Ambassadors Blow 10-1 Lead, Lose to Spirit

Published on June 27, 2003 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Allentown Ambassadors News Release


The Allentown Ambassadors led 10-1 after three innings of play, but a nine run fourth for North Shore helped propel the Spirit to a 15-11 victory Friday night at Bicentennial Park.

The Ambassadors jumped on reigning pitcher of the week John Kelly, scoring nine earned runs off Kelly in two plus innings. The Ambassadors got two in the bottom of the first, three more in the second, including a suicide squeeze from Jorge Diaz scoring Cedrick Harris, and then tacked on five in the third. Marlon Roche led off that inning with a double to left. Greg Schmidt then singled him home, followed by a Singletary double putting runners and second and third. Schuyler Doakes singled, driving home Schmidt, then Kevin Moore walked to load the bases. Harris then grounded into a fielder¹s choice, scoring Singletary. Diaz then doubled home Harris and Doakes.

But the Spirit responded in the fourth. John Schmitz and Michael Tejada walked to begin the inning. Then Carlos Sepulveda hit a line drive toward second. Vic Davilla jumped into the air, but appeared to take his eye off the ball at the last second and had the ball fall out of his glove. What would have been a double play instead saw Schmitz score, and Sepulveda reach. Frank Charles then singled to load the bases. After Fran Riordan struck out looking, Eddie Muth doubled home Tejada and Sepulveda. Jose Castellanos then doubled, driving home Charles and Muth. Jason Startari singled scoring Castellanos, then Marcos Agramonte had a bunt single. After Schmitz struck out, Tejada walked to load the bases and end the night of Ambassador starter Nolan Fry. Sepulveda then doubled, clearing the bases and tying the game. Charles finally grounded out to end the inning.

The Spirit added two more in the fifth off Encarnacion, with help from another Ambassador error, this one on Diaz, and a hit batsman, Muth. The big hit was Startari¹s two RBI single.

The Spirit cruised the rest of the way, tacking on three more runs and winning 15-11. Ambassador pitchers combined for nine walks, three intentional, three wild pitches, one balk, and one hit batsman. Nick Buecler picked up his first win of the season, pitching four innings and allowing one earned run with four strikeouts. Chad Bircher pitched three innings to get his first save. Encarnacion took his fourth loss of the season. Ambassador manager Ed Ott was thrown out of the game in the seventh after Kevin Moore was hit by a pitch and forced to leave the game. When home plate umpire Yves Lamontaigne asked Ott who was replacing Moore, Ott responded by spelling out Acosta's name, and Lamontaigne threw him out. Ott spent several minutes arguing heatedly before throwing a bucket of balls onto the field on his way to the clubhouse.

Carlos Sepulveda was 4-6 with a run scored, a double and five runs driven in. Startari finished 3-5 with two runs scored and three RBI. Greg Schmidt was 4-5 with two runs scored, a double, two triples, and an RBI.

The loss drops the Ambassadors to 12-18, and they have now lost four in a row. The Spirit improved to 17-15. The two teams go at it again tomorrow night. It's Kid's Visor Night, courtesy of Service Electric. The first 1,000 kids in attendance get a visor. It's also Just Born Peeps Night, the first 600 fans will get peeps and the Just Born mascot will be in attendance.

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Canadian American League Stories from June 27, 2003


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