Game 164 Bay Area at Hawaii

This is the first "Game 164" in APBA history.

Bay Area is rested for this game, by virtue of winning the season series against both Hollywood and Hawaii. It will be a matchup of left handed pitchers with Bay Area's Bryan Curtis facing Hawaii's Wayne Gardella. Hawaii is still without Jake Cisco and Yoda Skywalker for this game. In addition, Charlie Howard has nothing left and will only be available for pinch hitting duty.

In the bottom of the first, Hawaii gets a runner on 2nd with 2 outs for their star 3B Kana Wake. Wake is then hit by a pitch in the back of the head and is knocked out. He has to leave the game and will certainly be out at least a few days. After a walk to Gabe Kotter loads the bases, Hawaii pinch hits for their 2B with Elvis Myers. Elvis is not the #1 option, but since all of Hawaii's best options are left-handed, Myers is really the only choice. Myers swings for the fences, but misses the ball and strikes out, stranding the bases loaded.

The game remains scoreless until the top of the 4th. Fred Lewis doubles and then scores on Ryan Harris' single. After a Jack Collins walk, Bill Herrera doubles down the right field line to make it 2-0. Jeff Stephens is then intentionally walked to setup the force at any base. Otto Tingley hits the sacrifice fly to left to make it 3-0.

In the bottom of the 4th, Hawaii gets 1 run back on a sacrifice fly of their own. In the top of the 6th, Bay Area gets a runner on 2nd base with one out when Bill Herrera singles to center. Ryan Harris trys to score and is gunned at the plate by Eddie Cedeno to keep the score 3-1. In the top of the 8th, back to back to back singles by Jay Hendricks, Jason Davenport, and Fred Lewis extend the Bay Area lead to 4-1.

In the bottom of the 8th, Eddie Cedeno works a walk to try to start a rally. Unfortunately, he is then picked off first base. To make matters worse, he argues the call and is ejected from the game. In the top of the 9th, Troy Lewis shuts down Hollywood to keep the lead at 4-1 going into the bottom of the 9th.

Bay Area brings in their closer, Ernie Perkins to preserve the win. Lewis Solo Jr. then pinch hits lefty Freddie Justis for Derek Stanley to lead off the inning and Justis delivers a solo homerun to cut the lead to 4-2. Rick Cooney then pinch hits and grounds out to shortstop. Gabe Kotter then flies out to centerfield. Down to their last out, Hawaii pinch hits Tomas Gonzalez who works a walk. Looking to create something, and with a limited bench and weak hitters due up, Lewis Solo Jr. decides to pinch hit with his best power option - starting pitcher Cory Schaeffer. Schaeffer batted .237 with a .425 slugging percentage and 4 homeruns in 80 at bats on the season. Schaeffer then pops out to third to end the regular season.

Bay Area wins 4-2 and advance to the playoffs for the first time in team history. They win the West division and will play the two-time defending league champion New York Cobra in the first round.