Wednesday 6/22 - (New Scotland) - Gotta love a pair of Aces!!....and that's what transpired at New Scotland Town Park on an overcast and cool Wednesday evening when Jonny Martin for the Angels toed the slab against the Pirate's Eric Westfall. So often pitching duels fizzle out and become crooked number finals. Not this one with both Aces bringing their "A" games, and the Buccos getting the Win on a Walk-Off in the bottom of the 7th, with a 3-2 come from behind victory.
T.J. Scorsone got the party started with a lead-off single, swiped a bag, and rode home on John Reel's ribby single to get a 1-0 advantage in the 1st. A reconfigured Pirates' line-up, with #3 hitter Paul Peters leading off with a double and scoring on Greg Allen's rib-eye knock knotted things at 1-1 apiece. After 2 quick outs, Westfall was let down by his defense, as a walk, stolen base and 2 Bucs errors plated the go ahead tally. Both Martin and Westfall then starting hanging goose eggs, with limited hits and traffic, and with both hurlers making the big pitch when needed to snuff any semblance of a rally for either nine. Martin and Westfall combined for (10) scoreless half innings as the Pirates headed to the bottom of 7th, with an uphill battle against Martin, who was looking to avenge an earlier loss to the Swashbucklers.
With the Pirates down 2-1, Jim Kidd coming off the IL, worked a 4-pitch walk to open the bottom of the 7th. Pirate speedster Derrell Waylon came on as a pinch runner for Kidd. From the 9-hole came the Methusalian Artie Gianakos (the subject of many rumored trades), who executed the perfect sacrifice bunt as only a grizzled veteran can, advancing Waylon to 2nd with 1-out. Peters, who had been robbed on a smash with a terrific backhand stab by 3BRalph Caputo, in his last AB, lined a shot to deep left for a two-bagger and game tying rbi, that plated Waylon, making it all even at 2-2. Manager Tom Maney, elected to call on Phi "Mash" Gadomski, to shut down the Bucs, and issued an intentional free ride, to Rick Knipper, owner of 2-hits on the nite, and set up forces and a double play chance. Mash, always a tough hombre, got exactly what he needed on a slow ground ball off the bat of Jim Denney, that looked like a twin killing, and free baseball for all. BUT, as luck would favor the Pirates on this nite, a costly error allowed Peters to wheel home, and the Pirates walked it off, 3-2!!
Both Starters were outstanding, each allowing just 4-hits, in gems by both Martin and Westfall.
IP H R ER BB K WP Martin 6.1 4 3 2 2 3 0 Gadomski 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Westfall (2-1) 7 4 2 1 3 2 0
Peters led the Pirates with 2-4 (2B), 2 r and and rbi, along with Greg Allen 1-2, rbi and, and Knipper with 2-3. Halos hitting honors go to Scorsone, 1-2 with r, and 2 sb.
Pirates catapult two spots in the standings at 3-3-1, 1/2 game back of the 4th place Dodgers, and 3.5 back of the Whiz, who are next up for the Bucs on 7/1. Angels fall to 1-8, and face the aforementioned Dodgers on 6/29. Good luck to the Halos until our next meeting.
