MOSQUITO > Rays Sting Jays 12-1

TAKING NO PRISONERS, THE DEVILISH RAYS CAGE THE BLUEBIRDS AT BICKFORD PARK

PITCHIN’ IN > Rays starter Jordan (14) [top left], relievers Eli (11) [top right], Solly (12) [bottom right] and Emmett (6) [bottom left] combined to limit the Jays to only one run with nine strikeouts over the course of four innings at the Bickford Park South Diamond.

With the advent of the dog days of summer, the Jays only had four regular players in their line up at game time As a result, the Rays [who had ten players] kindly loaned the Jays two of their players to pad their roster. Along with the addition of a Rookie Ball Division call up, the Jays and Rays played 7 on 8 during the proceeding.

Solly (12) delivers a lead off double in the fourth inning. In three at bats, Solly went 3 for 3 [home run, two doubles] to power the Rays attack with three runs scored and 4 RBI’s.

After Emmett (6) walked and Eli (11) was hit by pitch to put two aboard, a Jays error allowed Emmett to blaze homeward.

Following a walk to Ash (2) that put two ducks on the pond, Rafi (1) delivered Eli home with a one out sacrifice hit.

In a spirited foray on the hill, Jays starter Julian (9) struck out one in the first.

With authority, Rays starter Jordan (1) retired the Jays in 1-2-3 fashion in the bottom of the first with three strikeouts to keep them in the birdfeeder and off the scoring ledger.

The Rays would tally another four in the top of the second to widen their advantage to 8-0. After a lead off walk by Simon (8), Jordan would single to put two Rays on base. Solly followed with a 2 RBI double to that allowed Simon and Jordan to come homeward bound. Emmett would stroke a RBI single to plate Solly.

In four at bats, Jordan (14) sparked the Rays offense by going 3 for 4 at the dish with two runs scored and a RBI.

Following a double by Eli that put runners at third and second, Ash delivered a sacrifice hit that allowed Emmett to come home to roost.

Jays reliever Maxi (7) had a workmanlike foray on the mound in the second frame.

The Jays would answer with a run in the bottom of the second to trim the deficit to seven. Following a one out single, Elliot (5) [on loan from the Rays] would steal a pair of bases to reach third. A Rays error on his swipe of third would allow Elliot to come home with the Jays first run.

Rays reliever Eli (11) would strike out three in the bottom of the second to quell the Jays uprising.

Jays reliever Joey (4) [on loan from the Rays] would strike out one in the top of the third to keep the Rays off the scoresheet and in the marina.

Joey would receive a big defensive play from his teammates to stem the Rays momentum. With one out and base runners at second and first, shortstop Elliot would catch a mile high pop up off the bat of Jordan to ring up the second out. Noticing that the Rays base runner had strayed too far from second base without tagging up, Elliot hustled over to second to complete the unassisted double play.

Graeme (13) of the Rays delivers a 2 RBI single in the fourth inning.

With 1-2-3 flair in the bottom of the third, Rays reliever Solly (12) would mow down three Jays with a Toro 42″ TimeCutter SWX4250 Lawn Tractor to keep the Jays in the nest and off the scoreboard.

The Rays would tack on four insurance runs in the top of the fourth to extend their lead to 12-1. Following a lead off double by Solly, Emmett stroked a RBI single to bring him home to crow.

After a walk to Eli that put two mallards on the lake, Graeme (13) delivered a one out 2 RBI single that allowed Solly and Eli to advance homeward.

With two outs, Rafi singled and Simon garnered a walk to put two runners on base. Jordan would stroke a RBI single to plate Rafi.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Jays refused to go quietly into the night. After Julian led off the inning with a single, Elliot hit the ball back to the mound. As Rays closer Emmett (6) fielded the ball, he made a laser throw to shortstop Eli to complete the force out at second base on the fielder’s choice.

With one out and a runner on board, Joey followed with a grounder back to the mound. After fielding the ball, Emmett threw over to first baseman Graeme for the 1-3 putout. Noticing that Elliot was trying to take third on the play, Graeme made a quick throw to third baseman Solly, who tagged out a sliding Elliot to complete the 3-5 putout and chalk up a double play to end the game.