Caputo's Slam, Seven RBI Fuel 16-2 Win for Marlins

June 24, 2014 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Morehead City Marlins News Release


MOREHEAD CITY, N.C.- Marlins' third baseman Johnny Caputo cranked a grand slam in the sixth inning of Tuesday's ballgame against Wilson, and followed it up with a three-run home run in the eighth to lead the charge in Morehead City's 16-2 victory over the Wilson Tobs at Big Rock Stadium.

Caputo, who entered the day just one for his last 21, went 3-for-5 in the ballgame with two home runs and seven RBI. He now has 16 runs driven in for the season, and his four home runs are tied for second most in the league.

"It's big to take [a game like that] into an off day and a stretch of games we have coming up," Caputo said. "Hitting is all about confidence, so having a good game like that really helps."

His first home run of the day - a grand slam home run in the sixth - came off reliever Ryan Minteer. Minteer challenged Caputo with a fastball, and the rising junior from Stony Brook was able to loft it to straightaway left field and out of the ballpark. At the time, it gave the Marlins a 12-0 lead.

"It was a fastball in, and I recognized the pitch early and was able to hit it pretty hard," Caputo said.

But he was not nearly finished his career night. In the eighth, with Minteer still on to try to get the final couple of outs in the inning, Caputo lifted off on another round-tripper, this one a three-run moonshot to left that left him with his seventh RBI of the game, and the 15th run for Morehead City.

"I was expecting him to come at me again and he did," Caputo said. "He left a pitch up and I figured I would try to drive in a couple runs and I did."

"He had one of those nights I am sure he will remember for a long time," said Marlins' head coach Sam Carel.

But Caputo was just the leader in what was a top-to-bottom offensive onslaught from Morehead City. Their 16 runs were the most they have scored this season, and their twelve hits were just one shy of a season high. Every Marlins' starter scored a run, and five players had multiple runs in the game.

Trent Leimkuehler was 2-for-5 with a triple, double, run and two RBI out of the eight-hole, and Manny Pazos had two hits, was on base four times, scored a run and drove another in. Quincy Nieporte, Nick Lombardi, Kyle Carroll, Andrew Amaro and Matt Simmons all had a hit and an RBI in the game as well.

"We decided we wanted to come out aggressive early, and I think you saw that not only with the approaches at the plate, but the approaches on the base paths as well," Carel said. "Three stolen bases in the first inning, that is something we are trying to do more and more of. We are going to make sure we put some pressure on guys."

That first inning was the spark behind the offensive fire for Morehead City. Amaro led off with a walk, stole second, then stole third, coming around to score when the throw to third went into left field. Amaro has now stolen a team-high four bases in this just his fifth game for Morehead City.

"We wanted him to get on and do his thing, and he was able to do that tonight," Carel said

His pressure kicked off a six-run inning for Morehead City, the first of two on the night and the first of three times the Marlins' batted around in an inning.

[Having an offensive showing like that] is big," Caputo said. "As long as we keep hitting like that, we are going to win some games."

Not to be lost among the parade of hits and runs is the effort of the Marlins' pitching staff. Kurt Lipscomb, making just his first start and first overall appearance of the season, lasted five innings and did not allow a run while surrendering just four hits and striking out four. He did walk five, but was able to work around the base runners for a strong debut outing.

"This was his first time out on the game mound in a while and we stressed this to our guys, if we can get a decent start and some clutch two out hitting we are going to put ourselves in a position to win the game," Carel said. "Now we have had three consecutive starts with Kirkpatrick, Holland and Lipscomb where they have gone to the complete the fifth or sixth inning, and when we do that it gives us great opportunity, especially with how good our bullpen is."

That bullpen came in effectively relieved Lipscomb after the sixth. Logan Hershenow did allow two runs, but they were meaningless runs that came with the Marlins' already up by 12. Before surrendering the runs, Hershenow tied a Marlins' season high with a 7.1 inning scoreless streak. He was followed in the game by Adam Quiles, who tossed a scoreless eighth, and Scott Edge who allowed a one out base runner in the ninth, but rolled up a double play to end the game.

Lipscomb deservingly received the win in the ballgame, while the loss was charged to Michael Wilson, who gave up six runs in .2 innings for Wilson.

The contest was played in front of 1,021 fans - the third largest crowd of the season for the Marlins.

"Our fans are tremendous," Carel said. "We have a doubleheader on Thursday against Edenton and would like to see everyone out there. The energy our crowd provides is very palpable."

The first game of the doubleheader will start at 6:05 p.m., while game two will begin thirty minutes after the completion of the first contest.

The Coastal Plain League is the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 18th season in 2014, the CPL features 14 teams playing North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. Furthermore, the CPL has had over 1,100 alumni drafted and 65 alums - including 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander - make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to friend us on Facebook (at www.facebook.com/coastalplainleague) and follow us via Twitter (@CPLBaseball).



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