It took the Quebec Capitales just 18 Frontier League baseball games to break the team’s all-time record of 10 straight wins.
“It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced, it’s unique to have a winning streak like this so early in a season,” Quebec pitcher Miguel Cienfuegos said enthusiastically on Saturday when connected on the phone . We have already made Stade Canac our stronghold and the challenge is to continue our success on the street.
Cienfuegos, 25, was just on the mound for the Capitals on Friday night as the team extended their winning streak to 12. Although he has performed very well since the start of the campaign, the Laval native then signed a first win as a member of the Capitals. In six working innings he only allowed two runs and Quebec won 14-3 against the Jackals in New Jersey.
“Last year I had wins with Team Quebec, but here I am very happy to finally have one with the Capitals,” admitted Cienfuegos, who also played in Panama last winter.
“Miguel has been doing really well since the start of the season but sometimes we messed up the lead when he was the pitcher,” admitted manager Patrick Scalabrini. We’re happy to have supported him in Friday’s attack. It’s important for us to be able to offer him these victories.
“A Special Touch”
Cienfuegos, who has a 2.61 ERA in five starts, says he doesn’t worry too much about his personal stats. He also prides himself on encouraging and advising his teammates when not directly involved in a game.
“I would like to give myself more of this role as a leader, unlike last year as a rookie,” he sums up.
Last week, for example, during the Capitals’ lucky nine-game stints at home, Cienfuegos made sure to catch up with hitter Pedro Gonzalez. Since then, he’s felt like his teammate has settled into batting, and his two recent homers also help him take some of the pressure off.
“This team has a special touch,” added Cienfuegos. But I would also say that we live in the present moment.
Still early
Indeed, Scalabrini’s speech, a man of experience, helps to maintain confidence without exaggerating. The Capitals (16-3 before Saturday night’s game) remain focused on the task at hand.
“We’re still early in the season, the goal is of course to extend this winning streak. But later in the season there can be more difficult moments and then we will remember this happy sequence,” noted the manager.
Under the Frontier League playoff format, each division champion receives a bye, while second- and third-place clubs must play each other in a single playoff game.
“We’re not there yet, we’ve said since the start of the season that we’re aiming for the championship and it’s certain that we should finish first. [de la division] to give himself a real chance, Scalabrini said. Then again, there’s so much baseball left to play right now.
– After the three-game streak against the Jackals that concludes Sunday afternoon in New Jersey, the Capitals will find supporters in Quebec Tuesday through Thursday for a three-game game against the poor Grays of Empire State. They lost their first 19 games of the season.
– The previous record of 10 straight wins for the Capitals was set twice, in 2010 and 2011, when the Quebec club dominated the defunct Can-Am League.