Arkansas wins ugly to take 2-1 series lead

A single, a walk, an error, and groundball double play -- it wasn't the most exciting way to score runs but Arkansas took advantage to put up the biggest offensive output of the DMBL World Series so far, taking Game 3 by a score of 4-2, for a 2-1 series lead.
Zack Greinke was very good for Tucson but Edinson Volquez was good enough for Arkansas.

Besides an 8th-inning home run by Mitch Moreland, the only trouble Greinke got into was in the 2nd inning, but it was enough, thanks to a misplay by his shortstop, Brandon Crawford.

Volquez was wild early, walking the first batter of the game, Michael Brantley, then plunking two of the next three batters, loading the bases for Nelson Cruz, one of Tucson's best postseason bats. A sacrifice fly gave the Scorpions a 1-0 lead but when Kyle Schwarber lined out to short to end the 1st, it felt like they should have more plated more runs.

In the top of the 2nd, No. 9 hitter Jose Altuve singled with two out, stole 2nd, and came home on a double by Brantley for a 2-0 Tucson advantage.

Arkansas answered in the bottom of the 2nd. Buster Posey led off with a single, Jhonny Peralta followed with a walk, and Mark Canha singled to load the bases with no one out. Scooter Gennett's groundball to short was misplayed by Crawford, scoring a run and keeping the bases loaded -- still with no one out. Brock Holt grounded into a double play -- this time Crawford made sure to take care of it -- so Tucson was happy to get two outs but Arkansas was happy to get a run, and it was a 2-1 Golden Falcons' lead.

Gregor Blanco, batting leadoff in Game 3, singled up the middle to bring home Canha, giving Arkansas a 3-1 lead. Blanco was caught stealing second to end the inning.

Greinke settled down and gave up meaningless singles here and there before a 6th-inning solo dong by Moreland -- who was back in the lineup as DH against a righty -- made it 4-2. Greinke surrendered 9 hits over 8 innings, and 4 runs but only 1 earned. He finished with 4 strikeouts and a walk.

On the other side, Volquez gave up 5 hits and two runs over 6 1/3 innings. He walked 3 and struck out 3 but got the win. The Arkansas bullpen took care of the rest. Sam Dyson came on after another Brantley double in the 7th and walked Starling Marte before getting out of the inning. Carson Smith pitched the final two innings for the save. He hit Schwarber, who was erased inexplicably trying to steal 2nd. Crawford singled to lead off the 9th and reached as far as 3rd thanks to groundouts before Smith struck out Marte to end the game.

Arkansas made the most of their base runners, leaving just 3 runners on base, compared with Tucson, which left 9 runners on.

Game 4 is scheduled for Saturday afternoon in Arkansas. It'll be interesting to see whether it's a rematch of Game 1 between Jake Arrieta and Dallas Keuchel, or a matchup of newcomers to the postseason.