We saw an exciting game from start to finish that had the benches cleared, two plays at the plate and a win in extra innings! That win going in favor to the Long Beach Armada as they evened up this series with the OC Flyers at 1-1.
The Flyers struck first with 2B David Bacani scoring on a single from CF Patrick Breen in the first inning. Orange County would add one in the fourth and fifth thanks to Bacani and C Josh Arhart driving in a run each. The game would be tied at 3-3 after Long Beach scored three in the sixth and the Flyers would strike back in extra innings thanks to Arhart's sac fly RBI to right to score LF Jeff LaRue. The Flyers would finish with 15 hits, but left seventeen runners on base.
Flyers starter Bob Cramer pitched a no decision going 6 innings giving up 3 runs on 5 hits, walking 2 and striking out 8. Andre Simpson and Jason Norderum would combine to go 4 innings giving up no runs on 2 hits, walking 1 and striking out 5. Dane De La Rosa got the loss going 1/3 inning giving up 2 runs on 2 hits and striking out 1.
The Armada bats would tie the game at 3-3 in the sixth when 3B Ryan Lehr struck with a two RBI triple to score 2B/SS Omar Bramasco and CF Steve Moss. Lehr would then score on a balk by Flyers starter Bob Cramer with DH Norm Hutchins (pictured left) to bat. Armada starter Rik Currier pitched 5 innings of a no decision giving up 3 runs on 10 hits, walking 4 and striking out 5. Dusty Gober went 1 inning of relief giving up 1 hit, 1 walk and striking out 2. Nick Bierbrodt got the win pitching 5 innings giving up 1 run on 4 hits, walking 2 and striking out 6. Great performance by the pitching staff to keep them in the game.
Benches would clear when in the eighth inning, two on for Orange County LaRue hits a fly ball to right with one out. The ball is caught by RF Julian Williams (who gunned down Arhart at the plate to get Long Beach into the playoffs) who then follows through with a perfect throw to home where C David Ramirez catches it and blocks SS Jermy Acey from touching home with a collision. Both players are all right, but Ramirez jumps up and begins promptly show the ball to Acey. Acey doesn't take to kindly to that and the benches empty. No punches thrown, but tempers definitely high. It's the eighth game in a row counting the regular season these teams have played.
Bottom of the eleventh, the Flyers are up 4-3. De La Rosa comes on to close out the game. Moss starts the inning with a base hit to center. Moss would then steal second, but Arhart's throw sails into center giving Moss third base with no outs and Lehr batting. Lehr went down for the first out, but the DH Norm Hutchins stepped in and drove a ball to deep center that would easily score Moss and him as it went off the brick wall and back into center field giving Hutchins an inside the park two run HR to win Game 2 and even up the series at 1-1 going to Orange Coutny.
Unfortunately as the ball was hit to center, CF Patrick Breen in his attempt to catch the ball had also made contact with the brick wall. He was down on the warning track for about 10-15 minutes as trainers and players from both teams were out in center hoping and praying for Breen. He was helped up and standing before being put on a stretcher. He was taken to a local hospital for a concussion and a possible broken nose. We'll keep you up to date on his condition.
Long Beach and Orange County now head to Fullerton for Games 3, 4 and 5 (if necessary). Ryan Claypool will pitch in Game 3 for Long Beach and Matt Durkin for Orange County. Game time is at 7:05pm.
Photo by: Mark Mauno
2 comments:
I've been to Blair Field over 18 years now. I've seen many outfielders at all levels of baseball hit that brick wall. The hit that P Breen from OC took last night had to be the worst yet that I've seen. Maybe the city of Long Beach, Cal State Long Beach, and the GBL can get together and share the cost of putting some sort of padding out there in the outfield.
what is it going to take? Having a ballplayer mamed for life before anyone steps up and fixes the problem? Good to hear that P Breen is doing fine. Thank God for that.
That is all I have to say on this subject.....for now.
GO ARMADA! ! ! !
SEE YOU AT THE PARK.
i'm in total agreement about all three parties that use the field to come together on the cost to put something on that wall. baseball has the knock at all levels of being a reactive sport instead of a proactive sport. example 1: instant replay introduced this year because of bad calls on home runs. example 2: coaches on first and third wearing batting helmets. Mike Coolbaugh was killed last year by a line drive and baseball reacted by putting in the safety measure. i'm hoping it doesn't come to a player being seriously hurt or god forbid killed because of the brick wall at Blair Field. Thankfully Pat Breen is doing all right and it was great to see the sportsmanship of both teams during a heated playoff game. the momentum is in the Armada's favor going to Fullerton. Go Long Beach!!!
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