06/28/2011 – Turks Tidbits
Turks Blank the Wranglers 7-0
Written By Nathaniel Stoltz James Madison University Harrisonburg – In his first start with Harrisonburg, Julio Felix threw a complete-game shutout, and the Turks defeated the Luray Wranglers 7-0 Monday night to improve to 17-5.
Felix (Pima CC) had made several solid relief appearances, but tonight’s game was his first start, and he didn’t miss a beat with the transition, striking out eight, walking just two, and allowing only one extra-base hit, a double to Luray third baseman Ryan Retz in the fourth.
Felix’s dominance overshadowed that of Luray starter Andrew Armstrong, who was excellent himself. Armstrong’s slider was darting all over the place in the early innings, and the southpaw racked up a whopping 13 strikeouts in just six innings against a lefty-heavy Turks lineup.
Even though they had lots of empty swings against Armstrong, the Turks usually made him pay when they did hit the ball. Harrisonburg only got one hit in the first three innings, but it was an RBI single from right fielder Mac Williamson (Wake Forest), scoring center fielder Colby Roberts (JMU), who was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.
It wasn’t until Williamson’s next at-bat that the Turks got a hit, as he beat out an infield single to open the bottom of the fourth. He advanced to second on a wild pitch before designated hitter Brock Green (Ouachita Baptist) lined a single to score Williamson and make it 2-0 Turks.
Singles from second baseman J.J. Loker (USC Aiken) and Roberts opened the bottom of the fifth. After an unsuccessful Robert Perucki bunt attempt and a strikeout of Dodson McPherson, Williamson came up again. The right fielder and reigning Central Division Player of the Week had already launched a long foul ball into the parking lot past left field earlier in the game, and in this at-bat, he kept the ball fair, turning around a 2-0 fastball from Armstrong for a homer to left-center field, breaking the game open.
Williamson went 4-for-5 in the game to pace the Turks offense, which came through more than enough to back Felix’s magnificent outing. In a rare appearance in the leadoff spot, Roberts also came through well, getting on base three times.
The loss dropped Luray to 5-15.
Tomorrow, the Turks will host another Central Division rival, the Woodstock River Bandits, at Veterans Memorial Park. Make sure to come out and support the team!