Vicente Lamb, Stars Reporter
September 7, 2049
VALENCIA – With their 3-2 victory over the visiting Bears tonight, the Valencia Stars secured their 82nd win of the year, guaranteeing them a winning record in 2049. This will be their first winning season since 2041, when the team went 85-77 and earned a playoff berth. They likely aren't done hitting season benchmarks just yet. There are still twenty games to play, and the Stars have a good chance to reach 90 wins in a season for the first time since 2023. Ninety wins, and a playoff berth, remain there for the taking for Valencia in September.
The Stars would score the winning run in the sixth inning off a Kenan Reis (.309/.357/.507, 21 HR, 80 RBI) sacrifice fly that scored Donald Miller from third base, Reis's second RBI of the game. The Stars led off the scoring in the first inning on a solo shot from designated hitter Pedro Guzmán off of Bears starter Juan García (5.49 ERA, 22 GS). Valencia is hoping that this is a sign that Guzmán is finally settling into the Stars lineup (he's slashing just .147/.194/.324 as a Star in eleven appearances).
The Stars have a home series against the Popes (against whom they are an unimpressive 3-8 on the season) later in the week, followed by their last road trip of the year. Valencia will be paying visits to Seattle and Hawaii before returning home to face Vancouver on September 19th.
