Philly Explodes out of Buffalo with Sweep

The Philadelphia Flash management entered this season with high expectations for their revamped offense, but even those were exceeded during the opening 4-game sweep of their division rival Buffalo Hot Wings. They outscored the Hot Wings 44-13, an average of 11 runs per game, en route to their 4-0 start.

The sweep was punctuated by a 22-0 throttling that was over before Buffalo SP Ivan Cortes could wipe the sweat off his brow. Cortes, making his major league debut, had already surrendered a 3-run home run to SS Richard Takada when he recorded the second out of the inning by striking out CF Willie Campos. By the time the last out of the inning was recorded, it was 13-0.

The Flash sent 17 men to the plate in that 1st inning, and 12 of them got hits. Takada had 6 RBIs courtesy of 2 3-run home runs (he would finish the day with 11 RBIs). Speedsters 2B William Saitou, LF Lefty Hodges, and RF Denny Katou had all been plated twice. SP Maximo Lemon recorded his first RBI as a Flash before throwing his first pitch.

Lost amid the offensive display that drew lusty boos from the Hot Wing fans was Lemon's own equally impressive performance. In his first regular season start for Philadelphia, he spun a 4-hit shutout, striking out 5 and walking only 2. The only time Buffalo even put a man in scoring position was in the 9th, but a double play ball ended a bases loaded rally.

Of course the sample size is small and other opponents will have tougher pitching staffs, but flying out of the gates like this has the Philly players abuzz with excitement about what the rest of this year might bring. And if this opening series is any indication, the sky is the limit.