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Ottawa Champions

Champions Powerless as Miners Cruise to 8-0 Win

May 29, 2015 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Ottawa Champions News Release


Ottawa, ON - The bats fell silent for the Ottawa Champions on Friday night in Sussex County, as they managed just four hits in an 8-0 shutout loss to the Miners.

Sussex County starting pitcher Matt Sommo - chased after just 4.1 innings and saddled with a loss in his start against Ottawa last weekend - was excellent, tossing seven strong innings and picking up the win for the Miners.

Drew Granier took the loss for Ottawa, giving up eleven hits and seven runs in five and two-thirds innings of work.

However, Champions manager Hal Lanier says he was encouraged by Granier's performance.

"Drew pitched better than his numbers showed," says Lanier. "He was 100% better than his first start (3 IP, 6 runs allowed). I was happy with his start."

Granier ran into trouble early in the ballgame, as Miners leadoff hitter Johnny Bladel led off with a bloop single and would come around to score on a Ray Sadler RBI groundout.

The Miners then doubled their lead in the bottom of the second, as Bladel rapped a two-out RBI single into right field, plating Cory Morales.

The game settled into a pitcher's duel in the middle innings, but Sussex County would get to Granier in the bottom of the sixth. The Miners' six-spot in the inning, which would chase Granier from the ballgame, was buoyed by a two-run Johnny Bladel home run and a booming RBI triple from former Major Leaguer Reggie Abercrombie.

"We just have to stop giving up so many runs," says Lanier. "We played excellent ball at home but we're not playing up to our capabilities on the road."

Matt Sommo was on cruise control on the mound for the Miners. The big right-hander gave up just three hits in his seven innings of work while striking out four and walking none.

An uncharacteristic error from Champs centrefielder Sebastien Boucher allowed Sussex County's Jayson Hernandez to reach in the eighth inning, and Bladel would plate the insurance run with a sac fly. The RBI was Bladel's game-high fourth.

With the loss, Ottawa fell to 4-4, while Sussex County improved to 2-3.

The two teams will do battle again on Saturday night, with first pitch slated for 7:05. Drew Cisco (0-1) will take the mound for Ottawa against Sussex County righthander Jamie Walczak.

Catch all the action on canamleague.tv or on the radio on 107.9 CKDJ and ckdj.net.

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