(14) ATHLETICS

SPRING 2018 AMERICAN DIVISION

At St. Louis Cardinals Field #4, Jupiter

August 26, 2018

 BEACH BUMS 3 TIGRES 2 (11 innings)  

     It took almost four hours for the top seeded Beach Bums to nip the number three seeded Tigres in a magnificent marathon at the St.Louis Cardinals’ minor league complex in Jupiter.  With the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th inning, Beach Bums catcher Brad Myott cracked a sharp grounder to the right of the shortstop for an infield hit to score Jesus Delgado with the winning run.  The only play was an off balance throw to second base, but Dylan Love beat the attempt for an inning ending force out, but it was also in the dirt. 

     It was Myott’s third single of the game, and had the Tigres been able to get him for the final out, it would have marked the third straight at bat in which the left handed hitter would have been robbed on a great defensive play.  Shortstop DeJesus retired him with a brilliant stop and throw in the 8th inning and third baseman Eduardo Godines made another great play on Myott in the tenth inning.

     Both teams scored in the first inning, after which pitching dominated on both sides, until the Beach Bums tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the 9th when Delgado’s sky high fly to right was lost in the sun for a leadoff double.   Ricky Neyman bunted and was safe at first on a fielder’s choice, with Delgado going to third.  Ryan Togher grounded slowly to third and when Godines opted to get him at first, Delgado scored the equalizer. 

     The Tigres scored two runs in the first inning on two walks and a run scoring single by pitcher Mike Melendez.  The second run scored on an illegal “fake to third, throw to first” play.  Beach Bums’ starter Joey Housey, who wound up striking out twelve in eight innings, is an assistant coach at Keiser University and that play is legal in college ball, but not under pro rules used the NABA Palm Beach league, is not a legal move.   

     Melendez gave up a run in the bottom of the first on a wild pitch, scoring Love, who had singled to start the inning and wound up at third on a double play grounder.  Housey and Melendez put zeros on the board until the the Beach Bums’ fifth.  Myott led off the frame with a single up the middle, prompting Tigres’ manager Santos Adames to bring in hard throwing righthander Keisy Portorreal, who pitched brilliant shutout ball until the end of the 9th, when the Beach Bums tied it and sent it into extra innings.  Portorreal was relieved by Angel Cespedes, who took the loss on Myott’s walk off hit. 

     Kyle Finch pitched the last three innings for the win, escaping a bases loaded, one out jam in the tenth inning and leaving the potential winning run at third in the top of the 11th.  Myott had three of the Beach Bums’ nine hits, Love had two singles, Delgado a double and single, and scored the tying and winning runs.  Jason Bryan had a double, and manager Dave Salley a single.  Melendez and Godines each had two hits for the Tigres, who also had singles from DeJesus, Erick Lara and Nick Adames. The championship was the fifth title for the Beach Bums, one in each of the last four years.  The Tigres were thwarted in their attempt to notch their 18th league championship. 

     Myott was selected as the championship game’s Most Valuable Player.  In addition to his three hits, he did a great job behind the plate.