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Anderson Drops Heartbreaker

August 10, 2007 - South Coast League (SCL)
Anderson Joes News Release


Anderson has won many tight games at home this season, evidenced by their seven walk-off wins.

But the Joes have also lost many tight heartbreakers, losing their fourth one-run game at home this season on Friday.

Anderson dropped an 8-7 game to the Macon Music, evening the series at one game apiece in front of 874 fans at Anderson Memorial Stadium.

"Overall it was a great game, Macon played just as well as we did and for a while there it was anybody's there for the winning," Joes center fielder Heath Keel said. "It was tough. ...We just fell a bit short."

The game saw four lead changes, all coming in the final three innings. After early action saw Macon (16-10, 46-26 overall) take a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning -- Keel's solo home run counting for the lone Joes score -- Anderson (13-15, 26-47 overall) began the fireworks with a three-run frame.

The Joes used two singles, two walks, two fielder's choices, two Macon errors on pickoff plays and one wild pitch to score their three runs and take a 4-3 lead.

Jeff Timmons then blasted a two-run home run for Macon to give the Music their advantage right back at 5-4.

In the bottom of the eighth, Rafael Alvarez and Desi Wilson each walked for Anderson before Hector Borg drove them both in with a two-run single to once more stake the Joes ahead, 6-5.

The final, and pivotal, lead change came in the top of the ninth inning.

Joes closer Joey Muro allowed two singles to lead-off the inning, before inducing a weak grounder from Macon's Scott Robinson. Kevin Noles charged from third base and made a play to first, originally ruled an out by base umpire Gordon Hammond. But, seconds later, home plate umpire Tyler Simpson overruled Hammond, calling Robinson safe.

Joes acting manager Edgar Varela was ejected from the game in the ensuing argument with Simpson, as was Alvarez, who came in from left field to dispute the play.

After the dominoes had all fallen, Muro then hit Ismael Castro and walked Courtney Billingslea to allow the tying and go-ahead runs to score. Austin Redwine came in to relieve Muro and struck out the first three hitters he faced to end the inning, but not before a passed ball allowed Macon to score Robinson for some insurance.

It turned out the Music would need the run, as Wilson drove in Kevin Noles in the bottom of the ninth to get Anderson within one run, but Macon closer Cesar Herrera allowed nothing more, ending the game with a strikeout and runners at the corners.

Herrera, who pitched the eighth inning as well, earned thew in, improving to 2-1. Muro, charged with all three runs in the top of the ninth, took the loss to drop to 2-1. It was the first time all year Macon had trailed after eight innings and come back to win the game.

The teams meet for the rubber match of the series Saturday night at 7:05.

"I still think we have a lot of momentum," Keel said. "I think we take a lot of it into tomorrow's game. ...We're having a lot of fun and just looking forward to tomorrow's game."



South Coast League Stories from August 10, 2007


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