Devil Rays strong start too much for Wizards

April 11, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Southwest Michigan Devil Rays News Release

In the first game in the series against the Fort Wayne Wizards, the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays bats came alive with a 7-5 victory. The Wizards manufactured a run in the first inning after Josh Alley led off with a walk, then stole second and scored on a sacrifice fly.

In the bottom of the first, the Devil Rays put up two runs off of three hits. John Matulia started out the inning with a single to center field. Hunter Vick then singled to first and Matulia advanced to third. Garrett Groce then grounded to short and Matulia scored while Vick was forced out at second base. With Groce on first, Rhyne Hughes singled to right center and Matulia advanced to third. Chris Cunningham was up next and he grounded out to the pitcher but Groce put up another run for the Rays.

The Devil Rays scored two runs in each of the next two innings to go up 6-1 and never looked back. The Wizards tried to fight back with 3 runs in the fourth but they could never catch up with the D-Rays. Christian Lopez hit the first homerun for the Devil Rays this season in the bottom of the fifth to put the game out of reach. John Matulia got his first two hits of the season and collected an RBI in the win.

Devil Rays starter Jason Cayton pitched four and a third innings, allowing five hits and four earned runs. Kevin Lynn came in for relief duty and picked up the win, tossing two and two thirds innings with two strikeouts and no earned runs. Lynn also worked his way out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the sixth inning. Eddie DeLaCruz picked up the save, tossing two innings and allowing an unearned run off of one hit.

Midwest League Stories from April 11, 2006

• Dragons defeat Lugnuts - Lansing Lugnuts
• Mendoza, Hawkins combine to blank Chiefs - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Snappers win a weird one over Wisconsin - Beloit Sky Carp
• Swing bats even series - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Devil Rays crush Wizards for the second straight night - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
• Kernels Shut Out Chiefs 6-0 - Peoria Chiefs
• Dragons use good wood to down Lansing 2-1 - Dayton Dragons
• Whitecaps edge South Bend 4-3 - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Cougars, Shields struggle against Bees - Kane County Cougars
• SilverHawks Cruz to win - South Bend Silver Hawks
• LumberKings spoil Swing home opener - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Baisley, Cougars Break Out Offensively - Kane County Cougars
• Lugnuts win opener over Dragons - Lansing Lugnuts
• Coffman, LumberKings shut down Swing - Clinton LumberKings
• Bees drop series opener to Cougars - Burlington Bees
• Snappers lose series opener - Beloit Sky Carp
• Timber Rattlers stop Snappers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Devil Rays strong start too much for Wizards - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
• Lugnuts score early and often picking up 10-1 win - Dayton Dragons

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