Pirates 9, A’s 6
On Wednesday evening, the Pirates got back on track with a 9-6 win over the A’s. Ben Mulvey started for the Pirates, his first of the year, and went 3 innings striking out 5. In the bottom of the first, The A’s had a rally going off an Owen DiBiaso single, Matt Moore RBI double, Charlie Porterfield single, and Jack deBettencourt RBI single. The Pirates got out of the jam when leftfielder Lukas Fernandes alertly fired the ball to 3rd baseman Eleanor Hyland who applied the tag to end the inning. Game tied 2-2. In the 2nd, the Pirates scored two more on a Kaleb Hatt single and Liam Marek RBI double. The A’s came back to score 3 of their own – Mulvey struck out two A’s, then 2 walks and 3 singles later the score was 5-4 A’s, but Mulvey helped himself by striking out the last batter. In the third, the Pirates plated 4 more when Mulvey singled, Hatt drove in a run, Marek singled, Jonathan Norton smashed a 2-run double, and Tegan Fenner cracked a sharp single to right driving in the 4th run. Mulvey took matters into his own hands in the bottom of the third. After a leadoff single, Mulvey got a strikeout and then dribbler back to the mound for two quick outs. The Pirate defense faltered and two quick errors scored an unearned run and had two A’s runners on base, but Mulvey kept his composure and induced another soft dribbler to the mound to end the inning 8-6 Pirates. That was about it for the offenses, as Pirate reliever Jonathan Norton (6k’s) pitched 3 shutout innings and A’s reliever Owen DiBiaso (5k’s) gave up only 1 run over the last 3 innings.
Cubs 11, Cardinals 0
On Tuesday evening, the Cubs sent 14 batters to the plate in the 10-run first inning and beat the Cardinals 11-0 at Penn Field. Ashley Brasefield ripped a two-run line drive and Cam Napior drove in five on two hard hits to highlight the offensive assault. Finn Lewis stifled the Cards offense for three innings, allowing one hit and no walks to earn the victory. Keaton Aliberti closed the game with a three strikeout final inning. Eamon Savard pitched well in relief for the Redbirds, scattering two hits over three plus innings while striking out 8.
Red Sox 14, Pirates 6
On Monday evening, the Red Sox got off their mini-skid on Monday evening, beating the Pirates 14-6. Lead by the combined pitching of Nate Story and Nick Cranston, the Sox carried over an aggressive Sunday practice perfectly into theMonday game, with the entire team reaching base safely for the first time this season. Offensive contributions came from everyone, including Latham Higgins (2-4, 3RBI) and Jack O’Brien (3-4, RBI, 3-Runs Scored). Jack Crawford also had an RBI single, with a run scored. For the Pirates, Harper Hearn reached base safely in all 4 at-bats, scoring a run and netting an RBI single. Eleanor Hyland, Tobey Roberts and Jonathan Norton also had RBIs.
Cubs 14, Red Sox 4
On Saturday, Cam Napior pitched 3+ shutout innings and the Cubs scored in every inning en route to a 14-4 victory over the Red Sox. Napior struck out 6 and walked three while allowing no hits. Napior also went two for three and drove in four runs. Finn Lewis scored three times and Keaton Aliberti scored four. Jack Lionette had a solid day for the Sox with a triple, two RBIs and a couple of nice plays at shortstop.
Pirates 7, A’s 4
A’s 12, Cardinals 10
Nightcap of the A’s doubleheader vs the Cards was hot, humid and a thriller. A’s would get on the board first with an Owen DiBiaso leadoff single and Parker Ben David triple. Card responded with a Andrew Marchand single, scoring 2, and Eamon Savard and Faith Thigpen singling putting the birds first 5 runs on the board. Cards played good defense in the second and added on 2 more on singles by Emmet Athearn, Savard and Matt Strem. Cardinals looked to be in control, but the A’s would scrap out 3 in the third on a Parker Ben David double, scoring Owen Metell and Matt Moore, and Charlie Porterfield singling to score BenDavid. The Abrams brothers would score in the 3rd for the Cards on a few mistakes by the A’s. In the fourth, a leadoff single by Jack DeBettencourt and a Micah Simmons walk got them on base, both would score on a left field double by Bethany Cardoza bringing the A’s closer 9-7. Ben David doubled and scored on Porterfield’s RBI single, and some aggressive base running by Porterfield got him to score as well and tie the game at 9. Card’s Emmett Athearn walked and he would score on an infield hit with bases loaded. Top of sixth, a leadoff DiBiaso single, Metell RBI double and a Parker Ben David RBI home run blast put the A’s up 12-10. For the A’s, Matt Moore would close the game with 2 strikeouts and a great catch in right field by Kenny Cook.
