Brockton Out Duels Black Bears In Extra Frames
August 30, 2003 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Berkshire Black Bears News Release
On an uncharacteristically chilly evening in Pittsfield, the theme at Wahconah was Starting Pitching. Both starters, Rick Guttormson for Berkshire and Mike Marchesano for Brockton, went deep into the ball game, and combined for 16 strikeouts and just 1 run allowed.
It took six and a half innings to crack the goose eggs on the scoreboard, but the Black Bears gave starter Guttormson a small amount of well-deserved run support. With one out in the bottom of the seventh and runners at first and second, Ryan Jones smashed a grounder up the middle, bringing in Shane Hopper from second base to end the scoring drought. The Black Bears would then load the bases with two outs, but failed to gain any insurance runs as catcher Allan Shrum struck out looking to end the threat.
Closer Matt Bailie would relieve Guttormson with two outs in the eight, and quickly fanned Abner Arroyo with runners at second and third. However, Bailie would run into trouble in the ninth. Going for his 14th save of the season, the Berkshire closer gave up a lead off single to shortstop Saul Bustos, then Craig Lewis knocked a one-out base hit, moving Bustos to third and Francisco Matos would tie the game with RBI single up the middle on an 0-2 pitch. Brockton would add an unearned run off Shane Waroff in the top of the tenth on a Bustos single, to grab their first lead in the series. Brockton closer Conor Brooks worked a perfect bottom of the tenth for his Northeast League leading 21st save.
Guttormson finished with a no-decision, throwing 7.2 shutout innings, allowing just four hits with just one walk and nine strikeouts. The right-hander finishes with 140 K's on the season, which is second best in the league behind just John Dillinger of Allentown (149).
Tony Stutz (3-2) got the win for Brockton, throwing 2.0 scoreless innings, while Waroff (4-3) was the hard luck loser, picking up his third defeat courtesy of an unearned run. Rox starter Marchesano threw seven innings, allowing just one run on four hits, while walking four and striking out seven in his final start of the regular season.
Game 3 has Dan Henderson (4-9) for Berkshire up against Scott Martin (8-5) for Brockton in a 2:05 pm Sunday afternoon game at Wahconah Park.
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