HOLYOKE, MA–The reeling Valley Blue Sox head back home and try to make it back over .500 as they host the Vermont Mountaineers in a key North Division doubleheader.
The Red Sox 2004, 2007, and 2013 World Series Trophies will be at the game from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for fans to see and take pictures with.
KEY LINKS: Tickets | Blue Sox Roster | Mountaineers Roster | Scoreboard | Standings | Watch/Listen LIVE
LAST TIME THEY MET: The Blue Sox bats broke out of their slump with a pair of three spots in the middle frames as they downed the Vermont Mountaineers 6-2 at Mackenzie Stadium on June 11.
Vermont jumped out to an early lead, taking advantage of a leadoff single, error, sacrifice, and groundout to work in a run before the Blue Sox had even picked up their bats.
However, the pendulum of momentum finally swung in Valley’s favor in the fourth, as left fielder Storm Wilson beat out a bunt, stole second, and reached third on a wild pitch before catcher Justin Morhardt blooped a single to left to plate Wilson. Designated hitter Joseph Carcone singled, and after they were sacrificed over, shortstop Angelo La Bruna ripped a double to right to bring both Morhardt and Carcone in to give Valley the 3-1 lead.
The Blue Sox added to the lead in the sixth, as Wilson and Carcone both singled, and with Wilson on third, second baseman Michael Korte hit a slow roller to short that allowed Wilson to come home. La Bruna drove Carcone home with a single to right, and after center fielder Bobby Stahel also singled, third baseman Frank Crinella drove a ball to center to bring La Bruna in for the third run of the inning and sixth of the game.
Meanwhile, starter Zach Strecker was efficient in cutting down Mountaineer hitters, allowing just the one run on three hits in seven frames, fanning five, walking none, and throwing just 69 pitches in the process. He handed the ball over to Joe DiBenedetto and then Mike McGee for the eighth and ninth, respectively, and though the Mountaineers did add one in the ninth, they could not come back.
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Blue Sox are 22-17 against the Mountaineers in the history of the series between the teams, with a 14-6 home edge. They swept a doubleheader last season at Mackenzie Stadium, although they were considered the road team for the first of the two contests.
PITCHING PROBABLES: Anthony Elia will take the ball for Game 1 of the doubleheader for the Blue Sox. The Seton Hall lefty is 1-0 with a 2.07 ERA, having fanned 13 batters in his 8.2 innings so far this year. He threw four innings of two-hit shutout relief in his most recent appearance, an 11-5 win against New Bedford, striking out six. He started June 7 at Vermont, getting no decision after going 4.2 innings with two runs on three hits with three walks and seven strikeouts. Opposing him will be Millersville righthander Jim McDade. He has made three appearances this year and has no record with a 2.84 ERA; his most recent outing saw him go 7.2 innings against Danbury on June 14, allowing four runs but just one earned on eight hits with no walks and two strikeouts. He threw four innings in the game against the Blue Sox on June 7, allowing three runs on four hits with a walk and four strikeouts.
LAST TIME OUT: The Blue Sox dropped their fourth straight with a walk-off 5-4 loss at North Adams yesterday.
The Blue Sox wasted no time in getting on the board, as left fielder Storm Wilson hit a double down the left field line on the first pitch. Designated hitter Angelo La Bruna came to the plate next, and after taking a wild pitch that allowed Wilson to move to third, hit a grounder to short that allowed Wilson to score.
The game remained scoreless until the sixth, when the SteepleCats took advantage of mental errors by the Blue Sox. A hit batsmen led off the frame, and after he stole second, he was driven in by a single. Another stolen base, followed by a throwing error by the catcher allowed a second run to score. Yet another error in right allowed a third run to score, and a sacrifice fly plated the fourth.
Valley got a run back in the seventh, as third baseman Frank Crinella drew a bases-loaded walk; the team could not bring in any further runs.
However, in the eighth, the Blue Sox came roaring back. Right fielder Bobby Stahel was hit by the first pitch of the inning, and then second baseman Joseph Carcone used ten pitches before driving a double down the left field line. Shortstop Garrett Black hit a grounder to score Stahel, and then Carcone came in on a wild pitch to tie the score 4-4.
The Blue Sox had a chance to score, with second and third in the ninth, but could not bring in the run. That proved fatal, as the SteepleCats worked a walk, a single, and a liner to right to end the game with a 5-4 win.
The Mountaineers won a wild 16-9 victory at Laconia yesterday. They fell behind 4-0 after 2 1/2, only to score five in the home half of the third to take a lead that they then gave right back by allowing three more in the top of the fourth. Each of the next three half innings saw a run score to make the tally 8-7 Laconia, but in the sixth the Mountaineers added four, then two in the seventh and three in the eighth to take a 16-9 win.
WHO’S HOT: Frank Crinella reached base four times last night, including a bases loaded walk. Storm Wilson had a double and a bunt single as well and is now up to .357 on the year. The Mountaineers had six players with three or more hits last night, but Trey Amburgey was the most notable, going five-for-six with three runs and four RBI to bring his average up to .348.
GAME-TIME WEATHER FORECAST: Partly cloudy, 76 degrees, winds west at 5 MPH, 0% chance of rain.
NEXT UP: The Blue Sox finish off the two-day homestand when they face the Newport Gulls in an inter-divisional matchup with a Sunday start time of 5:05 p.m.