Defenders Sweep Doubleheader
July 2, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Connecticut Defenders News Release
NORWICH, CT- The Northern Division leading Defenders (46-32) pulled off a great day at the ballpark Thursday night as they swept a doubleheader from the Harrisburg Senators. A complete game shutout by LHP-Madison Bumgarner claimed game one 4-0 and LF-Bobby Felmy delivered the game winning walk-off RBI single to capture game two 2-1 in extra innings.
The Defenders got out in front early in game one with RBI singles by C-Jackson Williams and 2B-Brock Bond for a 2-0 advantage. They would add lone runs in the third and sixth innings as Bumgarner (6-1) took over. Bumgarner silenced the Senators lineup hurling a complete game shutout on four hits, walked three and fanned five while retiring eight in a row earning his sixth win.
Matt Chico (0-1) made just his second start for Harrisburg as part of a rehab assignment for the Washington Nationals. Chico struggled allowing three earned runs off of eight hits in just four innings of work while walking and striking out lone batters.
Game two saw more of a tug-o-war matchup. Harrisburg jumped in front with an early 1-0 lead as CF-Mike Daniel scored on a RF-Leanord Davis RBI single. Connecticut responded in the home half of the inning to tie it up as 2B-Brock Bond scored on a 1B-Brett Pill slow double play ball to short.
Both teams exchanged zeros through seven but Harrisburg squandered three opportunities with runners in scoring position mainly due to the pitching of Defenders' reliever RHP-Waldis Joaquin (2-4). Joaquin pitched out of jam in the seventh with a runner on third and struck out 3B-Joel Guzman in the eighth with a runner in scoring position.
In the bottom of the eighth, SS-Brandon Crawford leadoff with a single, swiped second and advanced to third on a Sharlon Schoop dribbler to first. Harrisburg Manager, John Stearns then decided to walk Bond and McBryde intentionally to load the bases and pitch to Pill. The plan started to work as Pill struck out but failed when Bobby Felmy ripped the game winning single to left centerfield earning Joaquin his second win.
Brock Bond reached base successfully in both games raising his on base streak to 47 games.
Connecticut will look for the series victory tomorrow as they send LHP-Jesse English (5-4) to the hill to faceoff against the Senators LHP-Cory VanAllen (1-4). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35pm with at post-game fireworks show at Dodd Stadium.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Defenders Box Office at (860)-887-7962 or online at ctdefenders.com.
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