Blowfish Blow Late Lead
Published on July 7, 2011 under Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Lexington County Blowfish News Release
The Gastonia Grizzlies scored three runs in the top of the ninth to beat the Columbia Blowfish 5-3 at Capital City Stadium on Thursday night. The outburst came after the Blowfish took the lead in the bottom of the eighth on a two-out balk.
The Grizzlies (3-2, 16-16) got six solid innings from their starter Rick Marks. He allowed just one run on seven hits and three walks while striking out three. The one run came on a Reggie Weatherford single to score Tyler Jackson to tie the game at 1-1.
In the eighth inning Mac Doyle reached on an error by third baseman Carlos Santana and was later doubled home by Justin Vazquez; Vazquez went 2-4 on the day with two RBIs.
The Blowfish (2-3, 11-22) responded in the bottom of the inning when Jackson and Brison Celek collected back-to-back hits before Rob Harding singled home Jackson to tie the game. With runners at the corners Kris Hall balked allowing Celek to score the go ahead run.
Jeff Murray (1-1) came on in the ninth looking for the save but Doyle tied the game with an RBI single and Dallas Burke followed up with a single of his own to drive in two more and give the Grizzlies the lead.
Derek Epps came on in the ninth inning and picked up his league-leading tenth save of the season. The win comes just two days after Columbia picked up a win in Gastonia. The Grizzlies now lead the season series 3-2.
Chase Vergason failed to reach base for the first game since being moved into the lead off spot July 1. Brison Celek has now hit safely in 15 of the last 16 games and Zach Smith extended his hitting streak to seven games in the loss.
A win for the Blowfish would have given them a .500 home record for the first time since June 13. To accomplish that they will need two wins over Coastal Plain League South rivals this weekend. They are off Friday before hosting Wilmington on Saturday and the Fayetteville SwampDogs on Sunday. Saturday is the second "Good Seats for Good Samaritans" of the season. Fans can get two dollars off a general admission ticket for bringing non-perishable food items to support Harvest Hope Food Bank.
Coastal Plain League Stories from July 7, 2011
- Thomasville moves past Martinsville - High Point-Thomasville HiToms
- Owls, Copperheads Split Twin Bill - Forest City Owls
- Paulino Earns Fourth Win Of The Season - Edenton Steamers
- Sharks Rally For 6-4 Win Over Morehead City - Wilmington Sharks
- Blowfish Blow Late Lead - Lexington County Blowfish
- Fayetteville Uses Strong Relief to Edge Florence, 3-2 - Fayetteville SwampDogs
- Tobs Game Rained Out - Wilson Tobs
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