Suns Down The Rox, Sweep Doubleheader
August 4, 2016 - Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL)
Pittsfield Suns News Release
At this point, it's crunch time in Pittsfield. With only three games remaining in the regular season, the Suns are trying to make one final push and qualify for the 2016 FCBL playoffs.
"We are really grinding right now, just trying to make a run," said Suns' second baseman Kevin Donati.
During this said "run", any and all wins are valuable. So, the Suns boosted their chances by sweeping a doubleheader against the Brockton Rox on Wednesday, earning 9-1 and 5-2 victories.
Donati led the charge, going a combined 6-for-7 with four runs and two RBI. He has 13 hits in his last 23 at-bats.
The first seven-inning game wasn't competitive from the start. The Suns came out of the gates strong, pouring in five runs during the first inning. After Devin McGrath crossed home on an error by the third baseman, Al Zachary hit a two-RBI ground rule double. Then, left fielder Colin Ridley blasted a two-run homerun over the right field wall, making it a 5-0 ballgame.
It was Ridley's second homer of the season. His last round-tripper came on June 19th in a win over the Wachusett Dirt Dawgs.
The Suns never looked back. In the second inning, Donati lined an RBI single into center field, then came around to score on a wild pitch. Pittsfield added their final two runs on Eric Hamilton's opposite field double in the fourth inning and on Brockton shortstop Conor Thane's error in the fifth inning.
Aside from an offense that pounded out nine runs on 11 hits, the Suns used strong starting pitching to come out with a win. East Tennessee State University product Ryan Simpler threw six innings, allowing only one run on nine hits. Simpler walked no one and retired eight batters on strikeouts.
Manager Tom Conley lauded Simpler's outing. "Everything seemed to be working for him," Conley said.
Even Simpler felt especially good on the bump.
"Once we built the five [run lead in the first inning], I...knew we would win the game."
The nightcap proved to be much more intense.
The Suns found themselves in a 2-1 hole with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Donati provided another key hit, singling to extend the frame.
Shortstop Thomas Hughes walked, earning a place in the FCBL record books; Hughes' 42nd base-on-balls was good for most all-time in a single season.
Zachary followed Hughes' milestone with an RBI single, scoring Donati from second base to tie the game.
Hamilton then hit a two-RBI single to make it a 4-2 Suns' lead. Colin Gimblet made it back-to-back-to-back singles. Hamilton moved to third base as Gimblet reached second on an error by the first baseman.
Tyler Lyne could not do more damage, striking out swinging.
That seemed not to matter, however, as Donati laced an opposite field RBI single the following inning. That put the Suns up 5-2.
Like the first game of the night, the Suns were able to hold their ground thanks to reliable pitching. Adam Krol came away with the win, allowing two runs on six hits over six innings. He added three strikeouts as well.
Matt Cuneo picked up his third save of the season.
Pittsfield catcher Chris Cimmino offered up praise for the starters he caught on Wednesday night. "They [Simpler and Krol] were both just aggressive, getting ahead of guys and throwing it up all night long. And when you do that, it puts the hitting in a tough spot."
"It's huge. It's a lot of fun...just late in the season, making a playoff push, it's exactly what you want."
In the first game, Hamilton had two doubles, tying the FCBL single-season record of 17 just a day after he broke the league record for RBIs in a season. Nonetheless, the slugger complemented other hitters: "Some of the guys have stepped up huge for us towards the bottom of the lineup, and it's a big thing for games like this. They came through for us, and we came out with a 'W'."
The Suns (20-29) are away in Portsmouth, NH against the Seacoast Mavericks (35-16) tomorrow night, and must continue their hot-streak in order to clinch a postseason spot whose window is closing. Hamilton seemed focused on the team's goal heading into the final games of the summer.
"We know what we have to do and we're gonna take care of that business."
• Discuss this story on the Futures Collegiate Baseball League message board...
Futures Collegiate Baseball League Stories from August 4, 2016
- Suns Down The Rox, Sweep Doubleheader - Pittsfield Suns
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
