Pitching Falters in 8-6 Loss to Kings
July 1, 2016 - Prospect League (Prospect)
Chillicothe Paints News Release
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - The Chillicothe Paints (14-16, 0-1 second half) walked a season-high nine batters and hit another in an 8-6 loss at VA Memorial Stadium Thursday night against the Champion City Kings (12-19, 1-0 second half) in the first game of the second half of the season.
Paints starter Michael Houdek uncharacteristically walked the first three batters of the game, but only allowed one to score. Sean Kennedy hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home the first run of the game.
In the top of the second, Jett Swetland and Adam Vasil hit solo home runs to give Champion City a 3-0 lead.
Chillicothe answered in the bottom of the second. Dalton Bolliger collected an infield single to start the inning. With one out, Dylan Shockley walked to put runners at first and second. Nate Grys then hit the ball on the ground to second base, but the throw to start a potential inning-ending double play was off-line and allowed the Paints to load the bases. Jake Horew then singled to score Bollinger. Nick Ryan followed with a bases-loaded walk to score Shockley and Stewart Nelson drove home Grys on an RBI groundout to second base. Horew scored the fourth run of the inning for Chillicothe on a wild pitch to give the Paints a 4-3 lead after two innings.
Champion City stuck for three runs in the fourth to regain the lead at 6-4. The Kings made it 8-4 when Swetland hit a two-out, two-run double in the seventh to score two runners who reached base on walks.
Chillicothe got two back in the bottom of the ninth on a two-out, two-RBI double by Jamie Lackner to make it an 8-6 game, but that's where the scoring, and the game, ended.
Four of the eight Champion City runs came from runners who reached on walks. The Paints entered Thursday's game with the fewest walks allowed in the Prospect League, 19 fewer than the next-lowest total.
Houdek (3-3) took the loss after lasting just three innings. He allowed six runs on four hits, struck out four, walked four and hit one.
Champion City starter Andy Fisher (1-1) was excellent in his first win of the season. He allowed four runs, two earned, on three hits, walked four and struck out seven over seven innings.
The Paints are home again Friday night at VA Memorial Stadium against the West Virginia Miners at 7:05 p.m. The Chillicothe Gazette presents a Diamond Giveaway by Dixon Jewelers. All ladies (age 16 & over) in attendance will have the opportunity to win a diamond from Dixon Jewelers after the game!
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Prospect League Stories from July 1, 2016
- Former Dan Signs with Evansville - Danville Dans
- Ninth-inning rally sends Jackrabbits to second half opening victory - Kokomo Jackrabbits
- Pitching Falters in 8-6 Loss to Kings - Chillicothe Paints
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