Lumberjacks Celebrating the Win. Timothy Charvat, 2024
Sprits were running high for the Utica Blue Sox. After defeating the Boonville Lumberjacks 4-3, the Sox celebrated their fifth straight win, and looked to secure a sixth in an immediate rematch on Thursday July 11.
Instead, the Lumberjacks stunned the Blue Sox with a 5-3 upset victory.
Deja vu
The game started similar to Tuesday’s game, as both starters came out dealing in the first three innings. Ryan King got the nod for the Blue Sox, and allowed two hits, and a walk while striking out three.
On the flipside, Brendan Ward would start for Boonville, and would go onto pitch his best game of the season. In the first three innings, he only allowed one hit while striking out two.
Blue Sox Strike First
But the Blue Sox would be the first to strike in the bottom of the fourth. With a runner on third base and one out, extra hitter Norris McClure, who was playing in his first game since July 5, connected for an RBI single to put the Sox up 1-0.
McClure RBI Single. Timothy Charvat, 2024
Two batters later, right fielder Kevin Denty would connect for an RBI single of his own to double the Sox lead.
In the next inning, the Blue Sox would tack on another run. With a runner on first and two men out, designated hitter Johhny Brucato hit a ground ball to shortstop Carter Storti who bobbled the ball due to the wet field, and then overthrew the ball, allowing second baseman Benny Partridge to score from first to put the Sox up 3-0.
Lumberjacks Cut Through
The Lumberjacks would capitalize on a golden opportunity in the top of the sixth. After dominating the Lumberjacks over five innings, King would be pulled for Giovanni Canales, and immediately ran into a bases loaded, and one man out situation.
As the rain came down, Canales threw a wild pitch to third baseman Hugo Kohnhorst, allowing the Lumberjacks to get on the board.
Canales then got Kohnhorst to groundout on the next pitch, but allowed another run to score, making it a one run ballgame. After hitting center fielder Joshuah Braxton, Blue Sox manager Doug Delett had seen enough and brought in Charlie Collins to attempt to hold onto the lead.
While pitching to his first batter, Collins attempted a pickoff throw to first base, but was wide of first baseman Matthew Williams, allowing the Lumberjacks to tie the game up at three. Collins would then walk extra hitter Jackson Williford, and then got out of the inning by getting catcher Jose Valdez to popout.
Things continued to go the Lumberjacks way in the top of the seventh. With a runner on second and two men out, designated hitter Wei-Chen Wang connected for an RBI double to put Boonville ahead 4-3.
Wang Giving the Lumberjacks the Lead. Timothy Charvat, 2024
In the next inning, the Lumberjacks would tack on insurance runs. After getting one out, Delett removed Collins for Aiden Murray who allowed the first two batters to reach base.
Murray then got Williford to strike out, but Valdez connected for an RBI single to put the Lumberjacks up 5-3.
Lumberjacks Shut Down the Sox
During this stretch, the Blue Sox made several attempts to tie the game up. Jin Chen would replace Ward, who allowed three runs (one earned) and strike out six, in the bottom of the seventh and with one man out, ran into second and third jam.
Chen would not be shaken, as he would get third baseman Wyatt Hunt and Partridge to
strikeout swinging to end threat and pump up the Boonville dugout.
In the bottom of the eighth, McClure worked a one out walk, and then stole second and third in the next at bat. The Sox would fail to capitalize, as Chen would get shortstop Yomar Carreras to strike out and Denty to fly to end the inning.
The Sox would attempt one more rally in the bottom of the ninth, and with one man out, center fielder Todd Abraham worked a walk. But Chen would seal the deal, getting Williams to ground into a double play to end the game.
Important Notes
With the win, the Lumberjacks have defeated the Blue Sox for the first time since July 29, 2022.
With the loss, the Sox hold onto a narrow half-game lead over the Oneonta Outlaws for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Division.
What’s Next
The Blue Sox conclude their four game homestand on Friday July 12 as they take on the Oneonta Outlaws with playoff implications on the line. The first pitch is at 6:45 p.m.
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