Richie Knaupp pitched a great complete game on Monday only to come up a little short. The Pirates took a 1-0 lead into the seventh against John LaTorre and the Birds. The Pirates offense didn't get the job done leaving the bases loaded in both the 1st and 2nd innnings and stranding a total of 9 for the game. LaTorre vacuumed up every hard hit ball near him turning a bases loaded no out comebacker to him into a DP, home to 1st in the 2nd. The Birds only committed one error. Richie Knaupp took a 1 hitter into the seventh having only walked 1 through the 6th. The Pirates made only 1 error through 6. In the 7th Myers walked and yours truly dropped a long fly ball by Earl for the second error. With 1st and 2nd, the Humminbirds played the appropriate small ball and laid down a bunt fielded by Knaupp who made a quick through to 3rd,which appeared to beat the runner on a very close play, but the men in blue (red) disagreed. This left the bases loaded with no outs for Latorre to help himself out. He did so with a clean hit to right and the throw to the plate was high and a little off line to catch the winning run. Tight exciting game. Game 2 tonight in Kingston.
