Author Topic: Harrisburg Senators 4/6/06 game report  (Read 1279 times)

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CHIP72

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Harrisburg Senators 4/6/06 game report
« on: April 08, 2006, 11:34:54 pm »
In tonight's season opener, the Senators staged a late game comeback to edge the Erie Seawolves 2-1 in 10 innings.  The hosts were totally stymied offensively through the first 8 innings, managing a mere 3 hits in that time frame.  Luckily, their pitching was excellent, as Erie notched only 1 run during that time, coming on a solo home run in the 3rd inning.  In the bottom of the 9th inning, the Senators managed to tie the game on a 2-out RBI double by Kory Casto, knocking in Dan Dement (who reached on a walk).  Then in the 10th inning, the Senators staged a 1 out rally.  First, Cristian Guerrero, who struck out his first 3 at-bats and looked terrible in two of those plate appearances, lashed a single up the middle.  Josh Whitesell followed with a double to the left field gap.  Guerrero was held at third after a VERY late decision by manager John Stearns; it appeared Guerrero may have been able to score.  Erie then switched pitchers but strangely did not intentionally walk the next hitter, Salomon Manriquez; the Seawolves instead pitched to the Senators' catcher to preserve a righty/righty matchup and played the infield and outfield in.  The tactic didn't work as Manriquez hit a deep fly ball to near the warning track down the left field line to easily score Guerrero and win the game for Harrisburg.

General game notes:
- The pitching was excellent for both teams; Harrisburg pitchers gave up only 4 hits and 1 walk while striking out 11, and Erie hurlers surrendered 6 hits (and only 3 in the first 8 innings), 1 walk, and struck out 12 batters.

- Managers for both teams, especially Erie, brought in many relievers late in the game despite the fact most of the pitchers who got in the game were effective.

- The Senators were able to turn 2 nice double-plays.  They also did not commit any errors in the game (and there were no questionable calls that could have been called errors).

Individual Harrisburg Senators game notes:

Kory Casto - went 1 for 4 (a double) with 1 RBI and 2 strikeouts.  He also played a decent 3rd base, though he failed to take charge on a ball that was caught on a fine play by catcher Salomon Manriquez.

Ian Desmond - posted a 1 for 4 night with 2 strikeouts.  He didn't make any great defensive plays at shortstop, but did show his arm strength on one play.  After bobbling a hard hit ball that he kept in front of him, he recovered quickly and fired a strike to 1st base that barely beat the runner.  Most shortstops probably wouldn't have had the arm strength to record the out on a similar play.

Frank Diaz - was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.  However, he made the defensive play of the game in left field.  In the 10th inning with 2 outs, an Erie player hit a deep fly ball to left-center that had home run distance.  However, Diaz was able to go back on the ball and leap up to make the catch above the lowest set of billboards (the home run line at Commerce Bank Park), saving a home run and keeping the game tied going into the bottom of the 10th inning.

Salomon Manriquez - as noted above he had the game winning RBI sacrifice fly and made a very nice play right on the foul line on a pop-up about 1/3 of the way between home plate and 3rd base.  He went 1 for 3 in his other at-bats and was one of only 3 starters to not strike out for Harrisburg.

Shawn Hill - pitched an effective game in his first action since 2004 (also with Harrisburg).  He went 6 innings and gave up 4 hits, 1 run, walked none and struck out six.  He got ahead of most batters and looked to be in control most of the night.

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