06/26/2010 – Turks Tidbits
Brett Kucheruk Turks Web Cast Color Commentator
James Madison University Intern
Winchester, VA – The story of the night was missed opportunities as the Harrisonburg Turks lost to the Winchester Royals 7-6. Winchester scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to move into second place and a game behind the first place Turks
The Turks initial opportunity came in the top of the first inning after Terrance Jackson (Oklahoma City) scored on a throwing error by the Royals catcher attempting to throw Jackson out when he stole third. Harrisonburg then loaded the bases but J.J. Loker (USC-Aiken) grounded out to first to end the inning.
In the top of the second, Austin Erb (Ashland) started the inning off with a walk and scored on a single to right by Bobby Brown (Arizona). As Jackson attempted to score on the Brown single, he was thrown out at the plate. Patrick Savage (Auburn) led the 3rd inning off with a solo home run to deep left center. The Royals came back in the bottom of the third and scored four runs off of two, two-run home runs.
Savage doubled in the top of the fifth inning and Scott Dalrymple (Oklahoma City) followed with a triple to left center scoring Savage. Shaun Cooper (Pima C.C.) then hit a sacrifice fly scoring Dalrymple to cut the Royals lead to 1, 6-5. Later in the inning, Loker attempted to score on an Erb groundball, but was thrown out at the plate.
To end the game, the Turks had inning-ending double plays in the eighth and ninth innings. The double play turned by the Royals in the eighth came after Brown was intentionally walked to load the bases with the scored tied 6-6. Savage then grounded to short to start the double play for Winchester and end the Turks’ threat.
Kurt Wunderlich (Michigan State) pitched seven innings for the Turks, allowing six earned runs on six hits and two walks with nine strikeouts. All the damage came in the first and third innings, with the Royals only able to get one hit in the other five innings.
Harrisonburg plays at Haymarket, in another key game, Sunday night at 6:00 p.m., then returns home Tuesday to face the hot Luray Wranglers at 7:30 p.m.