Just when you thought it was safe to assume that the Armada would not make it four walk offs in a row. They proved you wrong again. Six of their eight runs scored in the last two innings to shock the Cracker Cats and propel them into a four game winning streak winning 8-7.
Armada starter Rik Currier pitched another great game at Blair going 6 1/3 innings giving up 3 runs on 6 hits, walking 3 and striking out 7. Sean Buller relieved Currier in the sixth going 1 1/3 innings giving up 4 runs on 6 hits walking 1 and striking out 2. Wayne Foltin (2-0) got his second win in a row pitching 1 1/3 innings striking out 1.
Edmonton starter Jorge Depaula pitched a no decision going 7 innings giving up 2 runs on 6 hits, walking 2 and striking out 8. Danny Touchet pitched the eighth giving up 5 runs, 3 earned on 3 hits, walking 1. David Humen (3-4) got the loss going 1/3 inning giving up 1 run and walking 4.
Edmonton struck first with 3B Jose Morban's two run HR to right center in the third. Edmonton would lead 2-0 into the sixth when up 3-2 in the eighth, Morban put them ahead with his second HR a solo shot to left giving Edmonton a 4-2 lead. Morban finished 2 for 5. Edmonton would add to their lead in the eighth up 4-2. RF Ruddy Yan drove in two runs, one in the seventh and one in the eighth. DH Marcus Nettles drove in a run as did C Jordan Lundberg in the eighth. Edmonton would take a comfy lead 7-2 into the bottom of the eighth.
Long Beach down by five in the eighth. Backs almost against the wall. They quickly got two runners on with only one out. 3B Ryan Lehr and 1B Brett Flowers (pictured left) drove those runners in with base hits. LF Dan Trumble laid down a sac bunt that was fielded by Morban at third, but an arrant throw to first allowed Lehr and Flowers to score bringing the Fleet to within one. Newly acquired Utility player Ryan Brown pinch hit for C David Ramirez and sac flied in Trumble from third, who was there because of the error. Tied up at 7 going into the ninth.
After another shutout ninth the stage was set. SS Cleatus Davidson and CF Steve Moss reached base on back to back walks. DH Norm Hutchins would lay down a sac bunt to advance the runners to second and third. Lehr would be intentionally walked to load the bases. Flowers stepped up to the plate patient as ever getting the walk off, walk. Not as exciting as a hit, but it gets the job done as the Fleet win in walk off fashion AGAIN! FOUR IN A ROW!
Probable starters tomorrow for Edmonton Chris Cullen (4-0) and for Long Beach Ryan Claypool (6-7). Game time is at 7:05pm.
Photo by: Mark Mauno
1 comment:
Are you kidding me? I'm not sure if my nerves can take anymore of these dramatic 9th inning walk off wins.
What a great comeback for the boys.
As I have been saying this past week,
down the stretch the patience at the plate has been the key. Taking the first 1-2 pitches, making the pitcher
throw something good. Great pitching overall from the crew. R Currier kept them in the game as usual. S Buller did not have his best stuff last night. I will say that was the worst outing I've seen from Buller this season. I'm sure he will bounce back and give a good outing next time. He is one hell of a competitor.
Kudos to mgr S Yeager. In the ninth inning on more than one occasion, he called his batter over and motioned to them to be smart and patient at the plate. That was more so with N Hutchings. Norm was not as aggresive and he got a single down the right field line to put runners at 1st and 2nd with no outs. The rest of the inning followed. Kudos to R Lehr. Both offensively and defensively. If I'm not mistaking, he has reached base safely in 23 straight games now.
Let's see if the boys can put it away earlier than the 9th tonight.
See you at the park.
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