IN A NAIL BITER, THE GO GO LIZZIES HANG ON FOR THE VICTORY OVER THE MAJESTIC ROYALS AT BICKFORD PARK
Lizzies southpaw reliever Sam (12) threw a scoreless third inning against the Royals at Bickford Park where he mowed down the opposing batting order in quick 1-2-3 fashion with three strikeouts. Sam also delivered the Lizzies game winning RBI in the fourth with a single that brought Dajuan (7) homeward bound.
Game Post composed with file from Devon Forbes
Below a ceiling of warm and hazy skies, the Lizzies edged the Royals 6-5 in a 4 ½ inning Mosquito Division nail biter this evening at the Bickford Park South Diamond.
In a well played affair between two talented and well coached teams, the pitching prowess of both teams came to the forefront as the Lizzies and Royals bullpens combined for eighteen strikeouts during the proceedings.
With runs coming at a premium, the Lizzies managed to fend off a valiant rally attempt by the Royals in the final frame to prevail for a hard fought victory over a tough opponent.
The Royals jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage in the top of the first. After Mekai (14) hit a one out double, Rory (2) delivered a two out RBI single that brought Mekai home with the opening run of the game.
Lizzies starter Felix (3) struck out two during the inning to quell the Royals uprising.
The Lizzies replied to the Royals initial salvo with three runs of their own in the bottom of the first to take a 3-1 lead. With one out, Eli (4) was hit by pitch and Cameron (6) drew a walk to put a pair of Lizzies on base. Jamie (15) would stroke a two out 2 RBI single to allow Eli and Cameron to come home and put the Go Go Lizzies into the lead. After reaching third on a stolen base and wild pitch, Jamie would scoot home on a Royals error.
With some defensive help from his friends, Royals starter Cal (13) struck out one during the frame to douse the Lizzies insurrection.
In the top of the second, the Royals scored a run to trim the deficit to one. After a one out single, James (6) would reach third on a wild pitch and a groundout. With two outs, James pounced upon a Lizzies error to motor home.
Lizzies reliever Cameron (6) struck out one Royal during the inning to extinguish the Royals rebellion.
Feasting upon a scrumptious Royals buffet offering of four walks, the Lizzies scored a run in the bottom of the second to re-establish their two run lead. After drawing a lead off walk, Sam (12) would reach third on a wild pitch and stolen base. A Royals error would allow Sam to saunter homeward.
Shaken, but not stirred, Royals reliever Jeshan (9) would pitch himself out of mojo jojo bases loaded jam by mowing down three Lizzies during the frame with a John Deere X534 Riding Lawn Mower to subdue the Go Go Lizzies mutiny.
With economical efficiency in the top of the third, Lizzies lefty reliever Sam (12) would mow down three Royals in 1-2-3 fashion with a Toro TimeCutter SW4200 Twin Zero-Turn Riding Mower to keep the Majestic Royals off the scoreboard and in the throne room.
The Lizzies would tack on a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the third to stretch their lead to 6-2. After Cameron and Dajuan (7) drew back to back walks to lead off the inning, Jamie followed with a single to load the bases. Felix would hit into a fielder’s choice that allowed Cameron to scoot home from third. Sam followed with a RBI single to bring Dajuan home to the nest.
Royals reliever James (6) would strike out a pair during the inning to quiet the Lizzies rioting.
Exercising discipline at the dish, the Royals seized upon a Lizzies handout of four walks in the top of the fourth to score two and trim the margin to 6-4. With the bases loaded, Henry (4) would draw a RBI walk to plate Jackson (8). Subsequently, with two outs and the bases juiced to the gills, Cal drew a RBI walk to bring home Zev (7).
Lizzies southpaw reliever Jamie (52) eventually found the groove during the inning and struck out two to snuff out the Royals rally.
In the bottom of the fourth, Royals reliever James struck out two to keep the Lizzies off the scoresheet.
With their backs to the wall, the Royals refused to quit in the top of the fifth as they gamely scored a run to trim the deficit to one. After Jeshan led off the frame with a lead off walk, he proceeded to reach third on a wild pitch and stolen base. With one out, Mekai delivered a RBI sacrifice hit to bring Jeshan home.
With the tying run standing only sixty-five feet away at third, Lizzies closer Shamus (9) would strike out a pair of Royals to seal the deal on the Go Go Lizzies victory.