RED SOX GAIN MUCH NEEDED WIN AND MORE IN 15-8 SLUGFEST
Call it what you want but Monday’s match up against the Orleans Firebirds (11-12-3) was the coming out party of the second half of the season for the YD Red Sox (11-13-3). Hits and runs were as easy to come by as Adrian Gonzalez and Robinson Cano home runs in the MLB Home Run Derby the same night (a combined 63 home runs in three rounds!). The Red Sox piled together 15 runs on 17 hits, which was more runs than the teams total runs scored in their previous 0-5-1 skid, to defeat the Firebirds 15-8.
All but one starting position player had a hit for the Red Sox, and five of those starters had a multi-hit game. James Ramsey batted in the leadoff spot for the first time this year and went 3-4 with a walk. Catcher Mike Zunino finally broke out of his shell going 4-5 with a double while picking up his first RBI of the season.
The star of game, though, was recent arrival Brian Johnson from the University of Florida who went 2-5 but collected five RBIs on the day that included a three-run home run in the eighth inning that closed out the scoring for the Red Sox. Cody Keefer also had a fantastic day at the plate ripping three hits including his first home run of the year, also a three-run blast, in the fifth inning.
YD pitching had its ups and downs through out the game, but the offense’s power surge provided a sense of comfort for the pitchers on the mound. Joey Denato started for the Red Sox yet lasted just one inning. Denato struggled early in the inning; after recording the first out, three consecutive singles and a walk gave Orleans a 2-0 lead, which they would hold on to until the third inning.
Zack Weiss replaced Denato in the top of the second inning and continued through the seventh inning. Weiss pitched six innings scattering five hits and four runs to pick up his first win of the season. He never saw more than five batters in an inning and besides the seventh, never allowed more than a single hit in any inning. Matt Reckling and Robert Benincasa each pitched an inning to close out the game.
YD began their onslaught in the bottom of the third inning trailing 3-1. After the first out was recorded, the Red Sox brought the top of the order to the plate and took full advantage by scoring six runs in the inning. Eight straight men reached base beginning with back-to-back singles by Ramsey and Keefer and a walk by Stephen Piscotty to load the bases. Johnson collected his first hit as a Red Sox, a two-run single that tied the score at three. Then Mason Katz wasted no time by singling on the first pitch he saw to score Piscotty from second base. Mike Zunino followed with a double down the left field line to bring around the fourth run of the inning and place runners on second and third. After Jacob Lamb walked to reload the bases, Tyler Hanover singled to drive in the fifth and sixth runs of the inning and give YD the lead 7-3.
The Red Sox nearly batted around the order again in their five-run bottom of the fifth inning. The fifth began with three straight singles by Katz, Zunino, and Lamb to bring home the eighth YD run. After the next two outs were recorded on a sacrifice bunt and a strike out, Ramsey walked to load the bases for Keefer. A balk call scored the ninth run for YD much to the dismay of Keefer who homered soon after on what would have been a grand slam. Keefer’s blast to left brought the YD lead to 12-4.
Orleans would get some runs back in the seventh and ninth innings but Johnson’s three-run blast in the bottom of the eighth would erase all but one of those runs.
This game featured a YD Red Sox team that was exciting to watch due to the productivity and positivity on the field. The players, coaches, and spectators were all amped up after the first YD win in over a week. With the day off Tuesday, the Red Sox will seek to keep the wins rolling on Wednesday against a Chatham Anglers team that they have suspiciously struggled against. First pitch is at 5:00 PM.
