Written by Brien Krug
Turks Staff Writer
June 19, 2021
The Turks looked to bounce back after a heartbreaking loss to the Waynesboro Generals on Thursday as they hosted the 1st place 8-2 Charlottesville Tom Sox in a South Division matchup.
Andres Rodriguez (0-1, 0.00 ERA) got the nod from Manager Bob Wease and did not disappoint. Rodriguez would set down the first 11 batters and go on to pitch 5 shutout innings while only allowing 2 hits on 5 K’s.
The Turks would get their bats going early tonight. With 2 outs Michael Rosario would send the 3 pitch of the at-bat out to left for his 1st home run of the season giving Harrisonburg the early 1-0 lead.
After going quietly in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th innings, Harrisonburg would add on to their lead in the 5th. A lead-off walk from Austin Mueller would get the inning started for the Turks. After a botched sac bunt that resulted in Charlottesville gunning down the lead runner at 2nd, Clay Lockett would steal 2nd and Peyton Crispin would step up to the plate with a man in scoring position. Crispin would deliver a single on a 1-2 count, scoring Lockett from 2nd and adding to the Turks lead.
Michael Rosario would come on for Rodriguez in the 6th and after recording the first 2 outs, the Tom Sox would get some 2 out magic. A single and a stolen base from leadoff man Gehrig Ebel would put a runner at 2nd for Tom Sox center fielder Logan Amiss, who would hit a single, and all of a sudden the Turks lead was cut in half. Rosario would give up a walk and hit by a pitch to load the bases but on a 3-2 count would get Cal Stark to fly out to right to end the threat.
Logan McClure would then come into the game for Rosario. After an easy top of the 7th, McClure would get into some trouble in the 8th. A walk and hit by pitch would put the Tom Sox in an advantageous opportunity. The next batter would attempt to move the runners up to 2nd and 3rd on a sac bunt but a questionable interference call from the home plate umpire would not only get Amiss out at first but move the runners back to 1st and 2nd, a huge blow to the Tom Sox rally. McClure would get the final two hitters to ground out, escaping the jam unscathed.
Harrisonburg would use the momentum from the last inning to add some important insurance in the 8th. A dropped third strike would get Frederic Walter on 1st keeping the inning alive for the Turks. After a walk moved Walter to 2nd, in stepped shortstop Bryce Safferwich. After a ten pitch battle, Safferwich would line a single right over the 2nd baseman to score Walter and give the Turks some breathing room. McClure would go back out for the 9th and get the 1-2-3 inning to record the 3 innings save.
Turks break their 5 game losing streak winning 3-1. Harrisonburg (3-5) will be back in action tomorrow as they travel down I-81 to take on the Staunton Braves (4-7) with the first pitch coming at 7:30 PM.