rodney.

Pat Neshek was given the chore of mopping up the game in the top of the 9th.
Yoenis Cespedes began with a double. Mike Napoli came on in a surprise move,
hitting for Nolan Arenado. Nap drilled a pitch back up the middle that Miller
couldn't get to in time, and Cespedes scored to make it 6-2. Domingo Santana
flied out to the warning track before John Jaso singled. Drew Pomeranz got the
call to shut the rally down. Instead, he began with a 4-pitch walk to Cory
Spangenberg to load the bases. Jeff Mathis lined out to Miller, and the P-Dog
faithful breathed a sigh of relief. There's no way it can get any worse. Not
with the team's best reliever on the mound, right? And only needing one more
out.

Until Ketel Marte sent another pitch up the middle, and once again, Miller
couldn't get to it. 2 runs scored, Spangenberg on third, tying run on first, and
The Last Fan in the Stands had spilled his beer all over the lady seated in
front of him. (He promised to buy her a new dress later.)

Peralta hit a slow grounder toward Miller, the throw made it to first in time,
and the stadium erupted in total pandemonium as the on-field celebration began.

Congrats to Canberra on making things close and exciting all year.

Larry
SFP