The Redlegs opened up the 2017 season in strikingly
similar fashion as they ended in 2016; with a late come
from behind victory over the Mad River Machine.
One thing that was not so similar was the man standing on
the hill for the Redlegs. For the first time since 2010,
someone other than Kevin Campbell got the opening day
nod. That nod went in the direction of Aaron Carmack who
turned in a stellar 2016 rookie campaign going 6-2 with a
3.34 ERA and 46 Ks over 56 2/3 innings pitched.
Campbell, by far the Redlegs career leader in almost
every pitching category, will still be a constant fixture
in the Redlegs rotation throughout the season.
The Redlegs drew first blood in the top of the 2nd
inning. Brandon Howard, Mike Hartman, and Matt Mattice
all singled to load the bases. With 2 outs, Jared
Bradley was able to reach on a Machine miscue that
resulted in a run.
However, runs were tough to come by early in the game as
Carmack found himself locked into a pitchers duel with
2016 Rookie of the Year Matt Clark. Carmack racked up 10
strikeouts through 6 scoreless frames before the Machine
finally tied things up at 1 in the bottom of the 7th when
Clark and Jake Wilson hit back to back doubles. With 2
outs and a runner on 2nd Tyler Bundy laced a line drive
into left field that looked to be sure to give the
Machine a lead and give Bundy extra bases, but Kyle Arend
was able to track it down and make a great catch near the
left field fence to end the inning.
Meanwhile, Clark continued to work out of jams and keep
the Redlegs at bay. Matt Mattice led off the 7th inning
with a triple but Clark was able to get two ground balls
into the teeth of a drawn in infield and a pop out to end
the threat, stranding the 9th Redleg baserunner on the
afternoon.
The Redlegs finally re-gained the lead in the top of the
8th. Kyle Arend started the inning with a double and
came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Brandon
Howard.
Trailing 2-1, the Machine got through to Carmack in the
bottom of the 8th highlighted by an RBI single from
Abdiel Torres-Vega and a 2 run double by Logan Gray.
Matt Redman entered in relief after Gray’s double and was
able to end the threat on one pitch, bringing the Redlegs
to bat and one more chance to rally from the 4-2 deficit.
Matt Morrison and Matt Mattice both were hit by pitches
to start the top of the 9th which prompted a Machine
pitching change from Clark to Jonathon Webb. Jared
Bradley greeted Webb with a hard line drive tucked just
inside the 3rd base line that scored a run and put
runners on the corners. Matt Redman then walked to load
the bases and Jacob Robinson followed with a walk to
bring in the tying run. Kyle Arend then hit a sacrifice
fly scoring Bradley and Matt Redman alertly moved up to
3rd. This set up another sacrifice fly this time by Joey
Watson. Brandon Howard then doubled to score Robinson
and give the Redlegs a 7-4 lead.
Jake Wilson tried to start a Machine rally by leading off
the bottom of the 9th with a single, but Matt Redman
retired the next 3 batters and ended the game on a strike
out to preserve the win.
These two clubs will battle it out again just 6 days
after opening day as they are on tap for a double dip at
Athletes in Action on Saturday April 8th at 4:00 and
7:00.
Boxscore
| J Robinson | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| K Arend | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| J Watson | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| B Howard | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| J Robinson | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| M Hartman | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| M Morrison | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| M Mattice | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| J Bradley | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| M Redman | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
2B: Arend; Howard
3B: Mattice
| A Carmack | 7.67 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 2 |
| M Redman (W) | 1.33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |