Turks Halt Rebels 6-2

W: Jake Harper (2-2)
L: Andrew Woods (3-2)

The Turks are beginning to show the dominance they showed last year over their crosstown rivals. Harrisonburg piled up eight hits and nine walks on Thursday night, beating the New Market Rebels 6-2.

The Turks jumped out to what would ultimately prove a decisive 3-0 advantage early on in Thursday night’s contest. Andy Perez, playing as designated hitter, singled and immediately stole second base. First baseman Mike Warren singled to left center to bring Perez home, and Warren too stole second base.

After two consecutive walks by New Market starter Andrew Woods, third baseman Joe Napolitano hit a 2-RBI single to jump the Turks out to 3-0.

New Market looked poised to tie the game in the top of the sixth. The Rebels, who only trailed 4-1 at the time, hit an early RBI-double to plate right fielder Landon Prentiss. Shortstop Brandon Gum hit a line-drive single to shallow right field, but Jace Whitley threw a pinpoint bomb to catcher Taylor Nichols, who made a diving tag on second baseman Kevin Casey to end the inning. New Market wouldn’t have another good chance to score the remainder of the game.

Perez finished 3 of 4 with three runs scored. Second baseman Thomas Smith finished 1 of 2 with two RBI and two walks.

Brett Morgan earns the win against New Market. Morgan earned his second win of the season after allowing the Rebels’ only two runs through six innings. He struck out two.

Adam Cherry pitched the final inning of play. He missed out on his third save of the season, as the Turks were leading by 4 when he took the mound at the beginning of the ninth.

Harrisonburg (13-6) has now beaten New Market (14-8) three out of four times this season. The Turks lead the southern division by half a game and can clinch a head-to-head advantage over the Rebels with one more win this season.

New Market carried a six-game winning streak into Thursday night’s game, which was ultimately snapped by the Turks. Harrisonburg had a similar seven-game win streak last year, two games of which came via New Market.

Staunton, the Southern Division’s third place team, lost to Rockbridge on Thursday night. They trail Harrisonburg by 1.5 games.

Harrisonburg returns home on Saturday evening to play rival Waynesboro.