Rapids Celebrating the Win. Timothy Charvat, 2024
Spirits were riding high for the Utica Blue Sox. After walking off the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs 3-2 on Saturday, July 20, the Sox, who currently hold onto the fourth seed, went on the road to face off against the fifth seed Watertown Rapids in a potential preview for the first round of the PGCBL playoffs.
And in shocking fashion, the Rapids capitalized on a lack of communication by the Blue Sox defense to walk off 4-3.
The First Half
The Blue Sox struck in the top of the first. With a runner on first base and one man out, right fielder Kevin Denty connected for an RBI double off Rapids starter Mason Collins to give the Sox the early lead.
That would be all the scoring done in the first half, as for the third straight game they engaged in an intense pitcher’s duel. Collins settled down, retiring the next eleven of the next twelve batters while accumulating five strikeouts over that stretch.
Not to be outdone, Blue Sox starter Ryan King would also dominate his first four innings of work, allowing two baserunners while also accumulating five strikeouts. King also reached an impressive fifteen consecutive scoreless innings.
A Back and Fourth Fifth
But the Sox would break through in the top of the fifth, as Collins walked the first two batters of the inning. After left fielder Nick OConner moved the runners, center fielder Mike Benedetto connected for a two-run double to left field to put the Sox up 3-0.
Benedetto Connecting for a Two-Run Double. Timothy Charvat, 2024
The Rapids would get to Blue Sox starter Ryan King in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded and two men out, King walked Rapids left fielder Domonic Morabito to put Watertown on the board 3-1.
King recovered and got right fielder Dylan Wanat to flyout to end the threat, finishing his night with five innings pitched, one run allowed on three hits, and five strikeouts.
Blue Sox Bullpen Holds On
Over the next two innings, the Blue Sox were under constant rapid attacks, while Collins retired the side in order in that same stretch.
Kris Giangreco replaced King in the bottom of the sixth and allowed a leadoff double to shortstop Jeph Hasdon-Taylor. Giangreco settled down, getting three straight groundballs to Sox shortstop Yomar Carreras to keep the score at bay.
In the next inning, Giovanni Canales took over and ran into trouble of his own. With two on and one man out, first baseman Chazz Crook lined out to Carreras who doubled up the runner at second to end the threat.
A Tense Eighth
The tension came ahead in the top of the eighth, as Collins gave up a leadoff double to OConnor. After Benedetto moved the runner over to third, extra hitter Johnny Brucato grounded out before second baseman Benny Partridge reached base on a hit by pitch.
Collins would recover, as he struck out Carreras to end the inning, and finish his night with eight innings pitched, three runs allowed on six hits while striking out a season high seven batters.
The Rapids capitalized in their half of the frame. Charlie Collins was brought in to pitch, and after getting one out allowed a walk to Wanat. Wanat then stole second base and advanced to third on a balk.
This set up Hadson-Taylor to connect for a sacrifice fly to left field, making a 3-2 ball game.
Blue Sox Threaten
The Blue Sox attempted to put the game away in the top of the ninth. Brendan Karadenes came into pitch for Watertown and allowed a leadoff double to Denty.
After first baseman Max French moved the runner over, the Rapids made the decision to intentionally walk third baseman Wyatt Hunt to face catcher Brendan Buecker.
Karadenes was able to pick off Hunt for the second out of the inning, but then hit the next two batters to load the bases. Karadenes came up clutch and struck out OConnor to keep it a one-run ball game.
An Improbable Comeback
The Rapids refused to go down without a fight in their half of the frame. Daury Rodriguez was brought in to close the game for the Blue Sox and allowed a leadoff single to designated hitter Ryan Kramer.
Then the first of two controversial calls in the inning occurred as Rodriguez would hit extra hitter Peyton Shipman, but Sox manager Doug Delett contested that the ball hit the knob of his bat.
The decision was upheld, as catcher Tyler Jacobson then laid down a sacrifice bunt but was able to reach base due to a miscommunication as to who needed to cover first, resulting in the bases being loaded with nobody out.
Rodriguez then got third baseman Camdin Jansen to line out to Hunt, who attempted to tag the third base bag, but the umpire ruled him safe. Center fielder Sam Meyer then struck out, putting a halt on the Rapids momentum.
Rodriguez seemingly got the final out of the game, as Crook hit a popup to the infield, but miscommunication between OConnor, Hunt and Carreras resulted in the ball being misplayed, allowing the Rapids to win the game 4-3 in one of the most bizarre endings to a PGCBL game this season.
Notable Stats
With the loss, the Sox now hold onto a narrow half game lead over the Rapids for the fourth seed while also falling a game and a half behind the third seeded Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs, which had the day off.
Kevin Denty collected three hits in four at bats in the game raising his batting average to .345, which ranks fourteenth in the entire PGCBL.
What’s Next
The Blue Sox must turn on win now mode on Tuesday July 23 as they host the Rapids to put more security around the fourth seed. The first pitch is at 6:45 p.m.
Opmerkingen