Mudcats Survive RiverDogs

April 5, 2009 – First Pitch at 6:28 PM – Weather was Partly Cloudy, Breezy, and Warm

The Mudcats’ first home game of the season was closer than the final score of 14-6 would tell. The boys trailed 6-4 at the break in the 3rd, and were knotted up at 6-all through the fourth inning. Defensive and offensive stands in the 5th inning were the ultimate difference maker in the Mudcats’ third win of the season.

Top of the 1st, RiverDogs came to play, leading off with a double. After putting runners on 1st and 2nd with none out, the Mudcats squeezed out of a jam on an 8-6-2 from Jacob to Ryan to Luke tag-out at home, unorthodox fielder’s choice. Then with runners on 1st and 3rd, a 1-6 from Bags to Ryan and an F5 to Dane, the Mudcats escaped giving up just 1 run.

In the bottom half, the Mudcats posted 4 on 6 back-to-back singles by Ryan (to left-center), Joseph (on a rope to center), Matt (to the centerfield fence), Cade (up the middle), Bags (up the middle), and Luke (to left center). After 1, the Mudcats held a 4-1 advantage.

Top of the 2nd, the RiverDogs score 1, getting the inning going with two on and none out. After the team settled down, they got out with a 3U by Joseph, and two consecutive 5-3 plays from Matt to Joseph.

In the bottom half, Tyler led off with a line drive single to left. Andrew hit one hard up the middle, but the 2nd baseman, who was cheating right for the double play, was in position to take the Fielder’s Choice force at second. Jacob Mitchell hit the ball hard, but to no avail as the second baseman hauled it in and sent the Mudcats back into the field after 2 innings with a slim 4-2 advantage.

Top of the 3rd, RiverDogs score 4 and take the lead. The RiverDogs, as they did in the 1st and 2nd, get going with two on and none out on back to back singles. On the next play, a backup stop by Andrew in right-center hold the RiverDogs to 1 run and runners at 1st and 3rd. After putting another ball in play, Mudcats errors allowed a 2nd run to score with runners now at 1st and 2nd. After a team meeting, the boys settled in and proceeded to work out of the jam, giving up just 2 more runs, the outs coming on a 4-3 from Cade to Joseph, a 6-4 fielder’s choice between Ryan and Cade, and a line out to Ryan at short.

In the bottom half, the Mudcats’ top of the order would come through with 2 runs to knot it up at 6-all. Dane led off with a double to the right-center fence, Ryan split the seam all the way to the fence for a second double. Joseph hit a carbon copy of Ryan’s, but would get thrown out at 2nd by a great relay from the outfield. Matt got into the fence hitting game next, but was held at first base. Cade hit a line drive to left, but before long the inning was over, all tied up at 6.

After a leadoff single by the RiverDogs, the Mudcats gloves woke up in the top of the 4th inning. Key stops in the inning were the 1-3 from Jacob to Joseph and a pop fly pulled in by Matt.

In the bottom half of the 4th, with the score tied at 6, with the bottom 6 hitters in the Mudcats’ lineup, and with the RiverDogs meat of the order coming up, the Mudcats were poised for a possible knockout blow by their opponent. However, with two out and the last four batters in the order still to go, Tyler nailed one up the middle for a base hit. Then Leyton reached 1st on an infield hit that had him hustling to 1st. While no runs scored, it was a key inning for the Mudcats to get through 5 of the last 6 hitters, guaranteeing the team would have their leadoff batters coming to the plate in the 5th. After 4, the score remained tied 6-all.

In the top of the 5th, the 3,4, and 5 hitters were due up from the RiverDogs. Only one runner advanced on a base hit as the Mudcats would allow no runs and secure the bottom of the order was coming up for the RiverDogs in the sixth. The key outs included a 3U to Joseph, a line drive somehow snatched out of the air by pitcher Bags, and a line-drive to Cade at 2nd.

In the bottom half, the Mudcats swung the bats like they can, sending all 13 players to the batters box, and each one putting the ball into play. Jacob Mitchell, batting last in the lineup came through with a base hit. Dane crushed one to the right field fence for a double, and moving Mitchell to third. Ryan followed up with a two-bagger to centerfield, bringing home Mitchell and Dane. Joseph hit one to left center, scoring Ryan. Matt hit a double to the centerfield fence, scoring Joseph from first. Cade hustled to first next, moving Matt to 3rd base. Bags then followed up with two-bagger of his own, scoring Matt. Luke then singled, and on consecutive throwing errors, reached third while Bags scored. Adam then hit a 4-3 RBI, bringing in Luke and clearing the bases. Jacob must not have liked the empty bases, so he proceeded to hit a double up the middle, to the fence. Tyler then reached base for his 3rd time of the game. Then Leyton reached first on a 5U fielder’s choice force out at 2nd. Andrew represented the 13th Mudcat to reach the plate, and he did his part by putting the ball in play, but it was scooped up for a 4U to end the big 5th inning with the Mudcats leading 14 to 6.

For the 5th time in 6 innings, the RiverDogs leadoff batter reached 1st. In the top of the 6th, Jacob made a great stop on that leadoff hit, keeping it to just a single. Then on a 1-3 attempt, Jacob made another back-up play from center, holding the RiverDogs to runners on 1st and 2nd, still none out. Then back to back 6-5 and 5-6 force-outs at 3rd between Ryan and Matt kept the RiverDogs from ever getting past 2nd base. A pop fly caught by Cade would be the game ending play at 6:28 PM, the Mudcats winning 14-6.