THE GO GO LIZZIES PREVAIL OVER THE M’s WITH A DRAMATIC GRAND THEFT VICTORY AT BICKFORD PARK
GRAND THEFT > With two outs and the game tied 5-5, Shamus (9) steals home and scores the Lizzies winning run over the Mariners in the bottom of the fourth inning at the Bickford Park diamond.
Beneath a ceiling of warm and sunny skies, the Lizzies edged the Mariners 6-5 in four thrilling innings of Mosquito Division action this evening at the Bickford Park diamond.
In a game knotted at 5-5, Shamus (9) of the Lizzies led off the bottom of the fourth with a walk and subsequently advanced to third on two stolen bases.
With the game on line, and the potential winning run standing sixty-five feet away, Mariners closer Jude (3) icily struck out the next two batters.
However, with two outs, Shamus seized the moment and boldly blazed homeward to steal the win with a dramatic slide at home.
The proceeding was an entertaining and well played affair from the first pitch to the nail biting finale contested between two gifted and well coached teams.
The Mariners would jump out to an early 4-0 lead in the top of the first. With one out, Joaquin (6), Reed (1) and Callum (2) drew consecutive walks to load the bases. Jude (3) followed with a 2 RBI double that allowed Joaquin and Reed to come home with the opening runs of the game. A subsequent Lizzies error would open the door for Callum to come home and Jude to move up to third.
With two outs, Felix (3) and Sebastian (2) [both Lizzies players on loan to the M’s to pad up their lineup] drew back to back walks to reload the bases. Alex (5) was hit by pitch and that allowed Jude to shimmy homeward.
In a strong effort, Lizzies starter Liam (11) struck out two in the top of the first.
The Lizzies would answer back with a run in the bottom of the first to trim the shortfall to three. After Luca P. (1) drew a lead off walk, Thomas (13) was hit by pitch with one out to put two runners on base. Liam followed with a RBI sacrifice hit to plate Luca P.
Mariners starter Liam (7) would strike out one in the first to subdue the Lizzies attack.
Lizzies reliever Sam (12) would strike out two in the top of the second to keep the Mariners moored to the dock and off the scoresheet.
In the bottom of the second, the Lizzies offense surged to life as they parlayed six walks and a hit into four runs to take a 5-4 lead. After Cameron (6), Kazuo (10) and Dylan (8) garnered walks to load the bases, Shamus drew a one out RBI walk to plate Cameron.
Luca P. followed with a RBI single that delivered Kazuo home. With two outs, Thomas and Liam drew back to back RBI walks that allowed Dylan and Shamus to come home to roost.
In a spirited foray, Mariners starter Liam struck out in the second inning.
The Mariners would rally with a run in the top of the third to tie the game 5-5. After drawing a walk to lead off the inning, Jude would swipe a pair of bases to advance to third. Felix would deliver a sacrifice hit to bring Jude homeward with the tying run.
Lizzies pitcher Liam would strike out two in the third to quell the Mariners insurgency.
In the bottom of the third, the Lizzies would threaten by loading the bases on three walks. However, with a little defensive help from his friends, Mariners reliever Jude (3) would strike out one to leave the bases stranded.
After issuing a pair of walks, Lizzies reliever Shamus (9) found the groove and struck out three in the top of the fourth to keep the Mariners in the Captain’s Mess and off the scoreboard.
And it was at this juncture, in the bottom of the fourth, where Shamus warmed up for his at bat in the on deck circle and came face to face with his moment with destiny.