In game 1 of this tier "3" playoff series, the Eagles looked to take the upperhand before going to Metcalfe to play the other 2 games. They were cruising towards the goal until the end and then had to scrape out a last minute victory.
Metcalfe looked to take the early lead in the top of the 1st when they loaded the bases with 2 outs off of Eagles starter Rob MacPhail, but MacPhail was able to induce Steve McLaughlin into lining out to second base to end the inning. In the bottom of the inning, Nick Lenardon hit a 2 out, solo homer to left center field to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. It was the only damage that Brian Medeiros surrenderred until the third inning when Lenardon again hurt him with an RBI single up the middle.
Metcalfe had just tied the game when Humberto Medeiros hit an RBI double to score Brian Medeiros. The Eagles got to Medeiros again in the 4th inning when Dave Warren and Steve MacMullin hit back to back singles to start the inning. Matt Dixie hit an RBI groundout and then Andrew Fulton hit an RBI double to make the score 4-1.
Rob MacPhail gave up an un-earned run in the 5th, and pitched a great 6 innings giving up just 1 earned run. In the bottom of the 6th, the Eagles looked to get some insurance as they scored 3 un-earned runs highlighted by Rob and Jamie MacPhail`s back to back RBI singles to make the score 7-2 going into the 7th.
This signalled the end of the night for Rob MacPhail, and Matt Dixie came on to close it out. Metcalfe promptly greeted him to the mound with a quick un-earned run and then loaded the bases with nobody out as the Eagles grip on this game began to wither. Dixie then struck out the next 2 batters and looked like he would get out of the jam. James Scharf kept the game going with an RBI infield single and then Mike Petrusic hit a line drive to centerfield that ended up getting by the centerfielder somehow to clear the bases and tie the game with Petrusic standing at third base. Dixie re-grouped after giving up the 5 un-earned runs to get a groundout to end the inning and send the game into the bottom of the 7th tied at 7.
Chris Scavone stepped to the plate with one out already in the 7th, and promptly hit a deep drive to center that just barely eluded center fielder Petrusic`s desperate attempt to catch it and Scavone ended up on third base with a triple. Dave Warren then hit a deep fly to center to easily score the winning run to end the crazy 7th inning with the Eagles taking game one 8-7.
Player of the Game : Rob MacPhail...6 IP, 6 hits, 1 walk, 1 earned run,
3 k`s...1/4, RBI, run scored.
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