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Seventh Inning Flurry Leads to 7-2 Hawks

July 10, 2013 - Midwest League (MWL1)
South Bend Silver Hawks News Release


Socrates Brito led the Hawks offense with three hits and starting pitcher Brandon Sinnery (6-4) limited the Kane County Cougars to two runs over seven innings as the South Bend Silver Hawks took the first meeting of the season between the teams 7-2. South Bend scored seven unanswered runs after the Cougars took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first innings to back up Sinnery's sterling performance on the hill. Brito filled up the box score with two singles, a double, a walk, two runs scored, an RBI, and a stolen base on the night.

It was a wild first inning at Coveleski Regional Stadium as both teams put up a pair of runs. Kane County, the Class-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. With one out, centerfielder Albert Almora, ranked #33 in Baseball America's top 100 prospects before the season, lined a base hit to center. Almora finished the game two for four with a double and a run scored. After a harmless fly ball to left field for the second out, third baseman Jeimer Candelario hit a 3-2 pitch from Sinnery over the right field wall for a two-run homerun. That would be all Sinnery surrendered on the night, as he shut out the Cougars over the next six innings and left with the lead.

South Bend, the Class-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, struck back with two runs in the bottom of the first to tie the game. Cougar starter Felix Pena (2-3) retired the first two batters in order before right fielder Socrates Brito got the rally started with a ground ball single to left field. A wild pitch advanced Brito to second and third baseman Brandon Drury drove him in with a line drive single to right. Drury advanced to second on the throw home and go on to third base when the throw was wild. Designated hitter Rudy Flores continued the two-out clutch hitting with a ground ball single into right field that scored Drury to tie the game.

The Hawks took the lead for good in the bottom of the third inning. Centerfielder Breland Almadova worked a one-out walk. Brito followed with a double off the top of the right field wall that put runners at second and third with one out. Drury collected his second RBI of the night with a solid line drive single into left field that scored Almadova and advanced Brito to third. Felix Pena limited the damage to one run by inducing a 4-6-3 double play ball from Flores to escape the inning.

Sinnery made sure the slim lead held up for the Hawks through seven innings as he worked around Kane County (34-50, 4-14) threats in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, stranding Cougars in scoring position in all three of those innings. He then wrapped up his virtuoso performance with perfect sixth and seventh innings. He finished the night allowing two runs on seven hits over seven innings, while striking out five in a winning effort.

South Bend (56-33, 12-8) busted the game wide open in the bottom of the seventh against Kane County reliever Dillon Maples. Hawks left fielder Mike Lang fouled off several pitches before lining a single to center field. Lang advanced to second on a passed ball. Shortstop Andrew Velazquez laid down a bunt that was meant as a sacrifice to move Lang to third base. However, nobody was covering first base for the Cougars and Velazquez reached with a bunt single. Second baseman Fidel Pena lofted a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Lang for a 4-2 lead. A wild throw by Cougars left fielder Oliver Zapata to the plate let Velazquez advance to second on the throwing error. Almadova kept the line moving for the Hawks by lacing a single to right that put runners at the corners with one out. Brito then picked up his third hit of the night on a line drive base hit to right field that scored Velazquez to make it 5-2. With two outs, Brito stole second base and Flores lined a single to center that scored two more runs to make it 7-2 Hawks after seven innings.

The Hawks bullpen closed out the game for Sinnery in the final two innings. Enrique Garcia entered in the eighth inning and worked around two singles in a scoreless inning. Kyle Schepel came in for the Hawks to pitch the ninth and worked a one-two-three inning to end the game, striking out the last two batters.

The Hawks and the Cougars continue the three-game series on Thursday night at the Cove. First pitch is at 7:05pm. Brian Smith (2-3, 4.09 ERA) will take the mound for the Cougars while Jesse Darrah (8-5, 3.92 ERA) gets the start for the Silver Hawks. It is Hoosier Lottery Field of Dreams night at the Cove as the first 1,000 fans 18 and older through the gate will receive one free Cash for Life ticket. It is also a Thirsty Thursday so fans can enjoy $1 beer and soda all night long.



Midwest League Stories from July 10, 2013


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