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Redfish Walk Off In Series Opener

July 22, 2007 - South Coast League (SCL)
Charlotte County Redfish News Release


PORT CHARLOTTE, FL- The Redfish hoped to rebound as they returned to the Charlotte Sports Park to begin a series against the Aiken Foxhounds. After suffering a loss due to a walk-off last night, Charlotte County pull a little 9th inning magic of their own as Larry Williams looped a walk-off RBI single to right field and the 'Fish reeled in a victory 4-3.

Ricardo Gomez came out firing for Charlotte County as he set down the 7 batters he faced including striking out the side in the 1st inning. The night didn't continue as it started for Gomez as the Foxhounds went after Redfish rookie left-fielder Mike Hudzina as they hit back-to-back singles to start the 5th inning. This would come back to bite them as Chad Miller put a ball between the left-field wall and the scoreboard clearing the bases and giving Aiken a 3-0 lead. Gomez set the next 3 in order to end the inning with a little help from a spectacular catch by William Plaza on a pop up at home plate.

The Redfish though responded immediately in the next half inning. After Plaza drew a walk, Jose Gutierrez perfect bunt down the 3rd base line and forced Bradley Key to make a bad throw putting runners on second and third with no outs. Brad Thoma got into a ball to centerfield driving home Plaza on a sacrifice fly and the Redfish were on the board 3-1.

Gomez continued to cruise and got out a jam in the 6th inning. With two runners on base, Key popped up behind the pitcher's mound and neither Gutierrez or Thoma could snag it for an out. The infield fly rule was in effect though so the Redfish recorded an out but Tony Harper advanced to third base. After Josh Eachues walked to load the bases, Gomez got a great defensive play from PJ Lehmann as he snagged a pop fly just over the railing of the Redfish dugout to end the threat.

Charlotte County continued to chip away at the lead in the bottom of the 6th as Millard Dawson ripped a double to left field and came around to score on a Billy Hogan RBI single and the 'Fish were within a run a 3-2. Gomez kept the Foxhounds bats quiet as he worked a 1-2-3 7th inning and finished the night with 3 ER on 4 hits, 3 walks and 8 Ks.

The Redfish got him a no-decision as they tied the game at 3 in dramatic fashion. Plaza drilled a seeing eye single up and was beautifully sacrificed over by Gutierrez. Lehmann and pinch-hitter Mike Muscato drew walks to load the bases and end 'Hounds' starter Reid Price's night. Charlotte County didn't slow down against reliever Gary Lee as Millard Dawson missed on a strike 3 but it got through the wickets of Eachus and the Redfish tied the game.

Aaron Easton (2-2) picked up where Gomez left off as he worked a perfect 8th inning and got two quick outs to start the top of 9th. Andy Lane sneaked a double into left-field that just under the glove of Jason Hurst and the Redfish then intentionally walked pinch-hitter Tim Sweeney with the pitcher's spot coming up. Aiken sent the league leader in home runs, Kelly Hunt, to plate but that didn't bother Easton who struck out Hunt on a pitch in the dirt to end the inning and bring the Redfish to the plate with a chance to win it in the bottom of the 9th.

Jose Gutierrez, who had laid down two perfect bunts in previous at bats, nudged one off the end of the bat that trickled and held the third baseline for leadoff single. Brad Thoma followed with a bunt single of his own that was out of the reach of 'Hounds reliever David Martinez (0-1) and pinch-hitter Aaron Simmons kept a good thing going as he also bunted his way on to load the bases with no outs. Manager Cecil Fielder went to his bench and brought in Larry Williams who came through with probably the biggest hit of his life as he brought home the game winning run on a bullet to right field to give the Redfish their own walk-off victory 4-3.

The Redfish will look to push themselves closer to .500 as they take on the Foxhounds tomorrow night, July 23rd. Tomorrow night is "Diamond Dig" presented by Englewood Jewelers with a chance for a lucky fan to win a diamond. The probables are RHP Celson Polanco and RHP John Ducey. Game time is set for 7:05 PM. All Redfish games can be heard on 1070 AM WKII and online at www.redfishbaseball.com. For more information, check out www.redfishbaseball.com.

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