Sitting at 3rd in the standings, the Redlegs are looking
to finish off the season on a strong note to try to lock
down the 1 or 2 seed heading into the playoffs. They got
off to a good start by sweeping the Expos on Sunday.
In game 1 the Redlegs put 17 runs on the board,
unleashing an 18 hit attack that would lead to a run rule
victory after 6 innings.
Before the offense even got a chance, Mike Hartman was
potentially saving runs with some great defense at 3rd
base. After Aaron Carmack punched out the first batter
of the game, the next batter hit a slow grounder down the
3rd base line that Hartman was able to snag with his bare
hand and make a perfect throw while on the run to record
the 2nd out. The next batter popped out to end the
frame.
The Redlegs then wasted no time taking the lead as they
scored 7 times in the bottom of the 1st. Jared Bradley,
Matt Morrison, and Matt Redman had RBI hits in the
inning. The home team would then score 4 more times in
the 2nd as Matt Mattice started things off with a double
and scored when Kyle Arend followed with a double of his
own. Nick Davis singled and Brandon Howard was plunked
by a pitch before James Robinson delivered a base hit to
score both runners. Jared Bradley later hit a sacrifice
fly to score the frames final run.
Matt Morrison then made his first pitching appearance
since June of 2014 and turned in 2 solid innings of work,
though the Expos were able to scratch together 2 runs in
the 5th. With Morrison on the mound, Kyle Arend filled
in at shortstop and provided some nice glove work in the
5th as he ranged to his right making a sliding stop
before popping back up to his feet and firing over to 1st
base to cut down the runner with time to spare. Kyle has
shown exceptional versatility in his tenure with the
Redlegs as he has now made at least one appearance at
every defensive position for his club.
The Redlegs plated 3 more runs in the 5th. Ryan Gross
led the inning off with a single, then Jared Bradley
doubled putting both runners In scoring position. Matt
Redman would then drive both runs home and would later
score on a wild pitch.
Adam Parks relieved Morrison in the 6th and pitched a
scoreless inning, earning his first career win in the
relief appearance.
The game came to an early end in the 6th via a walk off
run rule. Kyle Arend singled with one out, followed by a
double by Mike Hartman. Nick Davis then doubled both
runs home before Brandon Howard belted a double of his
own to plate the game-ending run.
Boxscore
| J Robinson | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| M Mattice | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| K Arend | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| M Hartman | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| N Davis | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| B Howard | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| J Robinson | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| J Gross | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| J Bradley | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| M Morrison | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| M Redman | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| A Parks | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T Sullivan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2B: Mattice; Arend; Hartman; Davis; Howard; Bradley
| A Carmack | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| M Morrison | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| A Parks (W) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |