Written by Brien Krug
Turks Staff Writer
July 18, 2021
The Turks were looking to turn the page from a bad 11-1 loss to Charlottesville when they hosted the Waynesboro Generals in a game that had plenty of playoff implications.
Will Mercer (0-2, 3.76 ERA) got the start for Bob Wease’s Turk’s in their biggest game to date. With only 6 games left in the season the Turks held the 2 seed in the South and Generals were only 1 game back, with the Turks leading the season series 3-2 a win would put Harrisonburg in a really good position to clinch home field in the first playoff series.
The Turks would get the scoring started early in the first as Peyton Crispin would launch his 1st homer of the season. The fast start is something the Turks are not a custom to, only scoring first in 13/34 games but in those 13 games the Turks held a remarkable 10-3 record.
The lead would not last long as the Generals would respond back in the 2nd. A throwing error from Jordan Sweeney, his 3rd of the season, would allow Waynesboro right fielder Kyle Murphy, who reached on an infield single, to score all the way from first tying the game back up at 1.
The Generals would eventually take the lead in the 5th. Jackson Dennies, who relieved Mercer after 4 strong innings, would allow the first two batters to reach on a single and walk respectively. A wild pitch would move the runners to 2nd and 3rd, setting up for Alonzo Rubalcaba to hit a sac fly for his 6th RBI of the year. Alejandro Figueredo would follow up the sac fly with an RBI single of his own to give the Generals the 3-1 lead.
Harrisonburg would respond right back in the home half of the 5th. A 1 out single, walk and E2 would put runners at the corners for Logan McNeely. The 2021 VBL All Star would hit a sac fly out to right, scoring Marte from 3rd and cutting the Generals lead in half.
However, the bullpens would dominate the game for both teams. Pitching a combined 10.2 IP giving up 2 ER, 6 H and striking out 15. The Turks would threaten in the 7th, loading the bases with only 1 down but a 5-3 double play would put an end to the threat. Harrisonburg would also put runners on in both the 8th and 9th but couldn’t move any of them past 2nd losing a close one 3-2 setting up a crucial rubber match against the same Waynesboro Generals (18-19) tomorrow at Kate Collins Field with first pitch slated for 7:00 PM.