WP: Guske (1-0)- 8.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
LP: Meyer (1-4)- 5 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
WINCHESTER, Va., July 8, 2015 – Following a one hour, 40 minute rain delay, the Royals burst out of the gates quickly on the way to a 6-2 win over the Harrisonburg Turks at Jim Barnett Park on Wednesday night.
Six of the first eight Winchester batters safely reached based in the first inning to jump out to a quick 3-0 lead. Back-to-back doubles by Zachary Carter and Nathaniel highlighted the inning; the Turks finally escaped when Joe Lytle picked off the runner on third when he wandered a little too far off the bag.
With the win, the Royals remain in 4th place in the Valley Baseball League North division with a 13-14 record while the Turks drop to 20-7. The Staunton Braves gain a game in the standings and now trail Harrisonburg by 2.5 games.
Brandon Guske went 8.1 innings on the mound, longer than any starting pitcher has lasted against the Turks this season. The Freed Hardeman University product allowed two runs on five hits while striking out three and walking none. Middletown, Virginia naïve Darrell Thompson recorded the final two outs in the 9th to secure the win.
Nathaniel Maggio led the Royals’ offense with a 2-for-4 performance that included a run scored and two runs batted in. Hayden Platt also had two RBIs after going 1-for-2 with a walk.
Jordan Meyer made his sixth start of the season for the Turks and was touched up for six runs (all earned) on nine hits and three walks while striking out three. The performance ends his bid for thee straight 7-inning starts and three-straight starts without a loss. Kameron Esthay made his first relief appearance of the season and made his case for more appearances in the future. Usually a member of the Turks’ outfield platoon, the Baylor Bear struck out three in three scoreless innings.
The Royals brought their run total to six with three straight base hits including Platt’s two-RBI double.
Hits were hard to come by for most of the night for Harrisonburg as Guske kept them hitless until Jesse Baker singled in the 7th inning. Both Bakers, Jesse and Jared, finished 2-for-4 with one RBI.
The team showed signs of life in the 9th when Lytle, Tyler Straub, Jesse Baker and Jared Baker hit consecutive singles to bring the score to 6-2. In the end, the comeback effort would come up short.
The Turks return home tomorrow night when the Woodstock River Bandits come to Harrisonburg for a double header starting at 6 p.m. Both games will last 7 innings instead of the usual 9 per league rules. Hope to see you there; go Turks!