Cincinnati Steam

Cincinnati Steam Split with Stark County Terriers to Remain with Firm Grasp on League Lead

Terriers end Steam’s perfect run at home with game 1 win

The Steam’s perfect run at home finally ended Sunday, as the second-place Stark County Terriers came to town for a double-header and took the first game 4-1 against what looked like a very rusty Steam squad.

Stark County got things going early, putting the lead-off man on base in each of the first four innings. It took them until the 3^rd to get on the board, though, as designated hitter Ed Rohan doubled to deep center field, plating the Terriers’ first two runs. They built on the momentum again in the 4^th, scoring two more runs on a Gabe Ortiz single and taking their lead to 4-0.

Stark County’s Tom Farmer kept the Steam bats relatively silent throughout the majority of the game, as he went six innings and allowed only one run on four hits, improving his record to 3-1 and bringing the Terriers within five games of the league-leading Steam.

The Steam finally managed to get on the board in the bottom of the 5^th, after a two-out triple by shortstop Ryan Strausborger (Indiana St.) helped get a little momentum going. Adam Eaton (Miami) then proceeded to knock an RBI single to right field, but that was all the offense they could muster, leaving the score 4-1.

That’s how the game would end, too, as Stark County’s Ryan France came in for the save in the bottom of the 7^th and retired the Steam down in order. The win moves the Terriers to 17-11 on the season, only five back of the now 23-7 Cincinnati Steam.

Stark County Terriers 002 200 0 4 7 0

Cincinnati Steam 000 010 0 1 4 0

WP – Farmer (2-2) LP – Kruszka (2-2) Sv – France (1)

Hitting Leaders:

Stark County – Ortiz (2-3; 1 run, 1 rbi), Rohan (1-3; 2 rbi), Comarda (1-3; 1 run)

Cincinnati – Strausborger (1-2; 1 run), Eaton (1-1; 1 rbi), Bellamy (1-3)

Steam take advantage of errant pitching, salvage split

After poor hitting in the first game of the double-header, the Steam merely needed to be patient in game two, managing to score 9 runs on only 7 hits, taking advantage of 10 walks by Stark County pitchers.

The Steam’s patience paid off early, as Stark County’s Alan Morrison walked the first three batters he faced. Tommy Nurre (Miami) then got his 18^th RBI of the year, grounding into a fielder’s choice and scoring Nate Fields (Ball St.). After Morrison hit Brandon Besl (Ohio) to load the bases again, catcher Billy O’Conner (Xavier) hit a two-RBI single to right. That ended Morrison’s day after 1/3 inning of work, he was charged with five runs on one hit four walks and one hit batter. Chase Davenport then came in to try and close out the first, but couldn’t get out quickly enough, as he gave up a two-run single to shortstop Brad Gschwind (Miami). The Steam then left the bases loaded, and, after eleven batters came to the plate, took a 5-0 lead into the second.

After the Steam got another run in the second on an error, Davenport’s errant pitching helped out again in the 3^rd. He walked in two runs, and Billy O’Conner got his third RBI of the day, as he grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Xavier teammate Steve Brown, making the score 9-0 in favor of the Steam.

The Terriers finally got on the board in the top of the 4^th, with a Gabe Ortiz RBI single to deep right-center, scoring Joe Bogdewiecz and making it 9-1 before threatening weather led to a 46 minute rain delay. When play resumed in the bottom of the fourth inning, Nate Fields walked after waiting with a 1-2 count. Steve Brown ended the fourth by striking out.

After the long delay, starter Charlie Leesman (2-1) was taken out of the game and replaced by Joel Ernst. Ernst threw a perfect fifth but he encountered problems in the 6^th inning. The Terriers took advantage of Ernst and of a rare Steam defensive error. This led to three Terrier runs and chased Ernst from the game. Eric Braeckel was brought on closed the door on the sixth and finished the game for the Steam striking out two of the four batters he faced. The Steam won the contest 9-4, and splitting the day with the Terriers, thus putting Stark County back where they came in at a six game deficit in the league standings, with only nine games remaining for the first place Cincinnati Steam. The Steam have all but wrapped up a league playoff berth and are within a few games of clinching the regular season league title.

Stark County Terriers 000 103 0 4 4 1

Cincinnati Steam 513 000 x 9 7 1

WP – Leesman (2-1) LP – Morrison (0-3)

Hitting Leaders:

Stark County – Bogdewiecz (2 runs scored), Patton (double, rbi), Abro (double, 2 rbi)

Cincinnati – Fields (2 runs scored), S. Brown (2 runs scored), Nurre (2 runs scored, 2 rbi), O’Conner (3-4 3 rbi), Gschwind (2 rbi), Strausborger (double, run scored)