Defenders Rally for 10-9 Win
August 10, 2008 - Eastern League (EL1)
Connecticut Defenders News Release
NORWICH, CT- The Defenders had an off-day defensively, but a big day at the plate coupled with an unforgettable stab and play at the plate in the ninth equated to an electric 10-9 win over Portland.
With playoff implications looming at Dodd Stadium and the Defenders in dire need of taking five of six games, a boisterous crowd of 3,713 saw perhaps the most exciting game of 2008.
Dave McKae took the start for Connecticut and he was hit hard right away. Before the Defs had a chance to bat, the Sea Dogs plated three runs on two hits and an error to make it 3-0 in the middle of one.
Connecticut would counter in the last of the second as Pablo Sandoval scored on a double play to shrink the lead to 3-1.
The Defenders would take their first lead in the bottom of the third inning as Antoan Richardson sparked a one-out rally with a single. Antoan robbed second and moved to third on a bad throw trying to catch him and scored on a single by Kyle Haines. Olmo Rosario reached base on an error, Carlos Sosa rapped and RBI groundout and the rally was capped off by a two-run bomb to center field by Sandoval. Through three, Connecticut was in control, 5-3.
Portland wasted no time to re-claim the lead. In the visiting half of the fourth, Mickey Hall's two run homer finished off a three run frame to give the Dogs a 6-5 advantage.
The Sea Dogs kept the pressure on in the fifth as Ryan Khoury's run-scoring single pushed Portland's lead to 7-5.
Connecticut got one back in the last of the sixth on a fielder's choice by Adam Witter to plate Sandoval, but Portland equaled that run in the seventh on another RBI single by Khoury.
The Defenders came into Sunday's contest with a 1-51 record when trailing after seven; today would be different.
Down 8-6, the Defenders loaded the bags with no one out in the eighth. Witter came to the plate with a goal: atone for his miscues in the field. With one crack of the stick, Witter sent a line-drive base hit into right field to score two and the contest was suddenly tied at 8-8. Eddy Martinez-Esteve broke a bat on a dribbler to short to allow Simon Klink to score from third and the lead was again Connecticut's at 9-8. Haines spanked a run-scoring single after a Richardson walk to push the game to 10-8.
Jason Waddell came into the game in the ninth inning and things got interesting fast. Josh Reddick walked, Khoury singled and Iggy Suarez dropped a sac bunt down the third base line to move the runners up. Hall walked to load the bags, Jorge Jimenez flied out to shallow right to record the second out and Zach Daeges stepped up, a single away from tying the game. Daeges waited on a slider on the outside and sent a line drive to the left side of the infield that was bound for left field. Kyle Haines dove and stopped the ball, one run came in but Sea Dog manager Arnie Beyeler sent Khoury to the plate. Haines popped up to a knee, threw a seed to home, Sandoval held on and the Defenders won, 10-9.
The Defenders will take Monday off before resuming action in Akron against the South Division leading Aeros on Tuesday. Check out all the action on the Defenders' Radio Network or anywhere in the world at ctdefenders.com.
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