JrBB Phillies

Visiting Phillies looked pretty anemic in the opening stanza, when Stratton got a 2-out singled and was left stranded on 1^st three pitches later.  Defense held in the bottom half, allowing only 1 run.  Lead-off ROE and Sam walked the next batter. Zack caught 2 flies at short and Sam struck out the 7^th batter to get out of a bases-loaded jam.

            Luke singled to right, leading off the 2^nd.  He scored on Zack’s ground-out.  Cameron hit a 2-out double to left, but was picked off.  Sam served up 3 straight ground-outs, and the score was tied at 1 after 2 innings.

            Phillies went in order in the 3rs.  Pirates also went in order when Marcus caught a pop-up at short and beat the runner back to second for an unassisted DP.

            Phillies went ahead in the 4^th on a 1-out, bunt single by Josh and a triple by Luke, who scored on the throwing error by the right fielder after he picked the ball up at the fence!  Zack singled with 2 outs, but was left stranded at 3^rd.  Pirates got 1 back in the 4^th on a lead-off walk and an error.  After 4—Phillies 3; Pirates 2.

            Ross drew a walk o lead off the 5^th, followed by a singles by Jordan and Sam.  Dirk, running for Ross, and Jordan scored on Stratton’s double.  A no-out squeeze bunt failed and also caught the runner going to 3^rd. Pirates led 5-2.  Marcus relieved Sam in the 5^th, but wasn’t as sharp as usual.  Zack replaced Marcus, but 4 runs scored before the side retired.

            In the 6^th, the middle of the Phillies line-up went in order. Pirates took a 2-run lead on an RBI FC.

            Phillies tied the game with 2 runs in the top of the 7^th.  Orion singled to lead-off.  Jordan walked, and Sam singled, scoring Orion and Jordan.  Pirates went in order in the 7^th to force extra innings.  Ross & Zack both battled hard hits to make the plays at 1^st base.
     Phillies had chances in the 8th.  Marcus & Zack hit 1-out singles to left.  ross walked with 2 outs after Orion's FC to left.  A squeeze at the plate retired the side.  Jordan can in to close in the 8th and struck out the first batter, walked the second, hit the third.  A ground-out to 1st brought everyone to the edge of their seats.  Pirates scored on a well hit ball to left, but not before everyone on and around Field #1 was treated to a fine baseball game.
     Hightlihgts--Tolerable number of defensive errors, although all 3 errors led to Pirate runs.  Key, timely hits scored runs--left only 2 runners on base.  Sam, Zack & Jordan pitched very well.  Josh got hit first hit of the season.  Cameron captialized on his height and power with a stand-up double.   Luke hit a triple to right that got there so quickly no one in this divisin would have had a play on it.
     Although we lost this game, we played better baseball-more aggressive baseball--than we did in our error-free, no-hit game against Chesapeake.