HOLYOKE, MA–The Blue Sox return to Mackenzie Stadium tonight to battle the Keene Swamp Bats in their first home meeting against their rivals this season. Boston Red Sox mascot Wally the Green Monster will be in attendance at tonight’s game. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for the 6:35 p.m. contest.
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LAST TIME THEY MET: The Blue Sox had a six run lead, but in the fifth inning things fell apart as a seven run outburst put the Keene Swamp Bats in the win column as they took a 9-7 victory at Alumni Field on June 19.
In the first, left fielder Storm Wilson reached on an error, and the Blue Sox made the Swamp Bats pay, as designated hitter Trey Sikes drove a ball over the fence and trees in left field for his third home run of the year, making it 2-0 before Keene even picked up the bats.
In the third, catcher Todd Ezold hit a single to left, and a bunt attempt by Wilson was thrown away. That allowed third baseman Bobby Zarubin to come up with two in scoring position, and he hit a grounder that scored Ezold to make it 3-0, though Wilson was erased on the fielder’s choice.
In the fifth, the Blue Sox scored quickly, as Wilson ripped a double to left field and then right fielder Bobby Stahel hit a home run just to the right of center field, his second of the year, to make it 5-0. Sikes followed up two batters later with his second home run of the night and fourth of the year to make it 6-0.
However, the wheels fell off in the bottom half of the frame. The Swamp Bats rattled off seven straight hits to score six times and tie the game, knocking Strecker out. Joe Debenedetto came in to pitch after a three-run double made it 6-6, and after another single, a sacrifice fly made it 7-6 for the home team.
The Swamp Bats added an insurance run the following inning to take an 8-6 lead.
In the eighth, the Blue Sox struck again as La Bruna powered a pitch over the left center field fence for his first home run of the year, making it 8-7. However, the Swamp bats scored on a sacrifice fly in the bottom half to regain the two run edge and earn the 9-7 win.
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Blue Sox are 11-29 against the Swamp Bats, with a 5-14 mark at from Mackenzie Stadium. They did win their last contest at Mackenzie Stadium against Keene, a 4-2 victory in Game 2 of the West Division Semifinals last season.
PITCHING PROBABLES: The Blue Sox hand the ball to Baylor righty Nick Lewis today in hopes that he continues his strong start. He went 5.2 innings last time out at North Adams on June 20, allowing three earned on five hits and a strikeout. He has pitched once against Keene this year, on June 12, striking out eight over seven innings of six hit shutout baseball in a 6-0 win. Matt Blandino will start for Keene. The righthander from Central Connecticut State last pitched against the Blue Sox and was knocked around on June 19, giving up six runs on six hits in 4.2 innings at Alumni Field.
LAST TIME OUT: The Blue Sox suffered another gut-wrenching loss last night, giving up a tying ninth-inning home run and ultimately losing 5-4 in 11 innings at the Laconia Muskrats. Valley jumped out to a 1-0 lead as right fielder Bobby Zarubin drove a double into the gap to plate first baseman Trey Sikes in the second inning, but Laconia responded with a run of their own in the home half. In the third, center fielder Storm Wilson walked, stole second, and took third on a single by third baseman Frank Crinella, and then scored on a wild pitch.
Meanwhile, starter Zach Strecker was on his A-game, throwing seven frames of five hit baseball, with just the one run allowed, fanning six.
In the eighth, the Blue Sox appeared to break it open. Mendez Elder ripped a pinch-hit double to lead the frame off, and Zarubin walked. Second baseman Michael Korte and Wilson both hit sacrifices to bring in Elder, and then Crinella singled to score Zarubin. However, the Muskrats responded. They quickly loaded the bases against reliever Daniel Starwalt, and scored a run after Anthony Elia came in and induced a double play. A single in the next at-bat made it 4-3. Then in the ninth, a first-pitch leadoff home run by Braxton Martinez tied the game 4-4.
The Muskrats had a chance to win it in the tenth as they got a single with a runner on second, but a perfect throw from Wilson, who had moved to left field, cut the runner down at the plate to extend the game. Valley would have no such luck in the eleventh, however, as a leadoff walk proved to be the winning run after a sacrifice and a single gave the Muskrats the 5-4 victory.
Keene suffered a 1-0 setback at North Adams. The only run came in the bottom of the eighth as a double by Ramon Valdez was turned into a run by a bunt and then a single.
WHO’S HOT: Blue Sox shortstop Garrett Black has at least one hit in eight of his last nine games. Keene’s Benjamin Criscuolo has been perfect out of the bullpen, allowing just four hits with no runs in 10.1 innings, fanning 14 over his 9 appearances.
GAME-TIME WEATHER FORECAST: Partly cloudy,81 degrees, winds south at 7 MPH, 0% chance of rain.
NEXT UP: The Blue Sox are off tomorrow before heading to Sanford on Monday June 30. They host the Mainers in their next home game, Thursday July 4.