Written by Brien Krug
Turks Staff Writer
June 6, 2021
The Turks opened their 2021 season on Sunday, June 6th at Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park. LHP Liam McDonnell got the call from skipper Bob Wease to start the inaugural game of the 2021 Turks season and he did not disappoint. McDonnell would go on to pitch 5.0 IP with 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, and the win.
The Turks would open the scoring in the bottom of the 4th after a single by Austin Mueller, a walk by Cameron Barto, and a hit by a pitch by Clay Lockett. This set up for a bases-loaded situation where the New Market pitcher Reed Mascolo would pitch back-to-back wild pitches leading the Turks to the 2-0 lead.
McDonnell was spelled before the 6th inning by Liam Dabagian. Dabagian would leave the game after .2 IP leaving runners on 1st and 2nd for Jake Blair. After a 4 pitch walk, Blair settled down and struck out the final hitter to end the inning and get out of the bases-loaded jam. After a lackluster 6th inning on offense, Andres Rodriguez set down the New Market side 1-2-3, easily recording the save and securing the 1st win of the Turks season 2-0.
In game 2, RHP Garret Simpson would start the game on the bump. After striking out the first batter, Simpson would go on to give up back-to-back singles leaving runners at 1st and 3rd with 1 out. Here Rebels hitter Cameron Dean would lay down a perfect safety squeeze scoring the runner from 3rd as well as making it to first safe. The Turks were then assisted by 2 caught stealing to end the 1st inning only giving up 1 run.
Then in the bottom of the 2nd, the Turks got 3 consecutive singles to begin the inning loading the bases with 0 outs. However, Rebel’s pitcher Joe Cobb worked out of the jam without giving up a single run, striking out Austin Mueller and Cameron Barto and getting Clay Lockett to ground out to the pitcher.
After the first 2 innings, the offenses started to go stagnant as the pitchers began to settle in. From innings 3-6 both teams combined for a 1-21 clip with 4 BB and 13 K’s. Garret Simpson was pulled after 4.0 IP giving up 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, and 4 K before being replaced by Logan McClure who worked 2 hitless innings. Brett Whiteman would take over for McClure in the 7th. Whiteman would give up a leadoff single and then 2 2 out walks to load the bases. However, on a 3-2 count Whiteman struck out New Market DH Juancarlos Navarro to get out of his own bases-loaded jam.
The Turks were then down to their final 3 outs and New Market brought in their closer Theo Farynick to close the game. Right fielder Connor Hartigan got the inning started with a double out to deep right field and the Turks were in business. After a strikeout to Bryce Safferwich, a walk to Austin Mueller, a strikeout to Cameron Barto, and a walk to Clay Lockett the stage was set for 2nd baseman Carlos Marte. Marte had the lone hit for both teams from innings 3-6 when he pinch hit for Derek Crum in the 5th inning. After getting ahead 2-1 in the count Marte hit a liner out to shallow right where Rebel’s right fielder almost made a diving, web gem catch to win the game, rather the ball would drop out of his glove and Austin Mueller would come around to score the winning run.
The Turks (2-0) will look to carry on with their hot start tomorrow at 7:30 PM as they take on the Covington Lumberjacks (0-1) at Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park.