The Hitmen bounced back from a 10-0 loss to the Brewers on Tuesday night at Hamilton Yards (a game in which they made 5 errors (7 by my count, maybe the E5 and E6 were scored as singles), 2 flies were lost in the lights by the left fielder, and only 4 of the 10 Brewer runs were earned) to defeat the Red Sox 11-4 at Heritage on Wednesday night, for their first win in the NCBL.
Red Sox starter, Jeff Gordon, had control problems in the first inning when he faced 9 batters, walking 3, and walking in a run, as the Hitmen scored three runs. He retired the Hitmen in order in the second inning. Control problems resurfaced in the third, when he hit the first two batters, Magnus and Gloyn. The third batter, Green, got on base on a bloop single over first base, to load the bases. Mangat walked to bring in Magnus (his second RBI of the game as a result of a BB), and Gloyn and Green scored as a result of two wild pitches. Eric Brisebois replaced Gordon during St. Toute’s at bat. He drew a walk as did Nikita. Brisebois induced an infield fly from Oattes, but McGinnis reached base on an error by the shortstop, driving in a run in the process and loading the bases. Tugwood then cleared the bases with a double and ended up at third when the throw came into the catcher. Brisebois retired the next two batters on a fly to centre and a strike out, however by then the Hitmen had collected 8 runs in the inning. Brisebois was very solid for the rest of the game, retiring the Hitmen in order in the fourth and fifth inning, before giving up a single in the sixth inning and then getting the last two outs on force outs at second base.
For the Hitmen, starting (and winning) pitcher Alex Priest-Brown, came up with a very solid game over four innings. He gave up 6 hits, 3 BB and hit one batter, but also struck out three, induced ground balls and fly balls at opportune moments, and was backed up by a steady error-free defense. He allowed the Redsox a run in the first and two in the third. Bill Dooley came in in the fifth. Althought the first batter reached base on an error by the short stop (the only Hitmen error of the game), Dooley retired the next three batters in order. In the sixth inning Dooley had control problems, walking the first three batters, before striking out Seguin. He then walked Donaghue, which scored Baxter. He induced Brisson to pop up to the short-stop, who threw to first base to catch Donaghue off base for an inning-ending double play. Dooley walked Brisebois to start the seventh inning and he advanced to second on a wild pitch. Dooley then struck out the next three batters to finish the game.
The offensive star of the game was the Hitmen’s Joel Tugwood, who had 2 singles, a double, scored twice and drove in 4 runs.
Submitted by the Hitmen.
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