Game 13: Mudcats vs. Bats

Thursday night’s 9-1 victory over the Bats ended in fitting fashion—a thrilling double play that included a Bats runner tagged out at home. Really, that was the only way the second straight solid defensive outing could have ended. The ruthless scorekeeper has now assigned just one error in the past two games, and the Mudcats allowed the Bats to get a runner as far as third base in just three of Thursday’s six innings.

In a Doritos-worthy performance, the newly aerodynamic Charley made two great plays in center field in the first inning that turned what could have been a huge inning for the Bats into just a one-run frame.

“We were focused the entire game,” Coach Andrew said. “We played outstanding offense and outstanding defense. I just kind of sat back and watched it. I didn’t have to yell. I just enjoyed it.”

That enjoyment was capped by the unique game-ending play. With runners at the corners and one out, the Bats lofted a soft line drive in the infield. Smiley, alertly realizing that the double play was a possibility, muffed the ball just long enough to create some uncertainty. Then he fired to Zach at second base to get the second out of the inning. Unwisely, the Bats tried to score from third against Zach. When the big shortstop fired it home, Gabe held on to the ball and applied the tag for the final out of the game.

“That was so easy!” Gabe said when he got back to the dugout. It sure didn’t look easy, but it was the third time this season the Mudcats have thrown out an opposing runner at the plate.

The tone set by the defense carried over to offense, where 11 different players recorded hits on the way to a 15-hit attack. Zach keyed the hitters and earned the Oreos, going 3-for-3 and blasting his seventh homer of the season.

Even a rain delay couldn’t snap the Mudcat focus, as the ‘Cats and Bats waited out a nearly 30-minute delay huddled near the concession stand.

The win left the Mudcats in a jumbled mess for a top-half finish in the Minor League. With all teams having just one game remaining, the final standings will come down to Saturday’s games. The Thunder and Riverdogs have locked up the top two spots, but the All Blacks are in a three-way battle with the Scrappers (face the Bulls at 3 p.m.) and Bats (play the Thunder at 11 a.m. in a game the Thunder need to win to clinch the regular season title) for third place. The scenarios for Saturday:

Mudcats, Scrappers and Bats all win: Scrappers finish third, Bats fourth, Mudcats fifth

Mudcats, Scrappers and Bats all lose: Scrappers finish third, Bats fourth, Mudcats fifth

Mudcats and Scrappers win, Bats lose: Scrappers finish third, Mudcats fourth, Bats fifth

Mudcats and Bats win, Scrappers lose: Bats finish third, Mudcats fourth, Scrappers fifth

Scrappers and Bats win, Mudcats lose: Bats finish third, Scrappers fourth, Mudcats fifth

Mudcats win, Scrappers and Bats lose: Mudcats finish third, Bats fourth, Scrappers fifth


Thursday's Mudcat scoring plays
First inning

Back in the leadoff spot, Smiley reached on a hard-hit grounder. With one out, he moved to second on Drew’s single up the middle. Then, as Coach Andrew said, “What happened next? Boom!” Zach hit the second pitch he saw over the center-field fence for a home run, his seventh of the season. But the Mudcats weren’t done. Christopher, Hayes and JJ ripped back-to-back-to-back singles, and then Charley drove in the fourth run of the inning with a grounder to the left side.
Score after one inning: Mudcats 4, Bats 1
Third inning
Leading off once again, Smiley doubled to right. Anthony singled to put runners on the corners, and Drew’s grounder scored Smiley.
Score after three innings: Mudcats 5, Bats 1

Fourth inning
This time, the bottom of the order did the damage. With one out, Charley lined a double to left. Brenner advanced him to third with a fielder’s choice. With two outs, the All Blacks got consecutive singles from Gavin, Gabe and Asher to drive in a pair of insurance runs.
Score after four innings: Mudcats 7, Bats 1

Fifth inning
Drew, Zach and Christopher hit back-to-back-to-back singles before Hayes slammed “his best hit of the season,” according to Coach Andrew, for a two-run double to left.
Score after five innings: Mudcats 9, Bats 1


Saturday's Web Gems

• Charley earned his Doritos by setting the defensive tone early. In the first inning, he snagged a fly ball in center. Then, with two outs and the bases loaded in that same inning, he speared a sinking liner on the short hop and fired to Anthony at second base, who made a great stretch to record the force and end the inning with just one run allowed—instead of what potentially could have been a huge inning.
• In the third, Smiley made a cat-like play at pitcher, leaping off the mound onto a grounder. After a solid throw, Christopher made yet another good stretch to record the out. Chris had another great stretch in the fifth that saved an out.
• Zach made a snowcone catch backing up on a pop fly over his shoulder at short in the fourth.
• Smiley tossed off his catcher’s mask, sprinted up the third base line, and hauled in a pop fly from his catcher position.
• The game-ending double play was one of the most unique plays you’ll ever see, as Smiley fired to second to record the force, and then Zach whipped the ball to Gabe for the tag play at home for the final out of the game.

Thursday's line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Bats	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	10
Mudcats	4	0	1	2	2	X	9	15