How about your already championship-caliber team receiving the boost of one of baseball’s top prospects with their backs against the wall, fighting for the title in the highest level of minor-league ball? There was more behind the Comets’ turnaround to beat the Aviators in the Championship Series than the addition of Josue De Paula ahead of Game 2, but it certainly didn’t hurt their goals, joining an already stacked outfield.
Player of the Day
Although it took one of the better examples of a collective effort that
you’ll see, particularly in a game of this magnitude, a special shout-out in this section to Zach Ehrhard is a must. The standout young outfielder finished this title-clinching win in a two-for-five performance; with it, the Comets’ leadoff bat managed to hit .500 in 12 at-bats in this Championship Series.
Wrapping up a marvelous campaign in Triple-A, Ehrhard was involved in three of his team’s five runs, scoring a pair and driving in one with a double—the only Comets hitter with multiple extra-base hits in a game in which they didn’t even need to hit a home run.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
Although Cole Irvin was the starter, by all intents and purposes, the Comets treated this one like a bullpen game—removing the veteran southpaw after 2.1 scoreless innings and a little over 30 pitches—relying on a talented group that kept the zeroes on the board until the eighth. This standout performance included scoreless frames from Kyle Hurt and Bobby Miller.
By the time the Aviators got on the board with a pair of runs off Seth Halvorsen in the bottom of the eighth, the Comets were already up 5-0, carrying a commanding lead in this one from start to finish. On top of Ehrhard, whom we already mentioned, Mike Sirota once again showcased his incredible plate discipline this season with three walks in five plate appearances.
That first run of the game came from the veteran Ryan Fitzgerald, one of four Comets with multiple hits on the night. Since catcher Eliezer Alfonso—who was hitting right behind Fitzgerald in the lineup—reached base on a catcher’s interference in the ninth, every single Comets hitter would get on base at least once in this game.
De Paula, who had already contributed with a pair of walks in Game 2, got his first hit since his temporary return to the minors, including driving in the Comets’ fifth and final run.
May this be a little preview of the impact he can provide for the big league team, eventually back for a playoff role based on the immediate impact he brought to the squad.
Transactions
The Comets placed right-handed pitcher Ryder Ryan on the Development List.
Thursday’s scores
- Las Vegas 2, Oklahoma City 5
