Long ball reigns in doubleheader split
August 19, 2009 - Northern League (NL)
Schaumburg Flyers News Release
KANSAS CITY - Each team rode a complete game gem from their starter and a couple of long balls in their respective wins, as the Schaumburg Flyers and Kansas City T-Bones split a doubleheader Tuesday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City. Game one went the way of the T-Bones by a final score of 9-1. It was a makeup of the contest rained out just two days before at Alexian Field. Because of this, the Flyers were the "home" team in game one, batting last.
Dustin Glant got the nod for the Flyers, who struggled again with keeping the ball in park. Neb Brown hit a two-out, three-run homer in the top of the first inning for the T-Bones, putting them on the board first in a big way. Glant would labor through the first inning, ultimately stranding the bases loaded without any more damage given up.
Ryan Fox would strike again against the Flyers, this time in the third. Another 2-out, three-run homer, this time off of Fox's bat, made the score 6-0 Kansas City.
Brett Davis made his professional debut for the T-Bones, but had the look of a seasoned veteran on the mound. He faced the minimum through two innings, and got out of a jam in the third when the Flyers put runners on the corners with one out. He struck out Antoan Richardson to end the threat, and ended the night with seven strikeouts against no walks.
Glant (6-7) would exit after 4.0 innings, giving way to Joe Campbell. Fresh off a stint on the disabled list, Campbell looked sharp in the fifth, but served up a solo home run to Fox in the sixth. Fox's second homer (24 on the season) put him one behind Winnipeg's Juan Diaz for the league lead.
Another long ball off the bat of Jacob Blackwood in the seventh off of Campbell, this time a two-run shot, would cap the scoring for Kansas City, giving them a 9-0 lead with all runs scored via home runs. The shutout was spoiled in the bottom of the seventh, when Tony Mansolino doubled home Lyndon Poole with two outs. Davis (1-0) was spectacular in the win, scattering seven hits in his seven innings pitched.
Game two of the doubleheader had a similar feel, just with a little dose of role reversal. Victor Ferrante set the tone with a monster solo home run that cleared the left field bleachers and left the park completely in the top of the first inning off of T-Bones starter Chris Davis.
Ryan Gehring got a little help with a jam in the bottom of the first, when Neb Brown bunted through a squeeze play with two outs and runners on second and third. The missed bunt left Damian Rolls in no man's land in between third and home, and he was gunned out by Richard Mercado trying to slide back into third base.
Gehring's only real trouble after that came in the second, when a two-out double off of the bat of Jeff Helps scored Craig Hurba and Jim Fasano to give the T-Bones a 2-1 advantage.
From that point on, it was all Schaumburg. Ferrante again answered the call in the third, tying the game up at two with his RBI single scoring Richardson. Mansolino 's fourth inning RBI would give the Flyers a 3-2 lead, and Gehring wouldn't look back.
The Flyers' lefty only allowed an Aharon Eggleston single from the third through the sixth innings, facing the minimum twelve batters in those innings as Eggleston's hit was erased on a double play. Kansas City's Rhoads (5-4) found himself chased from the game thanks to a three-run home run by Felix Jose in the fifth. All four batters that Rhoads faced that inning would score, and he left in favor of Cody McAllister with a 7-2 deficit.
McAllister set six up, six down in his two innings of relief, but Weston Curles couldn't keep the Flyers down in the seventh. Ferrante tripled home Richardson to complete a 3-4 game in which he fell a double short of the cycle, and added three runs and three RBIs. Jose had four RBIs of his own, thanks to his home run and a ground out that scored Ferrante to give Schaumburg a 9-2 lead.
Gehring (2-1) didn't face much trouble in the seventh, and started the 1-6-3 game-ending double play to earn his first complete game victory this season. In going the distance (seven innings) for the Flyers, Gehring allowed seven hits and striking out two, while walking two as well.
Schaumburg stays 1.5 games out of fourth place behind Kansas City in the Northern League, with one more game between the two teams left tomorrow night. The Flyers will send Alain Quijano (4-5, 5.68) to the hill to face off against Kansas City's Ryan Knippschild (3-6, 4.72).
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Northern League Stories from August 19, 2009
- T-Bones Blank Flyers in Series Finale - Kansas City Monarchs
- Flyers blanked by T-Bones 5-0 - Schaumburg Flyers
- JackHammers Announce New Promotion Where Fans Can Enter to Win Joliet Center Fielder's Car - Joliet JackHammers
- RedHawks Get Best of Goldeyes 8-4 - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- 2009 Playoff Tickets on Sale; Free Hat Giveaway on First Night - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Goldeyes Qualify for Playoffs - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Long ball reigns in doubleheader split - Schaumburg Flyers
- Flyers Respond with 9-2 Win in Nightcap - Kansas City Monarchs
- Goldeyes drop opening game - Winnipeg Goldeyes
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