THE GRITTY ATHLETICS PREVAIL OVER THE PESKY WHITE SOX AT BICKFORD PARK
Beneath a canopy of hot and humid skies, the A’s defeated the White Sox 6-4 in four innings of Mosquito Division action this evening at the Bickford Park South Diamond.The A’s bolted out of the starter’s gate and staked themselves to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Following a lead off walk by Wolf (1), Pasha (7) delivered a RBI triple to bring Wolf home with the opening run of the game.
With one out and a runner on board at third, Cooper stroked a RBI triple that allowed Pasha to come homeward.
Archie (8) [a call up from the ‘Aces’ of Senior Rookie Ball Division] followed with a solid RBI single to plate Cooper.
White Sox starter Christian (3) would strike out two in the first to quell the A’s rebellion.
In the bottom of the first, A’s starter James (9) would strike out one to keep the White Sox off the scoring ledger and in the hamper.
James was helped out on nice defensive play for the first out of the inning. A’s shortstop Cooper would vacuum up a sharp grounder and make a laser throw to first baseman Archie to ring up the pretty 6-3 putout.
With the pedal to the metal, the Athletics scored another three in the top of the second to widen their lead to 6-0. After Pasha drew a lead off walk, J-O (15) was hit by pitch to put two runners on base. Cooper stepped into the batter’s box and launched a three run home run shot to the deep dish pizza nether regions of centre field.
With a little help from his friends, White Sox reliever Kade (4) would retire the next three batters to subdue the A’s insurrection.
Kade was helped out immeasurably during the inning with a stellar defensive play from his teammate. With one out and a base runner at third, James stoked a screaming line drive down the third baseline which was snagged by White Sox third baseman Christian to ring up the second out. With the White Sox baserunner wandering astray at thirs on the play, Christian stepped on the base to record the third out complete the solo double play.
Thw White Sox offense surged to life in the bottom of the second as they scored a pair to trim the deficit to four. After Thomas (6) reached base on a fielder’s choice and Kade singled to put two ducks on the pond, Tavaris (5) delivered a one out RBI single to bring Thomas home with the White Sox first run of the game.
With two outs and two aboard, Ethan (14) stroked a RBI single to plate Kade.
A’s reliever Pasha (7) would strike out two in the second to extinguish the White Sox uprising.
In the top of the third, White Sox reliever Tavaris (5) would strike out one to keep the A’s off the scoresheet and in the weight room.
Tavaris was also aided during the frame with a nice defensive play from his team. With one out and runners at second and first, White Sox first baseman Jonathan snared a sizzling hot line drive in the shoestrings of his glove to chalk up the second out. On the play, the A’s base runner decided to make a brazen bid to steal third. However, Jonathan made a rocket throw to third baseman Kade, who tagged out the White Sox player to tally the third out and complete the 3-5 double play.
In the bottom of the third, Athletics reliever Cooper (2) would now down three with a John Deere X730 Signature Series Riding Lawn Tractor to keep the White Sox off the scoreboard and in the dryer.
White Sox reliever Tavaris would mow down three with a Toro 50″ TimeCutter® SS5000 Lawn Tractor in the top of the fourth to keep the A’s off the scoring abacus and in the trainer’s room.
Refusing to go quietly into the night, the pesky White Sox donned their rally caps in the bottom of the fourth and scored two to slice the shortfall to two. After a lead off single, Tavaris would advance to third on an error and stolen base. Seizing his moment, Tavaris would steal home.
Following a walk by Anthony (9), Christian would garner a one out walk to put two mallards on the lake. With runners at third and second, Willem (12) followed with a RBI single that delivered Anthony home. On the play, Christian made a bid to come home. However, A’s shortstop Archie made a laser throw to catcher Cooper, who tagged out Christian to ring up the second out on the 6-2 putout play.
With two outs, A’s closer Wolf (1) would tally his second strikeout of the inning to seal the deal and bring the curtain down upon the proceedings.