Tucson puts down Arkansas to clinch

In a rematch of the 2015 DMBL Series, the result went another way for lower stakes as Tucson obliterated Arkansas, 10-0, in a play-in game on Tuesday night to clinch the Clemente Division and the No. 4 seed in the postseason after both teams finished the regular season tied (89-74).

The King Snakes plated 9 runs in the bottom of the 4th inning to put down the Golden Falcons like an ailing canine, with all of the damage coming off of starter Michael Wacha (6-8).

About the only bright spot for Arkansas was 4 1/3 innings of hitless relief. But that came after Wacha surrendered 10 runs and 7 hits over the first 3 2/3 innings, along with 5 walks, and the offense never woke up to mount a comeback.

Robbie Ray (11-6) came up brilliant for Tucson, limiting Arkansas to just 2 hits over 7 innings while walking 1 and striking out 10 - including the first three batters of the game. Amazingly, both pitchers reached pitch counts of 90.

Brett Gardner drew first blood with a solo homer in the 3rd. The onslaught started immediately in the 4th inning with singles from three out of the first four batters, followed by singles or walks by the next five batters for a 6-0 lead. That's when Marcell Ozuna turned game into a laugher, blasting a grand slam to make it 10-0. Neither team did much after that beyond a single and a handful of walks.

As the No. 4 seed, Tucson will take on No. 5 Marietta in Round 1 of the 2018 playoffs. In the other Best-of-5 first round series, No. 3 Vancouver will take on No. 6 Hillsborough.