After a tight 4-2 win by the Arachnids in the first meeting in May, the Reds hosted the Spiders hoping to break through their pitching webs. Jeff Friedman took the bump for the Reds against TJ Scorsone.
Lee Madsen & Scorsone hit a couple of ground balls that were not handled cleanly and suddenly runners were on the corners. With one out a fielder's choice plated Madsen and Friedman ended the inning getting the K stranding one. In the Reds half they were determined to answer. Jaz was HBP to leadoff and stole second but, on a slow grounder toward short, Steph K cleanly fielded the ball and got the lead runner at third. With two outs and one on Friedman singled but TJ was able to induce a 6-4 to end the threat and keep the score 1-0
In the second Friedman started with a K and 2 grounders to short. Mitch made a great scoop to end the inning. Griffin singled to start the Reds half of the inning and stole a base. With one out and a fly to the outfield Griffin moved to third. But that was as far as he got keeping the score 1-0
To start the third Jimmy Wing singled. Friedman was able to strikeout the next two batters but not before Wing was able to get in scoring position. Madsen and Scorsone followed with back-to-back singles pushing the lead to 2-0 before anther K to end the top half of the inning. Caputo and Durbak singled followed by a Draves sac bunt moving the tying runs into scoring position. However, TJ was able to induce a comebacker and retire the sides on a full count reverse k to end the threat and keeping the Reds off the board.
Pat Alston led off the fourth with double followed up with a single by Steph K. The next batter hit to Burns playing second who fired to home to get the runner at the plate. With Runner on 1st & second, Bob Bolt hit a screamer up the middle that a lunging Doug Hall was able snatch to get the second out and keep the runners form scoring or advancing. McCarthy worked a walk to load the bases with two outs. Wing then hit a fly to shallow left. But, Kenny Shaw made the catch to keep the Spiders from adding to the lead and ending their half of the inning and stopping the Spiders. In the Reds half of the fourth they were determined to take the momentum and with one out Shaw worked the count, earned the walk and stole second. Friedman followed with the RBI single to put the Reds on the board. Hall singled and Griffin walked to load the bases. Reel then singled to knot things up at two apiece. Caruso then hit into a FC but not before putting the Reds up 3-2. Another walk loaded the bases. An error allowed another run. With the bases loaded, Bolt made a great running catch in left that looked sure to find turf and add to the Reds lead. But the Reds rolled to a 4-2 lead.
The Spiders came up in the fifth now facing Joe Burns who got a pop up to third and a K. With two outs and the top of the order up Madsen & Scorsone singled again putting two on and threatening again. The hard hitting Saidenberg, hit a line drive to shallow left that looked like trouble. Not to be outdone, Kenny Shaw made a great running catch to end the threat and keep the Reds on top. Tip of the hat to both left fielders on exceptional play at key moments in the game. The Reds went down quietly in the bottom half of the fifth with a lone single.
Alston led off the sixth with a single and a multi-hit game. Steph followed with his second single. The next batter struck out with a pop up to third. McCarthy then singled to score Alston putting the tying run in scoring position. But, a ground ball ended the inning with the Spiders within one 4-3. In the Reds half of the sixth Shaw walked and Friedman singled for the third time. With runners on 1st & 3rd the next batter popped up to shallow center and an infield fly was called. After some discussion the call was made to keep the runners at the corners with 1 out. Griffin followed with a run scoring single to push the lead back to two runs after six.
Down by two the with one out the spiders got back-to-back singles from Nicholson and then Madsen for his third hit and fourth time on base to put the tying runs on. The next batter hit into a fielder's choice. Joe Burns was able to get the K to end the game with a 5-3 win.
WP - Friedman 4 IP 1 ER 5 K 1 BB Save - Burns 3 IP 1 ER 3 K LP - Scorsone 6 IP 5 ER 1 K 4 BB
