April 9, 2024 - Vipers beat Wolves; Kane suspended 20 games for fighting
4/9/2024by Skip Remington
P. Kane punches Erskine. Kane suspended 20 days
P. Kane punches Erskine. Kane suspended 20 days

 

Game 1: Controversy and Power Lead to Wolves' Victory

 

Minneapolis Wolves 4, Phoenix Vipers 2

 

In the dramatic series opener, the Minneapolis Wolves edged out the Phoenix Vipers 4-2 in a game marked by controversy and power hitting. The game began as a pitching duel, with both starters keeping the bats mostly silent through the early innings.

 

Key Moments:

  • Top 5th Inning: Phil Kane stepped up with two runners on and launched a towering three-run home run to center field. Kane's emphatic bat flip as he rounded first base set the tone for the rest of the night. "I was feeling it. The team needed a spark, and I wanted to deliver," Kane said postgame.

  • Bottom 3rd Inning: The Vipers initially took the lead when Manuel Quintana belted a two-run homer off Wolves’ starter Roberto Ayala, making it 2-0 Phoenix.

  • Top 8th Inning: The game took a contentious turn. In Kane’s next at-bat, Vipers' reliever Donovan Erskine threw a 102 mph fastball that hit Kane near his head, striking his shoulder. Kane charged the mound, leading to a bench-clearing brawl. Both players were ejected. "If you plunk me, I will punch you every single time," Kane declared after the game.

 

The league responded swiftly, suspending Kane for 20 days. League officials hinted they considered a shorter suspension but decided on the maximum due to Kane's aggressive comments. "We must uphold the integrity and safety of the game," a league spokesperson stated.

 

Despite the ejection, the Wolves extended their lead when Felix Roman, pinch-running for Kane, scored on Zach Morrall's RBI double. "We were all fired up after what happened to Phil," Morrall said. "We wanted to win it for him."

 

Inning-by-Inning Summary:

  • 1st Inning: Both teams left runners on base.
  • 2nd Inning: Quintana's two-run homer put the Vipers ahead.
  • 5th Inning: Kane's three-run homer turned the game around.
  • 8th Inning: Morrall’s RBI double added insurance for the Wolves.

 

Box Score:

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Minneapolis Wolves 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 4 9 0
Phoenix Vipers 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 11 0

 

 

Game 2: Vipers Rally Late to Secure a Win

 

Phoenix Vipers 3, Minneapolis Wolves 2

 

The second game saw the Vipers make a dramatic comeback, winning 3-2 thanks to a late-game surge. The Wolves jumped out to an early lead but couldn't hold off the Vipers' rally.

 

Key Moments:

  • Top 3rd Inning: The Wolves took a 2-1 lead with singles by Greg Parsons and Darnell Stokes, followed by an RBI single from Allen Cooley.

  • Bottom 8th Inning: The Vipers mounted a comeback. Ricardo Benson doubled, Joseph Bramm followed with another double to tie the game, and Justin Robertson's RBI double gave the Vipers a 3-2 lead. "We knew we had to dig deep. Our guys showed a lot of heart tonight," Robertson commented.

 

Inning-by-Inning Summary:

  • 1st-7th Inning: The Wolves led 2-1, thanks to early runs from Parsons and Stokes.
  • 8th Inning: Vipers scored twice to take the lead and ultimately win the game.

 

Box Score:

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Minneapolis Wolves 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 10 2
Phoenix Vipers 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 X 3 12 0

 

 

Game 3: Wolves Rally Again to Take Series

 

Minneapolis Wolves 3, Phoenix Vipers 5

 

In the final game of the series, the Wolves took an early lead but couldn't hold off the Vipers' late surge. Despite the absence of Phil Kane, the Wolves played valiantly, with Darnell Stokes continuing his hot streak.

 

Key Moments:

  • Top 3rd Inning: Stokes hit a two-run homer, putting the Wolves ahead 2-0. "We wanted to show we could win without Phil," Stokes said. "I just tried to keep it simple and do my job."

  • Bottom 6th Inning: The Vipers’ Darrius Vaughn hit his first of two home runs, cutting the Wolves' lead to 3-1.

  • Bottom 7th Inning: Vaughn struck again with a two-run homer, putting the Vipers ahead 5-3. "It's all about staying focused and taking it one at-bat at a time," Vaughn commented.

 

Inning-by-Inning Summary:

  • 1st-5th Inning: Wolves led 3-0.
  • 6th Inning: Vaughn’s first homer cut the lead to 3-1.
  • 7th Inning: Vaughn’s second homer put the Vipers ahead for good.

 

Box Score:

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Minneapolis Wolves 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 10 0
Phoenix Vipers 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 0 X 5 9 0


Quotes from the Series

Phil Kane on his suspension: "I play with passion, and I'll stand up for myself and my team. The suspension hurts, but I'll be back stronger."

 

Donovan Erskine on hitting Kane: "It wasn't intentional, but it's part of the game. Emotions run high, and things happen."

 

Wolves Manager on Kane's absence: "Phil's a leader, and we'll miss him, but this team is resilient. We've got depth and heart, and we'll keep pushing."