Wolves Win Series Against Gators 

 

Minneapolis, MN - April 19, 2024 - The Minneapolis Wolves won two out of three games in a thrilling series against the Gainesville Gators, highlighted by dramatic late-game comebacks and solid pitching performances. Here’s a detailed look at each game of this exciting series.

 

Game 1: Wolves Edge Gators in Ninth-Inning Thriller (Wolves win 6-5)

 

In the series opener, the Wolves rallied late to secure a 6-5 victory over the Gators. The game was a back-and-forth battle, with the Gators taking an early lead thanks to a two-run homer by Jon Metcalf in the second inning. The Wolves responded with two runs in the fourth, capped by a solo home run from Felix Roman.

 

The Gators regained the lead in the sixth with another Metcalf homer, but the Wolves tied it up in the eighth with a single from Ryan Lee. The stage was set for a dramatic ninth inning.

 

With two outs and the bases loaded, Tom Williams delivered a walk-off single, driving in Allen Cooley for the winning run.

 

Key Performances:

• Jon Metcalf (GNSV): 4-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI
• Felix Roman (MNNP): 2-5, HR, RBI
• Tom Williams (MNNP): 2-5, 2 RBI, including the game-winner

 

Inning-by-Inning Summary:

 

• 1st Inning: Gators’ Shane Lowery and Augusto Gomez both fly out, Randy Clark grounds out. Wolves’ Greg Parsons doubles, Felix Roman strikes out, Allen Cooley grounds out, Kevin Dickinson flies out.
• 2nd Inning: Gators’ Howard Holley singles, Jon Metcalf homers, Octavio Moran flies out, Jose Gonzalez grounds out, Orlando Cruz singles, Joe Aldridge grounds into fielder's choice. Wolves’ Zach Morrall strikes out, Tom Williams grounds out, Ryan Lee grounds out.
• 3rd Inning: Gators’ Shane Lowery strikes out, Augusto Gomez grounds out, Randy Clark strikes out. Wolves’ Darnell Stokes grounds out, Adrian Palmer singles, Greg Parsons grounds into a double play.
• 4th Inning: Gators’ Howard Holley walks, Jon Metcalf singles, Octavio Moran flies out, Jose Gonzalez singles, Howard Holley scores on fielder’s choice, Joe Aldridge strikes out. Wolves’ Felix Roman homers, Allen Cooley doubles, Kevin Dickinson singles, Zach Morrall lines out, Tom Williams singles, Allen Cooley scores, Ryan Lee grounds into a double play.
• 5th Inning: Gators’ Shane Lowery strikes out, Augusto Gomez singles, Randy Clark flies out, Howard Holley flies out. Wolves’ Darnell Stokes singles, Adrian Palmer strikes out, Greg Parsons homers, Felix Roman singles, Allen Cooley doubles, Kevin Dickinson strikes out, Zach Morrall grounds out.
• 6th Inning: Gators’ Jon Metcalf doubles, Octavio Moran singles, Jose Gonzalez singles, Jon Metcalf scores, Orlando Cruz strikes out, Joe Aldridge singles, Shane Lowery out on foul tip, Augusto Gomez grounds out. Wolves’ Tom Williams grounds out, Ryan Lee strikes out, Darnell Stokes singles, Adrian Palmer flies out.
• 7th Inning: Gators’ Randy Clark grounds out, Howard Holley strikes out, Jon Metcalf homers, Octavio Moran grounds out. Wolves’ Greg Parsons grounds out, Felix Roman grounds out, Allen Cooley pops out.
• 8th Inning: Gators’ Jose Gonzalez flies out, Orlando Cruz triples, Joe Aldridge lines out, Shane Lowery strikes out. Wolves’ Kevin Dickinson grounds out, Zach Morrall singles, Tom Williams grounds out, Ryan Lee singles, Zach Morrall scores, Darnell Stokes singles, Adrian Palmer pops out.
• 9th Inning: Gators’ Augusto Gomez grounds out, Randy Clark singles, Howard Holley lines out, Jon Metcalf flies out. Wolves’ Greg Parsons lines out, Felix Roman flies out, Allen Cooley walks, Kevin Dickinson walks, Zach Morrall walks, Tom Williams singles, Allen Cooley scores.

 

Game 2: Gators' Offense Dominates as Wolves Struggle (Gators win 6-1)

 

Game 2 saw the Gators bounce back with a commanding 6-1 victory, thanks to a strong outing from pitcher Stanley Hoover and timely hitting from Peter Lucas. The Gators took the lead in the second inning with an RBI single from Augusto Gomez and never looked back.

 

Peter Lucas provided the big blow in the fifth inning with a two-run single, extending the Gators' lead. Hoover was dominant on the mound, striking out nine Wolves batters over seven innings.

 

Key Performances:

• Peter Lucas (GNSV): 2-5, 3 RBI
• Stanley Hoover (GNSV): 7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 9 K
• Tom Williams (MNNP): 2-4, RBI

 

Inning-by-Inning Summary:

