After getting shut out in game 1, the Cardinals looked to extend the series by winning game 2. They didn't get off to the greatest start as Rob Lay and Steve Tsonos each hit 2 out singles off of Cards starter Dave Barnes. Dan Altherr then also singled but Rick Dow saved the inning for the Cardinals by throwing out Lay at home plate to end the inning. Joe Kenny started for the Panthers and gave up a single to Dow and walked Jon Paul, but got out of the inning easily.
Both pitchers easily got through the 2nd inning and went to the 3rd scoreless. The Panthers then struck first with 4 hit in a row by Keith Bray, Al Kohli, Lay, and then an RBI single by Tsonos. With the bases still loaded with nobody out, Troy Forgie came in to pitch for the Cards, after walking in a run on a very close pitch, he then struck out the next 3 batters to minimize the damage and keep the score at 2-0.
Meanwhile, the Cards offense continued to be quiet as Kenny got through the 3rd and 4th with relative ease. Forgie also easily got through the 4th and 5th easily, allowing only 2 walks. The Cardinals finally got to Kenny in the 5th inning. After Bowering singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch, Jon Paul broke the goose egg with a double down the left field line. This signalled the end of the night for Kenny, and in came Marc Charbonneau who struck out the next batter to get out of the inning still leading 2-1.
The Panthers then erupted in the top of the 6th as they send 9 batters to the plate. Chris Kohli and John Carbonette began the innnig with a walk and HBP. Al Kohli then loaded the bases with a single and 1 out. After Lay walked to force in a run, Jon Paul came in to pitch for the Cards. Tsonos greeted him into the game by hitting a 2 RBI single. Paul ended the inning by stranding the bases loaded, but the damage had been done and the score sat at 5-1.
Jose Hernandez began the bottom of the 6th with a walk and ended up at second after a Panther overthrow. He was able to score later in the inning on a wild pitch, but the Cards couldn't muster anything else. After a scoreless top of the 7th, the Cards needed 3 runs in the bottom to keep their season going. They started the inning well, when Bowering singled and Dow walked, Paul then hit a towering drive to right field, but just didn't have the distance as the right fielder was able to get under it. The next 2 batters struck out and the rally just wasn't meant to be and the Panthers won the game 5-2, and the series 2-0.
Player of the Game : Steve (MEAT) Tsonos....batting: 3/3, 3 RBI, 1 walk.
| NCBL HOME |