HOLYOKE, MA—On what might have been mistaken for laundry day at Mackenzie Stadium, it was the Blue Sox who were taken to the cleaners by the Bay Sox, falling just short in a 7-6 loss that featured three errors by each side.
Holyoke got out to a fast start as New Bedford struggled defensively in the first, with two errors helping to both Holyoke runs; second baseman Jason Lombardozzi advanced on an error after a walk and then scored when third baseman Brendan Hendriks singled; first baseman Sal Annunziata then scored on an error by his opposing number to give Holyoke a 2-0 lead.
In the fifth, however, the Bay Sox squared it up with one swing of the bat, as left fielder Carl Anderson stroked a two-run single to center as one of his three hits on the night. They then took a lead in the following frame, with Anderson again providing the offense with an RBI single on the infield.
The Bay Sox then broke it open in the eighth, scoring four times, as right fielder Kurt Seiders hit a sacrifice fly to start the scoring, followed up by designated hitter Christopher Shaw’s two run double to right, and capped by catcher Christopher Travers singling to left to plate Shaw.
However, Holyoke came right back in the bottom half, with Annunziata singling on the infield to bring in shortstop Joseph Carcone, and catcher Joel Fisher bashing a bases-loaded double to right to make it 7-6.
In the ninth, Holyoke had runners on first and second with two outs, but Bay Sox closer Nick Friar got center fielder Jacob Bruce to strike out swinging, one of three strikeouts in the frame, to end the game and earn the save.
New Bedford starter Frank Villacha tossed eight innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits and one walk with seven strikeouts to take the win; Holyoke starter Nick Sanchez gave up three runs on five hits with five walks and seven strikeouts to take the loss.
Holyoke next plays at home tomorrow against the Ocean State Waves at Mackenzie Stadium. Gates open at 5:30 PM for the 6:35 PM start, with Wally the Green Monster set to appear at the game.