MOSQUITO > Rays Tie Up Jays 11-11

DOWN 11-5, THE PESKY RAYS STAGE A MIRACULOUS SIX RUN RALLY IN THE FINAL INNING TO TIE THE BLUEBIRDS AT BICKFORD PARK

WILD WILD RAYS > After a two out RBI single by Javert (14) in the second inning brought Devon (7) [top] home with the Rays fourth run, Javert took advantage of a pair of Jays errors to motor home and elude the tag of catcher Vincent (7) to score the Rays fifth run of the game at the Bickford Park diamond.

As Jays catcher Jeremy (4) and TP Umpire Ben Leger watch the pitch sailing high, Devin (6) draws a two out bases loaded RBI walk that allows Devon (7) to come home with the Rays tying run in the third inning.

Trailing 11-5, the pesky Rays refused to wave the white flag of surrender as they gamely donned their rally caps and sent twelve batters to the plate in the bottom of the third to stage a miracle six run comeback to square the proceedings.

After being hit by pitch to open the inning, Sadie (1) stole a base to reach second. Devin (6) would follow with a single that put Rays at first and third. At this juncture, Rays Coach Diane McCallum called for a daring double steal that saw Devin swipe second and draw a throw from the Jays catcher, allowing Sadie to steal home.

After stealing a pair of bases to reach third, Devin would motor homeward on a Jays error to trim the deficit to four.

After drawing a one out walk and a stolen base to advance to second, Lucas (8) made a brazen bid to steal third. However, Jays catcher Jeremy (4) gunned him down when he made a silver bullet throw to third baseman Vincent (7), who adroitly applied the tag on Lucas for the second out of the frame.

With two outs, PJ (2) and Margaret (11) garnered a pair of walks to put two Rays on the basepaths. Dante (13)  would follow with a single. On the play, the Jays committed an error that allowed PJ to blaze homeward.

After Devon (7) was hit by pitch to load the bases, Javert (14) drew a RBI walk that allowed Margaret to shimmy home and trim the margin to 11-9.

With the bases loaded, Sadie would garner a RBI walk that brought Dante home to roost and make it a one run game.

Exercising patience at the dish, Devin would draw a grace under pressure two out bases loaded walk that allowed Devon to come home with the tying run.

Shaken, but not stirred, Jays closer James (13) dug deep into his reserve tank to induce the next Rays batter to ground out to second for the third out and preserve the tie with Rays.

On a very warm day at the park, the game was an entertaining affair from start to finish where walks (twenty five in total) and runs galore dominated the proceeding played by two talented and well coached teams.

Exercising patience at the dish, the Jays parlayed six walks and a hit batsman into four runs in the top of the first to take an early 4-0 lead. After Jeremy, Matthew (11) and Luz (5) garnered consecutive walks to lead off the inning and load the bases, Ernesto (15) was hit by pitch and that allowed Jeremy to shimmy home with the opening run of the game.

Andre (6), Vincent and Joshua (3) would follow with respective bases loaded RBI walks that would allow Matthew, Luz and Ernesto to come homeward bound.

Rays starter Javert (14) had a spirited foray on the mound in the first.

The Rays would answer back with a run in the bottom of the first to trim the deficit to three. After drawing a one out walk, Javert would brazenly steal a pair of bases to reach third. Javert would come blazing home with the Rays first run on a wild pitch.

Jays starter Jeremy (4) would strike out one in the bottom of the first to subdue the Rays insurgency.

With two outs and a Rays runner on first, Jeremy was also helped out by nifty 6-4 putout by his defense. Shortstop Andre snagged a sharply hit grounder off the bat of Ethan (15) and made a lightning throw to second baseman Luz to complete the force out at second and record the third out of the frame.

In the top of the second, the Jays added three more to their tally to widen their lead to 7-1. With one out, Jeremy [walk], Matthew [single] and Luz [walk] would get on to load the bases. Andre would follow with a two out RBI walk to plate Jeremy.

Vincent would step into the batter’s box and stroke a clutch 2 RBI single that delivered Matthew and Luz home.

Rays reliever PJ (2) would strike out one in the second to extinguish the Jays uprising.

The Rays bats came to life in the bottom of the second as they scored four to trim the margin to 7-5. After a one out walk, PJ would advance to third on a stolen base and a Jays error. Margaret (11) followed with a walk to put two Rays on the basepaths. Dante (13) would deliver PJ home on a fielder’s choice. Subsequently, Dante would motor home on a Jays error.

After a two out single by Devon (7), Javert would stroke a RBI single to bring him home. Taking advantage of a pair of Jays errors on the play, Javert would barrel all the way home to score the fourth Rays run on close play at the plate.

In a determined effort, Jays reliever Ernesto (15) had a spirited pitching stint on the hill in the second.

However, the Jays replied with four in the top of the third to widen their lead to 11-5. After leading off double by Jeremy, Matthew and Luz would earn back to back walks to load the bases. Ernesto, Andre and Vincent would follow with respective RBI walks to plate Jeremy, Matthew and Luz.

With the bases still juiced to the gills, Ernesto would speed homeward on a Rays error.

In a determined effort, Rays reliever Devin (6) had a spirited foray on the mound in the third.

And it was at this juncture in the proceedings where the Rays came to bat in the bottom of the third and staged a miracle comeback.