Gibson's Walk-off Home Run Ends Cutters' Five Game Slide

Published on June 18, 2005 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Haven County Cutters News Release


DDerrick Gibson ended Saturday night's game in an empathetic fashion hitting a gargantuan home run off Tony Stutz that easily cleared the left center field fence, giving the New Haven County Cutters a 6-4 win over the Brockton Rox. The home run was a fitting end to a game that featured more than its fair share of fireworks.

The sixth inning was when things started to get a little crazy for both teams. With the score tied at two, Brockton's left fielder Guye Senjem hit a line drive two-run home run that took full advantage of Yale Field's short right field fence.

Down 4-1, a Cutters rally in the bottom of the inning was foiled by a sensational play by Rox shortstop Saul Bustos. With Gibson on second, he ranged deep into the hole between him and the third baseman Jake Daubert, gobbled up a Jeff Brooks grounder and launched a parabolic throw that in first base umpire Richard Katz's mind beat Brooks. Both Brooks and Cutters manager Mike Church argued to the call and were ejected from the contest.

In the seventh inning the Cutters tied the score at four thanks largely to three Rox errors. Chas Terni reached first on an error and moved to second when Keto Anderson walked. Second baseman Keith Stegbauer, who had entered the game after the starter at second Nelson Samboy left with an injury, prepared to sacrifice himself with a bunt. But when he put the bunt in play, the throw to first was muffed by first baseman Craig Lewis and Terni scored and Anderson advanced to third. Darren Ciraco's come-backer to the pitcher brought in Anderson and moved Stegbauer to second. Suddenly the Cutters were only trailing by one with a runner in scoring position and Gibson striding to plate.

In an at bat much more anticlimactic than the game ending one, Gibson struck out, but Stegbauer advanced to third on a wild pitch during the pitch sequence. After Bill Peavey walked to put runners on the corners, Orlando Encarnacion, who was batting for the ejected Brooks, hit a deep fly ball that Senjem appeared to be camped under. The ball was not fielded cleanly by Senjem and Stegbauer scored easily. Peavey was mowed down at the plate by a strong relay throw from Bustos.

With the score tie, the stage was set for ninth inning Gibson's heroics. But it did not arrive before more controversy on the field. After an Anderson leadoff walk, Stegbauer once again was asked to sacrifice. He squared early in Stutz?s windup and failed to get out of the way when the ball came directly at him. Figuring he was entitled to first base, he made his way down the line, only to have the umpires rule that he offered at the pitch, resulting in a strike. Fill-in manager Todd Etler argued the call and was ejected.

Stegbauer was eventually successful in getting the sacrifice down, although his altruism was left moot by Gibson's home run.

Jarrett Stawarz earned the victory after throwing two and two-thirds innings of shutout baseball.

The rubber match of the series will be played tomorrow at 2:05. Jordy Alexander pitches for the Cutters, while Manny Tejada handles the hurling duties for Brockton.

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Canadian American League Stories from June 18, 2005


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