BACK AND FORTH BATTLE ENDS IN DRAW FOR RED SOX
Looking for their first win in their last four games, the YD Red Sox (10-12-3) saw a victory slip away against the Brewster Whitecaps (12-9-3) on Saturday evening. The Red Sox scored the go-ahead run in the top of the tenth and threatened again in the eleventh inning after the Whitecaps evened the score in extras but ran out of time as the game was suspended due to darkness.
Clutch hitting and great defense were the names of the game in Brewster, especially in the later innings. The Red Sox gave themselves multiple chances to win this game by playing smart defense and preserving runs. Run saving plays in the bottom of the ninth and tenth innings left the door wide open for Red Sox hitters to come through in the clutch. Spectators witnessed those clutch performances in the tenth inning from both teams, but YD’s late inning rally came up just short in the eleventh to end the game in a draw.
A.J. Vanegas started on the mound for the Red Sox sporting a comfortable 2.31 ERA in 11 2/3 innings this season. Vanegas threw 4 1/3 innings allowing just four hits and three runs (two earned). He allowed his three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, yet in the previous four innings, Vanegas did not allow a runner past second base.
Red Sox relief pitching helped keep the game close throwing a combined 6 2/3 innings and giving up just one run over that span. Newcomer Daniel Gibson from Florida had the Whitecaps number throwing 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief while striking out three.
Scoring began in the top of the fourth for the YD Red Sox when a leadoff single by Stephen Piscotty and a double by James Ramsey put runners at second and third with no outs. Jacob Lamb grounded out to the second baseman on the left side of the infield to bring in Piscotty from third for the first YD run. With two outs, during Tyler Hanover’s at-bat, Ramsey scooted home on a wild pitch by Whitecaps starter Luke Bard to increase the Red Sox lead to 2-0.
Brewster was able to get those runs back and more in the bottom of the fifth inning by loading the bases with no outs following an infield single, an error by Chris Taylor at shortstop, and a base on balls by Vanegas. Ninth hitter Jack Mayfield hit a sacrifice fly to score the first Brewster run. The second Brewster run crossed the plate after a questionable balk call on Vanegas brought the runner in from third base (an unearned run because the runner had reached on an error). Leadoff man Jason Monda then doubled down the right field line to bring home the go-ahead run and take the lead 3-2.
The Red Sox tied the game back up in the top of the seventh inning after a one out hit by pitch to Chris Taylor followed by a Cody Keefer single put runners on first and second. Stephen Piscotty then hit a bouncing ball to the second baseman that looked like a sure double play to get Brewster out of the inning, but an overthrow by the Whitecaps shortstop let Piscotty reach base and score Taylor from second.
The 3-3 score would remain the same until extra innings thanks to a heads up play by Jacob Lamb at third base in the bottom of the ninth to save the winning run from scoring. With runners on the corner with one out, a ground ball came towards Lamb who caught the runner on third in a pickle breaking for home to record the out.
Lamb then started the rally for the Red Sox in the top of the tenth with a one out single to reach base. After the struggling Mason Katz (1-4, 2B, BB) foul popped out, Tyler Hanover ripped a triple down the left field line to score Lamb and give YD the lead in the tenth.
Unfortunately, the lead was short lived as Brewster salvaged a run in the bottom half of the frame on a two-out double by pinch hitter Chase Anslement that scored a runner from third to tie the game again. Whitecaps catcher Taylor Davis attempted to score from first on the Anslement double but was gunned down at home plate on a relay throw from Keefer in left field.
The Red Sox threatened in the top of the eleventh, loading the bases with one out for clean up hitter James Ramsey (1-6, BB) who also has been struggling as of late. Ramsey grounded into an inning ending double play to end the threat and the Red Sox hopes of getting the win.
YD plays Cotuit (9-13-2) on Sunday.
