MWL1 Beloit Sky Carp

Bullpen Works Overtime for Snappers in 5-3 Win

Published on May 23, 2013 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Beloit Sky Carp News Release


BELOIT, WI - The Beloit Snappers got six scoreless innings from their bullpen as they prevailed over the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 5-3, in Midwest League action at Pohlman Field on Thursday afternoon to send the crowd of 1,418 home happy.

"Everyone out here wants to do well," said reliever Tucker Healy. "It's not a competition, but when someone goes out and pitches really well, you want to up your game to an even higher level."

Beloit's win streak hits six in a row and they move to 27-18 while keeping their stranglehold on the Western Division wild card spot. Cedar Rapids second loss in a row means they have a record of 30-15.

The Snappers strung together four singles, along with a walk, in the first inning to take the lead. After a base hit and a one out walk, Renato Nunez, Matt Olson and John Wooten hit consecutive RBI singles to put Beloit up, 3-0.

That lead quickly dissolved in the next inning, thanks in large part to Byron Buxton (2-4, RBI, run). The centerfielder roped a two-run double off the left field wall to get his team on the board and scored the tying run one batter later when Candido Pimental singled.

Unfortunately for the Kernels, starter Mason Melotakis (3-2) got wild in the bottom of the second. Ryan Mathews and Brett Vertigan (3-3, run) took bases on balls to begin the bottom of the second and back-to-back groundouts allowed Mathews to touch home, making the score 4-3. They increased that lead to 5-3 in the fifth when Bruce Maxwell (1-3, 2 runs) scored on a wild pitch.

Starting in the fourth, Beloit turned the game over to the bullpen, which shut down Cedar Rapids' lineup. Stu Pudenz (2-1) was the first man in and, over two-and-two-thirds innings, he permitted one hit, didn't walk a batter and totaled four punch-outs. Healy relieved Pudenz in the sixth and he tossed two-and-one-third innings of scoreless baseball with three strikeouts.

The ninth fell to Ryan Dull and the righty continued his success in the closer's role, throwing up a zero for his eighth save and second in as many games. "I've been able to move the fastball in and out and mix in the off speed stuff when I need to," said Dull, "just to get the hitters off balance. The defense has also been helping us out a ton lately."

The Snappers will send out RHP Derek DeYoung (3-1, 2.41 ERA) on Thursday as they go for the sweep against the Kernels and starter RHP Tyler Duffey (3-1, 2.37 ERA). The game is set to begin at 6:30pm.

"We all want to win the division," said Dull. "It would be a huge accomplishment for our team. It's important to go out there [on Friday] and keep our momentum going."

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Midwest League Stories from May 23, 2013


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