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AtL Gastonia Ghost Peppers

Pitcher's Duel Goes Southern Maryland's Way; Gastonia Drops Season Opener 3-2

April 26, 2024 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Gastonia Ghost Peppers News Release


22 straight batters.

That's how many were retired by Gastonia and Southern Maryland pitching between the fourth and seventh inning on Thursday night.

An offensive stalemate by both units produced a 2-2 game headed to the ninth, where Juan Kelly played hero for the Blue Crabs.

The first baseman's gapper lined on a frozen rope to left-center plated Michael Wielansky as the eventual winning run, handing the newly named "Gastonia Baseball Club" its first defeat.

Both runs scored for Gastonia in the 3-2 loss were solo shots - each hit by offseason additions to the squad.

Cleanup hitter Josh Stowers tied the game at 1 in the second inning with a no-doubt blast to left-center off Southern Maryland player-coach Daryl Thompson.

After the Blue Crabs responded in the top of the third, Gastonia tied things up once again via the long ball. No. 3 hitter Justin Wylie pulled a ball to left field, clearing the 304-foot sign and landing in the parking lot at CaroMont Health Park.

Those were the only two blemishes allowed by Thompson.

The right-hander, who's been pitching for Southern Maryland since 2012, went 6.2 innings, allowing the two runs on three hits.

Thompson kept hitters honest with the fastball, occasionally throwing in a 69-70 mile-per-hour breaking ball to fool his opponents.

But Gastonia pitching matched the 38-year-old starter.

Southpaw Ian McKinney got the ball on Opening Night. He pitched four innings, getting into trouble in two of them. The player-coach for Gastonia allowed two runs on four hits and struck out three in his first start of 2024.

In stepped Nate Peden, who was tremendous.

The right-hander threw two perfect innings, K'ing four Blue Crabs in the process. He had a lot of life on his heater, as he was blowing fastballs right by batters in the two frames.

Righties Bryan Blanton and Phoenix Sanders each threw one clean frame, setting up a 2-2 ball game headed to the ninth.

Former Washington National Gabe Klobosits toed the slab in the ninth. He allowed a leadoff single to Wielansky, followed up by the double off the bat of Kelly to make it 3-2.

Gastonia put two men on base in the bottom of the ninth, as Patrick Mazeika was hit by a pitch and Jake Gatewood lined a single into left with one out.

But closer Endrys Briceno struck out Eric De La Rosa looking and got Matt McDermott to line out to center to wrap things up in the season opener.

The Gastonia Baseball Club starts 0-1, while Southern Maryland begins 2024 1-0.

The two teams face off in the second of a four-game set Friday night at 7 p.m

Check out the Gastonia Ghost Peppers Statistics



Atlantic League Stories from April 26, 2024


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