Missed Opportunities Sink the Redlegs

05/08/2012
 

The Redlegs had plenty of chances throughout the game against Shocker starter Ben Schlater but never seemed to be able to cash in.

Jack Millard got the start on the hill for the Redlegs and pitched well. He got off to a shaky start when Chris Flaherty singled to begin the game followed by walks to Matt Stiffler and Thomas Fluty and a 2 run single by Taylor Hause. Millard limited the damage at two runs getting a strikeout and a ground out to end the inning.

After that, Millard settled down with the only threat coming when Mike Hartman reached on an error and advanced to third on a passed ball and a groundout. Hartman attempted to score on a wild pitch but Redlegs catcher Steve Benthal made a great play leaping to the loose ball and quickly flipping it to Millard who applied the tag to end the inning.

In the bottom of the second, singles by Benthal and Jared Bradley mounted a two out threat that fizzled when Schlater got a strike out to end the inning. The Redlegs threatened again in the 4th when two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out. However, the runners were again stranded on base after an inning ending double play.

The Shockers added some insurance in the 5th when Millard started to show signs of wearing down. After a pair of hit batters, he surrendered back to back singles to allow another run. Kevin Campbell took over with the bases loaded and no one out. He threw one pitch and got a 6-4-3 double play, allowing another run, charged to Millard, before getting a groundout to third to end the inning.

Down 4-0, the Redlegs finally came up with some offense in the 5th. Bradley led the inning off with an infield single and was moved over on a sacrifice bunt by Greg Lebouef. After Campbell drew a walk, back to back singles by Matt Redman and Matt Mattice drove in three runs to pull the Redlegs to within one at 4-3. The Shockers caught a break when Jake Robinson hit what appeared to be an RBI triple into the right center field gap. However, the ball had rolled under the fence for a ground-rule double sending Robinson back to second and Mattice back to third. Brandon Howard drove Mattice in with a groundout to short to tie the game but but Robinson was stuck on third when the inning ended.

The Shockers took the lead and added an insurance run with solo homeruns from Stiffler in the 7th and Flaherty in the 9th.

In the bottom of the 7th, the Redlegs were cooking up another rally with singles from Kyle Sloan and Robinson but could not capitalize. In the 8th, a one out double into the right field corner by Brandon Longacre was erased by a rocket off the bat of Millard right at the second basemen who then doubled up Longacre.

Schlater came out in the 9th to try to protect a 6-4 lead and earn the complete game win. After getting a quick out, he plunked Bobby Dempsey who stole second and advanced to third on a ground out. Redman then drew a walk and stole second to put the tying runs in scoring position. Those runners would become numbers 14 and 15 of the day that would be stranded on base by the Redlegs when Schlater ended the rally getting a strike three call to end the game.

Boxscore

PlayerABHRRBIBB
M Redman41111
M Mattice51120
J Robinson33001
B Howard30011
S Benthal41000
B Longacre31000
J Millard40000
J Bradley43100
G Lebouef20000
K Campbell10101

2B: Robinson; Longacre

PlayerIPHRERKBB
J Millard 444442
K Campbell (L)552241