TITANS SLUG PAST VALLEYCATS
Ottawa, ON - The Ottawa Titans (24-26) bounced back with a 10-7 victory over the Tri-City ValleyCats (30-20) on Saturday night, evening up the series at a game apiece.
The Titans once again were able to get off to a hot start against Dwayne Marshall (loss, 5-2), posting two runs in the second inning to take the early lead. Taylor Wright's two-run homer to straight-away centre got the party started with his fifth long ball of the season.
In the third, back-to-back two-out hits started a rally that led to another run on an error before Broc Mortensen drove home another one on a single, making it 4-0.
The ValleyCats got to Damon Casetta-Stubbs (ND, 2-3) in the fourth, cutting the deficit in half with a pair of runs.
AJ Wright, Taylor Wright, and Broc Mortensen connected for three singles in the bottom of the fourth, putting the Titans ahead 7-2 as they knocked Marshall out of the game.
Jaxon Hallmark's inside-the-park home run to lead off the fifth started a rally for the ValleyCats as they managed to add three off Casetta-Stubbs. A wild pitch brought home one before Zach Biermann made it a two-run game with an RBI groundout.
Casetta-Stubbs exited after four and a third allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits, walking two, and striking out five.
Looking to swing momentum back in their favour, Jason Dicochea belted his ninth homer of the season off Brac Warren in the bottom of the fifth to make it 9-5 on a two-run shot.
AJ Wright would add some insurance in the bottom of the eighth with a solo blast of Elliot Carney for his tenth of the season, ending a streak of 11 in a row retired by ValleyCats pitching.
Chris Burica (win, 3-2), Nick MacDonald, Gleyvin Pineda, Erasmo Pinales, and Trevor Clifton combined for four and two-thirds of two-run ball out of the bullpen to secure the victory.
In the win, Jackie Urbaez (12 games), Sicnarf Loopstok (12 games), and Jason Dicochea (seven games) all extended their hit streaks.
Evansville, Ind. – The Evansville Otters mounted a four-run comeback behind three Jake Green hits to beat the Windy City ThunderBolts 8-6 Saturday night at Bosse Field. The Otters scored seven runs from the fifth to the seventh inning as part of a 14-hit performance. A four-run Evansville seventh gave the Otters the game winning runs. Trailing 6-4, Jeffrey Baez started the rally with a two-out bloop double down the right field line. Jomar Reyes was intentionally walked and Dakota Phillips followed with a base hit to load the bases. George Callil walked to walk home a free run. Green then delivered the game winning hit, poking a ball through the left side to score two runs. The Otters four-run comeback is their largest of the season. Evansville trailed 5-1 entering the bottom of the fifth inning. Green started the offensive outburst with a leadoff double in the fifth. Three straight singles scored three runs led by a Kona Quiggle two-RBI base hit. The Otters added one more run in the sixth. Callil bunted for a base hit, Green knocked in his second double of the day and a sacrifice fly scored Callil. Windy City jumped on Evansville early, scoring three runs in the second all with two outs. Two hits, a walk, hit batter and fielders' choice led to the ThunderBolts big inning. Evansville scored their first run in the bottom second as Jomar Reyes doubled to lead off and scored on a sacrifice fly. The ThunderBolts added a run in the fourth and fifth. A solo homer in the seventh extended their lead back to two runs before Evansville completed the comeback. James Krick earned the win for the Otters with 2.2 innings of relief allowing just one baserunner. Kevin Davis worked an in-order eighth inning before Jake Polancic earned his seventh save of the season with a perfect ninth. Evansville received hits from all nine players. The Otters hit four doubles. Reyes had two runs and two hits while Baez and Noah Myers both recorded multi-hit days. Evansville plays for a sweep of Windy City Sunday evening at Bosse Field. A first pitch of 5:05 PM CT kicks off a Dog Days of Summer with discounted hot dogs and fans encouraged to bring their pups.
SCHAUMBURG, IL - The Lake Erie Crushers won the middle contest of a three-game saga against the Schaumburg Boomers tonight by a final score of 2-1.
Taking down one of the best teams in baseball is not easy, but the Crushers (22-28) out-dueled the Boomers (30-19) and have been holding their own in the series with one game to go.
Lake Erie jumped on the board first with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning. They came from a two-out rally, which the Crushers have befriended over the last five games.
After a Josh Rego walk, Jackson Pritchard singled up the middle putting runners on first and second base. Jiandido Tromp, who was activated off the disabled list before the game started, doubled to left-center field to score both runners and give the Crushers the lead.
Although that would be all the support the offense could give, it was all the pitching and defense needed. Lake Erie held Schaumburg to one run on three hits.
Crushers starter Matt Mulhearn (3-3) was absolutely terrific. He allowed all the traffic on the bases, which totaled just six men including the hits plus a trio of walks. Mulhearn went 6.0 innings and picked up his third win of the season.
He allowed the run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Mulhearn issued back-to-back hits to begin the frame but was able to limit the damage to just a sacrifice fly from Gaige Howard.
Lake Erie finished the contest with two more arms coming out of the pen. Thomas Bruss and Darien Ragins finished the final three frames without allowing a baserunner. Ragins took the final 2.0 innings and earned his second save of the year.
Lake Erie totaled two runs on seven hits, with Pritchard being the only multi-hit man of the night. The Crushers struck out 11 times as opposed to the Boomers' zero, but it did not matter as the Grapes capitalized when they needed to.
They will be back on the slab tomorrow for the rubber match with Schaumburg. It is the final game before the All-Star break with the first pitch being tossed at 1:00 PM ET.
