Vero Dodgers take it in 10
May 31, 2006 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Vero Beach Devil Rays News Release
(Vero Beach, FL) - Xavier Paul hit a game-tying 9th-inning grand slam and Chris Westervelt's 10th-inning single gave the Vero Beach Dodgers a 5-4 victory over the St. Lucie Mets Wednesday night at Holman Stadium. The Dodgers improved to 2-6 in extra-inning games and avoided a 4-game sweep. Vero Beach travels to Clearwater Thursday for a 7:05 PM game.
Both starting pitchers dominated early. Vero's Chris Malone retired the first 11 batters he faced and matched St. Lucie's Michael Devaney with six scorless innings. However, in the top of the 7th, Malone gave up a single to Josh Peterson and Jesus Flores followed with his second 2-run homer in as many games.
Malone surrendered a single to Cory Coles in the 8th before leaving the game. Wesley Wright relieved him and after a sacrifice, the Mets knocked back-to-back singles to plate Coles and make it 3-0. Two errors and two hits in the 9th gave St. Lucie another run to take what seemed to be a commanding 4-0 lead.
However, in the bottom of the 9th, Cole Bruce reached on a one-out infield single. Denker and Westervelt followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases. Then with two outs, Mets' closer Carlos Muniz worked Xavier Paul to a 2-2 count before Paul launched the game-tying grand slam to right field. It was his team-high 6th home run of the season.
In the decisive 10th, Blake DeWitt led off by reaching on a 2-base error. Cory Dunlap walked before Muniz set down the next two batters. Denker then drew his third free pass of the game and Westervelt, with two strikes, lined a solid base hit to center to score DeWitt and win the game.
Brian Akin struck out the last batter in the top of the 10th to pick up with win and even his record at 3-3. Muniz took the loss to drop to 2-2. The Mets fell to 14-3 in one-run games and it was their first extra-inning loss in four games this season.
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