VB Dodgers win on DeWitt's walkoff HR

Published on September 7, 2005 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Vero Beach Devil Rays News Release


With the Vero Beach Dodgers facing elimination and down to their final strike, Blake DeWitt blasted a 3-run home run to give the Dodgers a 3-1 win Wednesday night at Holman Stadium. It was the first time the Dodgers had scored since the first inning of Game One. The tying run had been thrown out at home one batter prior to DeWitt's game-winner. The series concludes Thursday night at Holman Stadium with a 7:00 PM first pitch. The winner advances to face the Lakeland Tigers in the Florida State League Championship series.

Mark Alexander earned the win with a scoreless 9th. Though he walked three batters that inning, he also struck out three. Jumbo Diaz chipped in with 1 1/3 scoreless frames, as well.

The only run for the Cardinals came in the sixth. Dodgers starter Danny Muegge took a no-hitter into that frame when he walked Andy Schutzenhofer with two outs. Reid Gorecki broke up the no-no with a line drive single to center. Then Brian Martin, on a 3-2 count, blooped a base hit into right field to put the Cardinals ahead 1-0.

The score stayed that way until the 9th as Palm Beach starter Eric Haberer threw 6 2/3 shutout innings. He walked four and gave up four hits, but struck out six. Rich Scalamandre and Anthony Rawson kept Vero off the scoreboard in the 7th and 8th innings.

They gave way to closer Mark Worrell for the final out of the 8th. He earned the save in Game One and had not allowed a run in 10 games. However, he walked pinch-hitter Xavier Paul to start the 9th. Cole Bruce then reached when he attempted a sacrifice bunt. Cardinals thirdbaseman Mike McCoy threw wildly to first base, allowing Paul to reach third.

Worrell came back to strike out the next hitter. Then Jamie Hoffman rolled a ball down the first base line. Schutzenhofer fielded the ball cleanly and threw home to get Paul at the plate for the second out of the inning.

However, that kept Dodgers at first and second, setting the stage for DeWitt's epic at bat. Worrell started him out 0-2 in the count, but DeWitt worked it full. He then fouled off several pitches before finding the one that landed on the right field berm for the Dodgers victory.

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Florida State League Stories from September 7, 2005


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