Newport Comeback Falls Just Short at Holyoke
Published on June 28, 2012 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Newport Gulls News Release
HOLYOKE, M.A. - Holyoke scored six runs off Newport starter Tanner Chleborad in the bottom of the first inning and held off a furious late comeback effort by the Gulls to win 9-8 at Mackenzie Stadium on Thursday, June 28. The Gulls have not won a road contest at Holyoke since 2006.
The Gulls were held without a hit by Holyoke starter Aaron Weisberg, who picked up his first win of the summer and evened his record at 1-1 this season, until second baseman Conor Keniry singled to center field in the top of the fifth inning. Weisberg allowed three runs on four hits with seven strikeouts and three walks in five and two thirds innings of work.
Chleborad (2-1) gave up a season-high seven runs on four hits with no strikeouts and one walk in just two innings, suffering his first loss in his shortest start of the season.
Holyoke got the offense going early against Chleborad, plating six runs in the first inning thanks to three Blue Sox hits and three Gulls errors. Holyoke jumped out to a 9-0 lead before the Gulls mounted an incredible comeback that fell just short.
Outfielder John Norwood singled up the middle with the bases loaded to bring home a pair of runs, his sixth and seventh RBI of the season, and an error by Holyoke second baseman Danny Diekroeger allowed third baseman Austin Slater to score from first as the Gulls cleared the bases on the play and pulled within three runs of Holyoke, trailing just 9-6 in the top of the eighth inning.
Outfielder Yale Rosen scored on an error in the top of the ninth to make it 9-7 before first baseman Brett Winger reached on an error. Keniry struck out before Slater followed with an RBI single to make pull Newport within a single run, 9-8. Norwood, the ensuing batter, reached on an error by shortstop Chris Woolley to load the bases with two outs before shortstop Joel McKeithan fouled out to first base to end the game.
Holyoke reliever Jack Shannon escaped the bases loaded jam to preserve the win for the Blue Sox and picked up his first save of the season working the final three and one third innings. Shannon gave up five runs on five hits with six strikeouts and just one walk.
Newport reliever Frank Holbrook gave up two runs on four hits with three strikeouts and one walk in four innings. Southpaw Ryan Pennell finished off the final two innings of the contest, keeping the Blue Sox offense off the board while striking out three.
Newport scored eight runs on nine hits but committed four costly errors while Holyoke plated nine runs on eight hits and committed a pair of errors.
Newport will be back in action taking on the Sanford Mainers at home on Friday, June 29. Brett Graves (0-0, 3.60 ERA) will be on the mound for the Gulls.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 28, 2012
- Blue Sox Win Third-Straight, 9-8 - Valley Blue Sox
- Swamp Bats Blast Steeplecats 12-2 - Keene Swamp Bats
- Newport Comeback Falls Just Short at Holyoke - Newport Gulls
- Lightning Shortens Mainers Chances of a Comeback - Sanford Mainers
- Keene Bats Come Alive in 12-2 Win over North Adams - North Adams SteepleCats
- Vermont Wins Second Straight, 8-3 Over Sanford - Vermont Mountaineers
- Newport Gulls present "Idol Night" - Newport Gulls
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