2056 #4 Brisas Watch - Sim #21 review

[conman14]

ATH @ BUA
Game 1 – ATH 4 BUA 3
At the completion of the 7th, it was looking good for the Brisas. It was a tight 2-1 affair, but Darren Asseldonk had given the Brisas 7.0 innings where he’d only given up one run and three hits. In came reliever Deron Alexander, who managed to induce a double play to retire the first two batters immediately. With two outs, he promptly gave up a single and a walk, before Boris Aplechnev blew the top off the game with a 3-run home run for the Fighting Centaurs. A consolation run in the 9th was not enough for the Brisas, as they succumbed to a crushing defeat.

Game 2 – ATH 3 BUA 2
It was once again another pitching masterclass for António Ramirez, who pitched another quality start to strike out 6 in 6.1 innings of play. Unfortunately for him, the Brisas bats continued to blow cold, as they fell to yet another disappointing loss.

Game 3 – ATH 7 BUA 2
The Brisas and starter Marvin Winston are made to pay for an error from Talbot Purcell in the 6th that would have got them out of the inning behind by 1 run. Instead, next batter up Zephyr Orphanides smashes a bases-emptying triple to give them an unassailable lead.

Game 4 – ATH 4 BUA 6
The Brisas prevent the sweep in dramatic fashion as outfielder Carlos Sánchez hits a Grand Slam in the bottom of the 8th to overcome a 4-2 deficit.

SYD @ BUA
Game 1 – SYD 6 BUA 4
It was another disappointing inning for starter Richard Balgera, who gives up at least 6 earned runs for the second straight start as the Brisas are the ones to blow a lead in the 8th.

Game 2 – SYD 6 BUA 4
A horrendous outing for Darren Asseldonk, who walks seven and gives up six earned runs to the Sharks. The Brisas try to mount a comeback from 6-0 down, but come up way short.

Game 3 – SYD 12 BUA 2
An uncharacteristic implosion from António Ramirez sees him pulled after 4.0 innings, where he gives up six earned runs. The Sharks feast on more poor pitching later on, as they go on to rock Sofian Jalil for five more runs.

The week in review
If the task for the Brisas in reaching the playoffs wasn’t difficult enough already, a very poor 1-6 home stand has just made the task of reaching the post-season close to impossible. Not only were they swept 0-3 by their post-season rivals Sydney Sharks, but they also lost 1-3 to the 6th-place Athens Fighting Centaurs. It seems much more likely that the Brisas are fighting to stay off the bottom of the GBC, rather than challenging for the postseason.

Swain is trying to remain optimistic, but is realistic on the Brisas’ fate. “There’s certainly been some bad luck going against us in recent games, where it has hinged on one pitch to blow the game wide open. Ultimately, there’s only so much the pitchers can do. We have to get on top of our offensive struggles, and it's frustrating because I think our ceiling is far higher than what we are showing right now”.