Hanging on in the Eighth

The Rivercats came back to town for a four game stand against the Portland Beavers last night. They produced an enjoyable game that actually took place in two innings. (actually four half innings) In the bottom of the third, Ryan Sweeney started off with a stand up double,but stretched it to third by a fielding error. Cliff Pennington then came up with a single which scored Sweeney. Rogowski then singled but Pennington stretched his position to third. Then Baisley doubled and scored Pennington and Rogowski moved to third. Brooks Conrad doubled to score Baisley. After Putnam struck out, Conrad got caught stealing - in what some fans thought was a close call (he was out). Landon Powell then singled but moved to second on a throwing error of the guy who had just gotten Conrad. Robnett singled. Massaro singled. Sweeney singled but before they got Massaro out at third Robnett scored.

The next two half innings happened in the top of the fifth when the Beavers scored 4, followed by the top of the sixth when they scored another two. I was out in the kids playland with my grandson Mason to I did not get to see all that. So when I got back to our seats the game was tied. Nobody in our section was talking about how it happened. The Bee's report of the game was no help in that it spent most of the coverage on the number of Maple bats that splintered in the game. (4)

In the bottom of the eighth Powell singled, Robnett moved him along and then Massaro doubled to score Powell.

Blevins came in for the save and the game was over. Kirk Saarloos pitched a solid eight innings with 71 strikes on 107 pitches.