NEW MARKET, Va., June 7, 2015 – The Harrisonburg Turks fell at New Market 4-3 on Saturday night at Rebels Park. The Rebels scored four unearned runs off Turks starter Jordan Meyer in the fifth inning. The New Market Rebels escaped multiple promising chances for the Turks before Trace Hagler came into collect a four out save to seal the victory.
The Rebels scored all four of their runs in the fifth inning. A two-out error by the Turks third basemen Morgan Bunting allowed the Rebels PJ DeMeo to reach and the Rebels took advantage. DeMeo stole second and a walk to Nate Blanchard brought Thatcher Coleman to the plate. Coleman doubled in DeMeo to produce the Rebels first run. Then Storm Edwards tripled down the right-field line scoring Blanchard and Coleman. The throw from the Turks right-fielder Kameron Esthay was mishandled by the shortstop Steven McLean covering third base allowing Edwards to score. Meyer was taken out after Edwards scored.
Meyer’s (0-1) final line was 4.2 innings pitched, five hits, four runs, zero earned, two walks and six strikeouts. Kale Morton threw 1.1 scoreless innings in relief of Meyer, allowing one hit and striking out one. Marc Stewart and Tucker McCoy each threw a scoreless inning as well.
The Turks attempted to mount a comeback in the seventh inning. After Jared Baker grounded out, Wade Bailey reached on a walk and made it to second on a wild pitch. Bunting hit a single to right field scoring Bailey and advanced to second on an error by the right-fielder. A walk to Steven McLean and Bunting advanced to third base. Shane Billings hit a groundball that ate up the Rebels shortstop Roberto Rivera allowing Bunting to score. After Joe Lytle popped up, Esthay walked to load the bases. J.J. Bissell came to bat with the bases loaded and popped up to the second basemen to end the inning. The Turks offense could only muster five hits on the night. The Turks Bailey, Esthay, Billings, and Aaron Dodson each had only one hit with Bunting collecting the only RBI.
In the third inning with Billings on third, Esthay on first and Bissell batting with two outs, Esthay attempted to steal and the Rebels catcher Coleman threw down to second base. The throw came to second base Esthay stopped and got in a rundown long enough to allow the runner at third Billings to steal home with the first run of the ballgame.
The Rebels starting pitcher Brian Murphy (1-0) walked five batters but pitched six innings, allowing only four hits, giving up one run, one earned run, and striking out two. The subsequent four relievers came into to get the final nine outs including Hagler who struck out three of the four batters he faced en-route to his first save of the season.
The Harrisonburg Turks will look to bounce back in their home opener on Sunday night at Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park against Valley League newcomer Charlottesville Tom Sox game time is 7:30 pm. It’s PACK THE PARK Booster Night sponsored by Strategic Financial Group; there will be free admission to all who bring the coupon included in the Saturday, June 6 Daily News Record. Be sure to follow @HbgTurksVBL on Twitter for in-game updates and listen in to our radio broadcast online at HarrisonburgTurks.com for all home contests.