A.L. CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES TIJ @ HOL G#2

Game 2: –  Alexi Ogando vs Jered Weaver.  After Clayton Kershaw gets roughed up a little, Hollywood sends the winningest pitcher to the mound in game 2.  Weaver hopes to slow the Tijuana bats some after getting rocked in game 1.  With 2-outs in the first, Ryan Braun steps in and hammers a double into deep left, however he gets Prince Fielder on a come backer to end the threat.  Ogando throws a 1-2-3 first.  Weaver heads out for the 2nd and gives up a single to Carlos Beltran to start the 2nd.  Hollywood employs David Ross behind the plate to help slow down the runners who went 4-0 in base steals during game 1 against Kurt Suzuki.  Weaver settles in and then gets the next 3 batters in succession.    Ogando throws his second perfect inning in a row.  Weaver heads into the 3rd  and gives up a leadoff single to Hanley Ramirez.  With Ross behind the plate, Ramirez takes his lead….it’s a strike….the throw….OUT!  Ross does his job in cutting down the runner!  Ogando sets Hollywood down 1-2-3 for the 3rd perfect inning in a row!  Hollywood’s faithful is getting worried.  With 1-out in the 4th, Prince Fielder rips a double into right.  This brings up Carlos Beltran.  Weaver sets…..the offering…there’s a drive to right center…it might be…it could be….IT IS!!  The Hollywood stadium is STUNNED!  The Bottle Rockets take a 2-0 lead against arguably the AL best pitcher, after pounding the 2nd best AL pitcher in game 1.  Manager Steve Cutler visits Weaver on the mound to settle him down – which works.  The game starts to get interesting for Ogando who just finished his 4th 1-2-3 inning in a row!  Weaver gets out of the 5th unscathed.  Ogando heads out for the 5th with a perfect game.  He runs a 3-2 count on Alex Gordon….The payoff pitch…..JUST LOW…Gordon trots to first breaking up the perfect game.  Now the no-hitter is what Ogando protects. Ogando gets out of the inning without further incident and we move to the 6th.  IN the bottom of the 6th, David Ross steps in to lead it off.  The pitch…THIS ONE IS HIT….IT MAY CARRY…..BUT it doesn’t, Ryan Braun catches it on the track.  Ogando takes a big sigh of relief breath.  Drew Stubbs strides to the plate.  Ogando seems a little rattled by that long out to Ross and walks Stubbs.  What’s this..Manager Dave Myers is heading to the mound.  He’s asking Ogando for the ball.  Ogando refuses to give it to him.  A shouting match ensues and Ogando, no-hitter an all, leaves the game.  Sean Marshall is called upon.   With the lefty coming up, Hollywood calls upon Paul Goldschmidt to bat.  The pitch, there goes Stubbs…he gets there easily.  Marshall then gets Goldschmidt to ground out and Emilio Bonifacio on strikes to end the threat and keep the no-hitter in tact!  We move to the bottom of the 7th and Jay Bruce steps in.  Marshall comes home…line drive to third…Michael Young dives….it’s off his glove..Jay Bruce collects the first Hollywood hit of the game and the crowd begins to stir.  After Marshall gets Gordon to bounce out, moving Bruce to 2nd, Marshall is pulled for Mike Adams.  Adams gets Ian Kinsler to line out and Jason Kubel to fly out to end the threat.  Hollywood turns to Javier A Lopez in the 8th and he walks Ben Zobrist with 1-out.  Zobrist goes….the throw by Ross….HE’S OUT!  Ross cuts down the second runner of the game.  The game moves to the bottom of the 9th and Tijuana calls on Sergio Romo to save the game.  Goldschmidt steps in and fans on 3 pitches – 1 OUT!  Next up, Emilio Bonifacio.  He dribbles one to the left of the mound, Romo can’t reach it…Bonifacio is safe at 1st!  The crowd goes wild!  The tying run is at the plate with 1-out, in the person of Jay Bruce.  The pitch….HE’S CAUGHT LOOKING!  2-outs!  Hollywood’s last chance in Alex Gordon.  Bonifacio leads…the pitch..GORDON SWINGS WILDLY….THAT BALL IS HIT….BACK TO THE WALL…IT IS…WAIT…GORDON OPENS HIS EYES TO SEE ALL THE BOTTLE ROCKET PLAYERS CONGRATULATING ROMO ON THE STRIKE OUT TO END THE GAME.  Gordon is embarrassed and heads to the dugout.  As he heads in, he sees Bethesda Owner Nik Malatestinic in hysterics as he watched Gordon swing with his eyes closed.  Tijuana wins 2-0 and takes a 2-0 Road Series lead as they head on back south!

Hollywood has scored 1 runs in 2 games and looks to be out played and out matched.  They put their tails between their legs and head into the locker room.

Winner:  Alexi Ogando 1-0
Loser:  Jered Weaver 0-1
Homeruns:  Carlos Beltran (2)

Tijuana up 2 games to 0