![Image](https://pebabaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/aurora_storialis.png)
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger
April 26, 2037: Fargo, North Dakota – There was a collective sigh of relief as the Borealis boarded their jet to head back across the Pacific and set across the the far reaches of the Sovereign League, into Great Lakes territory and the tricky Fargo Dinosaurs. The real trick, as April begins to melt into May - traditionally a strong month for Aurora, will be that with their 3-games at Niihama (and a nifty series win), Aurora begins a stretch of 17-straight games and 43-games in a 45-day period taking us to June 8th. That is the biggest stretch of games - by far - with the fewest off days, on the schedule. Aside from 8-games with Bakersfield - and a series against each of the other four Desert Hills teams, Aurora will face Madison twice, the 'Gnats and Warriors and a 4-game set with Okinawa. And, the upcoming series with Fargo.
Phew.
But let's review this past week's near disaster. Travel to Shin Seiki is always a rough one, and the typically powerful Evil Evas are tough to beat at home, and although they are not looking quite as intimidating as they've been in the past, it was the long ball that once again made the difference. Ask Henry Cluett, who once again had issues with the gopher ball - after three clean starts. After a career high of 31 HRA last year, the start of the year was promising. On this day, though, it wasn't just the long ball that powered the win for the Evil Evas. 'Professor Plum' allowed 6-hits over 4 IP and three were all of the extra-base variety. Noah Hill with the 2-run homer in the second to get the scoring going. Logan Malone would double and score in the 3rd and homer in the 5th. Ryan Tate and Rudy Howard were not immune to the XBH bug as they allowed the other three - and three more runs over 4-combined IP. In typical fashion, Aurora had one - a 9th inning double from Angel Silva - a minor consolation in an 8-3 loss.
Aurora managed to take a short-lived lead in game 2 as they managed a pair of doubles by Munoz and Simmons, off 'Entrop', but Armando Batista couldn't stop the Evas from putting up an Auroran rally - 5-singles and a walk to take the lead back. 'Haggis' allowed a 2-run homer in the 7th to seal the deal - despite a late rally - two walks and two singles, but killed by a double play. Aurora would salvage the series with Ramon Gonzales on the mound - even if his presence was short-lived. The Borealis jumped out early against Sebastian de Roode, as Ruben Ortega led off with a triple in the first, and with two outs, G-Rod doubled, and Arundale and de la Cruz singled to make it 2-0, but the Evas came right back with their 'R. Ortega' doubling, Takahashi walking and Scotty Weeks with the 2-out, 2-RBI single. Aurora would regain the lead as Pedro de la Cruz would. hit an unlikely triple and score. Aurora got a scare and a break in the 4th - all on the same play. Gonzales walked Weeks to start the inning, and he'd take third on Gandarilla's single. On his second pitch to Antonio Gutierrez, Batista grimaced and grabbed his side as Gutierrez lifted a medium deep flyable to center. Weeks tagged, and Tony Munoz - in for Silva on a planned day off, heaved it home - beating Weeks with ease. Gonzales lifted a feeble fist as he walked straight to the dugout. By the time that Ortega doubled with 2-outs in the 6th, giving Aurora their 6th run on the day - for what would be a 6-2 win, Gonzales would be diagnosed with mild back spasms and the training team said they expected he'd make his next start.
Aurora would enjoy an off day before heading to Niihama to face the Champion Ghosts and they hot, Wunderkind starter Fernando Valdez. Victorio Guerra was on the mound for Aurora, and both young starters would allow a first inning run. That would be where the similarities ended. Guerra would last only 4.2-innings as he would hit his pitch count and leave the game with 3 K and 5 BB. Valdez would throw the same number of pitches - in 8 IP, with 7 K and a walk. Though Valdez would allow a second run - giving Aurora a brief 2-1 lead, Uige would give it right back on a Giberto Fernandez homer, and 'Werewolf' would look anything other than hungry - giving up a pair of solo runs in the 7th and 8th - Aurora losing 4-2. Game 2 was eerily similar - other than the outcome. Brian Clark couldn't get out of the 5th as his 6 hits allowed, 3 walks and 6 K had him as the pitch count and the Ghosts fouling off - loudly - a number of pitches. On this day the 'pen pitched soundly - 4.1-shout out innings, giving the offense a change. Ortega, Silva and Munoz would all double off Connor Leith in the 5th - scoring a pair for what would be a 3-1 Aurora win. Tate would earn his first win in relief and 'Machete' picked up his 4th save.
Aurora would strike early off Alonso Hernandez in the rubber match - putting up 5-runs as 'Otter' led off the game with a homer, 'Matchbox' would hit a 2-run shot (his 4th), and the G-Rod doubled followed by three walks and a HBP saw Hernandez out of the game - Jerome Evans coming on, and order restored. Temporarily. Evans walked Ortega and de la Cruz to start the 3rd, Arundale doubled and a slow roller to the right go third by Silva brought the plodding de la Cruz home with run number 7. Cluett was better on this day, pitching into the 7th, allowing 7 H and a run, walking none and striking out 4. The rookie Icharia would allow a meaningless 2nd run in his inning, Kichida finishing up - earning a dubious save, in a 7-2 win - and series win for the Borealis. The win upped Cluett's record to 3-1.
For the week it was Angel Silva swinging the big bat - 9-19 with 2-2B, a 3B and homer and 4 RBI. Arundale was 7-19 with 2-2B and 4 SB (one CS) and Raul Munoz was 7-20 with 3-2B and 4 RBI. SS Jose Aleman had a horrid week 0 2-21 - though he managed 2 RBI... somehow. Simmons (.176), de la Cruz (.176), and Hernandez (.143, HR, 3 RBI) were all stinkers. The pitching staff worked at a 4.24 ERA - which in a week in which Aurora scored 26 runs (4.33 R/G), a 3-3 record seems about right. No one was immune to the run bug - except the two arms who threw the fewest innings - Gutierrez (2 IP, 1 save) and Twia (1 IP).
Down on the Farm
AAA Thornton has been god awful thus far, with the Sun Dogs sporting a 4-16 record, while at AA Gatineau is 13-7 and just 2 GB in their division. SLRC has just begun the A Ball campaign, and have a 6-1 record and a 1st place standing. Thus far at Thornton, two names who put up nice spring numbers have continued to impress - outfielders Masamichi Daikawa (.306, 5-2B and 7 SB) and Toshikazu Nishida (.300, 2-2B, 4 HR, and a team leading 13 RBI).
What's on Tap
As mentioned at the top of the blog, Aurora is at Fargo and then home for four with Duluth, as they are in the midst of the first of two long stretches of games over the next 40-days. Fargo is off to a miserable start - 6-13, and their offense is uncharacteristically at or near the bottom of virtually every offensive category. The losses of Pat Watson and 'Stocky', in particular, seem to be making a huge difference. Fargo's starters are not up to the club's reputation - especially with Owen Barse now in Tempe, but don't get behind - their bullpen's ERA is 2.09 - 3rd best in the SL. Batista, Gonzales and Guerra will face off with Raul Garcia, young and promising Yvon Fortier and Sang-ton Kun. Duluth - 10-9 and 4th in the Great Lakes, is getting outstanding pitching, but their offense has been uncharacteristically lagging - thought with 38 SB, they are burning up the base paths to lead the SL. That could spell trouble for Aurora if they can't keep the warriors off the bases. Clark, Cluett, Batista and Gonzales are scheduled to face vets Gary Murphy, Manual Gonzales, Chris Acevez, and their young hot arm, Rene Padilla.