Eight-Run First Propels Tigers Over Orioles
6/25/11
Weather continues to be a real thorn in the side of the Tigers this season. On Friday night, just before Springfield was going to take infield, the rains came and forced the fourth rain-out of the year. The precipitation ended before too long. However, it was more than the already saturated field at Riverside Park could take, having been flooded for the third time in about ten months just one week earlier. The game was rescheduled for the following evening, which turned out to be a good night for the home team. Springfield plated eight runs in the bottom of the first and held on for an 11-7 victory.
Tiger hurler, Alex Frank, allowed two hits in the top of the first, but his defense helped keep the Orioles off the board with a 4-6-3 double play.
Matt Baier started the bottom of the first with a smash, but it was right to the centerfielder. After getting that first out, Leavenworth starter, Derek Skovbroten allowed nine of the next ten Springfield batters to reach. Jordan Milbrath drove in the Tigers' first three runs with a bases clearing triple. Marc Salazar, Christian Loomis, Baier, Zach Bisel, and Brady Schwab all had run-scoring hits in the inning.
The Orioles took advantage when their lead-off batter in the top of the second was hit by a pitch. He made his way around to third before scoring on a sacrifice fly, making the score 8-1.
Skovbroten settled in after the forty pitch first inning, keeping Springfield off the scoreboard in the next two innings. Leavenworth fought back in the top of the fourth when they batted ten and scored five runs, only two of which were earned, due to a Springfield miscue.
Springfield saw their early eight run lead dwindle to just two, 8-6, going into the home half of the fourth. Schwab started the inning with his third straight single. Ryan Sturm followed with a walk and Milbrath reached via error on an attempted sac bunt to load the bases with no one out. Salazar drove in Schwab to make the score 9-6, but then the Tiger rally fizzled as a strikeout and double-play got the Orioles out of the inning.
Frank labored his way through the top of the fifth, allowing a run on three hits in his final inning of work. The home team turned to Jason Nachreiner out of the bullpen and he masterfully scattered two hits over the final four innings, without allowing a run.
Milbrath started a two-out rally in the bottom of the sixth with a double. Salazar followed with a single, driving in his third run of the night to make the score 10-7.
Leavenworth went to the bullpen for Dale McMullen in the bottom of the seventh. Zach Bisel burned around the bases for a two-out triple and scored as the relay thrown went into the Springfield dugout for the last run of the game, leading to the final of 11-7.
Zach Bisel, Brady Schwab, and Marc Salazar all had big nights at the plate with three hits each. Jordan Milbrath added two extra-base hits. Matt Baier, Ryan Sturm, and Christian Loomis rounded out the Springfield offense with one hit each. Alex Frank improved to 4-0 on the season, battling through five innings of work. Derek Skovbroten took the loss for the Orioles, giving up ten runs on twelve hits over six innings of work. Jason Nachreiner picked up his first save of the season, working the final four innings without allowing a run.
The ballgame was the first contest completed by the Tigers in nearly two weeks due to rain and flooding postponements. The victory improves their record to 7-3 in Tomahawk East play and 8-7 overall. Next up Springfield wil play host to American division rival Lamberton on Sunday night at 7pm. See you at the yard!
Linescore
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | LOB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leavenworth | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 4 | 11 |
| Springfield | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | x | 11 | 14 | 3 | 8 |
Springfield Box
| AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baier, SS | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Bisel, LF | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3B |
| Schwab, C | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| R. Sturm, RF | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | HP |
| Milbrath, CF | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2B, 3B, SAC |
| Salazar, 1B | 5 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2B |
| Brandl, DH | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | HP |
| Vogel, DH | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Frank, P | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Nachreiner, P | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Loomis, 3B | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Christensen, 2B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | SAC |
| 38 | 11 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 5 | ||
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | ||
| Frank (W, 4-0) | 5 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | |
| Nachreiner (SV, 1) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
Pictures
