Josh Allen with Two Triples, Powers the Otters
Published on May 12, 2015 under Frontier League (FL)
Evansville Otters News Release
Josh Allen Bats for the Evansville Otters
(Evansville Otters)
MARION, Ill. -The Otters put together another impressive showing in their final exhibition game of Spring Training, traveling to Rent One Park and taking down the Miners by a score of 6-5 thanks in large part to a three run third inning.
With the early start time of 10 AM, both offenses got off to a bit of a sluggish start, but it was the Otters' bats that woke up first in the top of the third inning. Cory Urquhart led of with a double and Josh Allen followed with what appeared to be a two-run home run as it seemed to bounce of the stairs behind the right field wall, but was instead ruled an RBI triple to give the Otters their first lead of the game.
Ronnie Richardson came up next and worked a walk before John Schultz singled to plate Allen and make it a 2-0 Otters advantage. With runners on 1st and 2nd and a 3-2 count to Shayne Houck, Otters Manager Andy McCauley sent the runners and avoided a double play when Houck grounded out to second. Nik Balog would immediately reward his skipper's aggressiveness by singling to left field, pushing the Otters ahead 3-0.
They would go right back at it in the top of the fourth inning when yet again, Urquhart jump-started a mini rally, this time with a single. After a strikeout to Allen, Ronnie Richardson fisted a blooper over the shortstop's head to put runners at first and second with the one out. Schultz again came through for the Otters, plating another run with another RBI single and moving runners to the corners with one out. Houck would again ground out, but this time down the third base line, scoring Richardson from third with the Otters fifth run of the game.
Jake Raffaele, the Otters starter in today's game, was a little wild through his first three innings, but had not allowed a run or a hit at that point. However, his wildness got the better of him in the fourth inning.
After Shayne Houck made a tremendous diving play on his backhand to rob Michael Early of extra bases, Raffaele got the next batter to ground out to third. But things began to unravel from there. The first Miner's hit of the game came off the bat of Wendell Fairley and Raffaele proceeded to walk the next three batters he faced before allowing a single to Steve Marino to make it a 5-2 game. Evan Mott replaced Raffaele and got out of the inning with a groundball to first.
The Otters would extend their lead to 6-2 in the sixth inning when Josh Allen tripled yet again before Schulz drove in his third run of the game on a sacrifice fly to center.
That sacrifice fly to center would be the difference in the game as the combination of Clint Manzo, Brandon Shimo and Blake Monar would keep the Miners off of the board until Ben Henry' allowed two runs in the eighth inning without allowing an out. Adam Mott was called upon for the unenviable task of trying to staunch the bleeding for the Otters with his squad only up 6-4.
The first batter he faced made it 6-5 on a sacrifice to left before getting out of the inning on a 6-4-3 double play.
Things got a little hairy in the bottom of the ninth inning as Edgar Lopez was sent out to close the door on the Miners. He allowed two runners to reach with one out, but a flyout to deep right center, which was tracked down by Ronnie Richardson and a strikout on a 2-2 high fastball finished off the Miners and the Spring Training for the Otters.
This was the final exhibition game of Spring Training for the Otters and they will not get back to action until Friday at Bosse Field, which is the first official game of the Otters' 2015 season. Fans can purchase tickets by calling the team's front office at 812.435.8686 or online at EvansvilleOtters.com.
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 Josh Allen Bats for the Evansville Otters |
Frontier League Stories from May 12, 2015
- Slammers Beat Gary SouthShore RailCats to Close out Preseason - Joliet Slammers
- Beach Bums Opening Day Roster Released - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Josh Allen with Two Triples, Powers the Otters - Evansville Otters
- Boomers Stadium to Host NJCAA Region 4 National Qualifier Baseball Event - Schaumburg Boomers
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