The Whiz evened the season series escaping with a 4-3 win. The first 2 innings were controlled by the Whiz 3-0 while the Twins owned the final 5 innings 3-1 but still came up just short at the end leaving the tying run on third . Friedman pitched a complete game for the Whiz giving up 3 runs, 5 hits, 3 walks, 1 hit batter, and 3 strikeouts. John Newman went all the way for the Twins allowing 9 hits, 4 runs, 0 walks, 2 hit batters, and 1 strikeout. 6 of the 9 Whiz hits came off the bats of Shawn Martin (double) and Bobby Holmes who had 3 safeties each. The biggest hit of the night for the Twins came off the bat of the gimpy, focused, ultra productive Ricky Saidenberg who lined a two out double off the right field fence driving home Jim Edelman and Stefan Koutsakis in the bottom of the 7th. Saidenberg has at least 1 extra base hit (with a choked up 32 inch bat) in every game hes played in this season despite being somewhat limited by back and leg issues. Welcome to the club. The Twins had chances to put more runs on the board in the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings but were blocked by stellar plays by Whiz defenders. The Twins had already scored one run in the 4th and had the bases loaded with no outs when John Newman came to the plate and hit a hard sinking line drive to the left of second baseman Greg Mangione who made a superlative, double play resulting, diving catch at turf level that saved a minimum of 2 runs. In the 5th the Twins 8-9 hitters got on with no outs but the top of the order could not advance them. I recall hearing some bad words. Tom King led off the 6th for the Twins with an extremely hard hit high line shot to right center which the Whiz centerfielder pulled in on the dead run just in front of the fence. It was a terrific catch.
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The Whiz scored 2 in the top of the 1st. Jeff Friedman led off with a single, stole second, went to third on a single by Shawn Martin, and scored on a sac fly by Gene Hallenbeck. Martin had stolen second, went to third on the sac fly, and came home on a wild pitch. They extended the lead to 3-0 in the top of the second. Greg Mangione singled with one out, stole second, and scored on a single by Bob Holmes. It became 4-0 in the top of the fourth when Holmes led off with a double, and scored on a one out grounder by Martin.
Then the Twins began to rally. In the bottom of the fourth, Rick Saidenberg walked, and Lee Madsen and Tom King followed with singles to load the bases. A walk to Terry McCarthy plated Saidenberg. John Newman then lined to second, with Mangione making a great diving catch. While still in a prone position, he threw to second for the double play, with the runner holding at third. Friedman struck out the next batter to end the inning.
Friedman held the Twins scoreless over the next two innings, with Martin making two good catches in CF.
In the seventh, Friedman retired the first two batters before hitting the number nine batter. Top of the order is now coming up. Stefan Koustsakis walks, and Saidenberg follows with the double that drives in two, making the score 4-3. Madsen singles to put runners on first and third. The next batter hits into a fielder's choice, getting Madsen out at second. Game over. What a finish!
Congratulations to players on both teams for an exciting and competitive game. Good luck to the Twins as they finish out the season.
