Two Homeruns Lead Columbia Over Fayetteville, 10-6
Published on July 24, 2011 under Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Fayetteville SwampDogs News Release
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - It took quite a while for the Columbia Blowfish to show up on Sunday, but when they finally did it was in a big way.
In a game that started two hours and 45 minutes late because of troubles with multiple busses for Columbia, the Blowfish pounded out ten runs on two big homeruns to defeat the Fayetteville SwampDogs 10-6 at J.P. Riddle Stadium on Sunday night.
Sean Tracy (0-2) took the loss for the SwampDogs, allowing a three-run homerun to Zach Smith in the second inning that put Fayetteville (27-20, 10-9) in an early 5-1 hole. Tracy finished with six runs, two earned, on two hits and four walks in just 3.1 innings pitched.
The SwampDogs, meanwhile, continued a disturbing trend of stranding a large number of runners on base. The leadoff man reached base in seven of the nine innings, but the SwampDogs managed just two runs while stranding eight through the first eight innings, before finally catching a break in the ninth with some wildness from Blowfish reliever Alex Brooks.
Brooks, who had pitched a perfect eighth inning, began the ninth by surrendering a single to Sal Giardina. He then hit Derek Brooks - making his first plate appearance for the SwampDogs this season - and walked Cody Hudson before plunking Drew Alford to force in a run. After a four-pitch walk to John Hogan, he was lifted for Carlos Santana, who gave up a sacrifice fly to Joe Vaskas and an RBI single to Danny Gesick before retiring Dylan Brown and Brian Yeung to end the game and preserve the win for starter Patrick Ludwig (3-5).
The SwampDogs were forced to use Brooks, usually a pitcher, at second base in the ninth because of a rash of injuries. All-time CPL hits leader Eric Grabe was unavailable because of a knee injury, joining Nick Crucet and Jay Cannon on the list of position players nursing injuries. Grabe is not expected to play tomorrow, but should be ready later this week, while Crucet (ankle) and Cannon (hip) are both out for the foreseeable future.
The SwampDogs now head to Columbia (17-31, 8-12) for the finale of the three-game series tomorrow night at Capital City Stadium. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. The SwampDogs are then off on Tuesday before hosting Morehead City on Wednesday. Gates open at 6 p.m., with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m.
Coastal Plain League Stories from July 24, 2011
- Blowfish Win Third Straight - Lexington County Blowfish
- Two Homeruns Lead Columbia Over Fayetteville, 10-6 - Fayetteville SwampDogs
- Sharks Drop Second Straight Out West - Wilmington Sharks
- HiToms Down Owls in Extras - Forest City Owls
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