The Redlegs and Athletics met up at Monroe on Sunday. The A’s had already bested the Redlegs twice this season, and after an early Redleg lead was erased by the A’s it looked like the A’s might sweep the season series. But the Redlegs were able to pull out a victory in typical dramatic fashion and would end up winning this one by a final tally of 18-17.
The A’s scored 2 runs in the top of the 1st and scored again in the top of the 4th to take a 3-0 lead. A’s starter Shawn Haffner kept the Redlegs offense quiet the first time through the order as he allowed only 1 hit and recorded 3 strike outs. But the Redlegs would figure things out the 2nd time through as they would plate 4 runs to take a 4-3 lead. Steve Benthal started things off with a single, Jackson Millard was then able to reach on an error but was erased when Kyle Arend reached base on a fielder’s choice. Jacob Robinson then singled in Benthal, Arend moved to 3rd, and then scored on a ground out from Brandon Howard. James Robinson would then single followed by a walk from Brad Clark which led to a 2 RBI single by Matt Morrison.
The Redlegs piled on in the 5th, adding 5 more runs to take a 9-3 lead. After a leadoff strikeout, Justin McCurdy walked to put a runner on. Jackson Millard then singled and Kyle Arend was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jacob Robinson was then hit by a pitch to bring in the innings first run, which led to a towering Grand Slam to straightaway center field by Brandon Howard.
But the A’s weren’t out yet. They scored 3 runs in the top of the 6th highlighted by a 2 run shot by Joey Watson, his 2nd of the game. With the score standing at 9-6 heading into the bottom of the 6th, it looked like the Redlegs might finally put things away for good. They scored 3 more in the frame, highlighted by a 2 run double by Kyle Arend that scored Steve Benthal who had doubled earlier in the inning and Jackson Millard who reached after being hit by a pitch.
But the A’s came roaring back again, after they were finished in the top of the 7th they had cut down the Redlegs lead to 12-11. Joey Watson hit his 3rd homerun of the game in the frame. Justin McCurdy singled in an insurance run for the Redlegs in the bottom of the 7th, knocking in Matt Mattice who doubled one batter prior. The Redlegs then had a 13-11 lead, but the A’s were primed to finally reclaim a lead they hadn’t held since the 4th inning. They scored 4 more times in the 8th, and then 2 more in the top of the 9th to make the score 17-13 and things looked all but over for the Redlegs. But once again the Redlegs would rally.
The bottom of the 9th didn’t start well, as A’s reliever James Jesse struck out the first batter of the inning. But then Matt Morrison started the rally with a single. Jesse then recorded another strikeout which put the A’s one out from the win with only a runner on first. But then Matt Redman, who entered earlier as a pinch runner, worked a walk to put runners on 1st and 2nd and then Steve Benthal worked a walk to load the bases. Jackson Millard then knocked in 2 runs with a single which cut the lead to 17-15. Kyle Arend then walked to re-load the bases before Jacob Robinson, after fouling off 4 tough pitches, worked a walk to bring in another run and make the score 17-16. Brandon Howard then stepped up and was hit by the first pitch in the at bat to tie up the game. With the bases loaded and the winning run on 3rd the Redlegs were looking for any opportunity to score. They got it. The team’s leader in doubles stepped up to the plate in James Robinson, but he never got a chance to swing. A wild pitch made its way to the backstop and Kyle Arend got a good jump and was able to beat the tag and score the game winning run for the Redlegs.
Boxscore
| J Millard | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| K Arend | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| J Robinson | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| B Howard | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| J Robinson | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| B Clark | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| M Morrison | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| M Mattice | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| J McCurdy | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| S Benthal | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| M Redman | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
2B: Arend; Mattice; Benthal
HR: Howard
| B Clark | 6 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 4 |
| D Parrish | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| J Millard (W) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 |