Hoboken evens series on 10 walks

In one of the most bizarre games in league history - playoff or otherwise - Tucson took a combined no-hitter into the 9th inning despite trailing 3-1 thanks to 10 walks by its starting pitcher.

No. 3 Hoboken evened its Best-of-7 series at 1-1 Friday night with a Game 2 win at second-seeded Tucson, after which everyone probably said to themselves, WTF just happened?

Reigning McDonald Award winner Jake Arrieta walked a batter in each of the first 3 innings but none were of consequence until the 3rd. Adam Eaton stole second after being issued a leadoff walk then scored after a sacrifice bunt and groundout for a 1-0 Cutters lead.

Arrieta's fourth walk, leading off the 6th, was erased on a double play. Arrieta then walked 5 straight batters, with a passed ball to boot, bringing home two runs for a 3-0 Hoboken lead. With the bases still loaded, Curtis Granderson grounded to short to end the inning. In the bottom of the 6th, J.T. Realmuto led off reaching 2nd base on an error by Ben Zobrist. A sacrifice fly and groundout later, Realmuto plated Tucson's first run, making it 3-1.

Hoboken starter Rick Porcello also was limiting the Kingsnakes to just 2 hits but was pulled after 6 innings and 78 pitches. The only threat to Porcello came in the 4th. Starling Marte led off with a double and took 3rd on a sacrifice fly but was stranded there.

After the 10th walk by Arrieta, coming with one out in the 7th, Bruce Rondon relieved him after 125 pitches. He got Miguel Cabrera to hit into his second double play of the game to end the inning, and still the Cutters led 3-1 without the benefit of a hit.

Carl Edwards. Jr. came on to pitch the 7th and got into a some trouble in the 8th. After a leadoff walk to Elvis Andrus, Kevin Kiermaier struck out before Realmuto singled. A groundout to short by Marte advanced the tying runs into the scoring position but Edwards came back to strike out Jose Altuve, keeping the Cutters' advantage at 3-1.

With one out in the 9th, Rondon finally yielded the first hit, an infield single by Curtis Granderson. Rondon would walk another batter before Pedro Strop came on for the third out. Nelson Cruz singled off Tyler Thornburg in the 9th but Tucson never seriously threatened.

Porcello was credited with the win, Thornburg the save. Arrieta took the loss with a line of 6 1/3 innings, 0 hits, 3 earned runs, 10 walks and 4 strikeouts -- which technically qualified as a quality start.

Matt Joyce walked four times and had a sacrifice bunt in four plate appearances to technically go 0-0. David Ortiz and Adrian Beltre scored a run apiece while Yasmani Grandal and Zobrist were credited with RBI during the key stretch of five consecutive bases on balls in the 6th.