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Griffons falter, playoff hopes fizzle with twinbill loss to Outlaws
Despite losing 17 of 20 games in the month of July, the Jefferson City Renegades are playoff bound.
Jeff City clinched the final MINK League South Division playoff berth courtesy of the Joplin Outlaws' doubleheader sweep of the Nevada Griffons Monday night in Joplin.
Nevada held a 1.5 game lead for the final playoff spot as recently as Friday, but watched their cushion slowly evaporate, as the Griffons concluded their last-place campaign on a seven-game losing skid.
Both Nevada and Jeff City concluded MINK League-play 12-26 overall, splitting their regular-season series 3-3. Jeff City, however, finished with the better South Division record, tilting the tiebreaker in their favor.
Prior to Monday's twinbill defeat, the two squads had previously matched up in Nevada on Saturday, with Joplin taking both games of the doubleheader (2,0, 13-9). The evening prior, Nevada was unable to expand on their 1.5 game lead, falling at home to the Ozark Generals, 8-6.
Twinbill finale
The two squads opened the (scheduled seven-inning) twinbill at Joe Becker Stadium on Monday, by resuming a previously suspended contest, in which the Outlaws were already staked to an early-inning 3-0 lead. Joplin then tacked on a run in the fifth for a 4-0 advantage.
The Griffons roared back in the sixth — as three hits, a pair of Outlaw errors, and a bases-loaded walk resulted in a four-run frame, tying the contest 4-4. Nevada failed to fully capitalize, as Brayland Skinner was induced into an inning-ending (bases loaded) groundout.
In the bottom of the seventh, Joe Kinder's two-out frozen rope off the left field wall, plated the winning run in walk-off fashion — 5-4.
Nevada starting pitcher Walker Johnson was effective in the loss, yielding two runs on just two hits, while striking out seven in 4 2/3 innings of work.
Despite the gut-wrenching loss, the Griffons playoff hopes had yet to be dashed — with Nevada looking to clinch the final South Division playoff spot with a victory in the nightcap.
The Griffons jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead, as Skinner doubled in the first, and was then plated courtesy of Trevor Kimm's two-out single.
After cruising through the first three frames, Nevada starting pitcher Alec Telles encountered a minor hiccup in the fourth, as Kinder's run-scoring single tied the contest.
A pitchers' duel ensued, with the game going into extra frames tied, 1-1.
After seven strong innings, Telles was replaced by Rece Martin in the eighth. A leadoff walk, followed by a Ryan Cedeno single had the Outlaws in business.
Martin was unable to escape the jam, as Jack Hanstad's one-out run-scoring single sent the Outlaws to victory, while delivering the lethal blow to Nevada's campaign.
Telles took the no-decision, scattering six hits across seven frames of work, while fanning six and walking one.
Martin (2-2), meanwhile, took the loss.
At the dish, the Griffons mustered just three hits, as Trevor Kimm finished 2-for-3.
First-year Nevada head coach Will Loza provided his thoughts on the season that was. "I think it's been pretty good, honestly," said Loza after Saturday's home finale. From where we started on April 25, without having a (complete) roster — I really liked how the guys showed up on day one and worked as hard as they did. The first time out together they gelled real well, and just battled the entire season."
Added Loza: "It was tough at home for us, we didn't have as many wins as we probably should have, (and) we gave up a lot of leads here late. But as far as the entire season goes, I'm really proud of what they've done."
Loza further elaborated on the Griffons' home-field struggles this season.
"I don't know if it was just that we were tired," Loza began. "It was longer days for us at home, unfortunately, as far as being in the sun. On the road, we're on the bus, in the air conditioning." Loza added that his squad was present at Lyons Stadium four hours prior to the start of home games, prepping for first pitch.
"And we're in the sun for those extra two hours," Loza concluded.