The 62 Yankees and Arachnids squared off for another close game at A Diamond, under cloudy skies and breezy winds swirling about all night.
In the top of the 1st inning, the Arachnids got things going against the Yankees crafty pitcher John Weber. With one out, Ken Wellington got the Arachnids going with single. Darrell Duncan hit into a FC with Wellington out at 2B. Duncan then stole second base. With 2-out, TJ Scorsone ripped a single into LF scoring Duncan, Arachnids up 1-0. TJ Scorsone, pitching for the Arachnids, retired the Yankees in the bottom of the 1st, with only a single to John Cortese.
Weber settled in and quietly retired the Arachnids in the second and third innings. Scorsone was matching Weber until the bottom of the third inning. Yankees Craig Miller led off with a walk and then stole 2B. After a Ted Polito single to left put runners on 1st and 3rd, Tony Nardacci singled to RF scoring Miller to tie the game at 1-1. Scorsone then got the next batter to hit into a 4-6 FC third out.
In the top of the 4th, Craig Miller relieved Weber. Scorsone greeted Miller with his second hit to LF. After a stolen base, Lee Madsen singled putting runners on 1st and 3rd with no outs. Joe Parker then hit into a FC scoring Scorsone, putting the Arachnids back on top 2-1. Miller then retired the next 2 batters. Scorsone retired the Yankees in the bottom of the 4th inning.
In the top of the 5th, the Arachnids added 2 more runs. John Reel reached 1B on an E6. Ed Draves then bunted, advancing Reel to 2B. Reel then stole 3B. With Reel on 3B, Stefan Koutsakis hit a ground ball to third, but the throw was wide to 1st base, Koutsakis safe, Reel scored. Koutsakis stole 2B. Wellington then hit a sharp ground back to Miller who threw to first base for the 2nd out, with Koutsakis advancing to 3B. Duncan followed with an RBI-single making the score 4-1. Scrosone then followed with his 3rd hit of the game before Miller got the last out on a FC.
In the bottom of the 5th inning the Yankees rallied and took the lead. Steve VanGelder led off with a single. Miller then hit into a 6-4 FC ground out. After walks to Paul Cerone and Tom Maney, followed by an RBI-single by Polito to make the score 4-2, Duncan came on in relief but was unable to slow the Yankees. John Weber lined an RBI-single into left field, making the score 4-3. After a walk and 2 hit batters, the Yankees ended the inning with a 6-4 lead.
In the top of the 6th, the Arachnids got one back. Joe Parker walked to start the inning, followed by a 4-6 FC, an F8 and another walk, the Arachnids had runners on 1st and 2nd base. Ed Draves then ripped a single into RF scoring McCarthy from 2B, cutting the deficit to 6-5 before the last out of the inning.
In the bottom of the 6th, the Yankees picked up a critical insurance run. Wellington, in for relief, gave up a single to Jim McQuade. Wellington then picked McQuade off 1st (1-3-6). After a walk to Kevin Carpenter, Ron Smaka hit a line drive to LF that was misplayed into an error. Carpenter then advanced to third on a pass ball. With runners on 1st and 3rd, Dennis Buckley hit a Sac-Fly to CF scoring Carpenter. VanGelder ended the inning hitting a soft liner over the head of second baseman Lee Madsen who made a Willie Mays type catch for out #3.
Top of the 7th, down 7-5, the Arachnids would not go easy. Wellington led off with a drive to deep RF for out #1. Duncan lined his 2nd hit to CF. Scorsone then collected his 4th hit. With runners on 1st and 2nd, Madsen popped a hit into short LCF, loading the bases with 1-out. Parker then hit an RBI-ground out (4-3) for out #2. With runners on 2nd and 3rd and 2-out, the Yankees elected to intentionally walked McCarthy to load the bases. Tom King then hit the first pitch on the ground between SS and 3B. The Shortstop fielded the ball and got King by a step at 1st base to end the rally.
