IN A NAIL BITER, THE BLUE BIRDS HANG ON TO TOP THE ATHLETICS IN A THRILLER AT BICKFORD PARK
Clinging to a razor thin lead, Jays closer Malcolm (12) would strike out two in the third inning to seal the deal on the Jays 7-6 victory over the A’s at the Bickford Park South Diamond.
Under a hazy canvas of warm and humid skies, the Jays edged the A’s 7-6 in three exciting innings of Mosquito Division action this evening at the Bickford Park South Diamond.
![Riley (5) of the A's delivers a 2 RBI single in the first. In two at bats, Riley powered the A's attack against the Jays by going 1 for 1 [single, walk] with 3 RBI's.](https://torontoplaygrounds.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DSC08663-001.jpg)
Riley (5) of the A’s delivers a 2 RBI single in the first. In two at bats, Riley powered the A’s attack by going 1 for 1 [single, walk] with 3 RBI’s versus the Jays.
In the top of the first, the Jays sent nine batters to the dish and took advantage of six walks to take an early 3-0 lead. After Jordan (15), Hiroki (13) and Angus (10) garnered walks to load the bases, Ky (5), Malcolm (12) and Noah (8) followed with respective bases loaded RBI walks to bring them home to roost.
With resolve, A’s starter Elias (13) would strikeout three in the first to quell the Jays rebellion.
The Athletics would answer back with two in the bottom half of the first to trim the deficit to one. After Alex (10) was hit by pitch to lead off the inning, Elias followed with a walk to put two ducks on the pond. Riley (5) would follow with a 2 RBI single that allowed both Alex and Elias to come homeward bound.
With a pair of Jays on base, Jays starter Hiroki (13) would ring up three strikeouts utilizing a John Deere D170 25-HP V-Twin Hydrostatic 54-inch Lawn Tractor to extinguish the A’s uprising in the first.
Feasting upon six walks, the Jays would reply with four in the top of the second to extend their lead to 7-2. After Myles (4) led off the frame with a single, Julian (9) and Aidan (1) would draw respective walks to load the bases. Findlay (3), Maxi (7), Jordan and Gabe (6) would follow with RBI walks to bring Myles, Julian, Aidan and Findlay home to crow.
With the Jays ahead 7-6 and threatening to pull away, A’s reliever Eric (6) struck out two in the third frame to quell the Blue Birds insurgency.
In a gritty effort, A’s reliever James (9) had a workmanlike foray on the mound in the second.
Like a prized boxer, the A’s answered the Jays salvo in the bottom of the second by taking advantage of six walks to plate four and slice the shortfall to one. After Jean-Olivier (15), Wolf (1) and Pasha (7) drew consecutive walks to lead off the frame and load the bases, James garnered a RBI walk to bring home Jean-Olivier. Alex would follow with a RBI single to plate Wolf and trim the margin to 7-4.
After Elias singled to reload the bases, Riley and Noah followed with RBI walks that allowed James and Alex to shimmy on home.
In a spirited effort, Jays reliever Angus (10) had a workmanlike foray on the hill in the second.
The Jays would put a pair of baserunners on the pond in the top of the third. However, A’s reliever Eric (6) would strike out two to quash the Jays insurgency.
Down 7-6, the Athletics put two mallards on the lake in the bottom of the third in a feverish rally bid. With one out, Jays closer Malcolm (12) would strike out the final two A’s batters to seal the deal on a hard fought win over a tough A’s team.
In a postgame media interview, Jays Coach Philip Ramcharan was happy with the result: “It was a big win for the Jays. There was some good fielding by Hiroki and Zachary (14). Great pitching by Malcolm. Good effort by Angus for trying to pitch for the first time. A hit for Christian (11)! It was a close game with some good pitching and defense on both sides.”