By Ryan Hines
rhines@dailystandard.com The Lima Locos capitalized on a tough night by the Grand Lake pitching staff knocking off the Mariners, 9-5, on Tuesday at Jim Hoess Field.
"We're playing really good baseball right now," pointed out Lima Locos manager Rob Livchak. "We're playing pretty well in all phases of the game right now and we need to keep it up because it's a long summer."
Grand Lake outhit Lima 14-9, but the Locos also were hit by a pitch twice while drawing nine walks, four of which came around to score runs in the game.
The Mariners' bullpen had given up just two earned runs in 30 innings pitched to start the season, but the Locos scored five runs in just 41/3 innings off Grand Lake relief pitching on Tuesday night. Jeff Loveys and David Doss threw a combined 21/3 innings allowing five runs.
"We just didn't take care of the ball tonight in a few instances and it hurt us," said French. The loss overshadows a big night by Mariners leftfielder Adam Abraham, who broke an 0-for-5 start to the summer with five hits in five at-bats. Abraham had four singles and a double to go along with a pair of runs scored from the seven-hole in the Mariners' lineup. The Michigan product also threw out a runner at the plate for Grand Lake.
"It's nice to have him hitting the way he hit it tonight," stated French. "He started off 0-for-6 to the season and I moved him down in the order and he came through with a big night tonight."
Derek Martin also had three hits and two runs scored for the Mariners while Dusty Hammond added two hits and three RBI.
Brian Bonner was the hitting star for Lima by snapping an 0-for-11 start to the summer with a 4-for-4 night. Bonner's big night included three doubles to go along with two RBI and a pair of runs scored.
"He's been working hard to get his stroke going and it showed tonight," said Livchak.
Jayson Bennett picked up the win on the hill for Lima allowing one run in four innings while Grand Lake's Ryan Schmidt was tagged with the loss.
Grand Lake is back in action again tonight at Jim Hoess Field hosting Cincinnati, which is currently first in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League standings at 7-3. |
