Untimely Hitting and Poor Defense Snap Otters' 7 Game Streak, 4-3
July 22, 2015 - Frontier League (FL)
Evansville Otters News Release
Traverse City, MI- The Evansville Otters (37-19) came back from two separate deficits, but never could get in the lead against the Traverse City Beach Bums (33-21), dropping the middle game of the three game series 4-3.
The Otters wasted a very good performance from Preston Olson who went eight innings out on the mound and allowed just three runs (only two of them earned). The Beach Bums got on the board first when they took advantage of a botched popup by Josh Allen with two outs and proceeded to hit back-to-back singles, taking a 1-0 lead. They put another run across the plate in the third on a two-out single with two outs to take a 2-0 advantage
However, the Otters battled back in the fourth inning when Allen made up for his miscue by working a leadoff walk. Shayne Houck sliced his 14th double of the season down the right-field line to place runners at second and third with nobody out. After Dane Phillips hit a comebacker to the pitcher for the first out of the inning, Chris Sweeney hit a grounder to short to cut the deficit in half at 2-1. Nik Balog walked to the plate next and hit a bloop shot off the end of the bat towards left field, which fell in front of the Beach Bums' Brandon Jacobs, tying the game at two a piece.
The score would remain the same until the bottom of the fifth inning when Alex Tomasovich launched his second home run of the season over the left field wall, putting the Bums ahead 3-2. Phillips made it a short-lasting lead with a home run of his own in the top of the sixth inning, turning on a 0-1 fastball and depositing it well over the wall in right-field for a 3-3 tie.
The best chance to score for the Otters was in the top of the eighth inning when John Schultz began the frame with a single and moved to second on wild pitch. But Allen grounded out to short for the first out of the inning and after Houck was intentionally walked, Phillips grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat. Preston Olson kept the score tied at threes by retiring the every single batter he faced after allowing the home run, ten in a row, and completing the eighth inning with his sixth strikeout of the night.
However, the Otters still could not score and it came back to hurt them in the bottom of the ninth when the Beach Bums finally broke through against Connor Little. Little got the first batter to pop up to shallow center, but miscommunication between Allen and Sweeney allowed the ball to drop in for a leadoff single. The next batter doubled to put runners at second and third with nobody out, and although the Otters intentionally walked the next batter to load the bases, Little threw a wild pitch, letting the run score from third and ending the game 4-3.
Olson took the no-decision while firing eight innings and allowing just three runs (two earned) and striking out six without walking a single batter. Little was saddled with the loss and is now 1-4 on the season for the Otters.
John Schultz went 2-for-4 in the game and has now reached safely in his last 17 games and hit safely in 16 of his last 17. With the home run, Dane Phillips has now driven in 15 in his last 13 games with three home runs in that span.
The Otters and Beach Bums will wrap up their season series tomorrow night when Efrain Nieves (8-2, 2.68) goes up against Michael Shreeves (5-1, 2.11) in the finale. The game is scheduled to start at 6:05 pm CDT and the pregame show with Jake Donnelly will start at 5:45 pm CDT.
The Otters will return to Evansville and finish off their week of baseball against the Washington Wild Things with games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The first game on Friday will start at 6:35 pm CDT with the pregame show with Mike Radomski, Bill McKeon and Jake Donnelly starting at 6:15 pm CDT. Fans can purchase tickets by calling the team's front office at 812.435.8686 or online at EvansvilleOtters.com. For all of the latest information on the Otters, log on to EvansvilleOtters.com or follow the team's twitter account @EvilleOtters.
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