HOLYOKE, MA–Finally home after a five game road trip, the Blue Sox will host the North Adams SteepleCats tonight on Bobblehead Night, with the first 400 fans through the gates to be given Big Red Bobbleheads courtesy of Skip’s Outdoor Accents.
KEY LINKS: Tickets | Blue Sox Roster | SteepleCats Roster | Scoreboard | Standings | Watch/Listen LIVE
LAST TIME THEY MET: The Blue Sox took a tough loss at home against the SteepleCats July 17, 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.
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Blue Sox are 17-20 against the SteepleCats since 2008, with a 9-10 record at Mackenzie Stadium. The teams have split the two games played so far in the Valley.
PITCHING PROBABLES: The Blue Sox are set to start Zach Strecker. The senior righty at Kentucky threw six innings of eight hit ball, allowing three unearned runs at Laconia in his last start; on the year, he is 2-4 with a 3.14 ERA in 43 innings, with 27 strikeouts, eight walks, and 49 hits allowed. His opponent is Florida State righty Ed Voyles; the sophomore did not pick up a decision his last start, going four frames against Sanford and allowing a run on five hits. On the year, he is 2-1 with a 3.58 ERA in 32.2 innings, with 15 strikeouts, 12 walks, and 31 hits allowed.
LAST TIME OUT: The Blue Sox started strong but could not hang on to an early lead as they fell, 6-3, to the Danbury Westerners at Rogers Park in western Connecticut on July 30.
Frank Crinella got the Blue Sox started in the first frame by reaching on an error, and Nick Lynch doubled to bring him home.
However, Danbury got it right back in the home half, with a single, error, and double to make it 1-1.
They scored twice in each of the third and fourth, scoring in the third with three straight singles and an RBI groundout and in the fourth on a similar sequence.
Valley tried to get back in the game, as Jeremie Fagnan doubled and Lynch drove him in with a single in the eighth, but the Westerners regained a four run edge in the home half.
A pair of walks and a single by Chris Lowery brought in one more run in the ninth for the Blue Sox for the 6-3 final.
WHO’S HOT: Jeremie Fagnan has a three-game multi-hit streak going with seven hits in his last 13 at-bats, including a double in each game and three stolen bases. Kyle Richardson went 5-for-7 in last night’s doubleheader for the SteepleCats with a home run and three stolen bases of his own.
NEXT UP: The Blue Sox are back in action tomorrow against the Sanford Mainers for Fan Appreciation Night. It will be a doubleheader with the gates slated to open at 4:30 p.m. for the 5:30 p.m. start and will feature giveaways all night long, an appearance by Pat the Patriot, and post-game fireworks.