HOLYOKE, MA–Having twice been blanked in Maine, the Valley Blue Sox hope to turn the tables on their North Division rivals when the Sanford Mainers visit Mackenzie Stadium for the first time this season on Pennant Night.
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LAST TIME THEY MET: For the second time in as many weeks the Valley Blue Sox made the trip to Sanford, ME, and for the second time in as many games were shut out, this time 3-0 by the North Division-leading Mainers on July 8.
The Mainers scored on a single, groundout, and single in the first and then added to their lead in the second with a triple followed by an infield single, though they then left the bases loaded. Their third run came in the fifth with a single, groundout, and double. The Mainers again left the bases loaded in seventh.
However, the Blue Sox offense struggled all night. Only once did a runner reach third, as Storm Wilson led off the fourth with a bunt single, stole second, and advanced to third on a groundout. The team spread eight hits over seven of the nine innings.
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Blue Sox are 8-10 all-time against Sanford, but have had success at home, going 5-3 against the Mainers at Mackenzie Stadium since 2008.
PITCHING PROBABLES: Zach Strecker will take the hill for the Blue Sox. The senior righty from Kentucky took a tough luck loss last time out, falling 5-3 to Vermont in Montpelier on July 11, allowing five runs–three earned–in seven innings on seven hits, one walk, and three strikeouts. On the season, he is 1-3 with a 4.35 ERA in 31 innings, with 21 strikeouts, four walks, and 35 hits. Against him, Sanford is slated to throw Christian Lavoie. The UMass Lowell righty stymied the Blue Sox on June 30, throwing seven shutout frames, allowing just two hits and a walk with four strikeouts, and on the year is 2-1 with a 1.16 ERA in 31 innings with 11 strikeouts, two walks, and 22 hits allowed.
LAST TIME OUT: The Blue Sox took a tough loss at home against the SteepleCats last night, falling 5-3 in front of 2347 fans.
North Adams took advantage of a few mental lapses to score in the first, stealing a base after a two out single, taking third on a balk, and scoring on an error. Then, in the fifth, the SteepleCats took advantage of three walks and two singles to bring in three more.
In the seventh, Valley came back, as Garrett Black and Storm Wilson singled, and then Kevin Barker ripped a double to left to plate them both. Bobby Stahel singled to score Barker, and then stole second. However, after Frank Crinella walked, the Blue Sox could not get anything further, and the SteepleCats added a run in the eighth for the 5-3 final.
WHO’S HOT: Bobby Stahel has six hits in his last eleven at-bats, including four doubles. Sanford’s Drake Parker has two doubles and three hits in his last five at bats.
GAME-TIME WEATHER FORECAST: Mostly sunny, 79 degrees, winds northwest at 4 MPH, 40% humidity, 0% chance of rain.
NEXT UP: The Blue Sox continue their homestand tomorrow when they battle the Laconia Muskrats in the final pre-All Star Game contest. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for the 6:35 p.m. start.