Aces Dropped in 10
July 3, 2013 - United League Baseball (ULB)
Alexandria Aces News Release
FORT WORTH- Chris Ellison's hit and run ground ball single to left field scored Ryan Miller from second base with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Fort Worth Cats an 8-7 victory against the Alexandria Aces Tuesday night at LaGrave Field.
Ellison's hit between shortstop and third base off Nathan Stewart (2-2) came not only after Miller's leadoff walk and a sacrifice hit by Cameron Monger, but after the Cats tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the ninth off Aces closer Gabe Grammer.
Alexandria carried a 7-5 lead in to the bottom of the ninth with Grammer, who had come on with the indentical score with two outs in the eighth inning and two men on to induce Monger to pop out to shortstop Michael Haynes.
But Grammer allowed a leadoff single to Ellison before walking Aljay Davis and Shelby Ford to load the bases. Slugger David Bergin hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Ellison and put Davis at third base, where he would score on a wild pitch three pitches later.
Alexandria (20-19) took an initial 3-0 lead in the second inning on three doubles by Austin Newell, Derrick Pyles, and Josh Band off Cats starter Roman Gomez.
The Cats (25-13) then tied the game with three runs in the top of the third, when Ellison's ground out scored Miller, Davis drove in Monger with a hit, and Bergin's first of three runs driven in on the day scored Davis.
The Aces took a 4-3 lead in the fifth when Alex Foltz's sacrifice fly to right field plated Michael Hayes, who had reached on a walk from Gomez and then promptly stole second and went to third on catcher Chris Christopolous' throwing error.
But Fort Worth would come back with two runs in the fifth off Aces starter Mike Loseke. With two out, Davis walked and Ford singled. Bergin's second hit of the day drove in Davis, and Ford scored on a wild pitch to give the Cats a 5-4 lead.
Alexandria regained the lead in the seventh off reliever Cole Stephens. With one out, Newell singled to centerfield and Pyles followed with an infield single to give both Aces sluggers three hits on the day. Chad Bunting then put Alexandria on top with a long double to the opposite field in right to give the Aces a 6-5 lead.
The Alexandria centerfielder promptly stole third base and would score the Aces' seventh run when Travis Clark's perfectly placed suicide squeeze bunt between the pitcher's mound and third base not only scored Bunting but gave the Alexandria third baseman his second hit of the game.
But that was the last offensive production the Aces could muster. Stephens got catcher Doug Freeman to hit in to a double play to end the inning, and relievers James Guilletti, Wes Alsup, and Matthew Eshleman (2-0) all pitched perfect innings of relief to allow the Cats to come back.
The Cats' victory gives them two triumphs in the four game series, which heads to its finale Wednesday night. Jadd Schmeltzer (1-0) pitches for Alexandria against fellow righthander T.J. Bozeman (3-0) at 7:05 p.m. at LaGrave Field.
NOTES- Alex Foltz was ejected from the game in the sixth inning by umpire Darin Heare after arguing a called third strike in the sixth. Cameron Dullnig replaced him in right field.
Newell's double gave him 13 on the season, which ties him for the league lead with Ford and Ellison.
Freeman picked off Ford from third base to end the third inning and also converted a sacrifice bunt attempt by Christopolous into a double play when he caught the rival catcher's popup and then promptly threw out Fort Worth newcomer Nikko Tountas trying to dive back to first base in the fourth.
Miller had three hits for Fort Worth.
United League Baseball Stories from July 3, 2013
- Roadrunners Complete Sweep of Thunder - Edinburg Roadrunners
- Colts Trade Nichols to Kansas City - San Angelo Colts
- Aces Dropped in 10 - Alexandria Aces
- Colts Sweep Doubleheader against Wings - San Angelo Colts
- Cats Rally Thrice, Walk off in Extras - Fort Worth Cats
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