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Nine-run second-inning propels Sox to Opening Night win

May 15, 2014 - American Association (AA)
Amarillo ThunderHeads News Release


After nine months away from baseball, the Amarillo Sox wasted little time getting back to business for 2014. The Sox scored all of their runs in the first two innings of an 11-7 win over the Winnipeg Goldeyes in front of 3,424 fans Thursday. The win for the Sox was also their first victory in ten tries over the Winnipeg Goldeyes.

The Goldeyes started the scoring with a 2-out RBI double by centerfielder Reggie Abercrombie off of Sox opening day starter Joe Zeller. The Sox would have an immediate answer, as Marc Tarantola singled to lead off the bottom of the first, and later scored on a RBI single by Cory Patton. Jason Martin would come in to score on an RBI groundout by Keith Brachold, and the Sox led 2-1 after an inning of play.

Zeller would retire the Goldeyes in order in the 2nd, and the Amarillo bats would break the game open in the bottom half. Again the first three Sox batters would reach base, with catcher Jeff Farnham scoring on an RBI single by rightfielder Lyndon Estill. Jason Martin would follow with a 2-run double off the chalk on the leftfield line to give the Sox a 5-1 lead. Patton then singled to score Martin, and Joe Weik would add an RBI triple to score Patton. Weik would score on an RBI single by Keith Brachold to make it 8-1 Sox, prompting the exit of Winnipeg starter Chris Salamida. The Sox then took advantage of some defensive miscues by the Goldeyes, as three batters would reach on errors behind new pitcher Taylor Sewitt, and the Sox led 11-1.

Winnipeg would rally with five runs in the top of the 3rd, with only three of them earned off Zeller. Zeller would finish the night with 5 innings pitched, allowing 6 earned runs on 8 hits with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. The Sox bullpen combination of Matt Larkins, Kellen Moen, and Erik Draxton would dominate the final four innings, scattering four hits and allowing just one unearned run to seal the 11-7 win.

Keith Brachold finished the game 3-5 with 2 RBI and a run scored to lead an offensive attack that saw eight different Sox players get hits, and four players post multi-hit games. Zeller picked up the win (1-0, 7.20), while Salamida took the loss (0-1, 54.01) for Winnipeg. The Sox and Goldeyes return to action Friday night at Amarillo National Bank Sox Stadium. First pitch will be at 7:05, with the gates opening at 6:05. The first 1,000 fans will receive a complimentary t-shirt, courtesy of Aqua One.

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