THE BIG RED MACHINE PREVAIL OVER THE NITTY GRITTY RANGERS AT DOMINICO FIELD AT CHRISTIE PITS
GRAND THEFT > In a close play at the plate, Cole (4) of the Reds eludes the tag attempt of Rangers catcher Cameron (14) to complete a successful steal of home in the top of the first inning and score the opening run of the Rangers-Reds Bantam Division game at Dominico Field at Christie Pits.
Beneath a serene layer of picture perfect blue skies, the Reds defeated the Rangers 13-8 in five innings of Bantam Division action this afternoon at Dominico Field at Christie Pits.
The proceeding, contested by two talented and well coached teams, was a tight seesaw affair in the early innings. In the end, the Reds prevailed for the victory by making the most of the opportunities that unfolded and by neutralizing the potent Rangers batting order in the latter frames.
In the top of the first, the Reds jumped out to an early 1-0 lead. After Cole (2) stroked a one out single and stole second, Gabriel (8) followed with a single that put Reds at third and first. Then the Reds executed a delayed double steal where Gabriel took second and Cole bolted home with the opening run of the game.
Rangers starter Cormac (3) would strike out two in the first to quell the Reds uprising.
The Rangers answered back with a run in the bottom of the first to tie the game 1-1. After drawing a lead off walk, Josh (12) proceeded to steal a pair of bases to reach third. As the Reds uncorked a wild pitch, Josh blazed home with the tying run.
Reds starter Cole (2) would mow down the next three batters with a 42″ Toro TimeCutter SS4200 Lawn Tractor to chalk up three K’s and subdue the Rangers insurgency.
With a little help from his friends, Rangers starter Cormac would retire the Reds in 1-2-3 fashion in the top of the second to keep them off the scoring ledger.
After walking the Reds leadoff batter [Eric (15)], Cormac was helped out immeasurably when Rangers catcher Cameron (14) made a cannon of a throw to second baseman Michael (4), who applied the 2-4 putout tag on a sliding Alex, who was attempting to steal second.
In the bottom of the second, the Rangers scored a run to take a 2-1 lead. After leading off the frame with a walk, Jacob (11) would brazenly steal his way around the bases and come home with the go ahead run.
Reds reliever Niall (12) would strike out two to subdue the Rangers rebellion.
Niall was also helped out on a nice defensive play by Reds second baseman Willem (5), who battled the intense glare of the noon day sun to make a nifty catch on an eight mile high pop up off the bat of Julian (4) of the Rangers to ring up the third out of the inning.
The Big Red Machine would make mincemeat out of six walks in the top of the third to score four and retake the lead 5-2. After Niall, Rory (7) and Quinyaun (14) drew consecutive walks to load the bases to start the frame, Cole muscled a RBI single that allowed Niall to motor home with the tying run.
A subsequent error and wild pitch would allow Rory and Quinyaun to come homeward bound and give the Reds a 4-2 lead.
After Gabriel and Flynn (4) drew back to back walks to reload the bases, Simon (9) would draw a RBI walk to plate Cole.
Rangers reliever Michael (4) put in a spirited foray on the mound in the third.
However, the gritty Rangers answered the Reds offensive salvo by scoring four runs in the bottom of the third to retake the lead 6-5. After Josh led off the inning with a walk, Cameron would draw a two out walk to put two ducks on the pond. After Josh and Cameron stole a base, Josh would blaze home on a passed ball.
Jacob (11) followed with a RBI single that allowed Cameron to come home and trim the deficit to one.
Avi (5) and Michael would follow with back to back walks to load the bases. Subsequently, Jacob would roar home on a passed ball to tie the game and Avi would blaze homeward with the go ahead run on another passed ball.
Reds reliever Rory (7) would strike out two Rangers in the third inning.
In the top of the fourth, the Big Red Machine answered back with four to regain the advantage 9-6. After Willem drew a walk and Zac (1) singled to put two mallards on the lake, Niall would deliver a one out RBI single to bring Willem home with the tying run.
After Rory reached base on a dropped third strike to load the bases, Cole drew a RBI walk that delivered Zac home with the go ahead run.
Gabriel followed with a bases loaded RBI single to bring Niall home to roost. A Rangers error would allow Rory to mosey on home.
Reds pitcher Niall would strike out two in the bottom of the fourth to keep the Rangers in the slammer and off the scoring ledger.
The Reds would tack on four insurance runs in the top of the fifth to widen their lead to 13-6. After Flynn, Simon and Eric led off the frame with consecutive walks to load the bases, Willem stroked a RBI single that allowed Flynn to shimmy homeward. Zac would follow with a RBI single that brought Simon home to roost.
With the bases still juiced to the gills, Niall delivered a RBI sacrifice hit that plated Eric.
After Cole drew a two out walk to reload the bases, Willem would take advantage of a passed ball to zoom home with another run.
In a workmanlike effort on the mound, Rangers reliever Jacob (1) struck out one in the fifth.
The Rangers would gamely rally for two in the bottom of the fifth to trim the shortfall to five. Cormac and Michael would run the bases with wild abandon in order to come home to crow.
Reds hurler Cole would strike out one in the fifth to seal the deal on a sweet victory for the Big Red Machine.