It started out in the Armada's favor, but ended in favor of the Flyers. Orange County had no runs and only 3 hits through seven innings of work. Long Beach had a two run lead going into the eighth when the Flyers bats woke up taking the lead and holding Long Beach for a 4-2 win in Game 1 of this best of five Southern Division Championship Series.
Armada starter Seth Etherton pitched a gem. It's only his third start since Tommy John Surgery. He pitched 7 innings giving up no runs on 3 hits, walking 2 and striking out 12. A fantastic performance that was a no decision. Garrett Murdy (0-1) came in the eighth giving up 3 runs, 2 earned on 1 hit walking 1. Wayne Foltin pitched for Murdy to finish the eighth and ninth giving up 1 run on 3 hits, walking 3 and striking out 1.
The offense for the Armada came in the second when C Octavio Martinez (pictured left) drove in DH Norm Hutchins from second. In the same inning Martinez scored from third when 1B Brett Flowers was caught in a pickoff at second base. The lead would hold until the eighth when Orange County was awaken. Martinez went 1 for 4 as did Hutchins, CF Steve Moss and 3B Ryan Lehr. The last eleven Armada batters struck out to end the game.
The Flyers struck in the eighth to tie the game thanks to CF Patrick Breen's two RBI double. 3B Brian Rios would add another run with his base hit to right giving the Flyers a 3-2 lead. RF Mark Okano scored in the ninth after DH Nick Guerra grounded into a double play. Flyers starter Jesse Smith went 6 innings giving up 2 runs on 4 hits, walking 2 and striking out 8. Andre Simpson (1-0) got the win pitching the eighth and Dane De La Rosa got the save pitching the ninth. Simpson, Jason Norderum and De La Rosa each pitched one inning and each struck out the side.
Probable starters tomorrow for Orange County Bob Cramer and for Long Beach Rik Currier. Game time is 7:05pm.
Photo by: Mark Mauno
1 comment:
What a great pitching performance by Seth Etherton. His pitches were right on. He must have struck out half of his 12 strikeouts with his wicked, and I mean wicked curvball.
From my vantage point, he had the OC "Cryers" bats totaly fooled all night.
Sorry to see such a dominant performance go to waste. The starting pitcher for the "Cryers" also pitched well but was not as dominant on the hill as Etherton.
The OC bullpen? Now they were totaly dominant. Kudos to there bullpen. Especialy to closer D De la Rosa. He only used 10 pitches to strike out the side. ( 9 out of 10 pitches for strikes) and all 10 pitches were fastballs. No messing around. Dominant performance in releif.
Also kudos to Mark Okano for having HIS head in the game and taking 3rd base while the Armada infield was discussing what's for dinner after the game or whatever.
Talk about a total brain fart. After that happened, the wind was taken from the sails of the Armada. There was absolutly NO heart in the boys after that happened.
With all that said, the boys will have to come back tonight and even the series. Let's see if they can shake last nights loss, and come out swinging and deliver a knockout punch.
Game 2 of a 5 game series is always the most important game in the series.
GO ARMADA!!!!
See you at the park
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