IN A SEESAW BATTLE, THE D-BACKS PREVAIL OVER THE BIG RED MACHINE IN A THRILLER AT DOMINICO FIELD
Trailing 8-7, Duke (15) of the Diamondbacks takes advantage of a Reds wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth inning to come barreling home from third base with a stylistic slide and score the tying run at Dominico Field at Christie Pits.
Diamondbacks third baseman Jordan (2) runs down Gabriel (8) of the Reds to complete a 2-5-2-5 putout in the second inning.
Beneath a canvas of tranquil summer skies, the Diamondbacks edged the Reds 10-9 in five exciting innings of Bantam Division play this afternoon at Dominico Field at Christie Pits.
With the game deadlocked 9-9, the Diamondbacks would load the bases in the bottom of the fifth on a lead off walk by Emily (14), a single by Jonathan (13) and a walk by Thomas (9). Victor (14) would step into the batter’s box and stroke a RBI single that would deliver Emily home with the game winning run.
The proceeding was a spirited affair that was contested by two talented and well coached teams.
In the top of the first, the Reds staked themselves to an early 4-0 lead. After Zack (1) and Rory (7) led off the frame with back to back walks to put two aboard, Zack would eventually come home on a wild pitch to score the opening run of the game.
After Iliana (13) and Naz (3) garnered walks to load the bases, Qingyuan (14) delivered a RBI single to bring home Rory. With the bases still loaded, Nicholas (4) followed with a RBI walk that plated Iliana.
Diamondbacks reliever Hayden (8) would pitch a scoreless second inning while striking out one.
Subsequently, with one out and the bases still juiced to the gills, Eric (15) drew a RBI walk that allowed Naz to come home to crow.
The Diamondbacks would answer back with one in the bottom of the first to trim the deficit to three. With a runner on third, Daniel delivered a sacrifice fly to left field that allowed Leo (10) to motor home with the D-Backs first run of the game. Of note, Reds left fielder Naz made a nice over the head shoestring catch on Daniel’s sacrifice.
After allowing a lead off walk to Leo, Reds southpaw starter Qingyuan (14) would retire three in a row to bring the curtain down on the bottom of the first.
In 1-2-3 fashion, Diamondbacks reliever Hayden (8) would strike out one in the top of the second to keep the Big Red Machine off the scoreboard.
Hayden was also helped out immeasurably on a nice defensive play from his teammates. After being hit by pitch with one out, Gabriel (8) of the Reds would advance to third on a pair of stolen bases. Subsequently, Gabriel wandered too far from third and was erased on pretty 2–5-2-5 putout executed by Diamondbacks catcher Michael (12) and third baseman Jordan (2).
Qingyuan (14) of the Reds connects for a RBI single in the third inning. In three at bats, Qingyuan went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI’s to spark the Big Red Machine.
The Diamondbacks would take advantage of four walks and rally for four runs in the bottom of the second to take a 5-4 lead. Jordan, Emily, Jonathan and Thomas would draw consecutive walks and all would come home to roost after a cornucopia series of stolen bases, passed balls, wild pitches and a faux pas.
However, the Reds would reply with four in the top of the third to retake the lead 8-5. After Rory, Iliana and Naz led off the frame with consecutive walks to load the bases, Quingyuan delivered a RBI single to bring in Rory with the tying run. A passed ball would open the door for Iliana to motor home with the go ahead run.
After Nicholas drew a walk to reload the bases, Flynn (4) reached base on a fielder’s choice that retired Qingyuan at third, allowed Nicholas to move to second and brought Naz home. Following a walk to Eric that juiced the bases to gills, Niall (12) garnered a RBI walk to bring Nicholas home.
Reds reliever Niall (12) would use 3 K’s to mow the down the D-Backs in 1-2-3 fashion in the third inning.
With 1-2-3 efficiency, Reds reliever Niall would strike out three in the bottom of the third to keep the D-Backs off the scoring ledger.
Diamondbacks reliever Michael (12) would strike out one in the top of the fourth to keep the Big Red Machine off the scoresheet.
Michael was helped out during the inning by some defensive trickery from his team. Diamondbacks third baseman Hayden used the hidden ball trick to erase a Reds baserunner at third base.
The Diamondbacks would take advantage of three walks in the bottom of the fourth to score four and retake the lead 9-8. After drawing a lead off walk, Michael would swipe two bases to reach third and come blazing home on a wild pitch.
After Daniel’s walk and two stolen bases, Duke (15) drew a walk to put two D-Backs on base. Jordan followed with a RBI single to bring Daniel home and trim the shortfall to one.
With the game deadlocked 9-9 and the bases loaded, Victor (14) would deliver a RBI single to bring home the Diamondbacks game winning run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
A series of wild pitches to the backstop opened the portals for Duke to come home stylistically with the tying run and Jordan to mosey homeward with the go ahead run.
Refusing to surrender, the Big Red Machine rallied in the top of the fifth to tie the proceeding 9-9. After Naz led off the frame with a walk, Qingyuan hit into a 4-3 that allowed Naz to advance to second. After a wild pitch allowed him to move to third, Naz came speeding home on a passed ball to score the tying run.
Diamondbacks reliever Jonathan (13) would strike out one in the fifth to quell the Reds uprising.
With two outs and Reds at third and second, Jonathan got some nice defensive help from D-Backs shortstop Daniel, when he stretched all out in left field to nab a dying quail off the bat of Niall to chalk up the third out.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Diamondbacks would patiently load the bases on a lead off walk by Emily, a single by Jonathan, and a walk by Thomas. Victor (14) would step into the batter’s box and deliver a RBI single to bring Emily home with the D-Backs winning run.