Dry skies with partial sun and a warm breeze made for real baseball weather tonight, but the Thunder rolled in with designs to spoil it all. The Thunder had put up big offensive numbers earlier this week in their 14-9 victory over the Knights. Would the Wings' pitching staff be able to tame the Thunder bats? This was the question on everybody's mind tonight at Newman.
Starting pitcher Tom took the mound in the first inning and quickly settled in to strike out the side. Thunder bats were silent through one.
In the bottom half of the first, leadoff hitter Eric worked a walk. Parker hit a shot to center for a single, moving Eric to second. Tom launched a double to left to drive in Eric, and the Wings were on the board with nobody down in the first. Three batters later, Josh got a hold of a fastball and smashed it up the middle scoring Tom and Parker, a 2-RBI double. 3-0, Wings.
Tom returned to the hill for the second and struck out 3 of 5 batters faced. The Wings were in command through an inning and a half.
Alex led off the Wings' second with a single. He showed good speed and hustle as he beat a good throw to first by half a step. Ken would then work a walk and move Alex into scoring position. Tom loaded the bases with a single to left, setting the table for Sam who drove in Alex with a single to right--the first of Sam's 5 RBIs on the night. The score was 4-0, Wings after two.
Tom came out for the third, stuck out two, and benefited from some excellent fielding at second base by Parker who scooped a ground ball up the middle and threw out the lead runner. No damage in the third, and the score would remain 4-0, Wings. Tom would finish his outing with 8 Ks over three innings pitched. Much credit goes to Noah who caught three flawless innings for Tom. He framed several key pitches near the edge of the zone and stopped almost everything. Every pitcher appreciates a reliable catcher, and the Wings have certainly found one in Noah.
In the bottom of the third "J.D." Drew got things going when he worked a full count walk. Alex hit a hard shot up the middle, but somehow the pitcher got a glove on it and threw him out at first.
Parker came out for the fourth inning and threw serious heat. He struck out the side and kept the Thunder off the board through four innings.
Ken led off the bottom of the fourth working a full count walk. Parker then hit his second of three singles on the night and brought Tom to the plate. Tom hit an absolute bomb to deep center, way back, way back... Gone! The first Red Wings' homerun of the regular season, a two-run dinger to put the Wings up by 6.
The first homerun of the season was followed immediately by the second. Sam came to the plate after Tom and hit a colossal shot to right center nearly all the way back to the Newman thicket--a no-doubt-about-it four bagger. Back-to-back homeruns for Tom and Sam put the Wings up 7-0.
Parker returned for the fifth and continued to pound the zone with a scorching fastball. He would strike out one, benefit from a baserunning error for another out, and get some solid defensive support at first base from Eric. Five scoreless innings for Wings pitchers.
Josh sparked a big fifth inning for the Wings with a single up the middle. Alejandro would keep the line moving with a full count walk. He has a great feel for the strike zone and knows how to get on base. Parker and Tom would both single in runs and keep the bases loaded for Sam. Yes, the same Sam who homered in the fourth. With three on, "Grand" Sam launched a 3-1 fastball to deep, deep center... Gone again! A grand slam this time. This is not something you see often in baseball at any level. Unbelievable!
Wings closer Eric took the mound in the sixth and put on a pitching clinic. He had absolutely dominant stuff and shut the lights out, retiring three of four batters faced with only 12 pitches. Ken was brilliant behind the plate, offering a steady target for each pitch and stopping nearly everything.
The final score was 13-0, Wings. Another solid team effort. Consistently effective pitching, reliable fielding, and phenomenal production at the plate.
The game ball went to starting pitcher Tom, who pitched three scoreless innings, went 4-4 at the plate with a double, homerun, 4 RBI, and 3 runs scored.
Tomorrow at Newman, we face another difficult match-up. The Bulls are undefeated so far, with some of the league's best pitching and a stacked lineup. 12:00 to warm up, first pitch at 12:30.
