
Sox bats stifled in first loss of 2014
May 16, 2014 - American Association (AA)
Amarillo ThunderHeads News Release
The Amarillo Sox received a quality start from Derek Blacksher, but couldn't provide enough run support in a 5-2 loss to the Winnipeg Goldeyes Friday night in front of 2,120 fans at Amarillo National Bank Sox Stadium.
Blacksher went seven innings, allowing just three runs on seven hits. The pitcher/coach also struck out five batters, while walking none. He falls to 0-1 on the season, while Jason Jarvis picked up the win for Winnipeg. He allowed just two runs in six innings of work to pick up his first victory of the season.
Like Thursday night, the Goldeyes struck first in the top of the first inning. This time the damage came from a solo home run by leftfielder Ray Sadler to put Winnipeg in front 1-0. The Goldeyes would add to their lead in the top of the third, when Ryan Pineda came around to score after a lead-off triple and Jake Blackwood homered to put Winnipeg in front 3-0.
A night after scoring 11 runs in the first two innings, however, the first seven Sox batters were retired by Jarvis before Lyndon Estill and Charlie Mirabal reached on back-to-back infield singles in the bottom of the third. The Sox threat would be turned aside when third baseman Kevin Mahoney hit into an inning-ending double play.
The Sox would stay off the scoreboard until the bottom of the sixth, when Mahoney, Jason Martin, and Cory Patton had three straight one-out singles to plate a run. Martin would later score on a sacrifice fly by Joe Weik to cut the Winnipeg lead to 3-2.
Blacksher finished his outing on a strong note, retiring the final seven batters he faced before exiting the game after seven innings. Celson Polanco would come on in relief, but couldn't keep the one-run deficit intact. Polanco would allow two runs to score in the inning on just one hit, but three walks and a wild pitch contributed to the Goldeyes rally.
The Winnipeg bullpen would be solid behind their starter, as three relievers combined to work three innings and allow just one hit, a lead-off single by Weik in the bottom of the ninth. The Sox were unable to do anything else in the inning, which was stalled briefly by high winds coming into the Amarillo area. Kyle Bellamy would retire three straight Sox players to earn his first save of the season.
The Amarillo Sox fall to 1-1, but will be back in action Saturday night for the third game of a four-game set with the Goldeyes. First pitch will be at 7:05, and will feature entertainment from the Wienerschnitzel Wiener National Races.
American Association Stories from May 16, 2014
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