Rats Drop Pitcher's Duel 2-0

Published on July 24, 2014 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters News Release

Kenosha, WI - The hype around Thursday's game was centered around the potential pitcher's duel between the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters' (20-33, 8-10) Domenic Mazza (UC Santa Barbara) and the Kenosha Kingfish's (29-25, 13-8) Rico Garcia (Hawaii Pacific) and the two starters held up their end of the bargain. It was a tight, well pitched affair as the Kingfish took the game by a 2-0 final score.

Garcia pitched in and out of trouble but the righty made his biggest pitches when it mattered most as he went six innings while striking out five, walking nobody and scattering 5 hits. The key inning for Garcia came in the top of the 5th when the Rafters were able to advance runners to second and third with one out with the three and cleanup hitters coming up. Garcia was able to induce two groundouts from two of the Rafters' better hitters and get out of the jam.

Kenosha came right back and responded in the bottom half of the frame. After Mazza cruised through the first two hitters of the 5th, he jumped ahead 0-2 on catcher CJ Saylor (San Diego State). Saylor would then battle back to a full count and pick up a two out single. That would be the first of three straight singles for Kenosha which, combined with a RBI fielder's choice, would result in the only two runs of the game. Mazza still turned in his second consecutive excellent start as he went 7 innings while giving up the two runs while striking out five.

The Kingfish bullpen would lock down the final three innings and secure the victory for the Kingfish, who took the season series over Wisconsin Rapids with a game to play Friday. First pitch Friday is scheduled for 7:05 pm.

Northwoods League Stories from July 24, 2014

• Rats Drop Pitcher's Duel 2-0 - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
• Honkers Brush off Bombers Behind Eight-Run Seventh - Rochester Honkers
• Kingfish Keep Win Streak Alive, Beat Rafters 2-0 - Kenosha Kingfish
• Taylor Fans 11 as Rox Shut out Express - St. Cloud Rox
• Bullfrogs' Pitching Shuts out La Crose En Route to 4-0 Win - Green Bay Rockers
• Puckett's Quality Start Guides Stingers to 7-2 Win - Willmar Stingers
• Mallards Fall to Chinooks in Return from All-Star Break - Madison Mallards
• Kalamazoo Growlers Salute to Selfie Night Garners - Kalamazoo Growlers
• DeJong's milestone homer the difference as Woodchucks take game one from Kalamazoo, 7-5 - Wausau Woodchucks
• Rafters Head to Kenosha Following All-Star Break - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
• Bullfrogs Return to Action against La Crosse - Green Bay Rockers
• Mallards Resume Play Tonight against Chinooks - Madison Mallards
• Stingers Back at the Beehive Tonight and Friday - Willmar Stingers
• MoonDogs Fit Continues to Teach Kids - Mankato MoonDogs
• Bullfrogs to Host Kids Clinic on July 25 - Green Bay Rockers

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