Aces Beat Cats, 7-3
June 11, 2013 - United League Baseball (ULB)
Alexandria Aces News Release
ALEXANDRIA- Mike Loseke pitched five scoreless innings for Alexandria to highlight an otherwise sloppy game and lead the Aces to a 7-3 victory against the Fort Worth Cats.
Loseke (1-0), making his first start for the Aces, went five innings and scattered six hits, walking one and striking out six.
"Outstanding," said Aces manager Von Hayes when asked about Loeske's start; his first of the season. "He showed his change up and got ahead of the hitters. Second time around the lineup he spotted his fastball. Next time we'll run him out for 100 pitches."
Unfortunately, while the lefthander's performance could be described as neat, the rest of the game could be described as sloppy. The Aces (9-8) walked 10 batters while working Cats pitching for nine bases on balls. Fort Worth (10-7) left 16 men on base, Alexandria 10. The Cats committed four errors, were hit by a pitch, and struck out 13 times.
"I'm happy we won but a little upsetting we didn't show our best side," Hayes said. "We are better than we showed today."
The Aces scored single runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings and capitalized on an error by third baseman Greg Bachman to take a 5-0 lead in the sixth. Derrick Pyles' sacrifice fly drove in Eddie Murray for the game's first run, and Zack Cadet's two out single to centerfield that drove in shortstop Michael Hayes chased Fort Worth starter Aaron Wilkerson (1-1) and make the score 2-0.
Ryan Gasporra drove in the game's third run with a single to right to plate Pyles, and Cameron Dullnig scored in the sixth after doubling to left to break a 1 for 20 slump, then scoring when Bachman threw away Cadet's sacrifice attempt. Cadet would then score after stealing third base on a Murray sacrifice fly.
But the Aces bullpen lacked control. While Alex Schmarzo kept Fort Worth off the board in the sixth, only allowing Bachman's second double of the game, Schmarzo's replacement, Nathan Stewart, walked three batters and hit another in the seventh. Brandon Creath came on to relieve him, but walked Bachman with the bases loaded to make the score 5-2.
The Cats nearly tied the score in the eighth. Creath allowed a leadoff single to .077 hitting Brian Little then walked three more hitters, including David Bergin with the bases loaded.
But although closer Gabe Grammer was ready, Hayes stuck with Creath to face Chris Ellison, and the former St. Louis farmhand responded by fanning Chris Ellison.
"You think about [relieving Creath], but you also think about the psyche of the pitchers. If you crush their egos it will come in to haunt you later on in the season."
But what about the four walks allowed by Creath, or for that matter the five others given up by Stewart and Grammer?
"I gotta chalk it up to the long bus trip and no sleep," said Hayes. "I'm absolutely positive they'll do better next time."
On Monday morning the Aces traveled from Harlingen, Texas, where they split a four game series with the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings this weekend, while the Cats came from Fort Worth and arrived at the ballpark little more than an hour prior to the 7:05 p.m. first pitch.
The Aces completed the game's scoring with two more in the bottom in the eighth off Hector Contin, who walked three batters in his single inning of work. Nick Mahin hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield and Austin Newell singled to right to drive in Doug Freeman and Cadet, respectively.
The Aces are now only a game behind first place Fort Worth in the standings and could tie the Cats for the top spot almost a quarter of the way through the 2013 season with a victory on Tuesday. Clay Vanderlaan (0-1) pitches for Alexandria.
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United League Baseball Stories from June 11, 2013
- Wings Power Past Roadrunners - Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
- Dads Get in Free on Father's Day in San Angelo - San Angelo Colts
- Colts Beat Thunder in Extras, 12-11 - San Angelo Colts
- Aces Beat Cats, 7-3 - Alexandria Aces
- Early Runs Doom Roadrunners - Edinburg Roadrunners
- Cats Leave Runners Stranded and Fall to Aces - Fort Worth Cats
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