Defenders Win 6-5 in 10th
August 14, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Connecticut Defenders News Release
NORWICH, CT- Friday night brought a crowd of 4242 out to Dodd Stadium and for the second consecutive night their first place Defenders gave them a reason to cheer as Connecticut walked off with a 6-5 victory over the Erie Seawolves in the bottom of the tenth inning.
With one out in the tenth 3B-Brad Boyer literally took the game over by ripping a shot to the left centerfield alleyway that was a sure double but he stretched it into a triple, beating the throw from SS-Cale Iorg. Boyer would then break for home on a RF-Mike Mooney chopper to second with the infield in and while the throw from 2B-Danny Worth beat Boyer, he would jar the ball loose from C-Jeff Kunkel with a collision before stomping on home plate to seal a Defenders game one win.
Connecticut would strike first in their first at bats as 2B-Brock Bond leadoff with a double and raced around to score on a Boyer RBI single.
Erie tied the game in the second on Kunkel's RBI single to plate 2B-Danny Worth who delivered a two out triple.
In the fifth, the Seawolves received a one out single by RF-Brennan Boesch and then back to back doubles with LF-Deik Scram driving in Boesch. Erie would drive in another in the sixth as they loaded the bases and a RHP-Dan Griffin wild pitch allowed Kunkel to score from third to give the Seawolves a 4-1 lead.
The bottom of the sixth is where Connecticut would explode. C-Jackson Williams drew a leadoff walk, Bond singled and CF-Mike McBryde drove in Williams with an RBI groundout. Boyer singled and on the first pitch from Erie reliever RHP-Brendan Wise, 1B-Brett Pill pulled a two RBI double down the leftfield line and advanced to third on the throw home. RF-Eddy Martinez-Esteve would then deliver a sac fly to center to reward Pill for his efforts and give the Defenders a 5-4 advantage.
The Seawolves manufactured a run in the eighth to even things up at 5-5. Boesch laid down a bunt single and 1B-Ryan Strieby doubled to right, placing runners in scoring position. Scram then lifted a sac fly to deep center scoring Boesch.
Defenders' closer LHP-Matt Yourkin (5-1) earned the win tossing two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, walked one and struck out one. Erie's reliever RHP-Robbie Weinhardt (0-1) took the loss allowing one unearned run off of one hit, walked one and fanned one in just 2/3rds of and inning.
Connecticut and Erie will meet again tomorrow at Dodd Stadium for game two of the three game series at 6:35pm. Defenders' RHP-Geivy Garcia (2-3) takes the ball up against the Seawolves' RHP-Jonah Nickerson (8-9).
Saturday is Football Night at the ballpark with a field goal kicking contest with the winner going home with a 42" HDTV courtesy of Bernie's for the longest kick. Crystal Mall also has a backpack giveaway for kids 14 & under and it's Saturday with your Buds with drink specials on Budweiser.
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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