THE ROYALS SNAP A 4-4 TIE IN THE THIRD INNING AND PULL AWAY FOR THE VICTORY OVER THE ATHLETICS AT BICKFORD PARK
Clockwise from top: With the ball zooming towards him and the bases loaded, Kaenoa (3) is poised to connect on a 2 RBI double in the fourth inning to give the Royals a 7-4 lead; With the game tied 4-4, Cal (13) delivered the Royals game winning RBI in the third with a single that brought Mekai (14) home; Royals closer Jackson (8) struck out three in the fifth to keep the A’s off the scoreboard and seal the deal on the 9-4 win.
Beneath a layer of hazy and cloudy skies, the Royals trumped the A’s 9-4 in five innings of Mosquito Division action this evening at the Bickford Park South Diamond.
In a quick paced and entertaining proceeding between two talented and well coached teams, the Royals eventually pulled away for the victory by making the most of the offensive opportunities presented to them and by using a stellar bullpen to stymie the A’s in the latter innings.
A’s starter Daniel (4) struck out two in the top of the first to keep the Royals off the scoresheet. The A’s defense turned a sweet 4-3 putout to record the third out.
With a little help from his friends, Royals starter Rory (2) struck out one in the bottom of the first to keep the Athletics off the scoreboard. With one out and a runner on base at first, the Royals defense answered the A’s salvo by turning a nifty 4-3 double play during the inning when the A’s lined out to the Royals second baseman, who then made a quick throw to first base to double up the wayfaring base runner.
The Royals parlayed five walks and two hits into four runs in the top of the second to take a 4-0 lead. After Rory and Cal (13) drew a pair of walks to lead off the inning, Dashiell (15) singled to load the bases. Matthew (5) followed with a RBI walk to bring Rory home with the first run of the game.
With one out and the bases juiced to the gills, Elayna (12) drew a RBI walk to plate Cal. Jackson (8) followed with a RBI single to score Dashiell. And James (6) would earn a RBI walk to deliver Matthew home.
In a spirited effort, A’s reliever Eli (15) struck out one during the frame.
The Athletics feasted upon a hit batsman and six walks to score four in the bottom of the second to tie the game. After Yona (1) was hit by pitch to lead off the inning, he proceeded to steal two bases and came home with the A’s first run on a Royals error.
With two outs, Riley (11), Owen (10) and Anthony (12) drew consecutive walks to load the bases. Riley would brazenly steal home from third to trim the margin to trim the deficit to two.
After Finn (5) garnered a walk to reload the bases, Stefano (9) and Seb (3) would draw respective RBI walks that allowed Owen and Anthony to come homeward bound.
In a strong effort, Royals reliever Cal (13) struck out two A’s during the inning.
The Royals would answer back with a run in the top of the third to retake the lead 5-4. With one out and two ducks on the pond, Cal stroked a RBI single that brought Mekai (14) home with the go ahead score.
A’s reliever Owen (10) would pitch himself out of a bases loaded jam by striking out two to quell the Royals uprising.
In the bottom of the third, Royals reliever Kaenoa (3) struck out two to keep the Athletics off the scoring ledger.
Going for the jugular, the Royals exploded for four insurance runs in the top of the fourth to widen their advantage to 9-4.
After Elayna and James were hit by pitch to put two runners aboard, Mekai stroked a one out single to load the bases. At this juncture, Kaenoa launched a 2 RBI double to deliver Elayna and James home. A subsequent A’s error on the play would also allow Mekai to come home. Next, a wild pitch would open the door for Kaenoa to blaze homeward.
Royals reliever James (6) would strike out two in the bottom of the fourth to keep the A’s off the scoring abacus.
After Cal tripled to lead off the Royals top half of the fifth, Matthew and Elayna would draw walks to load the bases. However, A’s reliever Finn (5) pitched out of the mojo jojo jam by striking out two to keep the Royals off the scoresheet.
Royals closer Jackson (8) would pitch a scoreless bottom of the fifth as he mowed down three A’s with a John Deere X540 Multi-Terrain Lawn Tractor to seal the deal on a hard fought win.