THE DEVILISH RAYS PREVAIL OVER THE BLUEBIRDS AT BICKFORD PARK
With the game tied 6-6 and the winning run at third base, Liam (7) delivers a clutch two out RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning that propelled the Rays to a 7-6 Mosquito Division victory over the Jays at the Bickford Park South Diamond. In three at bats, Liam sparked the Rays attack by going 3 for 3 [home run, two singles] at the plate with a run scored and three RBI’s. In addition, Liam also pitched two scoreless innings of relief where he struck all six Jays batters that he faced to earn the win.
With the game deadlocked 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth, Finn (14) drew a leadoff walk to put the potential winning run on base. After Finn stole a pair of bases to advance himself to third. Jays reliever Nolan (5) struck out the next two Rays batters.
With two outs and the game on the line, Liam (7) stroked a grace under pressure RBI single to bring Finn home with the Rays winning run.
The proceeding was an entertaining seesaw affair that was contested between two talented teams. In the end, the gritty Rays just managed to eke out a victory over the pesky Jays in their final at bat.
Exercising patience at the dish, the Jays feasted upon a Mandarin buffet serving of eight walks in the top of the first inning to jump out to an early 4-0 lead. Following a leadoff walk by Adam J. (10), Adam B. (8) would follow with a walk that put two mallards on the lake.
At this juncture, Adam J. bolted from second base to make a brazen bid to steal third. However, Rays catcher Nikhil (1) made a laser throw to third baseman Malik (6), who slapped the tag on a sliding Adam J. to thwart his grand theft dreams and ring up the 2-5 putout.
After Jonas (4) followed with a one out walk that put runners at second and first, the Jays executed a double steal. On the play, the Rays defence would commit an error that allowed Jonas to advance to third and Adam B. to motor home with the opening run of the game.
Following back to back walks to Joshua (12) and William (15) that loaded the bases, Thomas (7) garnered a RBI walk to bring Jonas home to crow.
With two outs and the bases still juiced to the gills, Christian (1) and Asher (13) drew respective RBI walks to plate Joshua and William.
In a spirited foray on the hill, Rays starter Sebastien (2) would strike out one in the first frame.
In the bottom of the first, the Rays would reply with three to trim the deficit to one. Following a one out walk by Sebastien, Liam would deliver a two run home run blast to the nether regions of the outfield.
With two outs, Nikhil would garner a walk and advance to third on a stolen base and a Jays error. A subsequent wild pitch would allow Nikhil to come home to roost.
Jays starter Adam B. (8) would strike out two in the first to quell the Rays uprising.
The Jays would answer back with a pair in the top of the second to extend their lead to 6-3. After Adam J. and Adam B. led off the inning with a pair of walks to put two aboard, Jonas delivered a RBI single to bring Adam J. home.
Following walks to Joshua and Thomas that loaded the bases, Nolan drew a RBI walk to plate Jonas.
With the bases loaded, Rays reliever Malik (6) would strike out two in the second frame to subdue the Jays rebellion.
The Rays would tally a run in the bottom of the second to trim the margin to 6-4. After drawing a leadoff walk and stealing second, Evan (4) would come homeward bound on a wild pitch and an error.
Jays starter Adam B. would strike out two in the second to quash the Rays insurgency.
With two outs, the Jays defence would rise to occasion to erase a potential threat. After reaching base on a hit by pitch and a theft of second, Sebastien made a bold bid to steal third. However, Jays catcher Joshua would make a rocket throw to third baseman Jonas, who tagged out Sebastien for the third out.
With 1-2-3 finesse, Rays reliever Liam (7) would strike out three in the top of the third to keep the Jays off the scoreboard and grounded in their nest.
The Rays would score a pair in the bottom of the third to tie the game 6-6. After a one out single, Jonas would advance to third on an error and stolen base. Nikhil followed with a RBI single to bring Jonas home.
Following a pair of steals that moved him to third, Nikhil would come homeward on a wild pitch.
Jays reliever Nolan would strike out two in the third to extinguish the Rays insurrection.
And kudos to Jays shortstop Joshua for making a sterling solo defensive play under trying conditions in the third frame. As Liam led off the inning with a sharp grounder between second and third, the ball took a nasty hop that caught Joshua around the neckline. After being momentarily stunned, Joshua had the wherewithal to pick up the ball and hustle over to second and tag out Liam, who was trying to stretch a single into a double.
In 1-2-3 fashion, Rays reliever Liam mowed down the Jays on three K’s in the top of the fourth aboard a John Deere D160 25-HP V-Twin Hydrostatic 48-inch Lawn Tractor.
And it was at this juncture in the proceedings where the Rays came up to bat in the bottom of the fourth and came face to face with their moment with destiny.