
Devil Rays fall in twelve inning marathon
August 27, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Southwest Michigan Devil Rays News Release
The Southwest Michigan Devil Rays and Dayton Dragons squared off for the final time at C.O. Brown on Sunday afternoon. The lead changed hands five times as it took 12 innings to declare a winner. The Rays were defeated 9-7. With the loss, the D-Rays split their final series with the Dragons.
The Dragons scored first in the third inning but the Rays countered with a run of their own in the home half of the same inning. With one out, Matt Devins walked. Alex Jamieson then singled to right-center field to advance Devins to second. J.T. Hall then reached on a fielding error which loaded the bases. With Rhyne Hughes at the plate with two outs, Dragon's starter Russell Haltiwanger served up a wild pitch which scored Devins. The Rays were unable to score another run in the third inning.
Matt Walker took the mound to start for the Devil Rays. Walker went six innings and gave up seven hits and three runs with two of them earned. Walker fanned five Dragons batters in his outing.
The Rays were able to get something going again in the fourth inning. Garrett Groce led off with a bunt single in which he advanced to second base on a throwing error by Haltiwanger. With Chris Cunningham batting, Groce stole third. Colt Simmons then walked and Eric Durante bunt singled to the pitcher. Matt Devins then hit a sacrifice fly to score Groce and gave the Rays the 2-1 advantage.
Both teams put up two runs in the sixth inning but the Devil Rays still held the lead 4-3 going into the eighth. Dayton put up four runs in the top of the eighth frame to give them the 7-4 advantage and it looked like they were going to run away with it.
The rally-caps were on in the bottom of the ninth and the Rays fought their way back in it. Neil Walton led things off with a single up the middle. Alex Jamieson then walked and advanced Walton to second. Ray's slugger J.T. Hall hammered a triple to left-center which scored both Walton and Jamieson. Rhyne Hughes walked after a Cesar Suarez ground out. Garrett Groce then grounded into a force out but J.T. Hall crossed home plate tie the game and send it into extra innings.
The game went into the twelfth inning and the Dragons were able to put up two runs on Drew Bigda who tossed two frames. The Rays were unable to counter in the bottom half of the twelfth and lost the game 9-7.
The Rays got three hits, two runs scored, and an RBI from Garrett Groce. Eric Durante also tallied three hits in the loss.
The Rays will face the Beloit snappers on Monday evening starting at 7:05pm. It's Munchie Monday. Every Monday home game at C.O. Brown there is a select concessions item that is drastically discounted. There will be multiple specials for this Munchie Monday. There will be Jumbo Hot Dogs, Hot and Spicy Hot Dogs, and Bratwurst for only $1 each. There will also be $0.25 Chicken Wings.
• Discuss this story on the Midwest League message board...
Midwest League Stories from August 27, 2006
- Kernels prevail, 3-2, in 19 inning marathon - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Devil Rays fall in twelve inning marathon - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- SilverHawks outslug Lansing, 10-5 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Dragons hang on to fourth lead beat Rays in extras, 9-7 - Dayton Dragons
- Baisley breaks tie in ninth to beat Bees - Burlington Bees
- Swing use doubleheader sweep to clinch playoffs - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Baisley lifts Cougars in ninth - Kane County Cougars
- Two out Whitecaps rally falls short in the ninth - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Flaig day at Fox Cities Stadium - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Brendan Wilson joins Kernels from Tempe - Cedar Rapids Kernels
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Southwest Michigan Devil Rays Stories
- The Perfect Ending
- Jake McGee becomes strikeout king of BC Franchise
- Devil Rays fall in twelve inning marathon
- Devil Rays and Dragons Split Double-Header
- Devil Rays shutout by Peoria