• 1st Inning: Gators’ Peter Lucas grounds out, Jay Kemp strikes out, Howard Holley grounds out. Wolves’ Greg Parsons walks, Felix Roman strikes out, Allen Cooley strikes out, Kevin Dickinson flies out.
• 2nd Inning: Gators’ Jon Metcalf singles, Octavio Moran walks, Joe Aldridge grounds into a double play, Jon Metcalf scores on Augusto Gomez single, Randy Clark pops out. Wolves’ Edgar Parque singles, Tom Williams flies out, Ryan Lee flies out, Darnell Stokes strikes out.
• 3rd Inning: Gators’ Shane Lowery strikes out, Peter Lucas lines out, Jay Kemp strikes out. Wolves’ Adrian Palmer pops out, Greg Parsons strikes out, Felix Roman lines out.
• 4th Inning: Gators’ Howard Holley singles, Jon Metcalf grounds into fielder’s choice, Octavio Moran strikes out, Joe Aldridge strikes out. Wolves’ Allen Cooley strikes out, Kevin Dickinson grounds out, Edgar Parque flies out.
• 5th Inning: Gators’ Augusto Gomez singles, Randy Clark pops out, Shane Lowery singles and advances on error, Peter Lucas singles, two runs score, Jay Kemp pops out, Howard Holley pops out. Wolves’ Tom Williams singles, Ryan Lee flies out, Darnell Stokes singles, Adrian Palmer walks, Greg Parsons singles, Tom Williams scores, Felix Roman flies out, Allen Cooley flies out.
• 6th Inning: Gators’ Jon Metcalf grounds out, Octavio Moran singles, Joe Aldridge strikes out, Augusto Gomez flies out. Wolves’ Kevin Dickinson flies out, Edgar Parque strikes out, Tom Williams strikes out.
• 7th Inning: Gators’ Randy Clark singles, Shane Lowery singles, Peter Lucas doubles, one run scores, Jay Kemp strikes out, Howard Holley flies out, Jon Metcalf singles, two runs score, Octavio Moran doubles, Jon Metcalf advances to third, Joe Aldridge flies out. Wolves’ Ryan Lee grounds out, Darnell Stokes walks, Adrian Palmer foul tip, Greg Parsons singles, Felix Roman strikes out.
• 8th Inning: Gators’ Augusto Gomez flies out, Randy Clark singles, Shane Lowery grounds into double play. Wolves’ Allen Cooley grounds out, Kevin Dickinson singles, Edgar Parque strikes out, Tom Williams singles, Ryan Lee strikes out.
• 9th Inning: Gators’ Peter Lucas flies out, Jay Kemp strikes out, Howard Holley flies out. Wolves’ Darnell Stokes strikes out, Adrian Palmer lines out, Greg Parsons grounds out.

 

Game 3: Wolves’ Pitching Shuts Down Gators in Series Finale (Wolves win 4-1)

 

In the series finale, the Wolves’ pitching staff delivered a stellar performance, limiting the Gators to just one run in a 4-1 victory. James Justice started for the Wolves, going 6.2 innings and striking out seven while allowing only one run.

 

The Wolves broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning when Allen Cooley tripled, driving in two runs. Cooley continued his hot hitting throughout the game, finishing with two hits and three RBIs.

 

Key Performances:

• James Justice (MNNP): 6.2 IP, 12 H, 1 ER, 7 K
• Allen Cooley (MNNP): 2-3, 3B, 3 RBI
• Jose Herrera (MNNP): 2-2, 2B, RBI, BB

 

Inning-by-Inning Summary:

• 1st Inning: Gators’ Peter Lucas flies out, Jay Kemp strikes out, Howard Holley singles, Jon Metcalf grounds out. Wolves’ Greg Parsons lines out, Felix Roman lines out, Allen Cooley walks, Kevin Dickinson strikes out.
• 2nd Inning: Gators’ Octavio Moran singles, Bill Sharkey singles, Augusto Gomez strikes out, Randy Clark walks, Shane Lowery flies into double play. Wolves’ Jose Dominguez strikes out, Tom Williams flies out, Ryan Lee flies out.
• 3rd Inning: Gators’ Peter Lucas grounds out, Jay Kemp lines out, Howard Holley doubles, Jon Metcalf grounds out. Wolves’ Darnell Stokes walks, Jose Herrera doubles, Greg Parsons flies out, Felix Roman lines out, Allen Cooley flies out.
• 4th Inning: Gators’ Octavio Moran flies out, Bill Sharkey walks, Augusto Gomez strikes out, Randy Clark doubles, Shane Lowery grounds out. Wolves’ Kevin Dickinson strikes out, Jose Dominguez flies out, Tom Williams singles, Ryan Lee flies out.
• 5th Inning: Gators’ Peter Lucas singles, Jay Kemp grounds into double play, Howard Holley lines out. Wolves’ Darnell Stokes strikes out, Jose Herrera singles, Greg Parsons strikes out, Felix Roman singles, Allen Cooley triples, scoring two runs, Kevin Dickinson strikes out.
• 6th Inning: Gators’ Jon Metcalf singles, Octavio Moran strikes out, Bill Sharkey strikes out, Augusto Gomez singles, Randy Clark strikes out. Wolves’ Jose Dominguez walks, Tom Williams walks, Ryan Lee lines out, Darnell Stokes singles, Jose Herrera walks, scoring a run, Greg Parsons strikes out, Felix Roman strikes out.
• 7th Inning: Gators’ Shane Lowery grounds out, Peter Lucas strikes out, Jay Kemp doubles, Howard Holley singles, Jon Metcalf singles, scoring a run, Octavio Moran singles, Bill Sharkey lines out. Wolves’ Allen Cooley grounds out, Kevin Dickinson flies out, Jose Dominguez homers.
• 8th Inning: Gators’ Augusto Gomez pops out, Randy Clark grounds out, Shane Lowery strikes out. Wolves’ Ryan Lee grounds out, Darnell Stokes grounds out, Jose Herrera hit by pitch, Greg Parsons flies out.
• 9th Inning: Gators’ Peter Lucas singles, Jay Kemp strikes out, Howard Holley flies out, Jon Metcalf flies out.

 

Series MVP: Allen Cooley

 

Allen Cooley was named the series MVP for his clutch hitting and consistent performance throughout the series. Over the three games, Cooley went 5-for-10 with 4 RBIs, including a game-winning run in Game 1 and a pivotal triple in Game 3 that drove in two runs. Cooley's timely hits and solid defense at first base were crucial in the Wolves' series win over the Gators.