Weldon Saves Redlegs 2nd Straight Win

05/19/2013
 

The Redlegs finally broke their pattern of alternating wins and losses by getting their second straight win on Saturday night, defeating the Wright Knights 14-11 at Athletes in Action in Xenia. They used a 10 run 7th inning to rally from a 7-2 deficit in the effort.

The Redlegs struck first when Kyle Arend manufactured a run in the top of the 1st. After the first two batters grounded out, Kyle worked a walk then stole 2nd (his first of 3 on the night) then moved to 3rd and finally scored on passed balls. But the Knights scored twice in their opening frame to take a 2-1 lead after 1. In the 2nd, a potential run producing inning was ended early as the leadoff hitter smacked a grounder between 1st and 2nd. 1st basemen James Robinson was able to make a sliding back handed grab and hit starting pitcher Branden Heinemen just in time to get the base runner. The Knights got on the board again in the 4th, scoring twice more to push their lead to 4-1. The Redlegs got one back in the top of the 5th. Matt Mattice started the inning with a single and eventually came around to score on a fielder’s choice ground out by pitcher Branden Heinemen. The Knights then pushed their lead again, scoring 3 more times in the 5th to push their advantage to 7-2. Kevin Campbell took over on the mound in the 6th and would eventually get the win, but was quickly helped out by Matt Mattice who made a spectacular over the shoulder catch at the fence in left field that took away extra bases from the Knights leadoff man Jerel Bristol.

The Redlegs would finally take the lead in the 7th, scoring 10 times, and would not look back from there. Brandon Howard reached on an error to start the inning and was quickly driven in by James Robinson with a double. Jackson Millard then worked a walk before Mattice drove his 2nd hit of the game right back up the middle to drive in Robinson. Brandon Longacre then walked setting up a bases loaded situation for Kyle Weldon who was claimed off of waivers on Thursday. Weldon would work a bases loaded walk in his first career MVABL at bat. Matt Redman then singled in a run to make it 7-6. After a strikeout for the 2nd out, Jacob Robinson delivered a bases clearing triple to put the Redlegs up 9-7. Kyle Arend then tripled in Robinson and scored on a double by Brandon Howard. James Robinson then got his 2nd hit and 2nd RBI of the inning doubling in Brandon Howard. The Redlegs took advantage of a Knight fielding miscue to get an insurance run in the top of the 8th to make it 13-7.

But the Knights wouldn’t go down without a fight, scoring 4 more times in the bottom of the 8th to make it a 2 run game at 13-11. The Redlegs were able to add a much needed insurance run in the top of the 9th. Brandon Howard walked, stole 2nd, and then moved around to score on a groundball out and passed ball.

Kyle Weldon came on for the save in the bottom of the 9th and kept the Knights down, recording 2 punch outs and a fly out to end the game.

Boxscore

PlayerABHRRBIBB
K Campbell20000
J Robinson51130
K Arend31211
B Howard31312
J Robinson52120
J Millard31102
M Mattice42210
J McCurdy20000
J Bradley41100
B Heinemen20010
M Redman31101
M Morrison30000
B Longacre11101
K Weldon00112

2B: Howard; Robinson
3B: Robinson; Arend

PlayerIPHRERKBB
B Heinemen 5107711
K Campbell (W)324414
K Weldon (S)100021