Yankees Win 8-2 in 10 Innings

Published on May 8, 2003 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Southwest Michigan Devil Rays News Release


PEORIA, Ill. - The Battle Creek Yankees snapped a two-game losing streak and claimed a split in the four-game series at Peoria, rallying for an 8-2 victory in 10 innings in a Midwest League baseball game Thursday night at O¹Brien Field. The host Chiefs took a 2-1 lead into the ninth, but the Yankees tied it to force extra innings and then scored six runs in the 10th.. The Yankees ‹ now 2-0 in extra-innings games this season ‹ open a four-game series at Wisconsin on Friday night.

Battle Creek loaded the bases with no outs in the 10th. Jayson Drobiak led off with a bunt single, and moved to third on a hit-and-run single by Omir Santos. Matt Carson then walked to load the bases. Rudy Guillen lofted a sacrifice fly to put Battle Creek ahead 3-2, with Santos and Carson advancing to second and third. Juan Camacho received an intentional walk to re-load the bases with one out. Gabe Lopez then ripped a two-run single up the middle for a 5-2 lead. A wild pitch and a passed ball cleared the bases and allowed Camacho and Lopez to score for a 7-2 lead with one out. Joaquin Arias walked, advanced to third as Alexander Santa reached on an error, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Willie Vasquez to make it 8-2.

The late comeback overshadowed a brilliant pitching performance by Battle Creek starter Ray Clark. He faced just 28 batters in eight innings. Clark allowed just two runs and four hits, struck out nine and didn¹t walk a batter in his second start for the Yankees since joining the team from high-A Tampa. Clark retired the Chiefs 1-2-3 in six of the eight innings he pitched. After the Chiefs scored twice in the second, Clark retired 13 straight before a lead-off single in the seventh ‹ but the runner was erased on a double play and it was another 1-2-3 inning. An error allowed Peoria to get a runner on base in the eighth.

Charlie Isaacson (3-0) pitched the ninth to get credit for the win. Matt Brumit pitched the 10th.

The Chiefs committed five errors, and racked up four wild pitches and a passed ball.

The Yankees took 1-0 lead in the second inning. With two outs, Battle Creek banged out four straight singles ‹ but scored just one run. Guillen, Eric Verbryke, Lopez and Arias all singled ‹ with Lopez getting an RBI ‹ but the Yankees left the bases loaded. The Chiefs took a 2-1 lead on a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the inning.

Battle Creek got one-out doubles from Drobiak in the third and Verbryke in the fourth, but couldn¹t score. In the fifth, Guillen reached on a fielder¹s choice and advanced to third with two outs, but was stranded there.

In the ninth, Lopez got a lead-off walk, but was erased as Arias reached on a fielder¹s choice. Arias moved to third as Santa reached on an error. Arias scored on a one-out wild pitch to tie the game at 2-2, and Santa was thrown out trying to take third on the play.

In the bottom of the ninth, Peoria got a single and a stolen base to put a runner at second with no outs ‹ and at third with two outs ‹ but couldn¹t score.

Battle Creek (17-16) at Wisconsin (15-16)
Fri - RHP Jose Garcia (3-1, 1.08) vs. LHP Bobby Livingston (3-1, 2.45)
Sat - RHP Brandon Harmsen (1-1, 4.15) vs. RHP T.A. Fulmer (1-2, 4.21)
Sun - RHP Jeremy King (2-3, 3.92) vs. RHP Tanner Watson (0-1, 6.52)
Mon - RHP Jose Valdez (2-2, 4.26) vs. LHP Beau Hintz (0-4, 8.39)

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Midwest League Stories from May 8, 2003


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